Transcript Highlights:

• expert assembly member Chiavo Assembly member expert.
• The State Water Board is a five-member board.
• That's maybe five members on the boards, 25 board members. They all want to keep their position.
• That's maybe five members on the boards, 25 board members. They all want to keep their position.
• And if I may, Assembly Member, what my colleague from the Water Board described is how the Water Board

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a school board member, I do think I have seen on my own board that the superintendent getting
• Members, HB 2110 is requiring school governing boards to formally allow member-led prayer during official
• There are other board members on the School Facilities Oversight Board that are expressly prohibited
• There are other board members on the School Facilities Oversight Board that are expressly prohibited
• Members, I actually agree with this bill, surprisingly, because I served as a school board member.

Transcript Highlights:

• You said that, and you called it the Applesauce Board, but I think I know which board you're talking
• He is not on the board, but he represents the board for the governor. He does not...
• He is not on the board, but he represents the board for the governor.
• I believe you're talking to the administration of the board, not the board itself.
• We talked to Bob Hartnett, Chad Greer, and numerous members of that board.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the bill requires a member of a Board of Adjustments or a hearing officer of a municipality
• to disclose whether the person has been a board member or officer of any entity that appears before
• Additionally, the bill requires a member of a Board of Adjustments or a hearing officer of a municipality
• to disclose whether the person has been a board member or officer of any entity that appears before
• to disclose whether the person has been a board member or officer of any entity that appears before

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard several bills. HB 2686, sponsored by Rep. Heap, would require physicians performing surgeries at outpatient surgical facilities to annually and whenever changed provide the facility a call-coverage plan, including hospital coverage if applicable, to ensure patients have a known physician contact for complications; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2051 would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to CMS approval, to cover breastfeeding and lactation services in inpatient, outpatient, home-based, and group settings; supporters described the bill as improving maternal and infant health and AHCCCS said it was neutral with an estimated $1.8 million general fund cost, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2837, a transparency bill for municipal zoning hearings, would require speakers to disclose compensation for testimony and require certain board members or hearing officers to disclose and recuse for recent ties to entities appearing before them; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee also approved HB 2875, as amended, which clarifies local authority over commercial drone delivery systems and related land-use and zoning issues, including near airports; Zipline and industry supporters backed the bill as providing regulatory clarity, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting after adoption of the amendment. HB 2324 would let cities with their own fire codes, through an intergovernmental agreement, enforce those codes on county-owned buildings in city limits, with reporting requirements to the State Fire Marshal; county and fire-management representatives supported the measure as a clarification of jurisdiction, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2439 would exempt single-user public or semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ pool rules, but the committee adopted an amendment removing ADEQ rulemaking authority; supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and regulatory burden, while one senator opposed it over public-health concerns, and it passed 4-2 with one not voting. HB 2457 would allow utilities to build certain co-located power plants without a certificate of environmental compatibility after notice and a public comment session, which opponents said would reduce public review and transparency for power plant siting, while supporters said it would streamline power development; it passed 4-2 with one not voting. Finally, HB 2953 would cap certain nondisciplinary and disciplinary civil penalties imposed by the State Board of Pharmacy at $25,000 in specified circumstances; a supporter said it matched limits used elsewhere and gave the board authority to use nondisciplinary actions, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 14 members in the quorum. Representative Stagni, present. We have 14 members in the quorum.
• Members, this bill increases the maximum per diem authorized to be paid to members of the Board of Commissioners
• Everybody on the board, yep, no opposition. Okay, I have boards clear.
• Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Sam, and I'm the president of the Board of Directors of
• Thank you, members. This bill was voted on by the Jefferson Place Bocage members.

