Transcript Highlights:

• I am the Library Chair, Celabino, and I'm joined here today by Senator Bristport, Senator Zellnor, Senator
• Tedisco, and Senator Murray.
• S110A, sponsored by Senator May.
• Moved by Senator Murray. Seconded by Senator Brisport. Thank you. Moved by Senator Murray.
• Motion by Senator Brisport, seconded by Senator Zellner. Ayes. Aye. Nays. AWR. All in favor?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Standing Committee on Libraries met on Tuesday, May 12 at 9:45 a.m. with Chair Celabino and Senators Brisport, Zellnor, Tedisco, and Murray present. The committee considered a short agenda of four Education Law bills related to libraries and library services. The first bill, S110A by Senator May, would require certain libraries to adopt policies ensuring staff can curate and develop collections, services, and programming consistent with the Human Rights Law and the Equal Rights Amendment. Members clarified that the measure was intended to empower local library boards and librarians to make collection decisions, rather than direct the Board of Regents to mandate specific content. The bill was moved by Senator Zellnor and seconded by Senator Murray, then advanced unanimously. The committee also advanced S5989A by Senator Bynoe on library cards for minors, B680A by Senator Connery directing a study on public libraries’ access to capital funding, and S8044A by Senator Bynoe establishing the Library Literacy Education Guidance Act. Each bill was moved, seconded, and approved without opposition. The meeting then adjourned after all four bills were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Morris? Here. Senator Abraham? President Pro Tem Barrow? Here. Senator Cloud? Here.
• Senator Hodges? Here. Senator Cloud? Here. Senator Hodges? Here.
• Senator Abraham: yes. Senator Barrow: no. Senator Cloud: yes. Senator Hodges: yes.
• Senator Kleinpeter: yes. Senator Miguez: yes. Senator Kleinpeter: yes. Senator Miguez: yes.
• Senator Barrow? No. Senator Cloud? Senator Hodges? Yes. Senator Kleinpeter? Yes. Senator Miguez?

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Luneau. Here. Present. Senator Carter. Senator Edmonds. Senator Jenkins. Senator Mizell.
• Senator Luneau? Senator Carter? No. Senator Edmonds? Senator Jenkins? No. Senator Mizell? Yes.
• Senator Luneau? No. Senator Carter? No. Senator Edmonds? No. Senator Carter? No. Senator Edmonds?
• Senator Edmonds? Senator Jenkins? Yes. Senator Mizell? Senator Seabaugh? No. Three ayes, two nays.
• Senator Carter? Yes. Yes. Senator Edmonds? Senator Jenkins? Yes. Senator Mizell? Senator Seabaw?

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate will come to order. >> Senator Murphy. >> Mr.
• Members remaining under motions and resolutions. Senator Latz, for a motion. Mr.
• Senator Green, Senator Hoffman, Senator Senator Green, Senator Hoffman, Senator Klene,<02:28:09.359><
• Klene, Senator Dibble, Senator Weber, Klene, Senator Dibble, Senator Weber, Senator<02:28:11.200>
• Senator<02:36:09.760> Senator Senator Senator Senator Senator Hoffman,<02:36:12.319> were

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Burgess, you were recognized for a motion. Thank you very much, Rep. Persons-Mulicka.
• I move that Senator Gaetz moved that Rep. Persons-Mulicka be named chair.
• I didn't move that Senator Gaetz did something. Senator Gaetz moves that Rep.
• Senator Burgess, do you have any opening comments? Very briefly. Thank you, Chair.
• Thank you, Senator. Well, it was my honor to present House Offer Number 1.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Garcia, you're recognized for a motion. Thank you.
• We've provided the Senate.
• And Senator Garcia, I believe that you will find that we have attempted to move closer to the Senate
• Thank you, Senator Garcia. Is there any public comment? Thank you, Senator Garcia.
• Thank you, Senator. Now the work starts. Thank you, Senator. Now the work starts.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Brodeur, the House is pleased to make the Senate an offer on the budget proviso projects and
• I hope you will find that we have attempted to move closer to the Senate on a number of issues.
• Thank you, Senator Brodeur. I believe you have an offer as well.
• Representative Maggard, the Senate is pleased. Thank you, Senator Brodeur.
• Thank you for your Senate offer. The House will review and follow up.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to welcome Senator Trumbull, Senate members, and House members to the first meeting of the Health
• Senator Trumbull, you are recognized for a motion. Thank you very much.
• Senator Trumbull, would you like to make any opening comments?
• And Senator Trumbull, that is our initial House offer. Thanks so much.
• And Senator Trumbull, that is our initial house offer. Thanks so much.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic
• I move to nominate Senator DeSigley to serve as Vice Chair of the House Budget and Senate Transportation
• Additionally, the House has an offer for the Senate on the budget.
• Additionally, the House has an offer for the Senate on the budget.
