Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 5185, International ... Referred to the Committee on Rules. Senator Richelie.
• So baseball has been a very important sport to the Japanese-American community.
• And the story was about how, during the internment,... Senator Hasegawa. Thank you, Mr. President.
• And the story was about how, during the internment camps during World War II, baseball saved them.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the fact that was false was that all Japanese people are a threat.
• And of course that case didn't apply to people that were Japanese immigrants.
• I mean, Japanese aliens. They were Japanese citizens of the United States.
• So, at an international level, there's been an acceptance, you might say.
• c> level,</c><01:26:39.440><c> there's</c> So, at an international level, there's So, at an international

Summary: The Judiciary and Agriculture and Environment committees held an informational briefing on how recent federal policy changes, funding delays, cancellations, and layoffs are affecting Hawaii’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, and on the legality of some of those federal actions. Chair Carl Rhodes and Chair Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing it as part of an interim series on the rule of law and Hawaii’s response to federal actions. They noted there would be no public testimony, only invited presenters, and that questions would be held until the end. No votes or formal committee actions were taken. State climate change coordinator Leah Laramie described broad impacts from federal actions, including grant cancellations, litigation over terminated funding, staff cuts at NOAA and EPA, and the effect of the federal tax and spending law she said would raise energy costs, reduce grid reliability, and threaten renewable energy and transportation projects. She highlighted the loss or expiration of incentives for EVs and other clean-energy technologies, the termination of the Solar for All program and other rescissions, and the risk to major Hawaii projects such as Carbon Smart Commodities and other energy and land conservation programs. She also said the state’s attorneys general had taken numerous climate-related legal actions, including suits challenging federal cuts and the oil companies’ role in the climate crisis. Retired Justice Michael Wilson focused on the rule of law and climate justice, arguing that Hawaii is on the front line of climate change and that fossil fuel companies pose the greatest long-term threat. He said the state lacks a comprehensive climate protection plan despite the urgency of the crisis, cited UN and scientific warnings about a limited time horizon and severe warming, and pointed to projected local harms such as sea-level rise, beach loss, infrastructure damage, and major economic losses in Waikiki. His remarks emphasized the need for stronger planning and legal accountability, especially in light of federal rollbacks and the influence of fossil fuel interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, for the past three years, he's served as an intern and researcher for the Burlingame mayor's
• in local hospitals, assisting in the cardiology department and serving as a translator for both Japanese
• Okay, interned at the local surgery center, started a private tutoring enterprise, and has analyzed over
• 300 CT scans as a lab research intern.
• I'm... ...as a lab research intern. I'm flabbergasted.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the pledge, and then moved through a series of privileges-of-the-floor recognitions. Senators honored California Interscholastic Federation Scholar-Athletes Ryan Liu of Burlingame High School and Mona Sugawata of West Torrance High School for their academic, athletic, and community achievements, and welcomed a delegation from Jiangsu Province in China to mark the 15th anniversary of the California-Jiangsu sister-state relationship. The chamber also recognized the California Taxpayers Association on its 100th anniversary and welcomed Senator Ochoa Bogh’s district staff visiting Sacramento. On floor actions, Senator Menjivar moved to rescind the vote on AB 1457 and place it on third reading; the motion passed on a 28-9 roll call. The Senate then took up the consent calendar, approving Assembly Concurrent Resolutions 129, 164, and 166 by a 38-0 vote, with the same vote applying to the related items. No items were pulled from consent. The remainder of the session consisted of adjourn-in-memory tributes. Senators Becker, Wiener, and Rubio honored Clarence Jones, Rita Semmel, and Deputy Levi Vargas, respectively, highlighting Jones’s role with Martin Luther King Jr., Semmel’s leadership in San Francisco’s Jewish and interfaith communities, and Vargas’s service with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Senate then announced the next floor session for Monday, June 8 at 2 p.m., and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• DLI programs in other languages such as Korean, Japanese and Armenian.
• Armenian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
• Recent amendments ensure that districts employ an individual with an intern credential. an emergency
• My name is Jason Hammond and I serve as CEO of the International Alliance Group and thank you for the
• Abraham Jimenez, and I serve as the Chief Strategy Officer at the International Alliance.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 5185, International Last Line, referred to the Committee on Rules. Senator Richelie.
• So baseball has been a very important sport to the Japanese-American community.
• And the story was about how, during the internment,...
• And the story was about how, during the internment camps during World War II, baseball saved them.

