Transcript Highlights:

• American or Hispanic or Latino and less likely to be white compared to existing license holders.
• So ABA, the American Bankers Association, Different countries and their scam losses.
• So ABA, the American Bankers Association, works with the International Banking Federation.
• How is the American Bankers Association really encouraging your members?
• In 2024, $6.5 billion was reported to them for Americans.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states. The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2015, the Princeton Review was charging higher prices in zip codes that were predominantly Asian American
• 2015, the Princeton Review was charging higher prices in zip codes that were predominantly Asian-American
• for their on. in zip codes that were predominantly Asian American for their online SAT tutoring course
• Without legislation like this, there is no real recourse for the American public.
• The African American caucus was targeted by some folks that were very angry with us over reparations.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee hearing covered several bills on consumer protection, pricing, gift cards, streaming ads, name-image-likeness protections, and online hate. SB 259 by Senator Wahab would prohibit surveillance pricing based on device data such as geolocation; supporters said it would curb discriminatory and opaque pricing, while business groups raised concerns about geolocation language and impacts on legitimate location-based pricing. The bill was moved on a due pass motion and passed the committee 8-1, with the author saying amendments were still being discussed. SB 22 by Senator Laird would raise the amount consumers can redeem from unused gift cards, with the author emphasizing inflation and consumer fairness. Retailers, restaurants, and other business groups opposed the bill, arguing it would increase fraud risk, create safety concerns by requiring more cash on hand, and should also clarify existing exemptions and rules. Consumer advocates supported the measure. The bill was sent out on a 6-1 vote and kept on call. SB 576 by Senator Umberg, the CALM Act, would apply broadcast-style limits on loud commercials to streaming services; the Motion Picture Association and Streaming Innovation Alliance opposed it, citing technical and federal-law concerns, but the committee approved it 8-0. SB 683 by Senator Cortese would clarify that people whose name, image, voice, or likeness is misused can seek injunctive relief or a TRO, with the author saying the bill updates an outdated statute and strengthens privacy protections. The Recording Industry Association of America supported the goal but wanted faster takedown timing, while the First Amendment Coalition opposed the measure over free-speech and prior-restraint concerns. The bill passed 8-0. The final bill, SB 771, sought to hold social media platforms accountable when their algorithms amplify hate, harassment, or violence; supporters from Jewish and Muslim advocacy groups described real-world threats and violence linked to online hate, while TechNet and CCIA argued the bill would conflict with Section 230 and chill protected speech. Members raised questions about constitutional limits and the scope of platform liability, and the discussion continued as the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• thousand children are housed in adult jails and prisons on any given day in America, and nearly 3,000 American
• increase in proficiency rates, not only in all of our students, but also for our Yazian, Martinez, and African-American
• I think we all know that the students who are represented by Yazzie and Martinez, as well as our African-American
• Partnership based here in Bernalillo County, the National Education Association of New Mexico, the American

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• most eligible student groups are students with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, African
• American students, and foster youth.
• Students experiencing homelessness, African American students, and foster youth.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, 43 percent of the practicing African American lawyers in the state of Texas.
• Seventeen percent of those African American lawyers are lawyers who go throughout the state of Texas,

Bills: SJR12 , SCR39 , SB27 , SB29 , SB241 , SB406 , SB414 , SB464 , SB568 , SB578 , SB609 , SB660 , SB689 , SB693 , SB785 , SB857 , SB879 , SB921 , SB922 , SB955 , SB985 , SB993 , SB996 , SB1008 , SB1035 , SB1036 , SB1059 , SB1098 , SB1120 , SB1122 , SB1147 , SB1188 , SB1197 , SB1209 , SB1227 , SB1245 , SB1267 , SB1307 , SB1321 , SB1332 , SB1386 , SB1396 , SB1453 , SB1484 , SB1494 , SB1536 , SB1537 , SB1596 , SB1610 , SB1664 , SB1741 , SB1814 , SB1822 , SB1841 , SB1948 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2188 , SB2230 , SB2406 , SB2407

