Transcript Highlights:

• So how do you envision this working just in California since...
• Danny Curtin on behalf of the California Conference of Carpenters, and Mr.
• California Association of Scaffold Contractors, in support.
• California took care of this a long time ago.
• Under 7031 of the BPC code, it's very clear. The burden doesn't shift.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• The U.S. building code is full of standards not required by our global peers that drive up costs.
• U.S. building codes outside New York prohibit more space-efficient scissor-stair configurations used
• Other states have started to pursue building code reforms that reduce costs while maintaining high standards
• You heard the previous speaker speak to some of the challenges of building those in terms of codes and
• building.

Summary: The Select Committee on Downtown Recovery held an informational hearing on the future of public transit and its role in downtown recovery. Chair Haney framed the discussion around how downtowns have changed since the pandemic and how transit, walkability, housing, and street design can support more 24/7 activity. The hearing included three panels: transit agency representatives, street design and curb management experts, and housing/transit development advocates. Transit agency witnesses from BART, LA Metro, and Sacramento Regional Transit described post-pandemic ridership shifts, with more weekend, evening, and event-based travel and less reliance on traditional weekday commute patterns. BART highlighted downtown San Francisco’s dependence on transit, its event service, safety investments, and transit-oriented development pipeline, while asking the state to protect transit funding and honor SB 125 and greenhouse gas reduction fund commitments. LA Metro emphasized special event service, especially around the World Cup and Union Station activations, as a way to make transit a destination and improve customer experience. Sacramento Regional Transit reported bus ridership recovery above pre-pandemic levels, light rail lagging behind, new vehicles and stations, stronger security measures, and concerns about future funding cuts affecting student fares, capital projects, and service levels. The second panel focused on making downtown streets more walkable and transit-friendly. Jeff Speck argued that walkability depends on places being useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting, and urged cities to restripe streets, reduce lane widths, add bike protection, improve crossings, and redesign one-way streets. Mark Vuksevich of Streets for All said downtowns are statewide economic assets and called for frequent transit, bus priority, modern curb management, parking pricing tied to availability, and parking benefits districts that reinvest revenue locally. He also said the state should provide model enabling legislation and more flexibility for local experimentation. The final panel focused on housing near transit. California YIMBY’s Aaron Eckhouse supported AB 2074, which would encourage large-scale housing in transit-rich downtowns, and argued for more financing tools, condo reform, and building code changes to reduce costs. Transbay Joint Powers Authority Executive Director Adam Van Water described the Transbay Transit Center and surrounding district as a case study in transit-oriented downtown growth, with millions of square feet of development, thousands of residents, and a major portal project still awaiting funding and pre-construction work. Members discussed office-to-housing conversions, the need to repurpose underused office stock, and the importance of state funding and policy support for transit, housing, and downtown revitalization.

Transcript Highlights:

• Angela Hill, on behalf of the California Medical Association, a proud code sponsor. Thank you.
• Unfortunately, 'Mexican national' does not have a definition in California statute or code.
• These standards already exist in other states, such as California, Colorado, Oregon, and Maryland, and
• So when they talk about the growth in zip codes that are outside of California, they're largely talking
• Currently, California has no statewide standard for dispatcher training.

