Transcript Highlights:

• And in both cases, it departs from longstanding transparent practices without putting workable alternatives
• And in both cases, it departs from longstanding transparent practices without putting workable alternatives
• It also weakens the automatic protections for state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas, and

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy heard and approved two bills. First, it took up CS for SB 290, an agriculture and consumer services bill, and adopted a strike-all amendment that covered a wide range of issues: density limits for certain small municipalities, a delay in biosolids rule changes from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028, higher insurance and penalty requirements for fumigation businesses, longer payment timeframes for contractors to pay subcontractors and suppliers, restrictions on county agritourism permitting ordinances, and renaming the Bonifay Forestry Station. Senators raised concerns about the contractor penalty increase, local government preemption, and the biosolids provisions. Audubon Florida testified in opposition to the state lands and biosolids sections, while several industry and agriculture groups waved in support. The committee then voted the bill favorably, with Senator Bracey Davis voting no. The committee next heard SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools. The bill would reduce district-level requirements in areas such as assessments, personnel, facilities, and budgeting; expand teacher apprenticeship and multi-year contracts; streamline salary supplements and testing calendars; give districts more flexibility with Title I and capital funds; update facility planning rules; and shift oversight of district-run VPK programs. Supporters from several school districts and education groups waved in favor. Senators generally supported the goal of reducing administrative burdens, though one question was raised about remedies if charter schools fail to respond directly to Department of Education inquiries. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create a more direct reporting path and reduce unnecessary layers of regulation. SB 320 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is common practice for us to say to schools, let us take care of this. This is our job.
• for us to say to schools let us practice for us to say to schools let us take<01:12:19.360><c> care<
• The burden shifts to the superintendent to prove why not, since this best practice is already used by
• </c><05:06:21.878><c> establishes</c> housing practices establishes housing practices establishes administrative
• As a practical matter, the bill's ambiguity would raise many questions upon implementation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been duplicative filings, delays inconsistent practices, and operational challenges.
• long-standing practice and clarifies who is responsible for filing which rates.
• They were not remote forest fires. Thank you. California has historically experienced.
• They were not remote forest fires.
• That suggests the problem is not simply insurer practices, but public misunderstanding.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This harmful practice is known as speculative ticketing, and it's inherently anti-consumer.
• This practice exploits fans with hidden uncertainty and predatory markups while undermining artists who
• There are many examples of fans getting price gouged by the practice of speculative ticketing.
• Cole at the Rialto in Tucson, Arizona, during the Forest Hills Drive Tour. We bought three tickets.
• It's unethical; it shouldn't be part of this practice.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Legislature has extended this practice seven times with unanimous support since 2005.
• For decades, practice has been clear. For decades, practice has been clear.
• AB 2198 codifies long-standing practice and clarifies who is responsible for filing which rates.
• AB 2198 codifies long-standing practice and clarifies who is responsible for filing which rates.
• Corps captain, Vietnam veteran, and beloved substitute teacher who was tragically killed in Lake Forest

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, then completed the prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, journal motions, and a long series of procedural actions, including suspending rules to move bills and approve a large Appropriations Committee hearing list. Members also made several guest introductions, including Shannon Lee, district staff from Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez’s office, and later guests tied to agritourism and education recognitions. The floor debate centered heavily on AJR 31, a resolution urging Congress to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Supporters argued that recent Supreme Court decisions and redistricting efforts in other states were weakening Black and other minority representation and that California should take a clear stand for voting rights. Opponents argued the measure promoted racial division, conflicted with equal protection principles, and that districts should be drawn based on place or communities of interest rather than race. After a contentious debate with repeated parliamentary warnings over decorum, the Assembly suspended the rules to take up the resolution, added coauthors, and passed AJR 31 by a vote of 58-8. The Assembly then moved through a series of bills and resolutions, generally approving them with little or no opposition. These included AB 2341 clarifying emergency language translation rules for local agencies; AB 1816 extending court supervision for certain sex-offender rehabilitation programs; AB 2561 protecting consumer privacy settings on phones and digital devices; ACR 167 recognizing World Agritourism Day; ACR 190 recognizing California Day of the Teacher; AB 1581 improving identification of Native American students in public schools; AB 1586 requiring opioid overdose prevention training for school resource officers and safety planning; AB 1665 requiring mental health training for school coaches; AB 1693 streamlining retail tenant-improvement permitting; AB 1768 authorizing a local tax measure related to health funding; AB 1712 facilitating a water-system sale for Santa Fe Springs; AB 1792 addressing sexually exploitive AI imagery in health education; and AB 1822 prioritizing school projects that address extreme heat. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, several unanimously, and the resolution on agritourism and the teacher day were adopted by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Leon's patient since he started the dental practice next to Home Depot on Vogel Road in Arnold for more
• My house and Aloha house look like a forest. Everything... ...you would be proud.
• My house and Aloha house look like a forest. Everything is growing.
• I think I like a lot of the concerns that my members have already shared, but I have a few practical
• I think I like a lot of the concerns that my members have already shared, but I have a few practical