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with senators highlighting the university’s growth, medical school, research expansion, and role in serving South Texas. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 368 honoring outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, with numerous senators praising his long public career, leadership in higher education, and statewide impact. Senate Resolution 361 recognizing Texas HBCU Day and Senate Resolution 362 recognizing Denton County Days at the Capitol were also adopted, along with other routine recognitions and gubernatorial appointments being read into the record. The Senate then took up several bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to shorten vacancy posting requirements, allow bilingual certification candidates to retake only failed test sections, give teachers more flexibility with paid leave, clarify classroom removal procedures, and ensure parents are informed of appeal rights. The bill passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a parent’s right to direct a child’s education, was also brought up and passed to engrossment after a contested suspension vote. The Senate next passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, which would require reporting of foreign funding at public universities, bar gifts from adversarial governments, and require training and reporting systems to prevent foreign influence and intellectual property theft in higher education. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the so-called “Dexit” bill, was debated at length for its corporate governance changes, including codifying the business judgment rule and altering internal corporate litigation and records rules; it passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed by a 30-1 vote. Senate Bill 857, allowing law enforcement discretion to tow vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed after discussion of towing abuses during flooding and disaster conditions. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536, requiring dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, passed with broad support, and Senate Bill 922, addressing delayed electronic disclosure of sensitive medical test results so physicians can discuss them first, was taken up and passed to engrossment as the chamber continued through its calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• citizen, a non-Texas resident, but an American citizen with a serious history of child abuse.
• I also suggest looking into the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
• It even happens during session where I remember a lady that drove up from San Antonio, African-American
• , Where I remember a lady that drove up from San Antonio, an African-American lady, came about our IDD
• the Christian Camp Conference Association, and the American Camp Association.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, my name again is Abdi Khad Bashir, and I serve as the founder and ED at Cairo Center for African
• :43.120><c> for</c> the founder and ED at Cairo Center for the founder and ED at Cairo Center for African
• <00:04:43.680><c> Immigrants</c><00:04:44.320><c> and</c><00:04:44.560><c> Refugees</c> African Immigrants
• and Refugees African Immigrants and Refugees Organization.<00:04:46.000><c> It</c><00:04:46.240><c>
• years working in the intersection of workforce, education, and economic empowerment, helping new Americans

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Daniel Martinez, Americans for Prosperity, waves in support.
• Daniel Martinez, Americans for Prosperity, waves in support. Any debate?
• Regarding trust and access issues, particularly for our African American students, please watch the enlightening
• You’ll gain further insight and considerations regarding the impacts on African American students in
• You'll gain further insight and considerations regarding the impacts on African American students in

Bills: S0036 , S0620 , S0796 , S0934 , S1080 , S1096 , S1366 , S1536 , S1548 , S1580 , S1588 , S1620 , S1756 , S7034 , S7044

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: nursing title, advanced practice registered nurse, advertising, professional standards, disciplinary action, candidate qualifying, federal office, election integrity, regulatory compliance, political candidacy, veterinary medicine, telehealth, veterinary professional associate, animal health, public safety, access to veterinary services, payment bond exemption, Habitat for Humanity, Florida Forever Act, land acquisition

Transcript Highlights:

• The American Farm Bureau, which represents, again, a cross-section of American food producers all across
• In 2018, I was the first African-American elected to serve as St.
• /c><00:39:15.800><c> was</c><00:39:16.000><c> the</c><00:39:16.160><c> first</c><00:39:16.880><c> African-American
• </c> 2018 I was the first African-American 2018 I was the first African-American elected<00:39:18.319
• When Floridians are suffering, I see Americans. When Texans are suffering, I see Americans.

Bills: HR736 , HR692 , HR965 , HR975 , HR386 , HR224

Keywords: diaper need, infant health, family well-being, basic needs, public health, childcare, September 11, terrorist attacks, education, curriculum, first responders, national security, temporary protected status, Haiti, immigration, refugees, quorum, House of Representatives, business proceeding, legislative procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> industry</c><00:21:01.440><c> by</c> the American beef industry by the American beef industry by
• </c><00:36:41.440><c> And</c><00:36:41.680><c> so</c> African immigrants, right?
• And so African immigrants, right?
• And then, of course, third is American Crystal in Moorhead, where Senator Kupec is from.
• ><c> Morehead</c><01:44:43.360><c> where</c> American Crystal in Morehead where American Crystal in Morehead