Summary: The Senate began with routine business, including approval of the prior day’s journal, referral of committee reports, and suspension of Rule 46 to allow committees to meet during the pro forma session. It also received first reading of introduced bills, including Senate Bill 6343, which was referred to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and Senate Bill 6035, which was redirected to Ways and Means. The main floor action was the adoption of two resolutions. Senate Resolution 8677, recognizing the commercial and tribal fishing industries and the Blessing of the Fleet, was adopted after remarks praising the fishing community and wishing for the safe return of vessels and crews. Senate Resolution 8676, celebrating Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners’ historic 2025 season, was also adopted. Senators highlighted the team’s comeback season, Cal Raleigh’s record-setting performance, Dan Wilson’s leadership, Jerry Dipoto’s executive recognition, and the Mariners’ impact on communities across Washington. Following adoption of the Mariners resolution, the Senate formally welcomed Dan Wilson, Rick Rizzs, Jerry Dipoto, Justin Hollander, and Tim Hevly to the chamber and expressed appreciation for their contributions to the state’s sports culture. The Senate then moved to adjourn until Tuesday, February 3, 2026, with both Democratic and Republican caucuses announced before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:08:57.600><c> they</c><00:08:57.800><c> hacked</c> they are doing internally, they hacked they
• are doing internally, they hacked the<00:08:58.200><c> New</c><00:08:58.320><c> York</c><00:08:58.640
• We help with that through Kaizen, which the Japanese companies all use across the state.
• There are many Japanese great example.
• There are many Japanese companies,<00:55:33.760><c> suppliers</c><00:55:34.440><c> to</c><00:55:34.600

Committee: Joint Economic Development & Workforce Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• from 30 public high schools across the state in fiscal year 2025. 204 interns, 204 interns, uh<04:24
• </c> attorney interns have been hired. attorney interns have been hired.
• </c> uh the program engage students interns uh the program engage students interns from<04:25:07.600>
• </c><04:30:30.319><c> so</c> um internship to place 300 interns so um internship to place 300 interns
• Um and that took uh three interns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chamber of Commerce and the Japanese Business Association: Daisuki Arai, Vice President of JCCNC; Akemi
• The Japanese Northern California Chamber of Commerce represents approximately 270 members, including
• The Japanese Business Association is composed of nearly 420 Japanese corporations conducting business
• The Japanese Northern California Chamber of Commerce represents approximately 270 members, including
• The Japanese Business Association is composed of nearly 420 Japanese corporations conducting business

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then handled a series of procedural motions to re-refer bills, suspend rules, and remove items from the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions recognizing family milestones, a youth leadership program from Assembly District 13, a delegation of Japanese business leaders, and a Michoacan delegation. Later, members adopted several resolutions and consent items, including California Craft Beer Week, the Freedom Flag as a 9/11 remembrance symbol, Probation Services Week, and California Wildfire Week, along with other consent-calendar measures. The main floor debate centered on SB 417, a $10 billion housing bond for the ballot, with supporters emphasizing the state’s housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and funding for multifamily housing, supportive housing, homeownership, farmworker housing, student housing, tribal housing, infrastructure, and preservation of existing affordable units. Opponents criticized the proposal as adding debt without enough reform and objected to the use of veterans in the measure’s messaging. The Assembly passed SB 417 on urgency and on the measure, 54-7, and sent it to the Senate. Members then adopted ACA 20, which would expand and modernize the state Rainy Day Fund by increasing its cap and changing deposit rules; it passed 54-8 and was transmitted to the Senate. The Assembly also approved SB 623, a transportation-related bill addressing rideshare safety and medical lien practices. Supporters said it would curb abusive billing, restrict attorney conflicts and kickbacks, require stronger background checks for TNC drivers, and allow women riders and drivers to request women-only matches. The measure passed unanimously, 67-0. Later, the House adopted ACA 21, which removes ACA 13 from the November ballot, by 62-0, and ACA 22, which amends a ballot measure affecting taxation and local fiscal resources, by 64-0. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of Dr. Dorothy Viola Calvin, followed by announcements, recesses, and final adjournment until the next scheduled floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please join me in recognizing our guests in the gallery from the Japanese Northern California Chamber
• of Commerce and the Japanese Business Association: Daisuki Arai, Vice President of JCCNC; Akemi Koda
• The Japanese Northern California Chamber of Commerce represents approximately 270 members, including
• The Japanese Business Association is composed of nearly 420 Japanese corporations conducting business
• The Japanese Business Association is composed of nearly 420 Japanese corporations conducting business

Transcript Highlights:

• today the Canadians make up the largest group of our international tourists.
• So you see there's a difference between the Japanese and the Canadians.
• So the Japanese, there will be some net loss, and the Canadians will be net gains.
• </c> between the Japanese and the Canadians. between the Japanese and the Canadians.
• </c> internally has already gone out. internally has already gone out.

