Transcript Highlights:

• [clears throat] Additionally, uh, LBR does not include a deposit to the disaster trust fund.
• [clears throat] Additionally, uh, LBR does not include a deposit to the disaster trust fund.
• Additionally, uh, LBR does not include a deposit to the disaster trust fund.
• of our 28 declared disasters would not have qualified under the $22 million threshold.
• Mitigation helps us to avoid repetitive loss in future disasters, the raising of homes, the widening

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• requires land development regulations to incorporate objective design standards or other measures for mitigating
• government staff to identify specific areas of incompatibility and authorize the staff to recommend mitigation
• And so when there is an actual disaster, a legitimate disaster in my district, and these are the funds

Transcript Highlights:

• Another important consideration is that EPA is currently working on a rodenticide mitigation strategy
• programs in one project at the Safeway in Queen Anne for a... ...demolition construction permit rat mitigation
• and counties and law enforcement the ability to act before a preventable incident becomes a costly disaster
• counties and law enforcement the ability to act before a preventable incident becomes a cost of disaster

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held public hearings on several bills, with most of the discussion focused on tribal representation and natural resource management. On HB 2117, which would add a tribal representative to the Board of Natural Resources, the prime sponsor and DNR officials said the bill would strengthen government-to-government relationships without replacing existing consultation duties. Tribal leaders from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation testified in support, as did the Commissioner of Public Lands and DNR’s tribal relations director. County and timber interests said they were not opposed to tribal representation but raised concerns about trust responsibilities, beneficiary interests, and whether the representative should come from a tribe with commercial forest management experience. The committee later closed testimony on HB 2117 and read into the record 192 pro, 124 con, and zero other sign-ins. The committee also heard HB 2516, which would impose a two-year moratorium on the use of certain anticoagulant rodenticides and bromethalin after a Department of Agriculture report and while the Washington State Academy of Sciences studies alternatives and impacts. The prime sponsor argued the bill balances rodent control with concerns about wildlife, groundwater, and human exposure, while opponents from the pest management industry warned it would remove effective tools and worsen rodent problems, especially for low-income and manufactured-home communities. Supporters included the Washington Poison Center, wildlife rehabilitators, Birds Connect Seattle, the Stillaguamish Tribe, and other advocates who cited poisonings in wildlife and children and pointed to non-toxic alternatives and integrated pest management. The committee read into the record 754 pro, 176 con, and five other sign-ins. For HB 2554, which would repeal RCW 77.110 and related language tied to Initiative 456 and tribal fishing rights, the sponsor and the Attorney General’s Office said the statute is unconstitutional and inconsistent with federal treaty law and court rulings. The Department of Fish and Wildlife also supported repeal, describing the measure as removing an unenforceable anti-tribal statute. The committee then moved on to HB 2327, a bill directing JLARC to audit the county forest board lands trust and DNR’s management of those lands. The sponsor, former Rep. Jim Buck, county representatives, and forest industry witnesses supported an independent review of the trust structure and performance; some asked for amendments to address reconveyance options, broader legal and ecological considerations, and consultation with tribes and the Board of Natural Resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally speaking, small and tiny districts are unable to sufficiently mitigate declining enrollment
• Generally speaking, small and tiny districts are unable to sufficiently mitigate declining enrollment
• of the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant, which its genesis was one-time pandemic-related mitigations
• And the Eaton fires have created even more of a disaster for them.
• Through weekly sessions, our goal is to mitigate the challenges faced by over 47% of immigrants who have

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Jordan: homeowners insurance; prohibit insurance non-renewal when homeowners timely mitigate
• Representative Jordan: homeowners insurance; prohibit insurance nonrenewal when homeowners timely mitigate
• representative Jordan, homeowners insurance, prohibit insurance from non-renewal when homeowners timely mitigate
• sales and use tax rebates; provide for rebates for lodging services, meals, and persons performing disaster
• Representative Perolt, unmanned aircraft systems; duties of law enforcement officers; interception mitigation

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• 63 extends the application deadline for the property tax exemption for homes damaged by a natural disaster
• use tax exemption in the form of a remittance for repairs made to property damaged by a natural disaster
• Amendment 44, offered by Senator Saldaña, creates an appropriate state aircraft noise mitigation account
• under the Department of Commerce for use of the aviation-related noise mitigation grant program, and
• it removes the related review process to ensure that the proposed activity avoids, minimizes, and mitigates

