Transcript Highlights:

• </c> undue influence on institutional undue influence on institutional behavior.<00:11:21.519><c> Um<
• c> Any post-secondary institution operating Any post-secondary institution operating in<00:12:14.320>
• And institutions that knowingly fear.
• </c><00:17:48.320><c> maintain</c> educational institutions maintain educational institutions maintain
• Confucious Institute, but my Confucious Institute, but my understanding<00:44:40.880><c> is</c><00:44

Committee: House Education Funding

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're very invested with the regents and with our institutions.
• Institution you're with, and also maybe help in a regional area when we get.
• Some of our region institutions are also applying to OU specifically.
• So, I will ship you the book or drop it off to your institution.
• I feel like if you're like me, we talk about it in our institutions.

Committee: House Oklahoma Education Commission

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2089 moves a requirement that financial institutions be located in 10 or more states, so the
• financial institutions no longer need to meet the threshold in order to be required to pay the B&O tax
• It was the legislature's intent to stimulate the lending institutions that were community, defined as
• It was the legislature's intent to stimulate the lending institutions that were community, defined as
• Lending institutions that were community, defined as community banks.

Summary: House Finance held a bill briefing and executive session on a large set of tax and revenue measures, with staff outlining proposed substitutes and amendments for bills affecting grocery store incentives, insurance premium/B&O tax treatment, tobacco taxes, financial institutions, lodging taxes, fire district levy rules, local tax increment financing, limited equity cooperatives, tourism assessments, and sustainable aviation fuel credits. Members also heard brief summaries of bills on nonprofit assembly hall property tax exemptions and a city levy adjustment related to fire protection districts. Two bills scheduled for public hearing were not reached and may be rescheduled after House of Origin cutoff. In executive session, the committee adopted or rejected several amendments before voting bills out. HB 2297 on grocery stores in underserved communities advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove the property tax exemption; the bill was reported out 9-5-1. HB 2487 on insurance tax treatment advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove retroactivity and clarify annuity treatment; it was reported out 8-6-1. HB 2382, which raises cigarette and other tobacco taxes and changes tobacco tax structures, adopted amendments redirecting some revenue to health accounts, excluding nicotine-free vapor products, and restoring current-law treatment for modified-risk tobacco products before passing 8-6-1. HB 2451 on tax increment financing, HB 2590 on limited equity cooperatives, HB 2325 on a tourism self-supported assessment program with a tribal opt-in amendment, HB 2278 extending a lodging tax charge, HB 2224 adjusting levy rules for fire protection districts, and HB 2322 on sustainable aviation fuel tax credits all advanced, with some by voice vote. During debate, supporters generally framed the bills as targeted incentives or clarifications to support food access, wildfire mitigation, tourism promotion, housing affordability, or clean fuel investment, while opponents raised concerns about tax shifts, affordability, retroactivity, and whether dedicated revenues should instead come from the general fund. Several members noted that some measures still needed further work before floor action, especially HB 2487 and HB 2382. The committee adjourned after reporting the listed bills out with due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We barred access to institutions of higher learning, while simultaneously We barred access to institutions
• of higher learning, while simultaneously asking them to build the institutions of higher learning.
• That's how powerful legacy admissions into our institutions of higher learning have been.
• That's how powerful legacy admissions into our institutions of higher learning have been.
• AB 7 is a bill that would allow California institutions of higher learning to consider whether somebody

