Transcript Highlights:

• election when they are not, you know, filing and campaigning and doing all of the things that actual candidates
• As for registering as a candidate, etc., in retention elections, the person that's holding that is a
• As for registering<01:08:13.599><c> as</c><01:08:13.760><c> a</c><01:08:13.920><c> candidate,</c><01:
• </c><01:08:15.280><c> Uh,</c><01:08:15.599><c> in</c> registering as a candidate, etc.
• Uh, in registering as a candidate, etc.

Bills: HF1667 , HF2526 , HF68

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: correctional fees, supervision fees, probation, Department of Corrections, criminal justice funding, electronic home monitoring, drug testing, restitution collection, community service work, postprison supervision, court-ordered services, fee sunset, fee phaseout, offender fees, community corrections, supervised individuals

Transcript Highlights:

• I will be very candid with you: it just has not happened.
• I will be very candid with you: it just has not happened.
• </c><00:19:42.000><c> will</c><00:19:42.160><c> be</c><00:19:42.320><c> very</c><00:19:42.559><c> candid
• I will be very candid with you. It plan. I will be very candid with you.

Summary: The committee opened by approving the September 5, 2025 minutes, with one member asking that future minutes use honorifics such as Mr. or Ms. The agenda was then adjusted so Police Standards and Training could present first. Director John Skipa reported on the 2019 performance audit, saying 12 of 16 findings were fully resolved and the remaining items were substantially or partially resolved. He highlighted work on a job task analysis to update curriculum and develop a more realistic physical aptitude test, including possible replacement of the long-used Cooper test and a shift away from mandatory baton training toward electronic weapons training. He said stakeholder work groups would meet in October and November, with a goal of completing the work by the first quarter of 2026. On the strategic planning and performance measurement finding, Skipa said the agency had relied on the 2019 audit and the LEAC report as guides while also implementing a digital records system. He acknowledged that a formal forward-looking strategic plan with the council had not yet been completed, but said he and the council chair wanted to do so, possibly through a retreat-style planning session. Members asked how many LEAC recommendations had been fully implemented; Skipa said he did not know the exact number but believed nearly all of the 22 items assigned to his agency were complete. On the administrative rules finding, he said a part-time former director had been brought back to help revise outdated rules, the council subcommittee had finished its work, and proposed changes would be sent to the full council, then to stakeholders and the public, with a public hearing expected and implementation targeted for 2026. For the Corrections Advisory Committee finding, Skipa said the committee had been reconvened in 2020 and 2021 but had limited usefulness because the statutorily named members were mostly high-level administrators rather than line supervisors or newer corrections staff. He said some positions later went unfilled because of budget and staffing issues, and the committee had not been called back, but he was open to either informal adjustments or possible legislative changes to make the committee more useful. Committee members suggested that the statute may need to be amended to allow more appropriate designees or supervisors to participate. After Police Standards and Training concluded, the committee moved on to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, where the executive director said he would focus on the partially resolved items in the dental examiner audit and the National Path audit, noting that many changes were tied to recent statutory revisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR THEM TO PUT THEIR NAMES IN THE HAT, CANDIDATES FOR THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS, THEY HAD TO PUT THEIR
• AND IT ENSURED THAT WE HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE GROUP AND THE MOST QUALIFIED GROUP OF CANDIDATES FOR OUR
• I'm going to be candid for a moment.
• IS THE EXPECTATION THAT THIS PERSON BE CAMPAIGNING AS THE MOST EFFICIENT CANDIDATE AS WELL?
• WE ARE CREATING A PERMANENT POSITION THAT AT THIS POINT THE CANDIDATE IS RUNNING, AND WE ARE NOT EVEN

Bills: SB 2 , HB 2 , HB 2000 , HB 2196 , HB 213 , HB 222 , HB 645 , HB 1458 , HB 1022 , HB 141 , HB 502 , HB 643 , HB 3093 , HB 1700 , HB 117 , SB 503 , SB 2 , HB 120 , HB 20 , HB 150 , HB 6 , HB 100 , HB 210 , HB 215 , HB 1393 , HB 1151 , HB 1268 , HB 142 , HB 451 , HB 124 , HB 2 , HB 2000 , HB 2196 , HB 213 , HB 222 , HB 645 , HB 1458 , HB 1022 , HB 141 , HB 502 , HB 643 , HB 3093 , HB 1700 , HB 117

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of us here on this committee right now are in the process of talking to potential Regents candidates
• As a student, what question do you think we should be asking a Regents candidate?
• Most of us here on this committee right now are in the process of talking to potential Regents candidates
• As a student, what question do you think we should be asking a Regents candidate?
• As a student, what question do you think we should be asking a Regents candidate?