Bills: SB6147 , SB6082 , SB5862 , SB5882 , SB6323 , SB6346 , SB6162 , SB6256 , SB6220 , SB5650 , SB6343 , SB6113 , SB6211 , SB6114 , SB5898 , SB6347 , SB6244 , SB5868 , SB5762 , SB5988 , SB6194 , SB6246 , SB6223 , SB6052 , SB5828 , SB5954 , SB5963 , SB5909 , SGA9306

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: grocery establishments, closure notice, consumer rights, local businesses, student financial aid, financial aid fraud, higher education, college enrollment fraud, fictitious students, ghost students, enrollment fraud, aid integrity, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, AI fraud, fraud prevention, Washington State, legislative audit, JLARC, full-time equivalent

Transcript Highlights:

• The second priority was to understand and mitigate retail gasoline price spikes.
• We decided we wanted to have them put storage on the side in case there's disaster.
• We have a history of earthquakes and natural disasters.
• It could mitigate gas price shortages and gas price spikes.
• It could mitigate gas price shortages and gas price spikes.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held its annual oversight hearing on the transportation fuels sector, focused on refinery closures, gasoline supply and prices, in-state oil production, and implementation of SBX1-2 and ABX2-1. The chair emphasized that California needs a system-wide transition plan to manage the decline in fossil fuel demand while avoiding supply shocks and consumer harm, especially in light of Phillips 66’s planned refinery changes and Valero’s announced intent to close its Benicia refinery. CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda and CARB Chair Liane Randolph described the broader fuel transition: EV adoption is rising, gasoline demand is declining, and California’s refining system is increasingly tight and interconnected with imports, storage, pipelines, and marine terminals. Randolph reviewed CARB’s climate and air-quality programs, including the low-carbon fuel standard, and said California still has major ozone and particulate pollution problems even as emissions have fallen. Both agencies stressed that the state must balance climate goals, air quality, consumer protection, and investor confidence, and that additional refinery closures could increase price volatility and strain supply. DPMO Director Ty Milder presented new data on gasoline pricing, saying Californians have paid a “mystery gasoline surcharge” of about 41 cents per gallon since 2015, with higher branded gasoline markups and elevated industry margins concentrated among vertically integrated firms. He said the data show some refiners do well while others struggle, and that the market is highly concentrated. Committee members questioned whether the data proved manipulation or whether state regulations and declining supply were contributing to refinery exits and higher prices. Witnesses said no specific consumer-cost threshold is used in CARB’s economic analysis, and CEC officials said they have not yet implemented the new permissive tools because they are still evaluating whether the benefits outweigh the risks. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• fees for the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
• When a governor declares a disaster, a state disaster, isn't it true that he also has the power to direct
• state of disaster, referred to the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
• on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
• Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program for the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

Bills: HB4 , HB4

Transcript Highlights:

• Next year, this year, I'm telling you guys, have a big disaster on your hands.
• Next year, this year, I'm telling you guys have a big disaster on your hands.
• Additionally, SB 344 explicitly states that all mitigation measures incorporated into the EIR shall be
• Very simple: they add additional safeguards, preserve timely claims to enforce mitigation measures and
• Current wildfire mitigation activities defined in statute are too narrow.

Transcript Highlights:

• The water bank has some water under the ground to perhaps firm up or mitigate some of the cuts that are
• They say that they want to help the community mitigate the effects of their transfer of water.
• No plans to help the 840 people in the valley who depend on private wells, no plans to help mitigate
• Arizona Water acquired those systems years ago, and the systems were a disaster, to say the least.
• So Arizona... ...and the systems were a disaster, to say the least.