Summary: The committee met at 5:13 p.m. on April 15 with 14 members present and took up several local and municipal bills. HB 87, which would increase the per diem for the Livingston Parish Gas Utility District No. 1 board, was presented as a local bill with no opposition and was reported favorably without objection. HB 162, authorizing the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Prevention and Improvement District to levy a fee after a local vote, was also moved favorably without objection. A lengthy discussion centered on HB 481, which would change the rate for publishing official proceedings and public notices. Supporters from the Louisiana Press Association said a prior agreement intended a 15% to 20% reduction in newspaper revenue, but a calculation error meant the current law would instead cut revenues by about 40% to 50% when it takes effect in 2027. Representatives from police juries and other local-government groups argued the bill should be corrected to restore the intended compromise, while some members questioned whether the change would break a prior deal and whether small or single-newspaper parishes would be harmed. The committee ultimately reported HB 481 favorably by a 10-5 vote, with members urging further negotiation and possible floor amendments. HB 573, as amended, would restructure oversight of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board by giving the New Orleans City Council and mayor more authority over operations, contracts, and accountability measures. Representative Hilferty and Mayor Helena Moreno argued the current structure diffuses responsibility and has failed residents, while one witness from the Louisiana Justice Institute warned the bill could shift control without fixing infrastructure problems and could raise equity and financial concerns. Despite that opposition, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also advanced HB 368, increasing fines for unauthorized demolition of historic properties in New Orleans; HB 441, clarifying that Sewerage and Water Board employees remain in city civil service; and HB 257, which would give the elected police chief of Central authority to hire, fire, and discipline police personnel, subject to consultation with the city attorney and a delayed effective date. All of those bills were reported favorably after discussion and, where needed, adoption of amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Guides Licensing Board, Board of Accountancy, and Social Work and Counseling Boards.
• I also want to express my appreciation to the DOPL employees and the members of our boards and commissions
• , it was the Board of Midwifery into the Board of Nursing.
• The boards definitely—each board is involved in its investigations.
• The Idaho Lottery Commission is a five-member board appointed by the governor whose members serve five-year

Summary: The committee first heard a report from the Joint Millennium Fund co-chairs on recommended uses of Millennium Fund dollars. The recommendations included one-time funding for juvenile safety assessment centers and child advocacy centers, ongoing funding for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments to reduce the general fund impact in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation because the fund had previously been directed away from Medicaid; the co-chairs said the request was made in light of a revenue downturn and was intended as one-time funding, with any unused balance returned. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Legislative staff summarized the division’s consolidation of licensing boards, staffing, fee-balance management requirements, and the governor’s and committee’s budget recommendations, including vehicle replacement and IT hardware requests. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced overall expenditures since consolidation, improved licensing and inspection timeliness, and used fee changes, fee holidays, and board mergers to keep board balances within the target range. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for prescriber DEA fees, the continued need for a 10% transfer exemption, vehicle replacement timing, and how complaints and discipline are handled; Barron said complaints drive investigations, boards set fees subject to legislative approval, and a universal discipline bill could improve consistency. Finally, the committee heard the state lottery budget. Staff described lottery revenues, prize payouts, dividend distributions to schools and state buildings, and a small one-time request for replacement computers. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts for significant future savings, and is trying to improve performance without relying heavily on paid advertising. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, the return on advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; he said detectives investigate theft and other lottery-related crimes, advertising results are hard to isolate from jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design work. The committee concluded its business and adjourned, with a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel that the relationship between the school superintendent and the board members is inappropriate
• Board members is inappropriate.
• I'm saying that the school board members sitting on that school board do everything the school superintendent
• We've made progress on several of these matters already, creating forms, training staff and board members
• We've had a three-member board, and in some cases a two-member board forever, and at no point in time

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Carver, you mentioned, I think, the perspective with, I can't remember what board member
• Members, this bill changes the Board of Commissioners for the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention Center
• They will have 11 members assigned to this board. They will have the authority to levy fines.
• Plumbing board goes away. We create a sub-board with 11 members under the licensing board.
• Yes, members, it does the same thing we spoke about. It does away with the board.