Committee: House Health

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a special order of bills focused largely on utilization management and prior authorization in health care. Chair Bonta opened by explaining the committee’s rules and noting several consent items, then moved into bills aimed at reducing delays and barriers in coverage decisions for mental health, substance use disorder treatment, chronic care, and rehabilitation services. The committee also noted AB 1429 had been pulled from the agenda. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and for physician care delivered during those inpatient stays. Supporters, including behavioral health groups, hospitals, emergency physicians, and patient advocates, argued that prior authorization delays crisis care and can worsen outcomes. Opponents, including health plans and insurers, warned about fraud, waste, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities and review processes. The bill passed the committee on a do pass as amended vote and was sent to Appropriations, though it was placed on call. AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis would require health plans to provide a peer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization decision. Supporters said this would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the specialty-matching requirement and timelines were unworkable and could strain the system. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the prescribed treatment, with supporters citing chronic illness and cancer care delays and opponents arguing the bill was too broad. AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney would bar certain utilization reviews for the first 28 days of in-network substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications; it drew strong emotional support from a parent who lost her son after treatment was cut short, while insurers and health plans opposed it as too restrictive. AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization turnaround times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests, and AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark González would allow up to 12 physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization. Across these bills, supporters emphasized timely access and patient harm from delays, while opponents repeatedly raised concerns about oversight, medical necessity review, and cost. Several measures were voted out on call or held on call for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Power California Action in strong support.
• We need to build, you know, millions of homes in California, and we know it's very expensive to build
• codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• Standards Code Commission, all to collaborate all four times on separate reports.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several bills. SB 1091, by Senator Kavayetal, would create the Community Anti-Displacement and Preservation (CAP) program within HCD to provide financing and technical support for nonprofit and local efforts to acquire unsubsidized rental housing and preserve it as affordable housing or homeownership opportunities. Supporters, including Enterprise Community Partners, the Unity Council, and several housing and tenant groups, said preservation is a fast, cost-effective way to prevent displacement and homelessness. Members discussed funding, with the author and chair noting the program is intended to be funded through housing bond legislation and would be implemented upon appropriation. The bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Judiciary and passed out of committee. SB 904, by Senator Seyarto, would codify and expand the state’s coordinated wildfire recovery response by requiring HCD and other agencies to identify permitting and code barriers after future state-of-emergency wildfires and report on ways to speed rebuilding. The author cited the faster permitting response after the Los Angeles fires compared with the Camp Fire. Some members supported the goal but raised concerns about repeated reports and the burden on smaller jurisdictions; the author said the bill is meant to avoid reinventing the wheel and to streamline recovery. The committee noted the bill is fiscal and would go to Appropriations, and it was reported out with sufficient votes. SB 1007, by Senator Menjivar, would increase transparency and limit assessment growth in homeowners associations by requiring clearer disclosure of HOA finances and violation evidence, and by replacing the current 20% annual assessment increase ceiling with a cap tied to inflation, with possible amendments still under discussion. Supporters, including consumer and homeowner advocates, said the bill would help protect homeowners from steep fee hikes and opaque budgeting. Opponents from HOA management and industry groups argued the bill could undermine reserve funding, delay maintenance, and create more special assessments, while also adding duplicative disclosure requirements. Members debated whether the bill would protect homeowners without harming HOA finances; the author said he would continue negotiations and that the bill would look different in the next committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires California community colleges and California State Universities to create soft holds
• The bill requires that California community colleges and California state universities to create soft
• California Student Association.
• CHIS is a unique California asset.
• There is a need for TCUs in California, but the current Education Code definitions do not recognize TCUs

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a long policy agenda focused largely on student access, equity, and institutional oversight. Bills discussed included AB 2236 on common course numbering and streamlined articulation across the community colleges, CSU, and UC; AB 2422 on protections when financial aid is delayed; AB 1669 on medical and mental health leaves of absence; AB 1713 on accepting IEPs and 504 plans as proof of disability for accommodations; AB 2766 on priority housing and related supports for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness; AB 2212 on tech-facilitated sexual harassment and AI-generated intimate images; AB 2504 on a pilot to upskill creative-industry workers for AI-related changes; AB 1734 on preserving and expanding California food insecurity data collection; and AB 2771, the sunset bill for the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. The committee also took up a consent calendar of three bills earlier in the hearing. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from student groups, advocacy organizations, and system representatives, with many speakers describing personal experiences with transfer confusion, delayed aid, mental health crises, disability documentation barriers, housing instability, and online sexual harm. AB 2236 drew support from community college, CSU, UC student associations, and college-opportunity advocates, while the CSU Academic Senate registered opposition. AB 2771 drew a notable exchange over the cost and scope of the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, with Vice Chair DeMaio opposing the extension on fiscal and bureaucracy grounds; the author responded that the bureau is fee-funded and that its fees had not been raised in years. AB 1734 also prompted skepticism from DeMaio about the survey’s cost, methodology, and whether the work should be competitively bid, though supporters argued the existing California Health Interview Survey infrastructure was the most efficient way to preserve critical food insecurity data after federal cuts. The committee voted to advance the measures it heard, generally on party-line or near-party-line votes, with several bills held open for additional members to add on. AB 2236, AB 2422, AB 1669, AB 1713, AB 1734, AB 2766, and AB 2212 all received do-pass recommendations and were re-referred to the appropriate policy or fiscal committees. AB 2771 was also moved forward to the Committee on Business and Professions after debate over the bureau’s reauthorization and fee structure. The hearing ended with the committee beginning consideration of AB 2504, the AI-related workforce upskilling pilot for creative industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we need to create standards. This is another tool that we need to have in California.
• And we need to create standards. This is another tool that we need to have in California.
• Assembly Bill 306 by Assembly Member Schultz, an act relating to building standards.
• And now it would require the California... ...Building Standards Commission to decide appeals resulting
• from the administration of state building standards and promulgate code interpretations.

