Transcript Highlights:

• I believe in solar energy.
• I believe in solar energy.
• I believe in solar energy.
• and green energy.
• and green energy.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through confirmations and floor legislation. Three California Housing Finance Agency and State Mining and Geology Board appointments were confirmed unanimously. The chamber then took up several policy bills, with debate often focusing on housing, public safety, energy, and local government impacts. Among the major measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense jury instructions passed after supporters argued it would give judges limited discretion and improve fairness, while opponents warned it could create inconsistency. SB 1354, barring out-of-state military or law enforcement activity in California without the Governor’s permission, passed despite objections that it conflicted with federal commander-in-chief authority. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed to restrict unsolicited purchase offers in fire-affected areas, and SB 966 passed to preserve refinery worker safety participation rights. SB 1256, a local housing/land-use bill, passed unanimously after discussion of fire-safety concerns and ongoing amendments. The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning and regional coordination for jurisdictions not receiving HAP funds, SB 938 on peace officer training requirements for certain immigration-enforcement-related applicants after the author committed to major amendments, SB 1359 on natural gas planning to reduce ratepayer costs, SB 923 on privacy rights under the CCPA, SB 1098 on utility memorandum and balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery for cooling appliances, SB 937 on restricting flashbang use in crowd control and immigration enforcement, SB 1082 on inter-district pupil transfers, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. Several bills drew split votes and pointed debate over mandates, taxes, local control, and regulatory certainty, but most ultimately passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• They save farmers and ranchers thousands of dollars per year on water, energy, and other inputs.
• Housing, transit, affordability, equity, and jobs.
• They cost approximately $96 per ton, while other sectors, such as the energy sector.
• Chairman and members, Michael Bocadaro on behalf of the Ag Energy Consumers Association.
• Chair, Edson Perez here on behalf of Advanced Energy United.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:23.680><c> Calories</c> is to get enough energy. Calories is to get enough energy.
• Calories measure<00:40:24.560><c> energy.
• You have to get enough measure energy.
• </c> enough energy. And that is a basic fact. enough energy. And that is a basic fact.
• </c> some of you, equity is a scam. So be it. some of you, equity is a scam. So be it.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session on a bill concerning school meal access and reimbursement. The bill would address local school districts’ responsibility to provide meals during school hours, reimburse schools for meals served at no cost, and make an appropriation. The committee first moved to retain the bill, with supporters saying it was complex, had uncertain fiscal impacts, and should be considered alongside other related meals bills. Opponents argued the committee already had enough information, that the bill served a small number of students at relatively low cost, and that delaying action would harm children who need food to learn. The committee also heard from Tim Roar, a Keene school business administrator and co-designer of the bill, who explained that the proposal was intended to be an opt-in program for districts, with rulemaking to set participation requirements. He said the bill was meant to target aid to students between 175% and 200% of poverty, reduce bad meal debt, and avoid spending taxpayer money on families who could afford to pay. He estimated the state cost at about $250,000 in year one, with local taxpayer costs around $8,500 for Keene, and said some districts already have systems for online applications while others do not. Committee members questioned him about meal debt, online application software costs, and how districts handle students who reach debt limits. Roar said districts still feed students who are hungry, but use other resources and family outreach when meal debt is capped, and he argued that parents should be responsible for providing lunch when they can afford it. Other members pushed back, saying they had seen students go hungry and that teachers sometimes pay for lunches themselves. One member noted the bill would increase eligibility, make it easier to apply, strengthen personal responsibility, and was not a mandate. The discussion ended without a recorded final vote in the excerpt, though the retain motion remained the central action under debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the low-income housing equity pricing tax credit equity pricing is down.
• I've been part of tax packages where we look at everything from advanced energy to renewable energy to
• That’s really kind of equity, that quick buildup of equity, but we're not going to be able to take advantage
• We should be the energy leader in the Southwest by far because we have all the pieces.
• Chair, we talk about equity.