Bills: HB1974 , HB1853 , HB1973 , HB1574 , HB2619 , HB1966 , HB1643 , HB1671 , HB2558 , HB1854 , HB2173 , HB1575 , HB2229 , HB1535 , HB1978 , HB2508 , HB1549 , HB2187 , HB1550 , HB1977 , HB2314 , HB1871 , HB2319 , HB1591 , HB1858 , HB1898 , HB2372 , HB1765 , HB2012 , HB1706 , HB1962 , HB1963 , HB1975 , HB2009 , HB2083 , HB2224 , HB1877 , HB1959 , HB1626 , HB1665 , HB2488 , HB2456 , HB2548 , HB2207 , HB1832 , HB2079 , HB1985 , HB1618 , HB2486 , HB2242 , HB2045 , HB1703 , HB2236 , HB2480 , HB1976 , HB2287 , HB2288 , HB1777 , HB276 , HB1660 , HB1676 , HB1605 , HB1751 , HB1967 , HB2383 , HB2340 , HB1946 , HB2268 , HB1950 , HB2156 , HB2118 , HB1859 , HB1863 , HB1996 , HB2114 , HB2423 , HB2429 , HB2475 , HB2534 , HB2545 , HB1813 , HB1941 , HB2474 , HB2583 , HB1576 , HB1886 , HB1939 , HB2540 , HB2590 , HB2000 , HB2163 , HB2386 , HB1691 , HB1680 , HB2516 , HB1993 , HB2442 , HB1510 , HB1958 , HB1692

Transcript Highlights:

• expulsions, referring to law enforcement, assigning to alternative education settings, maintaining internal
• never learned about the 120— I learned about World War II, but I never learned about the 120,000 Japanese
• The Tacoma method and the Japanese internment were homegrown in our state of Washington.
• you can't show any respect towards us, which you apparently can't, please stop crying about your internment

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 5901, which would change the school construction assistance program so that instructional space on military bases is excluded from a district’s available space inventory when calculating state construction aid. Staff explained the bill would also require state assistance to equal approved project cost minus federal funding received. Senator Christian said the measure is intended to prevent military-base facilities from unfairly reducing districts’ ability to modernize or build schools. Testimony in support came from OSPI, Clover Park School District, and Medical Lake School District, which said the current formula penalizes districts serving military families and can leave them unable to secure needed renovation funding. No opposition was heard, and the bill was later described as having an indeterminate fiscal impact. The committee then took up Senate Bill 5860 on school board compensation. The bill would raise director pay from $50 to $100 per day, increase the annual cap, allow child care expenses to be reimbursed, require OFM to periodically adjust compensation, and direct WASDA to develop finance training for school directors. Senator Cortez said the changes are needed to broaden who can serve on school boards and to help working families participate. Supporters from OSPI, WASDA, and South Sound superintendents said compensation could improve diversity and help recruit and retain board members, though WASDA noted concerns about diverting district funds and said its members do not have consensus on mandatory training. Opponents argued the bill would misuse levy funds and that child care and other expenses should not be paid from local education levies. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5956 on artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in schools, which would bar automated systems from being the sole basis for discipline decisions, prohibit risk scores and biometric surveillance, require OSPI guidance updates, and direct WASDA to create model policy. Senator Nobles and supporters said the bill is needed to protect students from discriminatory and inaccurate AI-driven decisions; no vote was taken in the hearing. Finally, the committee heard a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5574, which would require districts to include instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Latino American, and Black American history in required social studies courses during the regular curriculum review cycle, with reporting beginning in 2030. Senator Nobles said the bill is meant to address exclusion and bias in history education and to help students see themselves reflected in the curriculum. Testifiers from education, student, parent, and community groups overwhelmingly supported the measure, saying it would improve belonging, reduce bullying, and build on existing curriculum resources without creating a new course or major new cost. The hearing ended without a vote or other formal action on SB 5956 or SB 5574.