Summary: The Assembly met, established a quorum, and proceeded through a long concurrence and third-reading agenda. Early action focused on concurrence items, including AB 643 on climate change, AB 1731 on healthy food procurement, AB 2282 on health facilities, AB 2571 on healing arts, AB 2772 extending the Interior Design Certification Council sunset, AB 2304 (“Gabriel’s Law”) on social worker emergency care reporting, AB 1439 on labor standards studies for public retirement projects, and AB 685 on small business resilience. Members also took up a series of supplemental-file bills addressing forestry emissions, data brokers, housing, firearms, postsecondary education, public contracts, juvenile probation timelines, health care AI guardrails, energy-cost analysis, water use transparency for data centers, and other topics. Most measures were presented as technical, clarifying, or bipartisan, and the vast majority of Senate amendments were concurred in by wide margins, with a few closer votes on bills such as AB 1838, AB 1886, AB 1979, AB 2270, AB 2494, and AB 2635. The floor then shifted to a major cluster of bills about data centers, energy, water, and transparency. AB 2619 and AB 1577 drew extended debate over whether California should regulate data-center impacts or instead incentivize innovation; supporters argued the bills would protect ratepayers, local communities, and water supplies by requiring better information, while opponents warned against overregulation and urged a more innovation-focused approach. The Assembly also concurred in bills on food assistance, foster care, health plan directories, prison sexual-assault notifications, and public health, and later took up AB 1918, the human-trafficking notice and training bill for tattoo shops, which passed unanimously after testimony describing how tattoo artists can identify trafficking victims. The chamber also adopted several adjournment-in-memory resolutions, including tributes to Dr. Jack Edward Foote and Dan Hollingsworth. In the Senate third-reading file, the Assembly passed SB 1296 on pet-policy disclosure in rental listings, SB 1361 on housing and transportation coordination, SB 99 on military protective orders and domestic violence enforcement, SB 1072 as the annual housing omnibus bill, SB 1153 on wildfire preparedness and water-system planning, SB 1206 and SB 1209 on insurance regulation, SB 691 on body-worn camera privacy for EMS-related medical treatment, and SB 1446 on parole and sexually violent predator review procedures. Later, the Assembly also concurred in AB 2206 on teacher preparation programs, AB 2411, AB 2468 on inclusive education, AB 2471 on seismic safety and disaster resilience, AB 2555 on English learner reclassification, AB 2507 on tribal affairs, AB 2613 on health plan notification, AB 1889 on protective orders, AB 2113 on aviation, AB 1626 on interscholastic athletics, and AB 2635 on the Just Transition for Landscapers Act. The session ended with SB 869, a consumer-transparency bill requiring added-sugar icons on menus at large chain restaurants, which was presented as a public-health measure and passed after floor amendments moved major industry groups to neutral.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1058 simply cleans up and tightens current California Education Code related to school nutrition procurement
• Campus Act sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers.
• The University of California.
• Because it seems like you already have lots of code in, or a lot of statutes in code already, so I'm
• They lease a suite of buildings to UCLA.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard several bills focused on school nutrition, campus safety, college affordability, and UC contracting ethics. SB 1058 by Senator McNerney would remove price as the primary factor in school nutrition procurement, allowing districts more flexibility to prioritize meal quality, cultural appropriateness, local sourcing, and sustainability. Support came from school nutrition officials, education agencies, and school business groups; there was no opposition. Members raised questions about vendor selection and safeguards against favoritism, and the bill was ultimately moved forward on a due pass motion. SB 1140 by Senator Ashby, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers, would require school safety plans to address access control during construction, maintenance, and repair projects by limiting unattended entry points such as open doors and gates. Supporters included Brady Campaign, Moms Demand