Transcript Highlights:

• Is that what we got to have in order to be able to get these people to trial?
• When we say restoration to competency, it's competent to stand trial or not.
• where perhaps it will lead to a determination that they are unfit to stand trial.
• We're talking about whether or not someone's going to continue in trial or not.
• They're found permanently incompetent to stand trial.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• For the likelihood that a case will not be reached in its first trial setting, usually because older
• But only 3% of those got a full investigation and trial. This is why HB 3073 is paramount.
• And on pre-trial releases, and he met with them, and he found out Mr. Castro was right.
• After the trial, I had soccer to show up at my lot where I housed my Amazon vans.
• Sexual assault trials involve deeply personal graphic testimony.

Bills: HB47 , HB1552 , HB1686 , HB1953 , HB2151 , HB2355 , HB2582 , HB2697 , HB2895 , HB3073 , HB3418 , HB47

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: sexual assault, victim rights, forensic examination, medical care, trauma-informed care, crime victims compensation, evidence retention, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, digital services, reporting requirements, children's protection, sex offender registration, indecent assault, educator-student relationship, criminal justice, legislation, crime victims, compensation fund, information disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• No disrespect, but Patient Advocates, Nurse, Trial Lawyers, Medical Society, who we've been essentially
• The trial lawyers, for example, on the committee, have a lot of experience dealing with similar issues
• And then you get to a trial and you present a plaintiff's case and the defense Will file a motion at
• The case I had most recently that went to trial in Las Cruces, the hospital had contracted out its OB
• Gurley had a chance to try that one all the way through the trial into the Court of Appeals.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We have pre-trial detainees, sentenced petty misdemeanants, sentenced misdemeanants, pre-trial felons
• They actually operate in both worlds with the post-trial diversion, post-booking.
• This is so difficult, the post-booking population, as well as the pre-trial population.
• They actually operate in both worlds with the post-trial diversion, post-booking.
• They actually operate in both worlds with the post-trial diversion, post-booking.

Transcript Highlights:

• dismissed because once they sort of dug in, there wasn't sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial
• dismissed because once they sort of dug in, there wasn't sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial
• been arraigned, charges have been read, and then there's some amount of time until the case goes to trial
• Charges have been read, and then there's some amount of time until the case goes to trial.
• So for a year... ...is really different than pre-trial probation, right?

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll note that the trial was originally scheduled for September of 2024.
• The next trial date was scheduled for March 20. The next trial date was scheduled for March 25.
• The next trial was scheduled for October 6, 2025.
• We had a trial date scheduled in January of 2026.
• And as I mentioned, we prepared for several trials that didn't ultimately happen.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• to conduct direct questioning of a victim witness in sexual assault or domestic violence cases at trial
• request of a prosecuting attorney, allow a court to appoint standby counsel or an investigator during trial
• Trial de novo is available, and as you mentioned, jury trial, trial de novo, truly everything brought
• groups out there, including one that I talked to this morning, which would be Kelly Carson and the Trial
• Senator Holy: ...Carson and the Trial Lawyers Association under their current moniker have come to neutral