Transcript Highlights:

• cents is spent on consumer projects, retail projects, food service, research, industry, and then international
• cents is spent on consumer projects, retail projects, food service, research, industry, and then international
• three, one of the biggest investments we've... ...made in terms of trying to move the needle for international
• Jared Brackett from Southwest Idaho in the top right corner there, doing a good job of educating Japanese

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• was someone who refused to be detained in the detention camps at the beginning of the detention of Japanese
• could not get to the hearing that took place yesterday on white-collar fraud, although I sent an intern

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on March 5 and moved a series of bills, with brief discussion on most measures and several members noting support for the proposals. Bills advanced included loan forgiveness and reimbursement for attorneys serving Indigenous clients (S161A), a study of lithium-ion battery fires and prevention (S257), annual housing and zoning reporting to the Department of State (F919A), a temporary state pesticide commission (S1368), an emergency repair pilot program for hazardous building code violations (S1838), a searchable veterans resources database (S2070), Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution (S2587), expanded fraud and tax-fraud provisions (S32), a NYSERDA rebate program for lithium-ion batteries for mobility devices (S3560), directing certain fines and penalties to a conservation enforcement account (S4033B), Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day (S4152A), expansion of Fresh Connect to supermarkets and grocery stores (S4162), restrictions on executive-branch contracting during a hiring freeze (S473), real-property transfer documentation and forgery-related protections (S5177), changes to retirement beneficiary options after a beneficiary’s family offense conviction (S6750), and a deposit placement program for public monies (S8357). Several bills were described as addressing fraud, housing, veterans’ services, public safety, and commemorations, and members generally spoke in favor of the measures. A few bills drew more specific comments: supporters emphasized the importance of honoring Fred Korematsu and recognizing the injustice of Japanese American detention, and the fraud-related bill was framed as a response to white-collar tax fraud and government losses. The real-property bill was highlighted as a response to mortgage and deed fraud affecting homeowners. On the housing reporting bill, there were three negative votes, and on the pesticide commission bill there were two members without recommendation. The lithium-ion battery rebate bill also drew several negative votes, while most other measures passed with little or no opposition. By the end of the meeting, the committee had completed its agenda and announced it would resume more regular meetings, while noting that the state budget process would continue to affect scheduling.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, for the past three years, he's served as an intern and researcher for the Burlingame mayor's
• in local hospitals, assisting in the cardiology department and serving as a translator for both Japanese
• Okay, interned at the local surgery center, started a private tutoring enterprise, and has analyzed over
• 300 CT scans as a lab research intern.
• As a lab research intern. I'm flabbergasted.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're proud to be the number one international container port in the state of Florida, number 11
• Heidi mentioned that PortMiami is the largest international container port in Florida, but Jacksport
• We've got our own internal workforce that operates and maintains those cranes to make sure that they
• We've got our own internal workforce that operates. at 22 cranes.
• We've got our own internal workforce that operates and maintains those cranes to make sure that they

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee held a panel discussion focused on Florida seaports and their role in the state economy. Florida Ports Council CEO Mike Rubin opened with statewide figures from a 2023 economic impact study, saying Florida seaports support about 1.2 million jobs, generate roughly $195 billion in economic value, and produce about $7.4 billion in state and local taxes. He emphasized that ports are critical for fuel, food, medical supplies, construction materials, and hurricane response, and argued that continued state and federal investment is needed to expand capacity and move projects forward faster. PortMiami Director Heidi Webb described Miami’s cruise and cargo operations, noting the port generated about $61 billion in economic impact and 334,000 jobs. She highlighted record cruise activity, major private investment by cruise lines, the launch of shore power at cruise terminals to reduce emissions, and ongoing capital projects including a new Royal Caribbean terminal, berth reconstruction, and an inland port concept to reduce congestion. Members asked about security, hurricane procedures, AI use, infrastructure planning, collaboration among ports, and smuggling prevention; Webb said the port uses layered security with local law enforcement, CBP, Coast Guard, and radiation monitors, and that hurricane planning is coordinated in advance with county and federal partners. Port Tampa Bay’s Raul Alfonso said Tampa is the state’s largest port by land area and a major energy hub for Central Florida, with an estimated $34.5 billion economic impact. He discussed diversification into containers, food distribution, fertilizer, and construction materials, along with major needs such as a deep-dredge project and more warehouse space. He also addressed resilience and fuel distribution during hurricanes, and said the port is preparing for future LNG and alternative-fuel demand through partnerships, land planning, and education. Jaxport’s Nick Primrose then described Jacksonville’s container, auto, breakbulk, aggregate, military, and LNG businesses, including 1.3 million TEUs last year, major state-funded crane purchases, harbor deepening, auto-processing expansion, and its role as a strategic military port. He said Jaxport is a leader in marine LNG and has trained all employees on human trafficking awareness. The discussion ended with Port Panama City being introduced as a smaller but important Panhandle economic engine, with Rubin noting its cargo, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects and its continued need for state and federal support.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:08.399><c> relations</c> international relations international relations uh<00:12:10.959><c> next
• </c> exports, and support international exports, and support international relations.<00:13:06.000><c
• </c><00:41:43.520><c> engagement</c> strategy for international engagement strategy for international
• </c> in your area of support international in your area of support international relations relations
• </c> international engagement strategy? international engagement strategy?