Action, school employees, labor groups, and Prism. Members discussed how the bill would apply to both new construction and ongoing maintenance, and the measure advanced on a due pass motion. SB 959 was taken up on consent and also moved forward. SB 1006 by Senator Padilla would raise the Cal Grant B Access Award to a new minimum and tie future increases to inflation, with related supplemental awards for student parents and former foster youth also indexed. Support came from higher education advocates, CSU, student groups, and public advocacy organizations, with testimony from a Sac State student describing housing, transportation, and food insecurity. Members generally supported the bill, though questions were raised about fiscal impact; the author estimated about $21 million in first-year costs. The bill passed the committee on a due pass motion. SB 1141 by Senator Wahab would bar businesses from contracting with the University of California if a UC executive is paid by, or has been paid by, that business within the prior year, aiming to address conflicts of interest in UC contracting. AFSCME and UC workers supported the bill, citing examples of executives serving on corporate boards while their institutions contract with those companies. UC and business groups opposed it, arguing it was overly broad, could capture ordinary dividends or unpaid advisory roles, and could disrupt essential contracts and operations. After extensive debate over existing conflict-of-interest laws and whether the bill would create practical problems, the committee approved SB 1141 on a 4-3 vote and then reported the remaining bills out 7-0 as calls were lifted, concluding the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• They've risen here in California.
• Right now, California is experiencing unprecedented challenges, environmental disaster, Right now, California
• Meet standards that align with the National Institute for Medical Respite Care certification standards
• California AARP members.
• Beth Monowski, the SAO, California.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 904 builds upon... Thank you, Honorable Chair. I'm here to present SB 904.
• codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• Identifying permitting requirements and building codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• This bill is sponsored by the Sprinkler Fitters Association of California.
• Member Scott Wich on behalf of the California State Pipe Trades Council.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several bills focused on emergency response, fire safety, and school threat prevention. SB 904 would codify and expand the coordinated permitting and rebuilding response used after major wildfire disasters, with the author saying it would standardize agency coordination without eliminating protections. Climate Action California opposed the bill, raising concerns about streamlining and permitting. SB 1299 would create a clearer statutory framework for State Fire Marshal certification, training, and enforcement for fire sprinkler fitters; supporters, including the Sprinkler Fitters Association and State Building Trades, said it would ensure qualified installation of critical life-safety systems, while no opposition was presented. SB 1181 would create a limited pilot allowing schools to communicate with regional threat assessment centers when there is a credible safety concern, with the author and supporters describing it as a privacy-protected way to connect warning signs and prevent violence; committee members generally supported the concept and discussed fusion centers, social media threats, and recent incidents. The committee also took up a consent calendar. After recesses to establish quorum and repeated calls for absent members, the committee voted to move all measures forward. SB 1299 was approved on a 9-0 vote to the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement. SB 904 was approved 9-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB 1181 was approved 9-0 to the Senate Committee on Education. The consent calendar items were also approved 9-0. All measures were left on call briefly for absent members before the final votes were recorded and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• a standard that is higher.
• to their communities, we want them to be able to build on the floor you're creating with FDOT standards
• unified development code.
• For the most part, counties outline stormwater standards within their unified development codes, and
• standards for stormwater.