• Senator Hooper, do you have any opening comments?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to first welcome Senator Brodeur, Senate members, and House members to the Conference Committee
• I now move to nominate Senator Brodeur to serve as Vice Chair of the Conference Committee on Senate Agriculture
• I want to recognize Senator Brodeur, as I believe the Senate has an offer for the House.
• I want to recognize Senator Brodeur, as I believe the Senate has an offer for the House.
• Thank you, Senator Brodeur, for your offer.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we have a Senator Sieben Senate file 4667.
• Senator How then Senator Draheim? Senator How then Senator Draheim?
• >> Senator Senator Pratt. >> Senator Senator Pratt.
• :39:52.960> Senator of you, Senator Draheim, Senator of you, Senator Draheim, Senator Dziedzic
• I. >> Senator Johnson. >> Senator Mohamed. I. >> Senator Murphy. >> Senator Pappas.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Olson. Yes, thank you.
• Senator<00:10:34.560> Olson. Senator Olson. Senator Olson.
• Senator<00:11:48.600> Abbott. Senator Abbott. Senator Abbott.
• Seconded by Senator Abbott. Is Second. Seconded by Senator Abbott.
• Senator Altschiller moves consent, seconded by Senator Abbas.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Shouldn't it be the whole<00:47:36.320> Senate whole Senate whole Senate rather<00:47:
• Uh, Senator Rosenblum. Uh, Senator Berthel and Senator Rosenblum. Discussion?
• Senator<01:22:38.280> Waters. Senator Waters. Senator Waters.
• OTP, Senator Pearl, Senator Lang. OTP, Senator Pearl, Senator Lang.
• That's Senator Lang, Senator Birdsell. That's Senator Lang, Senator Birdsell. Okay. Okay.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Senator from the 16th, Senator Rouson.
• Senator of the 10th, Senator Brodeur, moves that Senate Bill 2506E be withdrawn from the Committee on
• Senators proceed to vote. Have all senators voted?
• Senators will proceed to vote. If all senators voted.
• Senator the 19th, Senator Mayfield moved Senate show that motion adopted.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator from Chittenden. Mr. President. Senator from Chittenden.
• The question is, shall the Senate adopt the resolution on its part? Are you ready for the question?
• <01:29:53.640> Norris, Senator from Franklin, Senator Norris, Senator from Franklin, Senator
• <02:02:31.200> Gulick Senator from Chittenden, Senator Gulick Senator from Chittenden, Senator
• Senator from Washington. Senate Appropriations will meet at 1:30. Senator from Rutland.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator. I agree. Let's go to Senator Becker.
• Thank you, Senator. I agree. Let's go to Senator Becker. Thank you. Chair.
• I know that Senator Stern and Senator Becker are having another informational hearing.
• Senator, do you want to just...
• Thank you, Senator. Let's go next to Senator Perez. Thank you, Chair.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee held the first of several informational hearings on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study, focused on wildfire risk, utility liability, and how to finance catastrophic losses. Chair Allen opened by describing California’s recent utility-ignited wildfires, the creation of the wildfire fund under AB 1054, and SB 254’s extension of that fund and requirement for a study. The California Earthquake Authority, as wildfire fund administrator, presented the report’s process and findings, emphasizing that the study was intended to be neutral and broad, based on extensive stakeholder outreach, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, communities, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA’s report organized recommendations into three policy pathways: continued mitigation investment, more equitable allocation of catastrophe burdens, and expanded state roles in catastrophe financing. For utilities, the report discussed options such as setting a binding risk-tolerance standard, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, creating confidential reporting with safe-harbor protections, reforming utility liability including possible changes to inverse condemnation, limiting damages, reducing insurance subrogation, and creating a fast-pay facility for survivors. The financing analysis compared a more durable wildfire fund, risk transfer/reinsurance, liability reforms, and state-backed mechanisms such as a state insurer, a state backstop, and broader funding for community wildfire mitigation. The CPUC said wildfire mitigation oversight has improved, but wildfire-related costs are driving electricity bills higher and creating an affordability crisis. The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan review and field inspections, and recommended stronger safety reporting and more safety-weighted executive compensation. In member discussion, senators and assemblymembers focused on the cost of the status quo, whether the burden should be shared by ratepayers, utilities, the state, or other parties, and whether California should consider broader disaster-financing approaches. Several members raised concerns about inverse condemnation, the pace of survivor compensation, local land-use responsibility, and the need for a more comprehensive statewide solution rather than piecemeal bills. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Stern, Senator Stearns, who was here earlier, and Senator Becker.
• Senator Richardson.