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, going back to my public school days and studying American civics, I guess maybe things have
• American American civics.<00:45:56.400><c> I</c><00:45:56.640><c> guess</c><00:45:56.800><c> it</c><
• Heritage Museum uh designation African Heritage Museum uh designation and<01:49:47.199><c> and</c><01
• We have American and Southeast Asian veterans.
• Tomorrow is the fourth annual American Indian Day on the Hill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Trump on behalf of American families. Trump on behalf of American families.
• </c> American democracy. American democracy.
• Lies remove African-American and other cultural and racial groups from public spaces, in our history
• Lies to<08:22:57.120><c> remove</c><08:22:58.240><c> African-American</c><08:22:58.958><c> and</c><08
• :22:59.200><c> other</c> to remove African-American and other to remove African-American and other cultural

Bills: SB1596 , HB1770 , HB1709 , HR504 , HR410 , HR1044 , HB1729 , HB2316 , HR900 , HB3657 , HB1765 , HB1717 , HB2037 , HB1455 , HB1766 , HB1618

Keywords: Jocelyn Nungaray, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, national wildlife refuge, Texas, Houston, refuge renaming, commemorative naming, federal land, US Fish and Wildlife Service, public law 119-30, immigration, illegal aliens, Tren de Aragua, memorial, wildlife refuge act, Consumer Safety Technology Act, AI for Consumer Product Safety Act, Blockchain Innovation Act, Digital Taxonomy Act, Consumer Product Safety Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• Jewish Committee, Northern California, American Jewish Committee, Los Angeles, American Jewish Committee
• Seth Brisk, American Jewish Committee, California, son of Seth Brisk, American Jewish Committee, California
• I also teach African-American studies, and I encourage you to oppose this bill.
• Jewish and Japanese American... ...Americans interned at Poston and Tule Lake and mother of three Jewish
• Happy Hmong American Day.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee held a special hearing on AB 715, with the authors presenting the bill as a response to rising anti-Semitism in K-12 schools. The authors said the measure is intended to strengthen protections for Jewish students, improve district accountability, expand the uniform complaint process, clarify protections related to religion and nationality, and create a state-level anti-Semitism coordinator. They emphasized that the bill was developed through collaboration with the Black, Latino, AAPI, and Jewish caucuses and argued it is meant to protect all students from hate while preserving legitimate classroom discussion. The hearing included extensive public testimony. Supporters, including students, parents, rabbis, Jewish organizations, and some educators, described harassment, biased curriculum, delayed or ineffective school responses, and fear among Jewish students and families. They urged the committee to act to make schools safer and more responsive. Opponents, including teachers, ethnic studies advocates, civil liberties groups, Palestinian rights advocates, and some Jewish parents, argued the bill was rushed, vague, and could chill academic freedom, censor discussion of Palestine and Israel, and expand complaints against teachers and school districts. Several witnesses said existing complaint and anti-discrimination systems already address these issues. Committee members then questioned the authors and witnesses about implementation, definitions, and possible effects on curriculum and school boards. The authors said the bill is still intent language and that details would be refined in further negotiations with stakeholders. Representatives from the California School Boards Association and California Teachers Association raised concerns about the new language and possible unintended consequences, while ACLU California Action said it had concerns but wanted to keep working on the bill. The transcript does not show a final vote or action taken on AB 715 during this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the state is now transitioning to the American Society of Addiction Medicine fourth edition criteria
• The child was eventually adopted by an African-American family, and the family was able to keep the child
• Before, well, so ARPA meaning like American-Rexican? Yeah.
• Well, so ARPA meaning like American American American. Yeah.