Bills: S0558 , S1294 , S1468 , S1474 , S1682 , S1628

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The committee took up several environmental bills, beginning with SB 1682 on local administration of vessel restrictions. Senator Trumbull said the bill would give cities and counties tools to address abandoned, derelict, and long-term anchored vessels while following state standards and FWC guidance. Members from affected areas spoke in support, citing recurring derelict vessel problems and the difficulty and cost of removal once vessels sink. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1468 on advanced wastewater treatment, which would require DEP to compile a detailed statewide report on wastewater treatment plants, including construction age, treatment levels, contaminant data, spill history, flood risk, and receiving waterbody impairment information. Florida Rural Water Association testified that any move to require advanced treatment for all plants over one MGD could create major financial burdens without dedicated funding. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered CS/SB 1294 on biosolids management, with a strike-all amendment adopted. Senator Bradley said the revised bill would require bulk Class AA biosolids fertilizer and compost products to be land applied only at agronomic rates and, absent a bona fide sale, only at permitted DEP-approved sites, with a transition date moved to July 1, 2028. Supporters said it would protect water quality and legitimate fertilizer and compost markets, while rural utilities asked for funding and flexibility. The committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up CS/SB 1628 on net zero policies by governmental entities. Senator Avila said the bill would prohibit local governments and other governmental entities from adopting or funding net zero policies, imposing related fees or taxes, or operating cap-and-trade or carbon trading programs. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying the definition of carbon dioxide. The bill drew extensive debate: supporters argued it would protect residents and businesses from higher costs and preserve predictability, while opponents said it would block local climate and clean-energy policies, including electric buses, energy-efficiency measures, and climate resilience planning. After public testimony on both sides, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 1474 on biosolids management, which Senator Gates said would require biosolids and septage to be treated at the highest practical level when wastewater treatment facilities are reasonably accessible and would bar Class B land application within 50 miles of a permitted wastewater facility. An amendment applying the statutory definition of septage was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 558 on stormwater system standards. Senator Burgess said it would create statewide standards for municipal and county stormwater systems using FDOT guidelines and third-party inspections, with an amendment making technical changes and broadening who may perform inspections. Supporters said uniform standards could improve safety and reduce failures, while contractors, engineers, and industry groups warned it could raise costs, delay projects, and preempt stronger local standards. The bill remained under discussion as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• IEEE 1547 standards, the standards that support and coordinated with the National Electric Code, and
• So if we go to the next slide, this is a bit more history around the codes and standards now.
• And then importantly, not all those codes and standards are revised at the same time.
• And it's really because industry moves faster than the codes and standards update happens.
• Those codes and standards stack on each other. They're complementary.

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee held public hearings on two producer-responsibility bills and then a work session on consumer electrical equipment. On SB 6271, which would create an extended producer responsibility program for mattresses, staff explained the bill’s requirements for a producer responsibility organization, collection and recycling targets, reporting, and enforcement. Senator Hunt said the measure would reduce landfill burden and illegal dumping while creating recycling jobs. Local governments, a recycler, and environmental advocates testified in support, citing landfill capacity concerns, high disposal costs, and the potential to recover most mattress materials. Retail and industry groups said they support the goal but opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it differs from existing state models and could create unnecessary cost and administrative burden. The hearing closed with 459 signed in support and 172 opposed. The committee then heard SB 6174, a proposed substitute on textile producer responsibility that would first require a needs assessment and the creation of a coordinating organization. Supporters, including the sponsor, environmental advocates, Seattle Public Utilities, and a student testifier, described textiles as a fast-growing waste stream with major landfill, pollution, and global labor impacts, and said the needs assessment is an important first step. Opponents from retail, business, apparel, and hospitality groups said they support continued stakeholder work and the needs assessment concept, but raised concerns that the bill still presumes a future EPR program, could impose fees and penalties, and may sweep in retailers and company uniforms in ways that create burdens for small businesses. The hearing closed with 1,253 signed in support and 364 opposed. In the work session, Jeremiah Miller of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory briefed the committee on codes and standards for grid-connected and portable solar equipment. He explained how the National Electrical Code, UL certification standards, and IEEE interconnection standards work together, and described newer supplemental standards such as UL 3141 for power control systems and UL 3700 for portable or plug-in solar. Members asked about safety, certification timing, and how Washington could allow these products while ensuring proper installation and consumer protection. Miller said UL 3700 is very new and not yet widely certified in the market, but that the current code framework can accommodate certified products while standards continue to evolve. The committee took no votes and adjourned after the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the California Fire Chiefs Association, the Fire Districts Association of California, and
• For these reasons, the California Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Districts Association of California,
• California cities support sustainable building practices, but we disagree with the premise of this bill
• The features of the heat pump systems, cities have not adapted their standards and their kind of building
• In addition to the fact that 25% of carbon emissions in California come from buildings, it is absolutely