Bills: HB2042 , HB2052 , HB2055 , HB2056 , HB2094 , HB2098 , HB2185 , HB2328 , HB2758 , HB2798

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: solar radiation management, environment, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, public health, complaint process, Attorney General, groundwater management, water conservation, irrigation, water supply, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, brackish water, groundwater, water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> interest</c> recordkeeping and conflict of interest recordkeeping and conflict of interest mitigation
• </c><00:31:20.799><c> Importantly,</c> mitigation standards. Importantly, mitigation standards.
• The Clarity Act would have largely mitigated or avoided this crisis entirely.
• :10:49.679><c> would</c><01:10:49.920><c> have</c><01:10:50.080><c> largely</c><01:10:50.640><c> mitigated
• </c><01:10:51.600><c> or</c> Act would have largely mitigated or Act would have largely mitigated or

Bills: HB4016 , HR4 , HR590 , HB1919 , SB1582 , HB3633

Keywords: defense appropriations, military funding, national security, Department of Defense, fiscal year 2026, House of Representatives, election, Speaker, Clerk, Congress, budget authority, rescission, fiscal policy, government funding, impoundment, Federal Reserve, digital currency, monetary policy, financial services, privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Modern HVAC upgrades across the campuses will significantly reduce energy use and mitigate the risk of
• This capital request aligns with our system's priorities related to student safety, risk mitigation,
• in other parts of the country serve as a constant reminder of the responsibility of colleges to mitigate
• There was a declared severe disaster, so severe damage for the roof, and we replaced that.
• They're doing a local bridge replacement and have to provide some mitigation, so they're going to come

Summary: The hearing reconvened with testimony from several agencies on their capital budget requests. The Department of Environmental Services requested a little over $38 million, with major emphasis on dam repairs and design work for aging state-owned dams, including a $5.25 million match for possible FEMA BRIC funding at Pawtuckaway/Tuckaway and other projects such as Milton Three Ponds, Murphy Dam, and Lakeport Gates. DES also requested funding for state revolving loan fund matches, a Superfund match for the Savage Well site, IT and air-monitoring upgrades, and a new $750,000 cybersecurity request for water and wastewater systems. Committee members asked about FEMA eligibility, the distinction between design and construction money, and the timing and risk of banking funds if federal grants do not materialize. The University System of New Hampshire requested $20 million in state support, primarily $15 million for a major Diamond Library renovation at UNH to create a student support hub and reduce/repurpose collection space, plus $2.5 million each for deferred maintenance at Plymouth State and Keene State. The Community College System requested about $16.6 million across seven projects, led by critical maintenance, campus safety/security upgrades, IT infrastructure, parking and site improvements, HVAC replacement at White Mountains Community College in Littleton, a building management/energy system, and modernization of NHTI’s dental clinic and radiology spaces. The Department of Education requested $29.5 million, including a $4.9 million internal management platform to replace paper-based and siloed systems, plus career and technical education capital projects; Milford’s CTE project was described as being revised after repeated failed bond votes, while ConVal said its revised project would focus on modernizing existing CTE space and adding a security vestibule. Fish and Game requested $1.075 million for three facilities: Sewall Falls in Concord, the Lancaster Armory, and the Bunker Lane Barn in Durham, focusing on structural repairs, security, reconfiguration, and in one case replacement of a failing barn with a new 40-by-60 building. The department also said hatchery work is ongoing but that it is taking a cautious approach because of the planned New Hampton Hatchery and future capital needs. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources requested $9.26 million for eight projects, including campground electrical upgrades at Ellacoya and Lake Francis, White Lake water system replacement, Mount Washington fuel tank and safety work, Odiorne Point visitor center work funded through parks revenue, roofing and parking lot repairs, Fox Forest office safety upgrades, and historic site repairs at White Island and Fort Constitution. Members asked about revenue-based capital, the stability of the parks fund, and flexibility in choosing projects as bids come in. The Department of Transportation began its presentation at the end of the transcript, but its detailed requests were not yet discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today to address rockfall mitigation. Mr. Chairman, Representative, great question.
• in some of your districts we've been working with District 5 on the study and design of rockfall mitigation
• So there again, it essentially is using our team to identify what rockfall mitigation strategies we could
• areas and look at what could be done, design a project, and then we would essentially fund the mitigation
• of roads in my rural areas between District 4 and District 5, but also because we're dealing with disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• What are you able to do to mitigate the dust being raised there?
• There are some regulatory measures we could implement as part of site readiness and dust mitigation.
• We do have our environmental team working on dust mitigation.
• We'll introduce that to our environmental team, and we do have dust mitigation strategies we can implement
• Cars being more energy efficient, we're headed for disaster.