Bills: HR115 , HR116 , HR117 , HR118 , HR112 , HR113 , HR114 , HCR51 , HCR52 , SCR18 , SCR20 , SB14 , SB76 , SB118 , SB142 , SB156 , SB170 , SB197 , SB234 , SB258 , SB287 , SB288 , SB313 , SB315 , SB393 , SB396 , SB426 , SB427 , HCR7 , HB76 , HB84 , HB132 , HB181 , HB210 , HB250 , HB265 , HB275 , HB291 , HB322 , HB342 , HB457 , HB475 , HB477 , HB486 , HB616 , HB635 , HB639 , HB690 , HB740 , HB757 , HB761 , HB766 , HB774 , HB808 , HB855 , HB866 , HB872 , HB883 , HB886 , HB903 , HB949 , HB962 , HB996 , HB1003 , HB1036 , HB1054 , HB1071 , HB1076 , HB1078 , HB1113 , HB1132 , HB1146 , HB1232 , HB1233 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HCR6 , HCR19 , HCR10 , HR74 , HCR26 , HCR35 , HB98 , HB108 , HB131 , HB151 , HB161 , HB288 , HB294 , HB305 , HB310 , HB320 , HB336 , HB380 , HB392 , HB403 , HB420 , HB459 , HB476 , HB540 , HB615 , HB631 , HB637 , HB648 , HB665 , HB682 , HB789 , HB813 , HB815 , HB835 , HB870 , HB905 , HB915 , HB933 , HB938 , HB987 , HB1040 , HB51 , HB82 , HB143 , HB145 , HB160 , HB180 , HB192 , HB393 , HB430 , HB445 , HB506 , HB515 , HB521 , HB565 , HB590 , HB614 , HB638 , HB670 , HB672 , HB685 , HB692 , HB752 , HB773 , HB781 , HB799 , HB860 , HB874 , HB887 , HB917 , HB937 , HB956 , HB965 , HB972 , HB977 , HB982 , HB1006 , HB1010 , HB1044 , HB1072 , HB1088 , HB1179 , HB1200 , HB81 , HB400 , HB154 , HB410 , HB463 , HB827 , HB868 , HB952 , HB953 , HB140 , HB750 , HB911 , HB52 , HB961 , HB399 , HB401 , HB901 , HB9 , HB58 , HB193 , HB284 , HB570 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB733

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer by guest minister Reginald Tate, and adopted the journal and several leave requests. The chamber received Senate messages, including concurrence in HCR 44 and Senate adoption of SCRs 19 and 26, and referred a number of Senate resolutions and bills to committee. It also reported and adopted several House resolutions honoring individuals, schools, and organizations, including H.R. 112, 113, 114, and 52, and referred HCR 51 to Appropriations for a study of assessor and clerk compensation. The House then processed many bills on second and third reading, with numerous measures reported favorably or amended and advanced without objection. Topics included criminal justice and public safety (including hit-and-run as a crime of violence, video voyeurism, intentional exposure to HIV, bail conditions for human trafficking defendants, and post-conviction custody rules), health and insurance matters (AI disclosure in health care, hearing aid coverage, anti-cancer medication parity, pharmacy benefit managers, Medicaid/SNAP integrity, and rare cancer treatments), education and governance (special education due process, school funding, campaign finance, public records, and legislative website transparency), and natural resources and transportation items. Several bills were substituted or renumbered, and many were engrossed and passed to third reading. Two floor debates drew extended discussion. HCR 15, urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act and require voter identification in federal elections, passed 65-32 after questions about voter roll purges and documentation requirements. HCR 14, supporting federal efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, prompted extensive debate over federal education funding, Title I, special education, student loans, land-grant institutions, desegregation oversight, and whether federal functions could be shifted to other agencies; it was adopted 59-28 with 23 coauthors. Later, HB 108, barring persons convicted of violent crimes or sex offenses from jury service, passed 68-32 after debate over jury pool size, second chances, and whether the bill would apply to civil and criminal trials. The House also passed HB 98 on penalties for unlawful release of victim information, HB 131 on custody pending appeal, HB 161 on bail conditions for human trafficking defendants, and HB 288 requiring “miscarriage” to appear alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical records and billing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Local Board.
• There it says the Environmental Improvement Board and local board.
• We have another air quality board, and that's the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Board, Air Board
• Before that, it says the local improvement board, local board shall adopt rules.
• Air Quality Control Board.