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard six bills. SB 828 by Senator Cabaldon would require fireworks license applicants to disclose storage locations and prove they have local permits, with the state fire marshal notifying local agencies when permits are denied or revoked. Supporters, including fire chiefs and fire marshals, said it would close dangerous enforcement gaps exposed by recent fireworks explosions; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 799 by Senator Allen would make technical and governance changes to the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, including more flexibility on board leadership and allowing non-elected alternates under certain conditions. Supporters said the changes would help the new housing trust function more effectively; questions focused on accountability for non-elected alternates, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Senate Floor. SB 762 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the city of Hercules to ask voters to approve up to a 1% sales tax increase to fund local services and infrastructure. Supporters said Hercules has limited revenue options, while some senators cautioned about how such measures are presented to voters; the bill passed 5-2 to the Senate Floor. SB 722 by Senator Wahab would add protections for mobile home residents from displacement tied to transit-oriented development and redevelopment, with supporters describing it as an urgent cleanup to protect vulnerable seniors, veterans, and low-income residents. There was broad support and no opposition, and it passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 222 by Senator Wiener would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, with supporters arguing it would reduce costs and speed electrification, and opponents raising concerns about local control, fees, liability, and HOA authority. After extended debate, it passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 677 by Senator Wiener would make technical clarifications to SB 79’s transit-oriented housing provisions; local government groups opposed or opposed unless amended, warning it could expand SB 79’s scope, but the bill passed 5-2 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Sarah Polo-Moo with the California Retailers Association and the California Community Pharmacy
• Who may obtain transition-to-practice hours outside of California.
• President of the California Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• George Horace with the California Medical Association.
• Association of Dental Assisting Teachers, the California Dental Assistance Association, and the California

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1011 directs the CPUC to adopt standards—one of my favorite words is standards—for human review and
• , and federal code.
• in California is under threat.
• SB 1350 will help California...
• Erin Lehane, on behalf of the hardworking skilled and trained members of the California State Building

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications heard a long agenda of energy, water, housing, and technology bills. SB 952 (Laird, presented by Perez) would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility to meet the State Water Project’s 100% clean energy procurement goal by 2035 while managing costs; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. The committee also heard SB 1417, which would extend transparency, notice, and public meeting requirements to mutual water companies’ rate increases; Senator Perez and supporters tied the bill to post-Eaton Fire recovery in Altadena, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed it, citing conflicts with tenant billing laws, privacy concerns, and burdensome meeting requirements. SB 1417 was approved on a split vote and the roll was left open. Members then considered SB 924, a low-income utility assistance/weatherization bill by Hurtado, which would require measurable affordability outcomes and better tenant-focused benefits; it passed to Appropriations with broad support from clean energy and community groups and no opposition. SB 925 (McNerney) would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; supporters from General Atomics, Clean Air Task Force, and TAE Technologies argued it would help keep fusion investment in California, and it passed unanimously to Environmental Quality. SB 1011 (McNerney) would require CPUC standards for human review and labor consultation before utilities deploy AI in operations; labor and utility engineer witnesses supported guardrails, while business and utility groups opposed or sought more review, warning of overregulation and overlap with other laws. The bill passed to Privacy, Digital Technology and Consumer Protection on a divided vote. The committee also advanced SB 1168 (McNerney), a study bill directing the CPUC to examine how data centers can pay their fair share of grid costs; data center and utility groups were opposed or neutral pending amendments, while climate advocates supported it, and it moved to Revenue and Taxation. SB 1196 (McNerney) would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines and penalties; housing advocates supported it and it passed to Local Government. SB 1350 (McNerney) would allow renewable portfolio standard credits for power plants using green hydrogen, drawing strong support from hydrogen, labor, utility, and local government interests, but opposition from TURN over greenwashing and tracking concerns; it passed to Environmental Quality. Finally, SB 1158 (Stern) would expand quarterly reliability reporting by the CEC and CPUC to include transmission and grid upgrade status; it was presented as a common-sense reliability measure and moved forward with support.