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Forest Capital ensures that viable Minnesota businesses are not denied opportunity simply because the
• I'll turn it over to Brian Smith, CEO of Forest Capital, to talk more about the bill and the work that
• Chair. >> Yeah. >> Uh, next to me is the chief strategy officer for Forest Capital. Okay.
• Chair. >> Yeah. >> Uh, next to me is the chief strategy officer for Forest Capital. Okay.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Those include replacement of buoys, access to local trails, grants to small forest landowners, grants
• know, if we're going to talk about climate mitigation, we should do climate mitigation, really do forest
• Another piece of it is that we should allow our small landowners, forest landowners, the opportunity
• Another piece of it is that we should allow our small landowners, forest landowners, the opportunity

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met in executive session on three bills. For House Bill 2159, which creates the pre-K Promise account for ECEAP, the committee adopted Amendment Clark 333 to clarify that account funds may support any children enrolled in ECEAP, not just the entitlement population. Members spoke in support of the bill as expanding early learning access, and the substitute bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 29-0 vote, with two members excused. For House Bill 2251, dealing with Climate Commitment Act account structure and revenue distribution, staff briefed the proposed substitute and two offered amendments from Representative Dye. Both Dye amendments were rejected: one would have expanded allowable uses to include items such as buoys, trails, small forest landowner grants, drought and water quality projects, outdoor recreation, and marina support; the other would have restored annual rather than biennial reporting on CCA spending. Supporters said the bill would simplify and clarify CCA budgeting and better align spending with declining revenues, while opponents argued it did not sufficiently prioritize climate resiliency and accountability. The substitute bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by an 18-12 vote, with one excused. For House Bill 2521, which would let the Washington State Patrol set firearm background check fees to cover program costs, the committee considered seven amendments. All seven were rejected: proposals to cap the fee increase at $20, exempt low-income residents, people near least restrictive alternative placements, veterans and active military, domestic violence victims, and residents of counties with fewer officers per capita, and to delay the effective date until Washington no longer has the fewest officers per capita nationwide. Supporters of the bill said the fee should be cost-based to avoid subsidizing the program with general funds and to prevent delays in background checks; opponents argued the bill created an open-ended fee increase and financial barrier to a constitutional right. The bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by an 18-12 vote, with one excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another piece of background is that in 2021, the Legislature created the wildfire response, forest restoration
• the State Treasurer must transfer the amount estimated by that department to the wildfire response, forest
• purpose of the bill that's in front of us is to restore funding to the state's wildfire response, forest
• to the fact that some of those data centers can contribute to adverse climate impacts that worsen forest

Bills: HB1960, HB2194, HB2089

Keywords: HB1960, renewable energy, clean energy, solar, wind, battery storage, energy storage, excise tax, property tax exemption, local investment, county revenue sharing, local taxing districts, school districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, model ordinance, siting, permitting, tribal consultation, tribal capacity grants

Transcript Highlights:

• So in practice, the bill still defaults to 35 to life in nearly every case.
• And while the board may decide to override that in practice, the default tells you what the policy assumes
• making sure that eligible evidence does not fall through the cracks because of inconsistent local practices
• to the natural gas resources and others that are sitting underneath our state parks and our state forests
• and never disturb an inch of the ground or the water on any of these state parks and these state forests