• Our farmers are usually small-scale, mostly African-American farmers, who it is in their DNA to farm.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several budget requests tied to health and human services. Louisiana Children’s Advocacy Centers asked for continued support and a supplemental appropriation of $1.173 million for infrastructure and standardization, explaining that the money would expand use of the Guardify digital evidence system, improve chain of custody, and reduce reliance on DVDs. Baton Rouge and statewide CAC leaders said prior funding helped eliminate a therapy wait list and speed services for abused children. Members asked detailed questions about the digital system, MDT coordination, and how the request related to SB 237, which would strengthen multidisciplinary review of child abuse cases. The Alzheimer’s Association sought $824,000 to sustain the dementia care specialist program, saying it helps families navigate services, keep loved ones at home longer, and reduce Medicaid costs. AARP and the Live at Home Coalition also testified for 750 additional Community Choice waiver slots at a state cost of $3.3 million, arguing that home- and community-based care is cheaper than nursing homes and that the current wait list is more than 11,000 people. Legislators discussed the size of the need, the state’s long-term care spending mix, and whether more support should go to family caregivers and community-based options. Testimony also focused on disability support services, substance use treatment, and developmental disability provider rates. A parent and direct support worker described the Children’s Choice waiver’s 20-hour cap and low pay, saying it makes it hard to retain caregivers and meet the needs of medically fragile children. Odyssey House and O’Brien House asked for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates under ASAM 4, warned that removal of room-and-board payments and weak Medicaid eligibility pathways are reducing access, and called for more oversight of sober living homes; members questioned outcomes data, length of stay, and links to homelessness. Finally, the Arc of Louisiana said the LDH rate study confirmed underfunding and supported a $53.6 million increase in state general funds, with local ARC leaders describing the services they provide and the need for higher direct support professional wages.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the state is now transitioning to the American Society of Addiction Medicine fourth edition criteria
• The child was eventually adopted by an African-American family, and the family was able to keep the child
• Before, well, so ARPA meaning like American-Rexican? Yeah.
• Well, so ARPA meaning like American American American. Yeah.
• Our farmers are usually small-scale, mostly African-American farmers, who it is in their DNA to farm.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to say is that I know, as far as the designation, we had conversations about including the African-American
• Collections by and about certain heroes of America—African Americans, Hispanic Americans—have been banned
• As an American woman of Hispanic heritage, I take offense that somehow protecting children targets Black
• Today we are celebrating Caribbean American Heritage here at the Capitol, and from our district, myself
• It is also Haitian American Month in the month of May. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bills: HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29 , SB5 , SB262 , HB 11 , HJR72 , HB 106 , HB18 , HB48 , HB27 , HB37 , HB1481 , HB581 , HB1696 , HB2216 , HB 1035 , HB1633 , HB742 , HB754 , HB1689 , HB1690 , HB2669 , HB391 , HB517 , HB 1024 , HB1607 , HB252 , HB1716 , HB1562 , HB4116 , HB1866 , HB1741 , HB2103 , HB2637 , HB2884 , HB503 , HB 1089 , HB2986 , HB972 , HB502 , HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Summary: The Florida House of Representatives conducted legislative business including prayer, pledge, and voting on multiple bills. Key legislation included HB 1105 expanding Florida Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility, HB 443 on charter school regulations (passed 83-23), and HB 1539 on materials harmful to minors (passed 81-29) after extensive debate about book challenges in schools. Other bills addressed education funding, law enforcement benefits, parole guidelines, and various local issues. The Speaker announced budget negotiations with the Senate have stalled, with disagreements over spending levels and tax cuts. The House will not meet this weekend as originally planned. Session adjourned until tomorrow at 10 AM.