Bills: SB240

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1385, public utilities, renewable energy resources. Natural Resources.
• health insurance fertility preservation coverage; FC 1350, outdoor therapy programs grants; SB 351, energy
• Outdoor therapy programs grants; SB 351, energy measuring portable repeal; SB 352, domestic violence,
• violence firearm transfers; SB 1379, study committee scrap metal theft; SB 1380, large low consumers energy
• of public education, Representative Grijalva was a steadfast advocate for public schools, health equity

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal and recorded attendance. Members observed a moment of silence for former Representative Noel Campbell, and several guest groups were recognized in the gallery, including Greater Phoenix school district leaders, GCU Government and History Club students, Arizona Food Bank Network representatives, and local and tribal officials visiting for appropriations and transportation-related discussions. The chamber also adopted a proclamation recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Senators and guests offered remarks about the Holocaust, rising antisemitism, and the importance of education and remembrance, followed by a moment of silence. Later, the Senate received and unanimously adopted House Concurrent Resolution 2045 honoring the life and public service of former Congressman Raul Grijalva, with members of the Grijalva family present on the floor and several senators sharing personal tributes. The Senate then processed a long list of governor’s nominations, first readings, and second-reading bill referrals, including measures on natural resources, education, health, public safety, elections, taxation, utilities, and appropriations. Senator Bolick also read a proclamation for National School Choice Week. The body recessed briefly, returned to consider SCR 1036 on Attorney General public statements, and then received committee announcements before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a number of proposals in the energy and transportation area that I represent, which are not
• I would also note that on the energy side, there are two general fund solutions.
• for the CPUC related to battery energy storage systems and facilities.
• Sustainable Transportation Equity Project.
• I've reached points on behalf of LA Metro, the Port of Los Angeles, and Advanced Energy United.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico oil and gas helps supply domestic energy... grid reliability.
• sources, and enables investment in renewable energy.
• General Lady, my question is one that deals with pay equity.
• My question is one that deals with pay equity.
• Esteemaw, Speaker, General Lady, my question is one that deals with pay equity.

Bills: HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM18, HM21, HB10, HB11, HB12, HB13, HB14, HB31, HB50

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• Amy Cortina with Unite LA and Digital Equity LA in strong opposition.
• Oscar Magana, Everyone On and Digital Equity Los Angeles, strong opposition.
• Flores Lagunas with Digital Equity L.A. and opposing this bill. Thank you.
• I'm Shaina England, Director of the Digital Equity Los Angeles Coalition, or DELA, and the Digital Equity
• , and we have become partners in the Digital Equity Los Angeles Coalition.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Bills: HR33, HR138, HR200, HR243, HR267, HR307, HR353, HR383, HR443, HR446, HR449, HR451, HR453, HR457, HR459, HR460, HR461, HR462, HR464, HR466, HR467, HR474, HR475, HR477, HR479, HR481, HR482, HR483, HR484, HR486, HR487, HR490, HR491, HR497, HR502, HR505, HR509, HR510, HR511, HR512, HR513, HR515, HR516, HR527, HR531, HR532, HR541, HR542, HR547, HR548, HR549, HR550, HR555, HR557, HR564, HR568, HR574, HR575, HR576, HR577, HR578, HR580, HR584, HR586, HR587, HR588, HR589, HR594, HR595, HR597, HR599, HR606, HR607, HR608, HR609, HR610, HR611, HR612, HR613, HR615, HR616, HR617, HR619, HR620, HCR65, HCR119, HR434, HR447, HR450, HR454, HR455, HR458, HR463, HR476, HR478, HR488, HR489, HR492, HR496, HR499, HR522, HR523, HR524, HR533, HR534, HR535, HR536, HR537, HR539, HR546, HR552, HR553, HR554, HR556, HR579, HR582, HR598

Keywords: autism, neurodiversity, awareness, acceptance, public health, HR 138, H.R. 138, House Resolution, Texas House, 89th Texas Legislature, Susan Christian, Houston Mayor's Office of Special Events, MOSE, retirement resolution, congratulatory resolution, ceremonial resolution, Houston, special events, city events, civic events

Transcript Highlights:

• The house is either paid for or it has significant equity.
• We think that correction in the U.S. equity market is coming.
• And we've got a total of a 40. 50% allocation for zero allocation to publicly traded equity.
• They import most of their energy. Not most. They import more than half of their energy.
• We can produce all of our energy needs. Our traditional plus renewables.