Summary: The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over. Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• General Assembly to accept this decision would be a serious setback in our efforts to craft sentencing practices
• So in practice, the bill still defaults to 35 to life in nearly every case.
• And while the board may decide to override that in practice, the default tells you what the policy assumes
• making sure that eligible evidence does not fall through the cracks because of inconsistent local practices
• to the natural gas resources and other that are sitting underneath our state parks and our state forests

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in strong support of House Bill 2426 because it is a balanced approach that offers a practical
• This bill supports performance measures that capture improvements in agency practices, training, and
• the financial burden to each remaining ratepayer in Ferry and the Colville Indian Reservation of forest
• the financial burden to each remaining rate payer in Ferry and the Colville Indian Reservation of Forest
• the architecture program at Washington State University and co-authored a textbook on professional practice

Summary: The committee first waived the five-day notice rule for several House bills, then took up public hearings on HB 2426, HB 1742, HB 2215, HB 2575, HB 1903, and HB 2606. HB 2426 would allow the Pollution Control Hearings Board, with party consent and board approval, to hear permit appeals in alternative smaller compositions to improve efficiency; the sponsor and supporters from Greater Grays Harbor and FutureWise said it would speed up reviews without harming environmental protections, while the bill was described as cost-neutral. HB 1742 would create a Center for Environmentally Sustainable Urban Design at Ecology to promote sustainable building and design competitions; the sponsor emphasized regenerative, biophilic design and a proposed showcase project, and the bill was presented as budget-neutral through outside funding, though the fiscal note was still pending. HB 2215 would tighten Climate Commitment Act compliance for certain newer fuel suppliers by lowering the emissions threshold for post-2023 suppliers, exempt lubricants, and add procurement and transparency requirements. The sponsor said the bill targets “paper distributors” and loopholes used to avoid coverage; Ecology supported closing the loophole but raised concerns about reporting thresholds, implementation, staffing, and rulemaking. Testimony was mixed: the propane association and Washington Oil Marketers Association were concerned about the two-tier threshold and urged stronger upstream enforcement instead, while Climate Solutions and Washington Conservation Action supported the bill as a way to prevent gaming and strengthen climate policy. HB 2575 would reduce several environmental and energy reporting obligations, including less frequent utility reporting under the Energy Independence Act and state energy strategy updates; Commerce and the sponsor said the changes would reduce duplicative reporting and save money, while preserving core protections and oversight. HB 1903 would establish a statewide low-income energy assistance program in the Department of Commerce, phased in by 2027, to supplement existing utility programs and target households with the greatest energy burden. The sponsor and many advocates described the bill as an affordability measure to address a large unmet need, while community action agencies, utilities, and rural representatives supported the goal but asked for clearer language on voluntary utility participation, funding sources, allocation formulas, and how the program would interact with existing utility and weatherization efforts. Several speakers stressed that the program should not replace local assistance and should be designed to avoid shifting costs onto ratepayers. HB 2606 would update the Office of Privacy and Data Protection’s duties and reporting requirements, including adding review of agency AI projects and aligning the office’s work with JLARC recommendations; the chief privacy officer testified in support, explaining that the bill would formalize AI risk review, human oversight, and existing privacy/security review processes, with no fiscal impact. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• He is a urologist who has practiced in Arizona since 2005, including private practice in Flagstaff, where
• We have the Petrified Forest...
• We have the Petrified Forest National Park, the Chiricahua National Monument.
• have the executive director of the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, where I got to practice
• have the executive director of the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, where I got to practice