Summary: The Law and Justice Committee first heard testimony on four gubernatorial appointments to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Kristen Ferreira, a Chelan County Superior Court judge, said she would bring a rural court perspective; Lisa Mannion, the King County Prosecuting Attorney, emphasized fairness, equity, victim input, and modernization of sentencing grids, and answered a question about her gun responsibility advocacy by saying responsible gun ownership and Second Amendment rights can coexist. Kate Bedward, an appellate public defender with experience in tribal and other defense systems, said she wanted to help evaluate whether the sentencing scheme is meeting Washington’s goals. Rochelle Cleland, seeking renewal in the survivor/lived-experience seat, stressed the importance of survivor and victim voices and criticized the commission for leaving the victim advocate seat vacant and for how it handled a recent vote. The chair said the committee would take executive action on the appointments the following Tuesday. In executive session, the committee reviewed and amended several bills. SB 5906, concerning data and personal safety protections in public accommodations, was amended with a substitute and an amendment requiring notification of union representatives when certain early learning or school employees are subject to immigration enforcement; it received a due pass recommendation. SJM 8014, requesting an investigation into the killing of Aishanor Eski Aege, was amended for more neutral language and also received a due pass recommendation, with members noting the emotionally charged nature of the memorial. SB 6087, expanding liability protections for donations of baby items, and SB 5890, reclassifying certain high-speed driving conduct as negligent driving in the first degree, both advanced after substitutes/amendments were adopted. SB 6017, addressing victim- and witness-centered court procedures, advanced after the sponsor withdrew a proposed amendment for later floor work; members discussed trauma-informed protections and funding concerns. The committee also advanced SB 5520 on compensation for wrongly convicted persons after rejecting amendments that would have removed civil detention language and advance-payment provisions, with members debating the scope and fiscal impact of the bill. SB 6239, concerning arbitration for older tort claims, moved forward after extensive discussion about balancing survivor access to compensation with state and local fiscal concerns and sovereign immunity. SB 5886, expanding personality rights to forged digital likenesses, was advanced with a substitute combining it with related subject matter. Finally, SB 6190 on critical infrastructure protection and scrap metal records was amended to require photographs and database reporting for certain transactions and then received a due pass recommendation. The committee adjourned after sending the bills to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, to address the concerns that this is just a trial attorney bill.
• Throughout the debate this evening, we have heard that trial attorneys are the only ones that stand to
• We're creating An economic development boom to attract trial lawyers to our state that will once again
• This is not a bill that was initiated by the trial lawyers.
• It was not requested by the trial lawyers. It was not written by the trial lawyers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clarifying the responsibility of pre-trial felony detainees.
• By day 61, most pre-trial felony detainees will have been indicted.
• </c> 81 state in 12 of our 81 pre-trial 81 state in 12 of our 81 pre-trial felony<00:13:58.399><c> detainees
• </c><00:14:25.920><c> in</c> He had spent three years pre-trial in He had spent three years pre-trial
• We waited on trial for a very important Supreme Court ruling in 2013, Maryland v. King.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the October 21 minutes, and then heard a KO presentation focused on county jail funding pressures. KO leaders and county judges said jail costs have become a statewide crisis, noting that county general fund contributions to jail budgets have risen sharply since 2019. They said the organization’s sole legislative priority this session is to “reshape the shared responsibility” for county jails through three main proposals: incentivizing regional jails, clarifying responsibility for pre-trial felony detainees, and changing the model for housing state inmates. On regional jails, KO proposed one-time state construction help for new or expanded regional facilities, allowing former county jails to become 96-hour holdover facilities, changing regional jail authority boards so each participating county jailer can serve, increasing the closed-jail supplement, and offering a one-time payment to counties that close a jail and join a regional plan. On pre-trial felony detainees, Judge Mosley argued counties bear the full cost for people held before trial, sometimes for years, and said counties should be reimbursed for time served credit when those inmates are later sentenced. On state inmates, KO said the current per diem of $35.34 is below the average daily county jail cost of $63.44, and proposed a new contract model requiring the Department of Corrections to pay actual housing costs while counties provide agreed programming such