Transcript Highlights:

• National Conference of State Legislatures, or NCSL, where he sits on several committees related to energy
• NCSL, where he sits on several committees related to energy, economic development, and international
• of the Civil Rights Movement in the Bay Area and taught Betsy the invaluable essence of justice, equity
• advocated for the care of youth and rehabilitation, and this also deepened her lifelong commitment to equity
• And this also deepened her lifelong commitment to equity.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prop. 4, like I said, for water reuse, recycling, dam safety, forest health, wildfire mitigation, energy
• It seems like there's both an equity issue...
• It seems like there's both an equity issue as well as an issue about whether or not this threatens our
• or cheap energy based on where they're located.
• So they will do more treatment, less water... ...energy based on where they're located.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Civil Rights and Health Equity, Consumer Protection, Reproductive Justice, Tobacco Enforcement, and
• To ensure health equity for all people, we need to safeguard these crucial health care options.
• But I don't see that kind of energy.
• But I don't see that kind of energy.
• And so we're going to re-divered this energy to 0.000. that kind of energy.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It authorizes the state and local renewable energy tax on personal property related to renewable energy
• It authorizes the state and local renewable energy tax on personal property related to renewable energy
• of the renewable energy facility or battery electric storage system, or until they repower.
• They're trying to get equity.
• They're trying to get equity.

Bills: HB1717, HB2133, HB2135, HB2140, HB2442, HB2559

Keywords: affordable housing, sales tax, housing programs, tax incentives, economic development, property tax, senior citizens, tax exemption, local government funding, permanent legislation, adaptive housing, disabled veterans, tax preferences, housing affordability, retail sales tax, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, local government, tax authority

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a government takeover of our energy system.
• You all have heard me talk about equity many times on this floor.
• I've talked about equity, meaning equity is arguably most important. in education because we know that
• Business, energy, trade, science, and technology.
• That's not equity for all, that's abandonment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 978 ensures that new data centers are built and operated responsibly by protecting energy ratepayers
• from higher costs. ...operated responsibly by protecting energy ratepayers from higher costs, requiring
• We can do all kinds of zero-carbon energy, and those are great jobs.
• I don't know the other provisions in the bill in terms of balancing the rest of the equities once you
• I'm with Tech Equity. Thank you for the opportunity to testify and support.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on workplace technology, labor protections, and data center oversight. SB 947, the No Robo Bosses Act of 2026, would require human review before automated systems are used in discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and would ban predictive behavior analysis in the workplace. Labor groups, worker advocates, and privacy organizations supported the bill, arguing AI can be biased and should not make life-changing employment decisions without human judgment. Business groups opposed it, saying it was broader than prior versions, could interfere with workplace safety tools, and should not include a private right of action or cover independent contractors. After discussion about due process and accountability, the bill passed the committee 3-1 and was sent to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, would require data centers to pay upfront for new transmission or distribution infrastructure, create a separate rate structure so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers, and include skilled-and-trained labor standards for construction. Supporters said the bill would protect ratepayers, create good construction jobs, and encourage zero-carbon energy development. Opponents, including the Data Center Coalition and Silicon Valley Leadership Group, argued the CPUC already has ongoing proceedings on these issues and warned the bill could single out one industry and discourage investment. The committee members emphasized labor standards and community concerns, and the bill passed 3-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, would expand WARN-style notice requirements for layoffs caused by AI or automation, require reporting to workers, local government, and EDD, and give displaced workers first consideration for other openings. Supporters said the bill responds to rapid AI-driven layoffs and would provide needed transparency and data. Opponents said the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements too burdensome, and the bill conflicted with existing WARN law; they also objected to the private right of action and inclusion of independent contractors. The committee discussed amendments clarifying that an employee may still be discharged for reasonable and substantiated cause during the notice period. The bill passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. The committee also approved SB 1032, which would create a licensing and regulatory framework for temporary staffing agencies, and SB 1046, which would direct Cal/OSHA to develop standards to protect lifeguards and park rangers from transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. SB 1032 drew support from labor and enforcement advocates who said it would help stop staffing fraud, while staffing firms argued the bill was vague and could burden legitimate small businesses; it passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. SB 1046 was supported by park workers and community groups describing health impacts from pollution and passed 4-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The committee also took up a consent item, which passed 4-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 978 ensures that new data centers are built and operated responsibly by protecting energy ratepayers
• SB 978 ensures that new data centers are built and operated responsibly by protecting energy ratepayers
• without clear statutory guidance, those costs may be passed on to ratepayers and other commercial energy
• We can do all kinds of zero-carbon energy, and those are great jobs.
• I'm with Tech Equity. Thank you for the opportunity to testify and support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But until the time that we do that, we want to have horizontal equity in our tax code, and that's why
• closely with the legislature in hopes of creating new construction opportunities in the renewable energy
• Washington is competing right now nationally for energy-intensive infrastructure.
• When a facility refurbishes, they will get new and modern technology that is more energy efficient.
• While we support the other provisions in this bill and believe them to be positive for health equity,