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• law does authorize us to go into a closed meeting and go into executive session to have frank and candid

Summary: The Legislative Management Committee met virtually and took roll, confirming a quorum. The chair explained that the Legislative Assembly has been sued by two individuals over a constitutional measure passed in the last regular session relating to term limits, and that the committee needed to consider whether to hire separate counsel for the legislature. Because the discussion would involve legal strategy and legal issues, the chair noted that an executive session was authorized and entertained a motion to go into closed session. A motion was made and seconded, and the committee voted by roll call to enter executive session. After the motion carried, the chair asked for a few minutes to stop the live feed, change the recording, and prepare the room for the closed meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• All are aware of the shortage of highly qualified peace officer candidates.
• </c><00:14:58.880><c> officer</c> highly qualified peace officer highly qualified peace officer candidates
• . candidates. candidates.
• 15:45.040><c> ago,</c><00:15:45.440><c> I</c><00:15:45.680><c> made</c><00:15:45.920><c> an</c> candidates
• . 30 years ago, I made an candidates. 30 years ago, I made an assessment. assessment. assessment.

Transcript Highlights:

• PBY, and there are allocations for those operating expenses and to support positions to assist candidates
• These grant programs remain important in supporting our teacher candidates and teachers.
• These grant programs remain important in supporting our teacher candidates and teachers.
• past two years, and you'll see quite a bit of support for those alternative pathways for teacher candidates
• These grant programs remain important in supporting our teacher candidates and teachers.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• the chair and the bill sponsor respectfully to remove and decodify the social equity licensure candidates
• I'll be candid: Kindering has been in a deficit budget since 2021, which ultimately impacts services.
• I'll be candid: Kindering has been in a deficit budget since 2021, which ultimately impacts services.
• However, state law requires that primaries winnow the field to two candidates, which renders ranked choice
• I also want to address the cost of educating the candidates.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several bills. HB 2675 would eliminate a number of state accounts and transfer remaining balances from two accounts to the general fund, while also changing how revenues in the Salary Insurance Contribution Increase Revolving Account are deposited; OFM testified in support and there was no public opposition. SHB 1903 would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce, funded by the general fund and Climate Commitment Act revenues; supporters said it would address Washington’s underfunded and uneven energy assistance system, while utilities and rural co-ops raised concerns about cost, reporting burdens, utility authority, and implementation details. SHB 2384 would require actuarial reviews for certain continuing care retirement communities with prepaid life care contracts; residents and consumer advocates supported the added transparency, while providers opposed the added review costs and said they already pay for actuarial work. SHB 1982 would expand the ability of tribal members to vacate convictions tied to treaty rights, add OPD representation and a tribal liaison position, and then an amendment was described that would remove the liaison position and eliminate the fiscal impact; the sponsor and OPD supported the bill, and testimony emphasized correcting past treaty-rights convictions. The committee also heard SHB 2389, a broad juvenile justice bill that would expand suspended disposition options, create midpoint review hearings, reduce some robbery ranges, and address juvenile rehabilitation capacity and transfers. Supporters argued it would reduce racial disparities, favor community-based rehabilitation when safe, and improve outcomes, while prosecutors, sheriffs, counties, judges, cities, victim advocates, and some tribal law enforcement warned it would weaken accountability for serious violent offenses, increase court and local government burdens, and shift costs without funding. Several witnesses and the bill sponsor discussed proposed amendments, including removing presumptions and the mid-sentence review. The committee then heard SHB 2439, which would raise tobacco and vapor product license fees, create a responsible vendor program, add manufacturer certification and enforcement provisions, restrict certain products and sales practices, and redirect tobacco tax revenue to public health, cancer research, and youth prevention accounts; public health and prevention groups supported it, while retailers and industry representatives opposed the fee increases and some of the new restrictions. Finally, HB 2681 would sharply increase cannabis license fees and index them to inflation; OFM supported the change as aligning fees with program costs, while cannabis businesses and associations opposed or sought changes to the fee structure and CPI indexing. The committee also heard a briefing on SHB 2215, which would require the Caseload Forecast Council to forecast SNAP and state food assistance caseloads in light of upcoming federal cost-sharing changes; no questions were raised at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, please vote by saying the last name of the candidate.
• I was a new candidate running for office. Carrie wanted to know what she could do for me.
• I was a new candidate running for office. Carrie wanted to know what she could do for me.
• </c><00:48:20.040><c> running</c><00:48:20.359><c> for</c> help I was a new candidate running for help
• I was a new candidate running for office<00:48:22.599><c> Carrie</c><00:48:22.960><c> wanted</c><00:

Transcript Highlights:

• staff to create an inventory, a skills inventory, and region inventory list to weigh the remaining candidates
• against what the commission... ...lists to weigh the remaining candidates against what the commission

Summary: The Cabo Verdean Cultural Center Feasibility Commission met to continue its work toward making recommendations to the Legislature on establishing a cultural center in Boston. The chair reviewed the commission’s mandate, upcoming monthly meetings, site visits, listening sessions, and the plan to eventually hire a consultant for the feasibility study. Members also discussed the importance of capturing the broader 200-plus-year Cape Verdean history in Massachusetts, especially in light of Boston’s 250th anniversary and Cabo Verde’s recent 50th independence anniversary. A major portion of the meeting focused on reviewing and narrowing a list of potential additional commissioners. Members discussed the need for geographic, sector, and generational diversity, and several commissioners raised concerns about overrepresentation from New Bedford and the need to include people connected to other Cape Verdean communities such as Brockton, Boston, Wareham/Onset, Taunton, the Cape, and Haverhill. Testimony and comments emphasized including people with skills in arts, culture, history, construction, philanthropy, law, education, museum curation, and community organizing. Members also discussed whether to use a slate, an inventory of skills and regions, or individual votes, and whether abstentions should be treated as “reserve your rights” instead. The commission voted to appoint three individuals: John Cruz, former State Senator Vinny deMacedo, and Angelo Lopes Barbosa or a designee from the Center for Cape Verdean Studies at Bridgewater State University. The body then voted to pause the remaining commissioner appointments until the next meeting and directed the chair and staff to create an inventory of candidates by skills, region, and other relevant criteria. Members also agreed to add two newly suggested names—former Brockton City Councilor Tina Cardoso and Maria Gomez-Pena—to the candidate list. The chair said the next meeting would be scheduled for January, and the meeting adjourned after the commission approved the motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• that in these situations like these, as we're now familiar having just ourselves gone through a candidate
• challenge period, that there are timelines in... ...gone through a candidate challenge period that there

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and announced that several House messages and Senate bills had been transmitted to the governor. Members also noted a planned recess to recognize the University of Arizona men’s basketball team later in the morning. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider bills on multiple calendars. On Calendar 4, House Bill 2812, dealing with accumulated sick leave payments and compensation/insurance issues, received a do-pass recommendation after an amendment, but it later failed on third reading by a vote of 15-11. House Bill 2032, on school assessment accountability and testing, was amended with a floor change extending a timeline from four to six weeks and then passed 26-0 on third reading. House Bill 2033, also on school assessment accountability and written versus digital testing, drew debate over a Diaz floor amendment limiting written-test authority to grades 3-8; the amendment failed on a 15-10 division vote, and the bill then received a do-pass recommendation and passed the Senate. House Bill 293, relating to school curricula and mental health instruction requirements, prompted extended floor debate, with supporters arguing it preserved evidence-based mental health and social-emotional learning instruction for students; it passed 16-10. House Bill 4033, concerning education bond elections, also passed 16-10. In a second Committee of the Whole, members considered House Bill 2016 on tax administration and late filing penalties, House Bill 2140 on depository state money and financial institutions, House Bill 2308 on the State Board of Dental Examiners, House Bill 2320 on school district bonds and financial advisors, House Bill 2439 on public health and exempting certain submissions, and House Bill 2873 on competitive bidding. HB 2320 was retained on the calendar, while the others received do-pass recommendations, with HB 2439 and HB 2873 amended. HB 2873 generated the most debate: a Bullock floor amendment added an emergency clause, and supporters said the measure was needed to allow withdrawal of referendum petitions before ballot qualification, while opponents argued it would undercut the referendum process and voter rights, especially in the Marana data center dispute. The amended bill ultimately received a do-pass recommendation. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole reports, including a failed attempt by Senator Diaz to add her HB 2033 amendment back into the report by roll call (10-16). After third readings, HB 2032 and HB 293 passed, while HB 2812 failed. The chamber then recessed to honor the University of Arizona men’s basketball team with a proclamation recognizing its 2026 Final Four appearance and Big 12 championships. The Senate later reconvened briefly, received committee announcements, and adjourned until Monday, April 13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• anticipate that in situations like these, as we're now familiar having just ourselves gone through a candidate
• and in reliance on that organization continuing to move their will forward... ...gone through a candidate