as substance use treatment, cognitive behavioral programming, re-entry services, workforce training, and academic programming. Members asked about the fiscal impact of the package, the feasibility of regional jail population thresholds, and whether the proposal could affect counties’ ability to house federal inmates. KO said regionalization should remain a local decision, that a bill draft and fiscal note were being developed, and that only certain jails are eligible to house federal inmates under existing agreements. Representative Maddox also asked about social media comments by Judge Mosley regarding homeschooling; Mosley said the remarks were unrelated to KO and apologized for any offense. Senator Mills asked what counties would do with savings from jail costs, and judges said the money would likely go to local services such as roads, ambulance service, senior programs, parks, economic development, infrastructure, broadband, and water projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was preventable because the trial courts knew that he was a suicide risk.
• We've also worked over the last two years with the trial courts and the Sheriff's Association to come
• courts believe strongly that this has, this change has to be more. the trial courts believe strongly
• Sheriffs, and the trial courts.
• But I appreciate this opportunity to be with my partner, Andrea Freeman, and with the Boston trial.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a wide range of criminal justice, victim services, and records-sealing bills. Early testimony focused on H.1811, the Clean Slate automated record-sealing bill, with supporters arguing that automatic sealing after existing waiting periods would remove barriers to jobs, housing, and education without changing eligibility rules. Advocates from legal aid, business, and housing organizations said the current petition-based system is underused, burdensome, and costly, while opponents of expanding surveillance-related laws urged the committee to preserve privacy protections. The committee also heard testimony on H.1693, which would immediately seal records in cases ending without conviction and clarify the presumption of innocence, with speakers describing how dismissed cases still create lasting collateral consequences and prevent people from moving forward. No votes were taken during the hearing. Several bills centered on victim safety and domestic violence. Senator Michael Moore testified for S.1201, which would keep child-protective orders in effect even if the parent or guardian who filed them dies, and for S.1204, which would update the wiretap statute. Multiple survivors and advocates supported S.1215 and S.1222, arguing for a narrow wiretap defense for recordings made to document threats or abuse and for making GPS tampering a separate felony offense. Testifiers described situations in which GPS devices were cut off or disabled and said current law leaves victims at risk and gives abusers too much leeway. The committee also heard emotional testimony on H.1685/S.1238, a bill prompted by the suicide of Stavri Yanka in custody, with the sponsor, his mother, and the sheriff describing the need for better information-sharing so suicide-risk information follows a person into custody. Law enforcement and prosecutors supported several due-process and dangerousness-related bills. MassCOP, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the State Police Association backed H.1828/S.1039/S.1235, which would require de novo Superior Court review for POST Commission suspensions over two weeks or decertifications, arguing officers need a meaningful appeal beyond administrative review. The committee also heard support for H.1691, expanding the dangerousness statute to additional offenses; Bristol County District Attorney Quinn said the changes would let prosecutors seek detention in serious cases such as child rape and manslaughter when facts warrant it. In contrast, the Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed expanding dangerousness detention, warning that pretrial detention causes serious harms and disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic defendants. The hearing also included testimony on H.1654/S.1063 to enhance victims’ rights and H.1525, which would rename and expand community corrections into community justice programs, with supporters emphasizing reentry, reduced stigma, and broader service access.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you go to trial and you're found guilty, it's mandatory death not allowing that provision.
• What's the incentive for defendant here not to go to trial?
• If the only option for a penalty is death, why wouldn't they go to trial?
• Why should you take that option away from me as a prosecutor, I have no hammer trial.
• The court were conveyed from the state attorney and mandatory death if found guilty at trial.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our trial courts are organized into districts.
• </c> country our district courts our trial country our district courts our trial courts<00:02:37.959>
• </c> and whether they um can go to trial and whether they um can go to trial um<00:31:58.919><c> and<
• If you have a jury trial, if you have an evidentiary hearing, you're coming to the courthouse.
• If you have a jury trial, if you have an evidentiary hearing, you're coming to the courthouse.