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Energy, there are 2,276 charging ports across 862 stations in Minnesota.
• Department of Energy, there are 2,276 charging ports across 862 stations in Minnesota.
• ><c> are</c> of Energy, there are of Energy, there are 2,276<00:35:45.760><c> charging</c><00:35:46.079
• As we often talk about as an office, social equity is more than just licensing.
• Um, as I and equity at the center.

Bills: HF1646, HF2443

Keywords: medical debt, debt relief, healthcare financing, consumer protection, financial hardship, commerce, cannabis, insurance, housing, ombudsperson, affordability, property, task force, financial institutions, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 127 is the Energy and Climate trailer bill.
• AB 142 is the second energy trailer bill.
• Mark Fenstermaker for Peninsula Clean Energy and Earthjustice.
• I'm a vice president with a company called Energy Solutions.
• Energy codes actually reduce energy use and utility bills and increase utility bill savings, so as written

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the final three-party budget agreement and related trailer bills, with the Department of Finance outlining the major budget bill and omnibus measures. Finance described a package built around balancing the state budget amid economic uncertainty, preserving core health and safety-net programs, and making significant ongoing reductions in some state programs. The budget bill included major items such as shifting $1 billion from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for Cal Fire, funding universal transitional kindergarten, deferring some UC and CSU funding, supporting foster care and homelessness programs, providing Proposition 36 implementation funding, and achieving Medi-Cal savings through changes to benefits and eligibility. The committee also heard that votes on the budget bills were expected later in the week and the following Monday. Finance then walked through the trailer bills, including health, human services, early learning, education, resources, energy, transportation, labor, housing, tax, public safety, courts, general government, cannabis, and energy-related measures. Notable provisions included a Medi-Cal enrollment freeze for certain adults, new premiums and benefit changes for some immigrants, child care COLA changes, education funding for literacy, teacher support, universal meals, and community college student support, as well as resource and climate measures affecting Cal Fire staffing and energy permitting. The housing trailer bill drew the most discussion, with provisions on CEQA streamlining, a vehicle miles traveled mitigation banking program, a renters’ credit trigger, and a six-year moratorium on new residential building standards. Members also discussed a film tax credit expansion, cannabis enforcement funding, a tribal police pilot program, and changes to tax policy, including military retirement income exclusions and wildfire settlement payment exclusions. Committee members largely praised the staff and the budget process, but several raised concerns and asked detailed questions, especially about the housing trailer bill’s new wage standards, tribal consultation provisions, and possible effects on prevailing wage protections. Finance explained that the housing language was intended to set wage floors for market-rate projects receiving CEQA streamlining, with different county-based tiers and a notwithstanding clause preserving existing prevailing wage laws. Members also questioned the size and timing of funding for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, Clean Cars for All, Proposition 36, and the film tax credit expansion. Other members highlighted support for public safety, veterans’ tax relief, child care providers, housing production, and higher education, while some expressed concern that the budget’s policy changes were being negotiated too quickly or without enough stakeholder input.