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine procedural motions. Members then moved through a long agenda of Senate and Assembly bills, including several concurrence votes on budget trailer bills and policy measures. Early actions included defeating a motion to send AB 1207 to the inactive file, then passing SB 855 on armory property transfers, SB 57 on data centers and ratepayer impacts, and SB 614 on carbon capture pipeline transport, with SB 614 transmitted immediately to the Senate. The house also approved AB 144 and AB 149, the health and resources budget trailer bills, and later took up a large concurrence file with many mostly bipartisan measures. Among the major policy items, the Assembly concurred in AB 7 on consideration of descendants of enslaved people in higher education admissions, AB 1400 on community college nursing/bachelor’s degree pilots, AB 56 on social media warning labels for children, AB 253 on housing plan-check timelines, AB 265 on disaster recovery support for small businesses, AB 301 on housing reconstruction timelines after fires, AB 325 on antitrust and pricing algorithms, AB 478 on emergency planning for pets, AB 670 on renter stability, AB 841 on the State Fire Marshal, AB 979 on AI cybersecurity, AB 1007 on faster housing permitting, AB 1032 on mental health care for wildfire victims, AB 1181 on firefighter cancer protections, and AB 1264 on ultra-processed foods in school meals. Several bills drew brief opposition or questions, including AB 149, where Assembly Member Dixon criticized omnibus budget drafting and fee increases, and AB 1264, where members discussed agriculture concerns and school nutrition. Most measures passed with strong margins, many unanimously. Later in the day, the Assembly also considered a separate set of Senate bills, including SB 760 on behest reporting for charitable appeals, SB 271 on student parents’ access to child care and financial aid services, SB 613 on methane emissions from imported fossil fuels, SB 744 on postsecondary accreditation, SB 461 on a facility transfer for police services in Imperial, SB 487 on compensation for injured firefighters and peace officers, SB 635 on street vendor protections, SB 641 on licensing relief after disasters, SB 720 on red-light camera programs, SB 763 on Cartwright Act penalties, and SB 274 on limits for automated license plate reader data retention. SB 274 drew the most extended debate, with supporters emphasizing privacy, civil liberties, and misuse of data, and opponents arguing the bill would hamper law enforcement and crime-solving tools. The transcript ends during that debate, with no final vote shown for SB 274 in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> graduation will help institutions graduation will help institutions develop<00:17:59.960><c> targeted
• </c> to help systems and institutions to help systems and institutions increase<00:22:55.760><c> student
• </c><00:32:17.159><c> the</c> $1,500 at nonprofit institutions the $1,500 at nonprofit institutions the
• Another $2 million is going through the creation of a rural-focused research institute, and then the
• There is precedent for this committee to run residency programs in the base for other institutions.

Bills: HF2090 , HF982 , HF2229

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: higher education, scholarship, financial aid, state grant, tuition assistance, Pell grants, student retention, education equity, disabled veterans, veterans' dependents, dependent children, college affordability, books and fees, University of Minnesota, public colleges, Office of Higher Education, veterans benefits, military families, permanent disability, 100 percent disability

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you — that last sentence you stated — the institutions. What did you say?
• That would really severely impact a whole lot of offerings at our higher education institutions, would
• At its core, this bill drastically shifts how we govern our higher education institutions by layering
• Our institutions already go through rigorous curriculum review processes.
• And we are eliminating existing faculty councils across Texas institutions unless they are explicitly

Bills: SB37 , SJR84 , SJR87 , SJR27 , SB8 , SB10 , SB227 , SB261 , SB15 , SB12 , SB25 , SB57 , SB127 , SB293 , SB441 , SB3059 , SB512 , SB241 , SB1718 , SB140 , SB2055 , SB2075 , SB2018 , SB1534 , SB1567 , SB785 , SB1233 , SB1580 , SB1663 , SB413 , SB447 , SB519 , SB467 , SB1579 , SB1191 , SB1021 , SB1838 , SB2807 , SB2835 , SB546 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2035 , SB2024 , SB1032 , SB1049 , SB1266 , SB1400 , SB1302 , SB401 , SB1596 , SB1281 , SB1242 , SB1343 , SB310 , SB1346 , SB2753 , SB2703 , SB2221 , SB1719 , SB2177 , SB800 , SB790 , SB748 , SB571 , SB1957 , SB1923 , SB1896 , SB1760 , SB1335 , SB2368 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB2965 , SB1563 , SB1467 , SB1164 , SB1137 , SB614 , SB705 , SB961 , SB918 , SB955 , SB869 , SB850 , SB863 , SB1610 , SB1055 , SB2206 , SB457 , SB2337 , SB1362 , SCR9 , SB2405 , SB2406 , SB2407 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SB36 , SB38 , SB815 , SB1856 , SB552 , SB646 , SB37 , SJR84 , SJR87 , SJR27 , SB8 , SB10 , SB227 , SB261 , SB15 , SB12 , SB25 , SB57 , SB127 , SB293 , SB441 , SB3059 , SB512 , SB241 , SB1718 , SB140 , SB2055 , SB2075 , SB2018 , SB1534 , SB1567 , SB785 , SB1233 , SB1580 , SB1663 , SB413 , SB447 , SB519 , SB467 , SB1579 , SB1191 , SB1021 , SB1838 , SB2807 , SB2835 , SB546 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2035 , SB2024 , SB1032 , SB1049 , SB1266 , SB1400 , SB1302 , SB401 , SB1596 , SB1281 , SB1242 , SB1343 , SB310 , SB1346 , SB2753 , SB2703 , SB2221 , SB1719 , SB2177 , SB800 , SB790 , SB748 , SB571 , SB1957 , SB1923 , SB1896 , SB1760 , SB1335 , SB2368 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB2965 , SB1563 , SB1467 , SB1164 , SB1137 , SB614 , SB705 , SB961 , SB918 , SB955 , SB869 , SB850 , SB863 , SB1610 , SB1055 , SB2206 , SB457 , SB2337 , SB1362 , SCR9 , HB5560 , HB762 , HB 107 , HB 114 , HB300 , HB138 , HB4386 , HB2495 , HB581 , HB3348 , HB5323