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary will unlock the board. Members will proceed to vote.
• So if a charter school board member is a board member and they have a spouse that, let's say perhaps,
• members apply to charter school governing boards?
• Secretary will unlock the board. Members will proceed to vote. Wave closed, Mr. President.
• Secretary will unlock the board. Members will proceed to vote. All senators voted.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions before taking up the special order calendar. The chamber first postponed CS/SB 80 on state land management, then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions when identical or nearly identical. Early actions included unanimous passage of HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, which directs DEP to develop a recycling and waste-diversion roadmap, and passage of CS/CS/SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking after amendments addressing out-of-service credits and former phosphate mine lands; that bill passed 35-3 after debate over possible constitutional concerns. The Senate also passed HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, adding a sentencing multiplier and a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, and HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, with $190,000 in nonrecurring implementation funds and a July 1, 2026 implementation date. The chamber then approved HB 1089 to add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, and HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to expand eligible mitigation projects, lower the approval threshold, and clarify ownership and reimbursement issues. Members discussed funding levels and whether insurance premium credits would be required, but the bill passed unanimously. The Senate also passed HB 1145 on workforce education, HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, and HB 181 on parole guidelines, all without recorded opposition. CS/CS/SB 976 on court-appointed psychologists also passed unanimously, as did HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, which broadened protections against non-consensual and digitally forged intimate images. Later, the Senate approved HB 1156 creating the Home Health Aid for Medically Fragile Children Program, after clarifying training requirements and hearing support that the measure would help families keep medically fragile children at home while compensating trained parents. The chamber also passed HB 1091 on substance abuse and mental health care, with an amendment allowing designated facilities to retain stabilized patients who still meet involuntary examination criteria. Throughout the day, senators used questions and debate to probe charter school governance in CS/CS/SB 822, which was substituted with HB 443 and amended to expand charter autonomy over conduct codes, enrollment, reporting, and facility use while maintaining sponsor oversight; that bill was placed on the calendar for third reading rather than voted on in the excerpt. Several other measures, including SB 716, SB 76, and the final SB 1252 item, were postponed or not reached before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our Board of Environmental Safety became fully operational in 2022, when its members and staff first
• On the board composition, this board is composed of five members, one full-time chair, and four half-time
• members.
• Board members are mandated to represent the general public interest and act to protect public health
• On the board funding, the board is funded equally from the hazardous On the board funding, the board

Transcript Highlights:

• And so these board members, the Board of Supervisors, are very interested in what the cities have to
• Would be from a member of the Board of Supervisors who represents an unincorporated area.
• Well, SANDAG should not be involved in the selection of their board members.
• So the San Diego County board members are actually getting double votes for cities.
• We have 16 elected board members on that board, and we presented this bill concept to them in October

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda focused largely on housing, permitting reform, transportation governance, and local fiscal issues. Early in the hearing, AB 24 by Assembly Member DiMaio proposed changing one SANDAG county board seat to be selected by the Association of Planning Groups to give rural and unincorporated San Diego communities more voice. Members raised concerns about local input and the effect on county representation, and the bill initially lacked a second; later the chair clarified it had been held rather than defeated, but no final action was taken during the main discussion. Several housing and permitting bills drew broad support. AB 671 by Assembly Member Wix would streamline restaurant permitting through front-end plan self-certification; AB 920 by Assembly Member Calosa would require large jurisdictions to create centralized online housing application portals; AB 1061 by Assembly Member Kirk Silva would allow SB 9 housing development in historic districts with limits to preserve character-defining features; AB 818 by Assembly Member Nabila Farias would speed temporary manufactured housing and utility hookups after disasters; AB 660 by Assembly Member Wilson would tighten timelines and remedies for post-entitlement housing permits; AB 1308 by Assembly Member Hoover would allow third-party inspections for small residential projects if local inspections are delayed; and AB 1445 by Assembly Member Haney would expand downtown recovery financing tools for mixed-use housing. Testimony from builders, housing advocates, restaurant groups, and local business organizations generally supported faster approvals and more predictable processes, while some local government and utility groups sought amendments to protect local authority, school funding, or fee structures. AB 1156 by Assembly Member Wicks sought to modernize the solar use easement program so land with water constraints could transition from Williamson Act contracts to solar development. Supporters said the current program is underused and could help farmers and clean energy goals, while rural counties and the Farm Bureau opposed or remained opposed pending further changes, especially on mitigation authority and nonrenewal provisions. AB 964 by Assembly Member Hadwick would let local governments offset state mandate reimbursements against amounts they owe back after audits; county auditors and local government groups supported it, citing large unpaid mandate balances. The committee also took up consent items AB 36 and AB 1131. Most bills were reported out on bipartisan votes, with amendments accepted on several measures; AB 24 remained unresolved in the main hearing discussion, while the rest of the agenda advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• members sitting on that same foundation board.
• and selected board members who chose to be on that committee.
• Is there a relation to board members and this one company?
• Yes, board members currently, current board members also currently serve on a foundation for that same
• So those board members, those current board members, who also sit on the foundation as the leadership