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Bills: HR84 , HR85 , HR86 , HR87 , HR88 , HR89 , HR90 , HCR42 , HCR43 , HB1087 , HB1088 , HB1089 , HB1090 , HB1091 , HB1092 , HB1093 , HB1094 , HB1095 , HB1096 , HB1097 , HB1098 , HB1099 , HB1100 , HB1101 , HB1102 , HB1103 , HB1104 , HB1105 , HB1106 , HB1107 , HB1108 , HB1109 , HB1110 , HB1111 , HB1112 , HB1113 , HB1114 , HB1115 , HB1116 , HB1117 , HB1118 , HB1119 , HB1120 , HB1121 , HB1122 , HB1123 , HB1124 , HB1125 , HB1126 , HB1127 , HB1128 , HB1129 , HB1130 , HB1131 , HB1132 , HB1133 , HB1134 , HB1135 , HB1136 , HB1137 , HB1138 , HB1139 , HB1140 , HB1141 , HB1142 , HB1143 , HB1144 , HB1145 , HB1146 , HB1147 , HB1148 , HB1149 , HB1150 , HB1151 , HB1153 , HB1154 , HB1155 , HB1156 , HB1157 , HB1158 , HB1159 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1163 , HB1164 , HB1165 , HB1166 , HB1167 , HB1169 , HB1170 , HB1171 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1178 , HB1179 , HB1180 , HB1181 , HB1182 , HB1183 , HB1184 , HB1185 , HB1186 , HB1187 , HB1188 , HB1189 , HB1190 , HB1192 , HB1193 , HB1194 , HB1195 , HB1196 , HB1197 , HB1198 , HB1199 , HB1200 , HB1201 , HB1202 , HB1203 , HB1204 , HB1205 , HB1206 , HB1207 , HB1208 , HB1209 , HB1210 , HB1211 , HB1212 , HB1213 , HB1214 , HB1215 , HB1216 , HB1217 , HB1218 , HB1219 , HB1220 , HB1221 , HB1222 , HB1223 , HB1224 , HB1225 , HB1226 , HB1227 , HB1228 , HB1229 , HB1230 , HB1231 , HR73 , HR74 , HR75 , HR77 , HR78 , HR79 , HR80 , HR81 , HR83 , HCR36 , HCR37 , HCR38 , HCR39 , HCR40 , HCR41 , HB368 , HB433 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1019 , HB1020 , HB1021 , HB1022 , HB1023 , HB1024 , HB1025 , HB1026 , HB1027 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1030 , HB1031 , HB1032 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1035 , HB1036 , HB1037 , HB1038 , HB1039 , HB1040 , HB1041 , HB1042 , HB1043 , HB1044 , HB1045 , HB1046 , HB1047 , HB1048 , HB1049 , HB1050 , HB1051 , HB1052 , HB1053 , HB1054 , HB1055 , HB1056 , HB1057 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1060 , HB1061 , HB1062 , HB1063 , HB1064 , HB1065 , HB1066 , HB1067 , HB1068 , HB1069 , HB1070 , HB1071 , HB1072 , HB1073 , HB1074 , HB1075 , HB1076 , HB1077 , HB1078 , HB1079 , HB1080 , HB1081 , HB1082 , HB1083 , HB1084 , SB111 , SB122 , SB195 , SB221 , SB404 , HR1 , HCR6 , HCR19 , HB27 , HB81 , HB134 , HB154 , HB163 , HB170 , HB194 , HB214 , HB217 , HB220 , HB254 , HB259 , HB290 , HB308 , HB311 , HB360 , HB382 , HB401 , HB410 , HB417 , HB463 , HB514 , HB575 , HB592 , HB718 , HB723 , HB750 , HB755 , HB776 , HB812 , HB830 , HB838 , HB844 , HB882 , HB885 , HB888 , HB950 , HB961 , HB966 , HB980 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HB58 , HB69 , HB93 , HB166 , HB199 , HB201 , HB202 , HB218 , HB223 , HB224 , HB231 , HB235 , HB246 , HB338 , HB349 , HB352 , HB379 , HB405 , HB429 , HB535 , HB547 , HB577 , HB588 , HB626 , HB636 , HB652 , HB653 , HB669 , HB688 , HB691 , HB721 , HB738 , HB806 , HB851 , HB857 , HB861 , HB889 , HB904 , HB907 , HB908 , HB929 , HB1009 , HB13 , HB23 , HB25 , HB32 , HB41 , HB90 , HB120 , HB121 , HB122 , HB127 , HB138 , HB139 , HB141 , HB179 , HB187 , HB213 , HB247 , HB286 , HB332 , HB344 , HB357