Transcript Highlights:

• Koreans do have their identity, and so do Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese.
• particular ethnic groups such as Chinese people, when they came here, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the Japanese
• people, when they were unequally treated, unfairly treated by the internment camps.
• By the internment camps, and they got hurt, too.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several measures, beginning with SCA 5, which would create an Equalization Reserve Account to help reduce long-standing per-pupil funding disparities between basic aid and non-basic aid school districts. The author and supporters argued the measure would create a stable, endowment-style funding source using only interest earnings, while charter school advocates opposed it, saying the bill would exclude charters and could raise equal protection concerns. After the quorum was established, SCA 5 was approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee then heard SJR 18, a resolution condemning Citizens United and urging limits on corporate money in politics. The author argued that unlimited independent expenditures have increased corporate influence and dark money in elections, while there was little testimony in opposition. The resolution was approved and referred onward. The committee also considered two consent items, AB 1736 and AB 2421, which were approved together without debate. ACA 7 generated the most extensive discussion. The measure would revise the state constitution’s application of Proposition 209 in education, with supporters saying it would allow race-conscious tools to address persistent racial inequities in student outcomes and resource allocation, especially for Black students. Opponents argued it would weaken Proposition 209, invite discrimination, and likely fail politically and in court. After lengthy debate, the measure was approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee also approved ACA 18, which would add a second student voting seat on the UC Board of Regents, with supporters emphasizing student representation and opponents absent. Finally, AJR 29, opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail administration, was approved and sent onward. All measures on the agenda were ultimately advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we have characteristics: Koreans do have their identity, and so do Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese
• particular ethnic groups such as Chinese people, when they came here, Chinese Exclusion Act, and the Japanese
• people, when they were unequally treated, unfairly treated by the internment camps.
• By the internment camps, and they got hurt, too.

Committee: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Senate District 6 intern day. Our summer interns have been visiting the Capitol.
• He proposed that the world establish an International Day of Peace and an International Year of Peace
• It's a resolution that brings about International Day of Peace.
• I'm proud to be a co-author recognizing September 21st as International Day of Peace.
• Kyung Hee University announced the second international winner of the Mi-Wan Peace Prize.

Summary: The Senate session opened with a roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long series of floor recognitions and votes. Members spent substantial time honoring the Los Angeles Dodgers, celebrating their back-to-back World Series championship and highlighting the team’s history, community role, and connections to Jackie Robinson, Fernando Valenzuela, Vin Scully, and Jaime Jarrín. Senators also recognized summer interns and welcomed members of Kappa Alpha Psi’s Kappa League and Guide Right program to the floor. The chamber then took up several measures, beginning with AB 182 on ballot order and proposition numbering for the 2026 statewide ballot, which passed 38-8 after debate over whether placing legislatively referred measures first was fair. SR 113, commemorating the International Day of Peace and honoring Dr. Yongshik Cho’s role in proposing it, passed unanimously after supportive remarks about peace, education, and California’s diversity. The Senate also adopted SJR 16 urging Congress to restore commercial driver’s licenses for affected California truck drivers, and SCR 185 designating Probation Services Week. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to budget trailer bills. The Senate concurred in Assembly amendments to AB 112, AB 150, AB 152, AB 181, and AB 179, covering Medi-Cal, child care, human services, education governance, and housing. It also passed or concurred in SB 168, SB 169, SB 170, SB 171, SB 172, SB 174, SB 177, and SB 180, addressing public resources and energy, transportation, executive branch reorganization, labor, state government, courts, Medi-Cal financing, and taxation. Several of these drew opposition centered on energy costs, transparency, business impacts, or the proposed “fair share” approach to Medi-Cal costs for large corporations, but most measures passed on party-line or near-party-line votes. The Senate also confirmed three California Horse Racing Board appointments and ended with adjournment motions, including a request to adjourn in memory of Francis Lydia Limos of American Canyon.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Japanese want. Japanese want.
• He said their gas producers have their gold standard when they talk about international markets as well
• Please. international markets as well. I think international markets as well.
• partners as well as you international partners as well as you know<00:40:37.359><c> maybe</c><00:40:
• Uh, just the internal making of it, uh, in terms of targets.

Bills: HB0120 , HB0043 , HB0128

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development