Summary: The committee heard several audit requests and related testimony. The first major item was an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. The author and supporters described long-standing fiscal mismanagement, large budget shortfalls, layoffs, contracting concerns, and questions about the district’s foundation and use of public funds. District representatives and the Riverside County Office of Education said the district is already under fiscal oversight, has a stabilization plan, and is working to reduce deficits and improve student outcomes. After extensive debate and public comment, the motion to approve the audit was put on call because the committee did not have the required votes from both houses at that moment. The committee then approved an audit of East Bay transit agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Senator Wahab argued the region’s many overlapping transit agencies create fragmentation, duplication, and inefficiency, especially amid a fiscal cliff and possible future tax increases. Transit agencies and labor representatives opposed the audit, saying the agencies already undergo multiple audits, serve distinct local needs, and are implementing regional coordination efforts. After testimony from agency leaders and public commenters, the committee voted to approve the audit. The next item was an audit of California Community Colleges’ unrestricted reserves. Senator Archuleta and supporting faculty representatives said reserves have grown substantially and may be diverting resources from student services, instruction, and workforce programs. They argued there is little oversight when reserves become too high. The Chancellor’s Office and Calbright College were invited to respond, and the audit objectives focused on reserve growth, reasons for high balances, oversight by the Chancellor’s Office, and effects on students and staff. The transcript cuts off during the Chancellor’s Office response, so the final committee action on this item is not shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Chair and members.
• Good morning, members.
• Thank you, Chair and members.
• Now, for the record, the members' staffs get no credit because I think it's just member-to-member communication
• right now that is getting members here, so the staff of all members...

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, consumer protection, and sunset-review bills. Early items included SB 1148, which would let aspiring security guards complete all required training before a guard card is issued; SB 342, which would soften the penalty for contractors who were licensed during part of a project but had a brief lapse; and several sunset bills for boards and bureaus, including the Board of Registered Nursing (SB 1302), the Board of Naturopathic Medicine (SB 1303), the Respiratory Care Board (SB 1304), the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (SB 1363), and the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SB 1368). The committee also heard SB 1311, which makes various updates to DCA boards and programs, and SB 1314, which restricts new tobacco retailers from locating within 600 feet of schools or daycare centers and bans nitrous oxide sales and related paraphernalia. Testimony was generally supportive on the training, sunset, and licensing cleanup bills, though several measures drew “opposed unless amended” or neutral positions over scope and implementation details. On SB 1314, supporters including prosecutors and school administrators argued it would reduce youth exposure to tobacco, while gas station, convenience store, cigar lounge, pharmacy, and business groups raised concerns about impacts on existing businesses, transferability of tobacco licenses, and possible de facto limits on future stations; some public health groups shifted to neutral after amendments. On SB 1302, nursing groups supported the board sunset bill, while the California Medical Association objected to allowing out-of-state nurse practitioner transition-to-practice experience to count without a California attestation process. On SB 1304, health facilities and long-term care groups supported the board extension but sought broader clarification so LVNs could perform respiratory tasks consistently across settings. After quorum was finally established, the committee voted to send the consent calendar bills SB 1376, SB 1391, SB 1416, and SB 1315 to Appropriations, and then approved SB 342, SB 1148, SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1304, SB 1311, SB 1314, SB 1363, and SB 1368, all moving forward to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 1314 passed with some no votes, while the other measures advanced with broad support. The hearing ended after additional members were added on the record and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Water Board is a five-member board. We, along with our nine regional water Board.
• The State Water Board is a five-member board.
• The board still...
• My board members: why are we putting so much money in? I've got to continue to convince them.
• And we actually put in boards, wood boards, that hold the water back.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, it protects the interests of all member agencies by assuring no more than two board members
• One member cannot be a member of the retirement board.
• One member cannot be a member of the retirement board, and one member is chosen by the other four as
• no oversight by anyone else other than that seven-member board.
• This just gives a little more time for the board to come up with the fifth member.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a range of public retirement and municipal health insurance bills. Mass Retirees and the American Federation of Teachers supported House 2890/Senate 1848 on transparency in municipal health insurance, arguing that broker and consultant roles should be clearly defined, commissions disclosed, and dual roles prohibited to reduce conflicts of interest and costs. They also supported House 2799/Senate 1848 on protecting municipal retirees from future premium contribution increases, House 2854 on voting rights for surviving spouses in retirement board elections, and Senate 1917 on updating the definition of veteran for retirement purposes. Committee members discussed whether the veteran definition should simply conform to the federal definition going forward. Educators testified in support of House 2769/Senate 1921, which would allow teachers with at least 20 years of service to buy back creditable service for periods when they worked part-time while raising children. Multiple teachers described the financial and retirement penalties they experienced after stepping down to part-time work for child care, calling the current system inequitable and a “mom tax.” Sponsors and supporters said the bill is intended to correct that disparity and help retain teachers, while one committee member noted it appeared neutral on an actuarial basis. The committee also heard strong support for Senate 1908, which would raise the cap on outside income for public pension recipients, from retired State Police troopers who said the current limit is outdated and unfair to those forced into disability retirement after line-of-duty injuries. Another State Police representative supported House 2910 on state police pensions, citing recruitment and retention problems under current pension rules. In contrast, Hampden County Regional Retirement System officials and the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems opposed House 2745, a bill to restructure the Hampden County system’s governance, arguing it would weaken PERAC oversight and create an unworkable local system. They instead supported House 2813, which would extend the time to fill a vacant fifth member seat on retirement boards. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to adjourn the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members of the committee, my name is Asha Pierce.
• Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the Committee.
• Those would still be under the Livestock Board.
• Good morning, Madam Chair, and Committee Members again.
• NMFA serves as a staff to the 16-member board, so there are a lot of members involved in that board