Transcript Highlights:

• So to look a little bit about the early phase clinical trials and what is early phase clinical trials
• as well as later phase trials in which we're engaged.
• as well as later early phase trials as well as later phase<02:27:12.640><c> trials</c><02:27:13.120>
• </c><02:27:14.680><c> Um</c> phase trials in which we're engaged.
• Um phase trials in which we're engaged.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you rely on the law, rely on you, rely on trial lawyers, rely on... Leave it.
• And your 401-403 arguments typically don't happen until sometimes as late as trial.
• , not a reduction in the verdict, but a flat new trial.
• , not a reduction in the verdict, but a flat new trial.
• If I engaged in the kind of conduct in front of a jury, but a flat new trial.

Summary: The committee first considered CS/SB 1434 on infill redevelopment. A late-filed strike-all amendment narrowed eligibility to certain contaminated or brownfield properties in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, added adjacency and density/intensity limits, and excluded agricultural land, park land, land outside the urban growth boundary, and land near military installations. The amendment was adopted without opposition, and the bill was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote, with limited support and opposition noted in waived appearance forms. Members then took up CS/CS/SB 212 on sexual offenders and sexual predators. The strike-all added public swimming pools and related child-centered locations to residency and presence restrictions. Testimony was sharply divided: proponents argued the bill would help protect children and law enforcement, while opponents, including treatment experts and homelessness advocates, said there was no empirical evidence the restrictions reduce abuse and warned of retroactive punishment and increased homelessness. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 8-1. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after an amendment allowing certain enclaves adjacent to interstates to be developed for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential uses and clarifying exclusions for protected areas. Opponents argued it would weaken zoning and comprehensive plans, while supporters framed it as a property-rights measure; the bill was reported favorably 10-0. SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, a technical update to nonprofit law modeled on prior for-profit corporate revisions, also passed unanimously after supportive waived testimony. Later, the committee approved SB 1338 on charitable giving, which creates a donor remedy for endowment restrictions and limits state reporting burdens on certain regulated or exempt organizations; members discussed cy pres and the sponsor said further changes would be worked out later. CS/SB 532 on court fees was amended to let clerks retain all collections above revenue projections rather than half, with supporters saying clerks have been underfunded for years; it passed 10-0. The committee also favorably reported SB 218 on land use regulations, which restores normal land-use authority to counties not affected by recent hurricanes, and CS/SB 692 on cybersecurity standards and liability, which creates a presumption against liability for entities that comply with cybersecurity frameworks and reporting requirements; the cybersecurity bill drew concerns about retroactivity and the adequacy of compliance incentives but passed 9-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Court of Appeals struck down the trial court on a number of bases.
• I did see the trial judge power. Okay.
• I did see the trial judge power. Okay.
• I would quickly add that the trial court ordered the city to adopt the new seven-district system.
• I would quickly add that the trial court ordered the city to adopt the new seven-district system.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. AB 316, by Assembly Member Krell, would prevent AI developers or deployers from arguing that an AI system’s alleged autonomy absolves them of civil liability. Supporters said it is a narrow, common-sense guardrail that does not change existing burdens of proof, while opponents from TechNet and the Chamber of Progress raised concerns about possible strict-liability effects. The bill was moved on a due-pass vote to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 251, by Assembly Member Kalra, would let judges apply a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard when a skilled nursing facility or RCFE intentionally destroys evidence in elder abuse cases. Supporters said the measure is needed because vulnerable victims often cannot testify and electronic records are easily altered; opponents argued existing sanctions are sufficient and warned of more litigation. After discussion about the bill’s narrow scope and the governor’s prior veto concerns, the committee passed the bill to Human Services. AB 474, by Assembly Member Ward, would encourage nonprofit home-sharing for low-income homeowners, especially older adults, through tax and housing-law changes, but it also proposed changes to the lodger law. Supporters emphasized housing stability and companionship benefits, while the California Apartment Association and some members expressed concern about removing lodger protections; the author said he would continue working on that issue. The bill advanced to Human Services. The committee also passed AB 449, which would authorize the Civil Rights Department to run statewide media campaigns discouraging discrimination based on immutable characteristics. AB 1201, the “Reunity Act,” would give courts discretion to provide family reunification services to parents with violent felony convictions unless the offense involved force or a weapon against the child or reunification would likely endanger the child; supporters described it as a fairer, individualized approach, while some members raised concerns about domestic violence and child safety. AB 464, an anti-retaliation and accountability bill concerning sexual abuse in prisons, would extend reporting time, require 90-day monitoring, bar rehiring confirmed abusers, and strengthen reporting protections; survivors gave detailed testimony about retaliation, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 614 would standardize Government Claims Act deadlines at one year for all claims; the author and a civil rights attorney argued the current six-month deadline is too short for many injury and wrongful death victims, and testimony began from a parent describing a jail-related death claim.