Transcript Highlights:

• You could call it the gold standard.
• You could call it whatever cowboy standard, Wyoming standard, whatever. We took coal out.
• You could call it whatever cowboy standard, Wyoming standard, whatever.
• That is to voluntary standard in.
• California is doing this. that. California is doing this.

Bills: HB0120

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Ben Turner with Axiom Advisors on behalf of the California Building Industry Association.
• I'm Ben Turner with Axiom Advisors on behalf of the California Building Industry Association.
• Don Keppke, on behalf of the Green Building Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ANSI standards developer
• Madam Chair, Member Silvio Ferrari, here on behalf of the California Building Industry Association, as
• So again, doesn't meet California standards for these facilities, but at least meets federal standards

Summary: The committee heard several energy, environmental, recycling, and land-use bills, beginning with SB 925 by Senator McNerney, which would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy. Supporters said the bill would help California retain leadership in fusion research and commercialization, attract investment, and create jobs, while some members emphasized the need to avoid overregulation and keep the state competitive. No opposition testified, and the bill was later approved on a 4-0 vote and held on call. The committee also heard SB 1350, another McNerney bill, to expand the use of green hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for turbines using renewable hydrogen. Supporters framed it as a way to support clean energy reliability, preserve tax credits, and create jobs, while opponents including TURN and Earthjustice warned about greenwashing, resource shuffling, and increased NOx emissions. The author and chair described committee amendments as adding guardrails, and the bill passed 4-0 and was held on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1145, which would streamline CEQA and related review for qualifying projects in the Concord Reuse Project Area, part of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. The bill is intended to speed a long-planned transit-oriented development with housing, commercial space, parks, and open space; supporters included local officials, labor groups, and business organizations, while a housing group raised concerns about affordable housing guarantees but still supported the CEQA exemption. The committee described the bill as balancing streamlining with retained environmental review and approved it 4-0, held on call. Senator Cabaldon’s SB 1341, dealing with CalRecycle processing fees for bag-in-a-box wine and spirits containers, also drew support from the wine industry and some environmental groups that wanted a workable recycling market, while glass packaging and other opponents objected to giving CalRecycle too much discretion; it too passed 4-0 and was held on call. The committee then heard SJR 13 by Senator Padilla, urging the U.S. to seek enforceable commitments to eliminate transboundary sewage pollution at the 2026 USMCA review. Supporters described severe public health and environmental harms from sewage and runoff in the Tijuana River and New River watersheds, especially for border and farmworker communities, and the resolution passed 4-0. Padilla’s SB 1033, requiring protein product manufacturers to test for and disclose heavy metals, drew support from consumer and public health groups citing Consumer Reports findings, while industry groups argued for narrower scope, QR-code options, and thresholds tied to health standards; the bill passed 3-0 and was held on call. Senator Ashby’s SB 1010, creating a manufacturer-funded system for refrigerant recovery from discarded appliances, was supported as a climate and enforcement measure but opposed by appliance manufacturers and recyclers who said existing law already regulates refrigerants and that the bill could raise costs and reduce recycling; it passed 4-0 and was held on call. Finally, Senator Caballero presented SB 1183, requiring a state study of the environmental, land-use, and economic impacts of industrial solar in the Central Valley. Supporters said the bill would help ensure solar development benefits local communities and farmland, while solar industry groups argued it duplicated existing work and should better reflect solar’s benefits; the bill was heard but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• codes, and constant building code changes.
• It's fine because we're doing everything to the building codes.' But we don't allow that.
• If we can start moving the building code and allowing residential building code to be used for that third
• building code.
• We as legislators have a responsibility to build up the housing stock in California and to be socially