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, tax exemption, property tax, homestead, fire damage, constitutional amendment, bail reform, criminal justice, felony offenses, public safety, judicial conduct, state commission, judicial misconduct, commission membership, immigration enforcement, ICE agreements

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are at the heart of higher education institutions here in both Boston and across the Commonwealth
• We are at the heart of higher education institutions here in both Boston and across the Commonwealth.
• President Trump's plan is to dismantle and dissolve the institutions and laws that protect workers from
• Public leaders, responsible contractors, labor, and long-term institutional investment remain one of
• The Donahue Institute found that transfer fee revenues invested in workforce housing would strengthen

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on Governor Healey’s economic development proposal, H. 5386, also referred to as the Mass Winds Act, focused on global investment, talent, innovation, housing, and business competitiveness. Governor Healey, Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorzkowicz described the bill as a response to federal uncertainty and global competition, building on the 2024 Mass Leads Act. They highlighted proposed investments in a Global Mass initiative, including a $50 million innovation access fund and $20 million for sites to help international companies locate or expand in Massachusetts, along with support for AI, quantum, robotics, defense innovation, climate tech, downtown revitalization, and creative/cultural economy projects. They also emphasized measures to lower business costs, including reducing the LLC filing fee, expanding the small business energy tax exemption, and streamlining housing and development rules. Committee members questioned the administration about non-compete reform, AI and data-center infrastructure, housing affordability, and whether the bill would help retain workers and companies in Massachusetts. The governor and secretaries argued that the non-compete changes would restore the original compromise by requiring any alternative to garden leave to be negotiated at separation, and they said the bill’s housing and workforce provisions are intended to help young workers stay in the state. They also said Massachusetts is already investing in AI training, an AI hub, and energy-related planning, while acknowledging that data-center growth will require careful attention to water, electricity, and ratepayer impacts. Several witnesses testified on specific sections. Northeastern University supported the internship tax credit, saying experiential learning helps students gain jobs and remain in Massachusetts. The Latino Empowerment Advisory Council supported the waiver of redundant English testing for internationally trained nurses, saying it would speed entry into the workforce without lowering clinical standards. Russell Beck opposed the non-compete changes, arguing they would undermine the 2018 compromise and could reduce other forms of employee compensation. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office opposed the LLC fee reduction, citing revenue loss and fraud concerns. Municipal and regional groups, including the MMA and the Metro Mayors Coalition, supported site plan review codification and downtown/arts investments, while urging continued municipal input. The AFL-CIO asked for trigger language to preserve labor protections if federal law changes, and business and industry witnesses generally supported the bill’s competitiveness and global investment provisions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with written testimony invited after the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• where I might us also from institutions where I might phone<00:23:53.960><c> a</c><00:23:54.000><c>
• </c><00:24:21.960><c> since</c><00:24:22.200><c> I</c> phone a friend from institutions since I phone
• a friend from institutions since I didn't<00:24:22.440><c> have</c><00:24:22.560><c> time</c><00:24:
• , which is going to look at institutions, which is going to look at it<00:45:09.400><c> afterwards</c
• , it was because this from institutions, it was because this language<00:45:47.680><c> did</c><00:45:

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are at the heart of higher education institutions here in both Boston and across the Commonwealth
• We are at the heart of higher education institutions here in both Boston and across the Commonwealth.
• President Trump's plan is to dismantle and dissolve the institutions and laws that protect workers from
• Public leaders, responsible contractors, labor, and long-term institutional investment remain one of
• The Donahue Institute found that transfer fee revenues invested in workforce housing would strengthen

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Summary: The committee held a hearing on Governor Healey’s economic development proposal, H.5386, the Mass Winds Act, with the governor and administration officials describing it as a follow-on to the 2024 Mass Leads Act. They said the bill is intended to help Massachusetts compete globally for capital, talent, and companies by creating a Global Mass initiative, including a proposed $50 million innovation access fund and $20 million for site development to help international firms locate or expand here. The administration also highlighted about $305 million in new bond authorizations, plus operating proposals such as lowering the LLC filing fee, expanding the small business energy tax exemption, funding internship incentives, and supporting downtown revitalization and the creative economy. Committee members and witnesses focused on several policy areas within the bill. On talent, Northeastern University supported the internship tax credit, and the Latino Empowerment Advisory Council backed a provision waiving redundant English testing for internationally trained nurses who have already demonstrated proficiency in practice. On labor mobility, the governor defended changes to the non-compete law as closing a loophole, while attorney Russell Beck opposed the revisions, arguing they would upset the 2018 compromise and could reduce employer-provided compensation. Municipal and housing witnesses supported codifying site plan review and broader zoning reforms, while others urged attention to affordable housing, tiny homes, and commercial-to-residential conversions. Local officials and municipal groups generally supported the bill’s downtown, arts, and planning provisions but asked for more detail on implementation and infrastructure, especially around energy, water, and data centers. The Massachusetts Municipal Association said the bill’s standardized site plan review and downtown investments could help communities, but stressed the need for close state-municipal partnership. The AFL-CIO asked for trigger language to preserve labor rights if federal protections weaken. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office opposed the LLC fee reduction, warning of significant revenue loss and possible fraud concerns. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with the committee accepting written testimony afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have seen an influx in institutions of higher education building out experiential learning models
• So we are at the heart of higher education institutions here in both Boston and across the Commonwealth
• We are at the heart of higher education institutions here in both Boston and across the Commonwealth.
• ... ...public leaders, responsible contractors, labor, and long-term institutional investment remain
• The Donahue Institute found that transfer fee revenues invested in workforce housing would strengthen

Bills: H5386

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Keywords: economic development, innovation, investment, housing, small business, global trade, infrastructure, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we swap over to healthc care institution we swap over to healthc care institution and<00:49:34.160
• </c> that says a health care institution that says a health care institution shall<00:54:34.400><c> ensure
• institution institution ask<01:04:53.920><c> a</c><01:04:54.240><c> provider</c><01:04:54.880><c> to
• </c> in Catholic institutions or elsewhere. in Catholic institutions or elsewhere.
• </c> have any institutions have any institutions um<01:52:36.320><c> people</c><01:52:36.639><c> are<

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> solidified,</c> institution has to be solidified, institution has to be solidified, has<00:55:13.280
• ,</c> guardian of this institution, guardian of this institution, and<02:21:39.520><c> we're</c><02:21
• </c> supported by the by the institutions supported by the by the institutions that<02:26:02.960><c>
• </c> and I just encourage as an institution and I just encourage as an institution that<02:31:40.960>
• I will think about my love of this institution institution institution and<02:50:25.520><c> I</c><02:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Peace Institute has served families in 15 of the 17 Senate districts on this committee and 20 out
• I just wanted to also weigh in on the recent experience I had with the Institute.
• to the museum and learning about our common history puts their funding and institutions at risk.
• It was then that I set my sights on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• I'm an attorney at the Mass Law Reform Institute. Thank you for still being here.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We must continue to build anti-racist and anti-racist, anti-hate, and anti-xenophobic institutions in
• We need bold actions that can fund our schools, that can fund our hospitals, and our institutions that
• So in response to the rise of incidents, Jewish institutions have been forced to take extraordinary In
• And when I see racism, I see it as an institutional thing.
• to more or less ...the power you have as an institution to more or less address my humanity as well