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, right now, to be candid with you with the oil prices that we've seen, there's probably going
• still have $3 million of industrial access that we've got in reserve right now We've got a couple of candidate

Committee: House A&B Transportation Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• pictures, when you see these videos, I mean, you're going to have future campaigns of presidential candidates
• commercials... ...you see these videos, I mean, you're going to have future campaigns of presidential candidates

Bills: SB1786

Committees: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation , House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Keywords: artificial intelligence, content verification, provenance data, transparency, digital content

Transcript Highlights:

• We haven't identified any candidates.
• We haven't identified any candidates yet, if that makes sense, so I don't know when the hire dates would

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• average job pays about $120,000 a year, and there's three open positions for every single qualified candidate
• I want to be candid. Any answer is going to be speculative.

Bills: SB151 , HB8 , SB177

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: corporate income tax, franchise tax, gross receipts tax, tax credit, tax deduction, controlled foreign corporation, CFC, bonus depreciation, interest expense, apportionment, unitary group, high-wage jobs tax credit, local journalism, news media, newspaper printer, physician incentive, health care workforce, affordable housing, multifamily housing, construction materials

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm just being very candid with your committee.
• But I'm just being very candid that I think that there are still some opportunities to shore up our work

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Too many candidates got seats simply because of political connections, campaign contributions, or being
• Do many candidates got seats simply because of political connections, campaign contributions, or being

Bills: SB104 , SJR3 , SM3 , SB104 , SJR3 , SM3

Committees: Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: wildlife commission, removal procedures, malfeasance, appointed officials, governance, education reform, public education, state board of education, superintendent, chartering authority, constitutional amendment, policy setting, insects, insect workshop, insect identification, ecology, monitoring, management, pollinators, pollination

Transcript Highlights:

• as those in information technology and student advising, we struggle to get a qualified pool of candidates
• When we do not get qualified candidates, we lose them because of the salaries, or they can go to work

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is a candidate for the suspense file.
• This bill is a candidate for the suspense file. Thank you very much.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills focused on transit funding, veterans’ tax relief, clean energy incentives, housing development costs, and tax conformity. SB 63 would authorize a Bay Area regional sales tax measure for transit agencies facing fiscal shortfalls; supporters said it was needed to avoid major service cuts, while the California Taxpayers Association opposed it on Proposition 13/218 concerns. SB 56 would exclude veterans’ disability compensation from income calculations for the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, and SB 296 would expand property tax relief for 100% disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses; both drew broad veterans’ support. SB 86 would extend and expand the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority sales and use tax exemption program, including fusion energy, and SB 302 would conform state tax law to federal clean energy credit monetization provisions; both were backed by industry, labor, and clean energy advocates. SB 328 would cap Department of Toxic Substances Control fees on contaminated-soil remediation for infill and master-planned housing projects, with housing groups arguing the current fee structure can make projects infeasible. SB 711 would update California’s tax conformity date to January 1, 2025 to reduce complexity and inconsistencies with federal law, and was supported by tax professionals and business groups. Several bills were held or sent to suspense, while others advanced with amendments. After quorum was established, SB 63 passed the committee 4-2 and SB 86, SB 302, SB 328, and SB 711 were referred to suspense, with SB 86 and SB 302 later approved out of suspense with amendments. SB 56 was held in committee, SB 296 was made a two-year bill, and SB 284 and SB 723 were held. The committee also approved a number of additional suspense-file bills, including SB 293, SB 359, SB 419, SB 587, SB 603, SB 663, SB 710, and SB 785, while SB 591 was approved with amendments and SB 353 was made a two-year bill. The hearing concluded with the committee adjournment after final roll calls and bill actions.