• Thank you, Senator. Senator Stern. Thank you. I'll indulge since I don't... Senator Stern.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Insurance held an informational hearing on how climate change, wildfire risk, and related catastrophes are affecting California’s insurance market, affordability, and availability. Chair and members framed the issue as a statewide challenge tied to resiliency, land use, utilities, legal liability, and the FAIR Plan. Senator Becker noted the hearing was connected to SB 254 and its recent report, while the Vice Chair emphasized that the state’s current regulatory framework limits flexibility and that industry testimony would also have been useful. Amy Bach of United Policyholders described worsening availability and affordability, driven by climate impacts, insurtech/risk scoring, inflation, and the growth of surplus lines coverage. She said the Sustainable Insurance Strategy is beginning to show progress, but the FAIR Plan remains too large and non-admitted carriers create concerns because they are less regulated and do not share FAIR Plan or guaranty fund obligations. She stressed that mitigation incentives, grants, and voluntary insurer rewards for wildfire-hardening are important, but that many households cannot afford the needed improvements. In response to questions, she said underinsurance remains a major problem, especially after recent fires, and suggested stronger insurer responsibility for replacement-cost estimates or broader replacement-cost endorsements. Actuary Nancy Watkins and Stanford’s Michael Wara argued that California must both reduce wildfire risk and allow actuarially sound pricing if it wants a healthier market. Watkins compared the market to a household with rising expenses and said the state needs a mitigation framework focused on the highest-risk communities, especially older neighborhoods and homes near the wildland-urban interface. Wara said premiums must roughly equal expected claims plus expenses, and that California is “burning down too many houses,” which drives both availability problems and higher rates. He highlighted the role of structure-to-structure spread, older housing stock, utility ignitions, and the need to focus on community hardening, not just vegetation management. Both speakers said mitigation should be targeted, science-based, and sustained rather than one-time or scattered. Frank Freebalt of Cal Poly and Michael Gullner of UC Berkeley continued the discussion on fire modeling and risk reduction. Freebalt said the problem is best understood as a structure ignition and urban conflagration problem, requiring integrated land-use, utility, and community mitigation, with evidence-based priorities and better analytics. He emphasized that the state should focus on the highest-risk intersections first and that targeted mitigation can multiply the effectiveness of suppression and evacuation resources. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational and focused on testimony, questions, and policy discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks. Here. Senator Blanco. Senator Gutierrez. Senator Hinojosa. Senator Kolkhorst.
• Chair recognized Senator Kolkhorst is present. Senator Hinojosa. Good morning, Mr.
• Yes, Senator. So Dr.
• Yes, Senator, and Dr.
• Senator Koukors.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Senator Drazkowski, Senator Koran, Senator Dreheim, Senator Bahr in particular, among others.
• Thank you to my Senate co-authors, Senator Kruan, Senator Dreheim, Senator Latz, Senator Putnham.
• Thank you to my Senate co-authors, Senator Kruan, Senator Dreheim, Senator Latz, Senator Putnham.
• Senator Rest votes I. Senator Rest votes I. Senator Rest votes I. Senator Port votes I.
• Remaining under motions and resolutions, I'll call on Senator Murphy to designate special orders.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Gallivan. Senator Chan on the resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.
• >> THANK YOU, SENATOR GALLIVAN. SENATOR CHAN ON THE RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU, Mr.
• >> THANK YOU, SENATOR RYAN. SENATOR MYRIE ON THE RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU, Mr.
• >> SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA ON THE RESOLUTION.
• >> THANK YOU, SENATOR CHAN. THE RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED ON APRIL 21. SENATOR GIANARIS. Mr.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine business, including approval of the prior journal and several messages from the Assembly to discharge and substitute identical Senate bills. The chamber then took up a budget extender, Senate Print 10262/Assembly Bill 11295, which would appropriate $2.9 billion to keep state government operating through May 14 while budget negotiations continued. Senator O’Mara questioned the delay in reaching a full budget and criticized the lack of clarity on major policy issues, conference committees, school aid timing, and a proposed $1 billion utility ratepayer relief plan, arguing the state’s spending and affordability problems were worsening. Senator Serrano responded that negotiations were in the final stretch and that the extender was necessary to maintain government operations. The extender passed 59-1 after being restored to the non-controversial calendar. The Senate also considered a major election-law bill, Senate Print 88A, providing for automatic voter registration and pre-registration through DMV, Medicaid, and NYCHA-related transactions. Senator Walczyk’s proposed amendment to require voter ID was ruled nongermane, and his appeal was rejected. The bill prompted extended debate over whether the process would protect against non-citizen registration or instead remove barriers for eligible voters. Supporters, including Senator Gianaris, said it would streamline registration and help eligible but unregistered New Yorkers participate; Senator Zellner said it would strengthen the process. Opponents, including Senators Walczyk, Borrello, Helming, Rhoads, and Martins, warned it would shift responsibility away from bipartisan boards of elections, create administrative errors, and risk improper registration. The bill ultimately passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar, with senators explaining votes along party lines. The chamber also adopted or advanced several resolutions and recognized guests. Senator Gallivan’s Police Week resolution drew remarks honoring fallen officers and law enforcement families, with Senators Chan, Rolison, Weik, Ryan, and Myrie speaking in support. Senator Sepúlveda’s resolution commemorating Dominicans in Albany was also discussed, with praise for the Dominican community’s contributions to New York and supportive remarks from Senator Chan. In addition, the Senate heard introductions for guests from Allen A.M.E. Church and the creators of the documentary “Teenage Wasteland.”