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Teacher credentialing production by California institutions also showed a strong rebound from COVID lows
• I think we're going to hear from the Learning Policy Institute next. Yes, thank you so much.
• I serve as the chief of policy and programs at the Learning Policy Institute, where I've been part of
• and working with the institutions to qualify students and retroactively award them this award.
• Grudcic had communicated, I think more and more institutions are already sort of looking at this, how

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of expectations for the beneficiaries, specifically for the institutional beneficiaries on the use of
• Jenkins served on the committee on behalf of the institutional beneficiaries.
• I'm the director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, and thank you for giving
• That's part of, I mean, because SITLA stands for School and Institutional Trust Lands.
• I'll move that we favorably recommend school and institutional... Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee: Joint Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would not target cards from the largest financial institutions.
• It would be open to all financial institutions, big and small.
• with those institutions.
• Their neighbor's institution is disclosing or their other institutions.
• institutions.

Bills: SB231 , SB584 , SB600 , SB668 , SB841 , SB986 , SB1003 , SB1244 , SB1625 , SB1960 , SB1963 , SB1964 , SB2026 , SB2056 , SB2368

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• 00.160><c> political</c> attemp ing to change our political attemp ing to change our political institutions
• uh in the form of a very institutions uh in the form of a very particular<00:16:04.120><c> kind</c><
• a school voucher program that would funnel dollars from our public school system into private institutions
• operating rooms, taking public money from health providers and giving it to largely religious institutions
• </c><00:17:54.520><c> that</c><00:17:54.640><c> call</c> religious institutions that call religious institutions

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Raphael Aguilera with the Greenlining Institute, and strong support. Thank you.
• Yet despite this economic strength, the state continues to rely heavily on private financial institutions
• It simply is the price the state pays to borrow money from outside financial institutions.
• Rafael Aguilera with the Greenlining Institute, co-sponsor of the bill, and strong support. Thanks.
• Some are held by institutional investors like pension funds, university endowments, financial institutions

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met and first approved the consent calendar, which included AB 2028, AB 2425, and committee bill AB 2795, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also noted that AB 2558 and AB 2746 had been pulled from the agenda. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including acceptance of written testimony and rules against disruptive conduct. The committee then heard AB 2116, which would require registration and basic conduct standards for certain small-business financing providers, including merchant cash advance companies, and prohibit confessions of judgment and power-of-attorney provisions before default. Supporters argued the bill would close an oversight gap and improve transparency for small businesses; a small business owner testified that a purported 13% loan turned out to have a 235% APR. Opponents said the bill mixed consumer and commercial regulation and could restrict access to capital, though they supported banning confessions of judgment. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2243, by Assembly Member Haney, proposed creating a state bank commission to study whether California should establish a state bank or other public financing tools. Supporters said a public banking model could reduce borrowing costs, keep more public money in-state, and better finance housing, infrastructure, and other public priorities; opponents from banking groups raised concerns about taxpayer exposure, deposit guarantees, and the use of public funds and existing lending structures. The bill passed and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2350, which would set guardrails on rent-now-pay-later products for rental housing; supporters said these products can lead to high fees, debt, and eviction risk, while industry groups opposed the bill unless amended. AB 2350 passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Raphael Aguilera with the Greenlining Institute, and strong support. Thank you.
• Yet despite this economic strength, the state continues to rely heavily on private financial institutions
• It simply is the price the state pays to borrow money from outside financial institutions.
• Rafael Aguilera with the Greenlining Institute, co-sponsor of the bill, and strong support. Thanks.
• Some are held by institutional investors like pension funds and university endowments, financial institutions

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all