Bills: HM26 , HB243 , HB109

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Keywords: insects, ecosystem, education, public awareness, wildlife conservation, state agency involvement, New Mexico, equine welfare, animal rescue, shelter funding, trust fund, veterinary care, water project fund, water project finance act, New Mexico Finance Authority, water infrastructure, water grants, water loans, regional water planning, water rights adjudication

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, any comments? Vice Chair, for the vote. Members, voting on House Bill 979.
• I'd like to also amend subsection G3 to clarify that the board members' fiscal duty is what is being
• <c> the</c> that the board members fiscal it's the that the board members fiscal it's the board<01:33
• c><01:33:48.600><c> is</c><01:33:48.719><c> being</c> board members fiscal Duty that is being board members
• </c><01:37:01.400><c> to</c><01:37:01.560><c> vote</c> members other members who wish to vote members

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to consumer protection, liquor regulation, construction procurement, and state contracting. On House Bill 565, DCCA and the Office of Consumer Protection stood on written testimony, and a committee member raised a question about whether creators of remains would have to hold them indefinitely if family members did not respond; the member indicated language would be fixed to address that issue. No vote was taken. House Bill 208, dealing with liquor law changes, drew strong support from Scarlet Honolulu and Maui Brewing Company, who said the measure would modernize liquor rules and add guardrails, while the Wine Institute and Anheuser-Busch opposed it as a special tax break or unnecessary expansion of liquor-related authority. Members questioned whether anonymous complaints should be allowed and whether the bill could lead to retaliation; the supporter said complaints should not be anonymous and suggested the Liquor Commission had been accused of writing complaints to target licenses. No action was taken. House Bill 939, concerning taxation of low-ABV spirits-based beverages, received support from Maui Brewing Company and Johnson Brothers, who said it would align tax treatment with existing categories and reduce confusion, while the Wine Institute and Anheuser-Busch opposed it as a narrow tax break that could reduce revenue and should instead be considered in a broader alcohol tax review. House Bill 808, on construction defect insurance or related protections for state projects, drew comments from DAGS, the State Procurement Office, and the Subcontractors Association, with the latter warning it would make state contracting harder and shrink the contractor base; the chair questioned what recourse the state has when defects appear after a project is completed. House Bill 809, addressing procurement and subcontractor-listing corrections, drew opposition from SPO, DAGS, and the Subcontractors Association, while the General Contractors Association supported it; members debated whether a 24-hour correction window would create abuse or simply allow minor ministerial fixes, and the bill’s sponsor said the goal was to reduce bid protests and procurement discretion. No votes or final committee actions were recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members.
• Chairman and members.
• So every aspect of the members and the members in the I know.
• He was a great board member, and that's... I was wondering if you were going to get that.
• He was a great board member, and that's... I was wondering if you were going to get that, yeah.

Committee: House Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• Please mark members present as they arrive.
• Members, any questions? Not seeing any.
• So my question is really related to the makeup of the board and how the board..."
• So my question is really related to the makeup of the board and how the board functions and everything
• of County Commissioners members.

Bills: AB58 , AB275 , SB46 , SB457 , SB465 , AB320 , AB344 , AB381 , AB541

Committee: Assembly Judiciary