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing-related proposals and policy ideas. One speaker urged changes to the welfare property tax exemption for affordable housing, arguing that annual income recertifications are outdated and burdensome, and proposing a one-time qualification at move-in, streamlined monitoring through TCAC or HCD, and continued exemption protection for projects that remain in compliance. The witness said rising insurance costs and administrative burdens are hurting cash flow and threatening the viability of affordable housing operations. A major portion of the meeting focused on social housing and the SB 555 study. HCD described its ongoing study process, including public engagement with residents, practitioners, and experts, and noted that California already has many building blocks for social housing, such as public land tools, long-term affordability mechanisms, community land trusts, and tenant protections. Community land trust and housing policy witnesses argued that social housing will require legislative action, expanded public subsidy, tax abatements, public land, and simplified financing, and they emphasized the need to reframe the concept for the “missing middle” and middle-class households to build broader political support. Committee members discussed stigma around “social housing,” the need for a rebrand, and the possibility of a pilot program, especially on excess public land. The committee also heard a proposal for a certified professional plan-check system modeled on Vancouver, Canada. The presenter said California’s permitting delays, inconsistent reviews, and staffing shortages add cost and uncertainty even for streamlined projects, and proposed allowing state-certified private professionals to perform plan checks and inspections under state oversight while local governments retain zoning and enforcement authority. Members discussed local control concerns, infrastructure costs, and the need to reduce delays and uncertainty in the entitlement process. Finally, the committee heard testimony supporting changes to HCD loan disbursement so funds can be used during construction rather than only after completion. Witnesses said this would reduce interest costs, improve feasibility, and could produce additional affordable homes with existing funding. The discussion also referenced AB 1053 as the vehicle for implementing that approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Penal Code, and the Government Code.
• As technology changes, California must continue to advance our efforts and our standards to protect against
• here in California.
• The California Chamber of Commerce is somewhere else in the building, and they are opposed to the bill
• This declaration triggered the provisions of California Penal Code Section 396, which prohibits price

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• So Anthropic released Claude Code, OpenAI has Codex, and then Claude Code has just really taken off,
• of different benchmarks on coding.
• good at coding.
• As a collaborative effort among Department of Technology, Cal OES, California Highway Patrol, California
• the development of the California cybersecurity collaboration playbook, the development of the California

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how frontier AI is changing cybersecurity, with testimony from OpenAI, Anthropic, Palo Alto Networks, California OES/Cal-CSIC, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Witnesses said AI is making attacks faster, cheaper, and more scalable, while also giving defenders new tools for vulnerability discovery, incident response, and patching. Several recent incidents were discussed, including AI systems autonomously reaching real production systems during testing, and AI-assisted cyber activity against critical infrastructure, especially water systems and operational technology. OpenAI and Anthropic described their internal safety and evaluation processes, including pre-release testing, layered safeguards, monitoring, and restricted access programs for vetted defenders. They discussed the recent Hugging Face and related incidents as lessons in safer testing, stronger isolation, and the need for independent review. Both companies emphasized that the same capabilities that can find vulnerabilities can also be used offensively, and said they are working to put advanced cyber tools into the hands of trusted defenders, including California agencies and utilities. State officials from Cal OES said California is expanding its cyber posture through CalSecure 2.0, the California Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook, MS-ISAC membership, and a secure portal for reporting under SB 53. They said the state is working with CDT, local governments, and critical infrastructure partners to improve cyber hygiene, information sharing, and incident response, especially for water districts and other resource-strapped entities. Palo Alto Networks described the scale of current threats and the value of machine-speed defense, virtual patching, and attack-surface monitoring. Lawrence Livermore warned that open-weight models pose distinct risks because they can be downloaded, modified, and used without developer oversight, and argued that the U.S. should not cede leadership in that space to China. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with calls for continued collaboration and follow-up briefings.

Transcript Highlights:

• codes, and constant building code changes.
• I'm going to certify that it's fine because we're doing everything to the building codes.
• If we can start moving the building code and allowing residential building code to be used for that third
• After the third unit, you have to go into the commercial building code rather than the residential building
• We as legislators have a responsibility to build up the housing stock in California and to house, you