Transcript Highlights:

• John Nau: ...through clinical trials.
• we have done so much in clinical trials.
• talking about around clinical trials.
• , phase two, clinical trials, phase three.
• For cancer patients, clinical trials really are being done.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Nancy Pevereigni, on behalf of the consumer attorneys, also in support: the Alameda Contra Costa Trial
• Lawyers Association, Capital City Trial Lawyers Association, Central Valley Trial Lawyers Association
• Lawyers Association, and finally the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association.
• Jackie Seren, on behalf of the Capital City Trial Lawyers Association, the Alameda Contra Costa Trial
• , the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, and the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association.

Summary: The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused largely on legal ethics, access to justice, public notice, water-rights notice, and protections for vulnerable people. AB 2305 would bar corporate investors such as private equity and hedge funds from directing or influencing litigation decisions; it was supported by the Consumer Attorneys of California and others, with the Civil Justice Association of California supporting if amended to add disclosure requirements. AB 2039 would tighten discipline for attorney misconduct, protect whistleblowers inside law firms, and restrict certain client-loan arrangements; it drew support from consumer attorneys and a support-if-amended position from CJA. AB 2109 would require the State Bar to adopt the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ Universal Bar Exam after the troubled February 2025 California bar exam; members discussed the need for broader review and possible reciprocity, but supported moving the bill forward. The committee also advanced AB 2115, which would issue a formal legislative apology to California Native peoples for the state’s role in historic violence and dispossession, with strong support from tribal leaders and Native organizations. Members spoke at length about the need for acknowledgment, healing, and a Capitol plaque memorializing the apology. AB 2179 would expand electronic filing and remote appearance options to workplace violence restraining orders, aligning them with other protective order procedures; it received support from local governments, prosecutors, labor groups, and advocacy organizations. AB 2534 would allow restraining orders based on forced marriage or attempts to compel marriage, and the committee heard powerful testimony from a survivor and support from family violence advocates. Two other measures addressed notice and transparency. AB 2323 would modernize public notice by keeping print publication as the legal standard while requiring online availability, with supporters emphasizing access, archival value, and the role of community newspapers; a special districts group opposed unless amended. AB 2125 would require courts in water-rights adjudications to consider proof of notice and receipts before proceeding, prompted by testimony from Ventura County farmers who said they lost water allocations without adequate notice. The committee approved the bills it heard, including several on consent, and later took roll-call votes to move the measures forward, generally sending them to Appropriations or to the floor as noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nancy Pevereigni on behalf of the consumer attorneys also in support, the Alameda Contra Costa Trial
• Lawyers Association, Capital City Trial Lawyers Association, Central Valley Trial Lawyers Association
• Lawyers Association, and finally the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association.
• Jackie Seren, on behalf of the Capital City Trial Lawyers Association, the Alameda Contra Costa Trial
• , the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, and the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd be surprised if any trial bar or insurance lobbyists are registered on this bill.
• fees if the court finds a party is engaging in vexatious or bad-faith litigation, similar to civil trials
• Your 401-403 argument, something doesn't Senator Leek: happen sometimes as late as trial.
• It can happen before, but frequently courts will take them under advisement until they get to trial.
• Not a reduction in the verdict but a flat new trial.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:06.400><c> under</c> plead guilty or you've had a trial under plead guilty or you've had a
• the short title, intimidation of witness usually occurs prior to grand jury testimony or prior to trial
• Witness tampering, when I see that, is generally in the midst of a trial, or I just...
• the short title, intimidation of witness usually occurs prior to grand jury testimony or prior to trial
• Witness tampering, when I see that, is generally in the midst of a trial, or I just...

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B