Transcript Highlights:

• whose shoulders we stand on, including iconic and legendary tennis athlete Althea Gibson, the first African
• American to win a Grand Slam event, join the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour, and the first
• African American woman to be inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.
• This bill will align Florida with President Trump's executive order of restoring names to honor American
• But as we heard from Senator Jones, and I saw that same video on social media, that African-American

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding. Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one, African swine fever, is one that I've talked about with this committee in the past.
• The magic combination for African swine fever getting introduced into a country is feral swine population
• Another thing about African swine fever, just kind of recent, this has arrived in our hemisphere.
• The first one, African swine fever, is one that I've talked about with this committee in the past.
• Another thing about African swine fever, just kind of recent, this has arrived in our hemisphere.

Bills: HF601 , HF271 , HF1101 , HF979

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Fresno State is about 60% Latino, 15% Asian, 15% white, 3% African American, and the rest comes from
• probably not going to be as bad as that in California here, but not to say that this is truly an American
• I loved what was said just a bit ago here about what's happened in the supermarkets: the American and
• I know it's counterintuitive, but typically the American ag economy is kind of counter-cyclical to a
• So American agriculture, but very specifically, California agriculture has done amazingly well the last

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact and Agriculture, held at Fresno State, focused on cost pressures in California’s food system, household affordability, and the Central Valley’s role in agriculture. Opening remarks emphasized Fresno State’s regional importance, the Central Valley’s outsized contribution to food production, and the connection between agricultural health, food security, and the broader economy. Members also noted the impact of the federal shutdown on CalFresh benefits and the state’s efforts to respond with food assistance funding and National Guard support for food banks. The first panel featured academic and policy experts who described agriculture’s economic importance in the San Joaquin Valley and the rising pressures on farms and households. Dr. Conduro highlighted agriculture’s large share of regional GDP, farm receipts, jobs, exports, and food manufacturing, while identifying water scarcity, SGMA-related land fallowing, labor shortages and rising labor costs, market volatility, invasive pests, and production cost inflation as major barriers. Caroline Danielson of PPIC said food prices remain about 30% above 2019 levels, food insecurity affects about 1.8 million California households, and nutrition programs such as CalFresh, WIC, and school meals are essential in reducing poverty, especially in the Central Valley. Susie Pryor of the Central California Small Business Development Center described technical assistance, capital access, and training for small food and farm businesses, while warning that reduced funding limits support for rural and immigrant entrepreneurs. The second panel brought testimony from a small produce business owner, a food entrepreneur, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. They said input costs for fertilizer, fuel, irrigation, labor, land leases, and compliance have risen sharply while commodity prices have remained flat or fallen, squeezing small farms and food businesses. Panelists stressed the need for small-batch processing facilities, local supply chains, education on food manufacturing compliance, land access for small farmers, and more pathways into agriculture through trade programs, community colleges, and FFA. Ryan Jacobson said California agriculture is facing a prolonged downturn, with farm bankruptcies, weak commodity prices, export-market uncertainty, water reliability problems, and costly ag-burning rules all contributing to financial strain. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with discussion of possible policy solutions and continued engagement with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fresno State is about 60% Latino, 15% Asian, 15% White, 3% African American, and the rest comes from
• probably not going to be as bad as that in California here, but not to say that this is truly an American
• I loved what was said just a bit ago here about what's happened in the supermarkets: the American and
• that's not highly talked about, but really influences what's going on, it's the strength of the American
• American agriculture, but very specifically California agriculture, has done amazingly well the last

Summary: The joint informational hearing at Fresno State focused on cost pressures in California’s food system and how those pressures affect households, farmers, and small businesses. Opening remarks emphasized Fresno State’s role in the Central Valley economy and the region’s importance to the state and nation’s food supply. Members said the hearing was part of a broader “pocketbook tour” to gather local input on affordability, food costs, labor, water, regulation, and market conditions, and they noted the added strain from the federal shutdown’s impact on CalFresh benefits and food insecurity. The first panel featured an agricultural economist, a PPIC researcher, and a Small Business Development Center leader. The economist described agriculture’s outsized role in the Central Valley’s GDP, employment, exports, and food manufacturing, while identifying water scarcity, SGMA-related land fallowing, labor shortages and rising labor costs, market uncertainty, invasive pests, and rising production costs as major barriers. The PPIC witness said food prices remain much higher than before the pandemic, household budgets are under pressure, and California’s nutrition safety net—especially CalFresh, WIC, and school meals—reduces poverty significantly, though federal changes and the shutdown could weaken that support. The SBDC representative highlighted technical assistance, capital access, and training for farm-adjacent businesses, but warned that reduced funding and ownership-transition challenges are making it harder for small businesses and farms to adapt. The second panel brought testimony from a small produce grower, a food entrepreneur, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO. The grower said input costs such as fertilizer, fuel, irrigation supplies, land leases, labor, and compliance have risen sharply while wholesale prices have not, leaving small farmers with thin or negative margins and delayed disaster assistance. The food entrepreneur described scaling barriers for small food processors, including the lack of local small-batch processing facilities, higher distribution costs, and the need for better education on labeling and regulatory compliance. The Farm Bureau leader argued that farmers are price takers, not price setters, and said consumer food prices are driven largely by transportation, processing, packaging, and retail costs rather than farm-gate prices; he also stressed the importance of exports, water infrastructure, land preservation, ag burn rules, and continued investment in technology and labor solutions. Members asked about ways to help small farmers, land access, farm-to-school participation, ag burn restrictions, and water reliability. Witnesses suggested grants or programs to help small farmers buy land, more local processing capacity, continued investment in water conveyance and recharge, and stronger support for technical assistance and innovation. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with members thanking the panelists and inviting continued input as they prepare future legislation.