Keywords: physical therapy, healthcare, prevention, wellness, education, Louisiana, landscape architecture, environment, public health, economic development, infrastructure, condolences, memorial resolution, tribute, Roger D. Boudreaux, Church Point, mayor, Louisiana House of Representatives, community service, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• in terms of the increased risk of other diseases associated with the presence of certain natural disasters
• all those warehouses, you know, because if I get it, that we have to have cleaner and we have to mitigate
• asking your opinion, with California-compliant oil and all the regulatory processes and the 88 mitigation

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several gubernatorial appointments and a referral item. It first acted on appointments not required to appear, including Michael Gunning to the Teachers’ Retirement Board, Eric Hines to the Gambling Control Commission, several nominees to the Civil Rights Council, nominees to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and Omar Passens to the Contractors’ State License Board. The committee also took up a reference of bills to committees. Most of these items were initially left open for absent members, then later approved on add-on votes, with some passing unanimously and others on split votes. The committee then heard testimony from two nominees to the California State University Board of Trustees, Kelly Dermody and Andrea Evans. Both emphasized access, student basic needs, housing affordability, enrollment balance across campuses, and the need to use artificial intelligence responsibly while preserving critical thinking and data privacy. Senators asked about intersegmental cooperation, CSU bachelor’s degree authority, tuition increases, and how the trustees would evaluate affordability and student outcomes. No public opposition was heard, and both nominees were advanced to the full Senate after committee votes. Finally, the committee heard from Dr. Cedric Jamie Rutland, nominated to the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board. He described his background as a pulmonologist and said he would bring a public health and science-based perspective to air quality policy, especially regarding pollution’s effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. Senators focused on goods movement, warehouse growth, AB 617 communities, environmental justice, refinery and trucking impacts, and balancing emissions reductions with economic realities. After public comment, the committee voted to advance his nomination to the Senate floor, and the meeting concluded after add-on votes and a brief recess/closed session.

Transcript Highlights:

• the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation
• Fish and Wildlife Service, as part of the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act.
• Program, $20,020,000 for the restoration of the immunization assessment fund, $822,000 one time for disaster

Summary: The committee met to review the general fund update and several budget-setting items, with staff explaining how to track the latest “green sheet” online and how JFAC actions were affecting the FY 2026 and FY 2027 bottom lines. Members also discussed whether work group progress should be summarized more broadly, but leadership emphasized that work groups were intended to remain independent and that members should consult analysts directly rather than have a running public summary of each group’s internal deliberations. The committee then acted on a series of agency budgets. It approved the Idaho State Tax Commission enhancement package after revising it to remove the chief operating officer personnel item and adopted language limiting use of $550,000 for fast tax collection vendor payments, with any unused amount reverting to the general fund. It also approved supplemental and enhancement requests for the Office of Information Technology Services, including Chinden campus furnishings, E-Core grant staffing and funding, enterprise security/firewall upgrades, the IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, and a one-time cash transfer language item to cover transition-year health insurance costs. The Military Division’s request for $120,000 for Office of Emergency Management indirect cost recovery was approved, but an alternate motion to also add $190,800 for the state education assistance program failed, and the original motion was later held in committee. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets were both advanced with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund needs, OITS hardware, and replacement laptops. The Department of Fish and Game budget was also advanced, with approval of a large package of dedicated and federal funds for fishery habitat projects, Good Neighbor Authority work, hatchery and laboratory inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and replacement items, along with reappropriation authority for prior-year funds. The committee then took up the Department of Health and Welfare Division of Public Health Services, where competing motions focused on the Idaho Home Visiting Program, immunization assessment fund restoration, laboratory testing, HIV and hepatitis prevention, suicide prevention, and moving the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development. Both the substitute motion and the original motion failed after split votes in the House and Senate committees, leaving that budget held for later action. Finally, the committee considered new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer to require monthly reconciliation of cash balances between Luma and TARS from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, with a report due by the fall interim JFAC meeting and documentation retained for audit. Members discussed the need for accurate cash reconciliation and the resources available to the Controller’s office, but no final action was taken before adjournment. The chair announced upcoming budget-setting meetings and reminded members to complete work group motions by the end of the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• is absolutely necessary, our communities are facing real threats, and investing in prevention, mitigation
• are waived for the purpose of allowing these resources, these dollars to go to help with wildfire mitigation
• I have to specifically rise and say that, for me, this is important because of the environmental disaster