Summary: The House convened for opening-day proceedings with prayers in English and Spanish, the Pledge of Allegiance, and musical performances, then recorded attendance and welcomed the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jason Jameson. The Speaker introduced numerous guests and dignitaries, including statewide officials, university presidents, former lawmakers, and family members, and delivered remarks about Arizona’s history, the importance of civility, and the role of state government in protecting residents from federal overreach. Coaches Kenny Dillingham and Tommy Lloyd also addressed the chamber, speaking about leadership, talent development, and the ways sports can unite and inspire Arizona communities. The House then took up organizational business. Members adopted proposed changes to Rule 9 and then adopted the amended rules for the 57th Legislature, Second Regular Session. The chamber also agreed to read bills by number and short title only, declared an emergency for that purpose, and announced the creation of two new standing committees: Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, chaired by Representative Justin Wilmeth, and Rural Economic Development, chaired by Representative Teresa Martinez. A House Organizational Committee was appointed to notify the Senate that the House was organized and ready for business and to inform the Governor that the Legislature was ready to receive her message. The remainder of the session was largely devoted to points of personal privilege, with members introducing family, constituents, local officials, educators, veterans, business leaders, and advocacy groups. Several members highlighted issues they intend to work on this session, including affordability, water security, deed fraud, education, health care, rural development, and veterans’ issues. The House later recessed to accommodate the joint organizational proceedings with the Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> which I think is a a much more practical which I think is a a much more practical way<01:31:44.000
• </c> Representative Davis says that the three things their forest is set up for are buying more land,
• They need to keep a certain amount in their account to maintain their forest or if something comes up
• It has something to do with helping their forest.
• They need to keep a certain amount in their account to maintain their forest or if something comes up

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 65th Senate bill says fire home hardening practices in common interest communities.
• I'm the state senator from the very forested Fifth Legislative District, and I'm very excited to bring
• We appreciate her thoughtful approach and commitment to practical implementation.
• We appreciate her thoughtful approach and commitment to practical implementation.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Preservation Society, the Forest Society, and the Nature Conservancy, oppose the bill for the threats
• Preservation Society, the Forest Society, and the Nature Conservancy, oppose the bill for the threats
• Then would I protect our forest products industry by pushing the green button to table HB 1752.
• We didn't fight for 250 years of independence just to lease our forests back to bad actors.
• </c> independence just to lease our forests independence just to lease our forests back<05:23:43.680>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it also allows the state forester to have some benefits.
• You know, and how do we as best practices, how do we handle this?
• </c><01:10:09.679><c> you</c> practices, how do we handle this?
• you practices, how do we handle this?
• </c> practices to to handle these situations. practices to to handle these situations.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current practice, this money is used to provide straight-up bill credits to customers.
• As a result, this review is in practice less stringent than what is done when the CPUC can review and
• If everyone else must practice fiscal discipline to stay within their budgets, then the IOU should as
• So it’s, you know, I’ve seen that account work in practice in some cases.
• Audubon California, California Coastal Protection Network, Pacific Forest Trust, and Green Foothills.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• come together on And I think, you know, as a state, we need to kind of come together on those best practices
• here is one of the largest fires in American history because of the amount of mismanagement of the forest
• Mismanagement of the forest and the issues that we have representing the Sierras, Yosemite, and the high

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills. SB 996 by Senator Padilla would let manufactured homeowners opt to title their homes as real property, with supporters saying this would improve access to conventional mortgages, consumer protections, and lower-cost financing. SB 866 by Senator Blakespear would require cities and counties to include homelessness-related information in their annual housing element reports, with supporters saying the bill would improve transparency, regional coordination, and accountability around homelessness funding and services. The committee also heard SB 1090 by Senator Perez, which would impose a temporary moratorium in Altadena on certain state housing density laws after the Eaton Fire. Supporters, including Supervisor Catherine Barger and many Altadena residents, argued the bill would protect fire survivors from speculative investors and give families time to rebuild and return home. Opponents argued the bill could limit tools that homeowners need to finance rebuilding and could reduce future housing production. After extensive testimony, the committee passed SB 1090 to the Assembly Local Government Committee on a 10-0 vote. SB 1388 by Senator Durazo would create an Affordable Housing Risk Reduction Program to help affordable housing providers reduce insurance costs through technical assistance and risk-mitigation support. Supporters said rising insurance premiums are threatening the viability of affordable housing developments and existing units. The committee also reconsidered and then voted on SB 1092, which was taken up only for reconsideration and final vote; after a split vote, the bill ultimately passed the committee. Final recorded votes showed SB 866 and SB 996 passing unanimously, SB 1388 passing with one no vote and one not voting, and SB 1092 passing 7-5 after reconsideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think, you know, as a state, we need to kind of come together on those best practices on how to
• here is one of the largest fires in American history because of the amount of mismanagement of the forest
• the issues that we have representing the Sierras, Yosemite, I don't know. ...mismanagement of the forest

Keywords: 988, house, all