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and pledge that reflected on Japanese American incarceration during World War II and recent storm-related losses in California. The chamber then handled routine procedural matters, guest introductions, and several consent and file items before moving to floor debate on a series of resolutions and budget measures. The main policy item was HR 82, declaring February 19, 2026, a day of remembrance for the incarceration of Japanese Americans. Members from both parties and several caucuses spoke in support, emphasizing the injustice of Executive Order 9066, the importance of remembering civil liberties failures, and the need to guard against similar abuses today. The resolution drew some criticism of its rhetoric toward federal law enforcement, but after debate the Assembly added 72 coauthors and adopted HR 82 by voice vote. The chamber also adopted ACR 128, a resolution recognizing solidarity with Ukraine, and later passed ACA 7, a constitutional amendment related to government preferences, after a partisan debate over whether it would restore or prohibit discrimination. The Assembly also took up two budget-related concurrence items. AB 107, described as technical and conforming changes to the 2025 Budget Act and adjustments related to Proposition 4 projects, passed concurrence 59-3 and was sent immediately to the Governor. AB 117 authorized the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to borrow up to $590 million from already awarded transit capital funds to support operating costs for BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain; supporters called it a bridge loan to stabilize transit, while opponents called it a bailout lacking accountability. The measure passed concurrence 52-16 and was also transmitted to the Governor. The session ended with adjournments in memory of former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, with members praising his leadership in city government, energy policy, and clean energy development. The Speaker then announced the bill introduction deadline and the next floor session date before adjourning the Assembly until Monday, February 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• is absolutely necessary, our communities are facing real threats, and investing in prevention, mitigation
• are waived for the purpose of allowing these resources, these dollars to go to help with wildfire mitigation
• I have to specifically rise and say that, for me, this is important because of the environmental disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• The average citizen has no idea that a settlement for disasters and destruction of their home would be
• We're trying our best to get in the forests and mitigate that as much as possible.
• We're trying our best to get in the forests and mitigate that as much as possible.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its second regular hearing of the 2025-26 session and announced that, under reinstated suspense-file rules, every bill on the agenda would be referred to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee first heard AB 53, which would create a state income tax exemption of up to $20,000 for military retirees and certain survivor benefits. Supporters, including veterans’ groups, military retirees, and local officials, argued California is the only state taxing military retirement pay in full and that the exemption would help retain veterans and their families. Committee members voiced strong support, but the bill was sent to suspense. The committee then heard several wildfire-related tax relief bills. AB 429 would exempt certain wildfire settlement payments from gross income for victims of fires from 2020 through 2026; the author and a Greenville fire victim described the burden of taxing settlement funds, and rural county and forestry groups supported the measure. AB 97 proposed similar relief for Bobcat Fire settlement payments, and AB 389 would create a personal income tax credit for home-hardening expenses in high fire-risk areas, with Cal Fire and realtor representatives supporting the bill as a way to reduce future losses. Each of these measures drew no formal opposition in the hearing and was referred to suspense. AB 386 would create a tax credit for employers that help full-time employees repay student loans, up to $3,000 per employee per year. Supporters said it would help recruit and retain workers and reduce student debt burdens, while the California Tax Reform Association opposed the bill because it lacked allocation criteria and would reduce General Fund and education revenues. Committee members expressed interest but asked for clearer eligibility standards, and the bill was sent to suspense. AB 490 would allow a deduction for interest paid on qualified personal vehicle loans; the author framed it as relief for families dependent on cars, but opposition again came from the tax reform group, which argued the deduction would mainly benefit higher-income taxpayers. The bill also went to suspense. The committee also heard AB 547, which would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 for IVF and other fertility-treatment expenses. The author and a witness who described a long and costly IVF journey said the credit would help families afford treatment and support parenthood; members responded sympathetically and asked why the proposal was structured as a tax credit rather than a health coverage mandate. Finally, AB 330 would extend the prepaid mobile telephony services collection act through 2031, preserving an 80-cent surcharge that supports 911 and local government revenues; local government representatives and cities supported the extension, and it too was referred to suspense. The hearing ended with the committee adjourning after all measures were held for suspense-file consideration.