Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the California Fire Chiefs Association, the Fire Districts Association of California, and
• For these reasons, the California Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Districts Association of California,
• the Rural County Representatives of California.
• The features of the heat pump systems, cities have not adapted their standards and their kind of building
• In addition to the fact that 25% of carbon emissions in California come from buildings, it is absolutely

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard six bills. SB 828 by Senator Cabaldon would require fireworks license applicants to disclose storage locations and prove they have local permits, with the state notifying local agencies when licenses are denied or revoked. The bill was presented as a response to deadly fireworks explosions and illegal storage gaps; fire officials and fireworks industry representatives supported it, while county groups raised liability concerns. The committee approved SB 828 unanimously and sent it to Appropriations. SB 799 by Senator Allen would revise the South Bay Regional Housing Trust’s governing rules, including more flexibility on appointing board leadership, alternate participation, and board selection under the joint powers agreement. Supporters said the changes would help the new housing trust operate effectively and allow knowledgeable alternates; questions focused on accountability for non-elected alternates handling public funds. The bill passed on a 6-0 vote as amended to the Senate floor. SB 762 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the city of Hercules to place a local ballot measure for up to a 1% sales tax increase to fund city services and infrastructure. Supporters said Hercules has limited revenue options and high service needs; some senators cautioned about how such measures are presented to voters. The bill passed 5-2 to the Senate floor. SB 722 by Senator Wahab would add protections for mobile home residents from displacement tied to transit-oriented development and redevelopment, described as a cleanup to preserve affordable housing stock. Mobile home residents, housing advocates, cities, and the League of California Cities supported the bill, and no opposition was heard. It passed 7-0 as amended to Appropriations. SB 222 by Senator Wiener would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems through automated permitting, consolidated permits, and limits on local fee and siting barriers; supporters framed it as a climate and affordability measure, while local government and HOA groups objected to statewide preemption, fee caps, and liability concerns. The committee approved it 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 677, also by Senator Wiener, made technical clarifications to SB 79’s transit-oriented housing rules, but local governments and regional agencies warned the changes could expand the law’s scope and disrupt mapping work; the bill passed 5-2 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we do so through promulgating rules in the California Vehicle Code or vehicle code traffic laws.
• So in the state of California, we have codified in the California Vehicle Code the levels of driving
• In California? Yeah, it's a similar approach in California.
• I'm not sure about California.
• They already know this standard.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We know the cost of building in California is extraordinarily, exponentially higher than it needs to
• Not counting land, I'm just talking about building the same structure in California—the cost is double
• It requires standardized itemization of all lien-based medical bills so that you have the same codes
• for the same treatment, i.e., like a chiropractor will be X code or Y code.
• can, require standardized itemization of all lien-based medical bills so that you have the same codes

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then handled a series of procedural motions to re-refer bills, suspend rules, and remove items from the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions recognizing family milestones, a youth leadership program from Assembly District 13, a delegation of Japanese business leaders, and a Michoacan delegation. Later, members adopted several resolutions and consent items, including California Craft Beer Week, the Freedom Flag as a 9/11 remembrance symbol, Probation Services Week, and California Wildfire Week, along with other consent-calendar measures. The main floor debate centered on SB 417, a $10 billion housing bond for the ballot, with supporters emphasizing the state’s housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and funding for multifamily housing, supportive housing, homeownership, farmworker housing, student housing, tribal housing, infrastructure, and preservation of existing affordable units. Opponents criticized the proposal as adding debt without enough reform and objected to the use of veterans in the measure’s messaging. The Assembly passed SB 417 on urgency and on the measure, 54-7, and sent it to the Senate. Members then adopted ACA 20, which would expand and modernize the state Rainy Day Fund by increasing its cap and changing deposit rules; it passed 54-8 and was transmitted to the Senate. The Assembly also approved SB 623, a transportation-related bill addressing rideshare safety and medical lien practices. Supporters said it would curb abusive billing, restrict attorney conflicts and kickbacks, require stronger background checks for TNC drivers, and allow women riders and drivers to request women-only matches. The measure passed unanimously, 67-0. Later, the House adopted ACA 21, which removes ACA 13 from the November ballot, by 62-0, and ACA 22, which amends a ballot measure affecting taxation and local fiscal resources, by 64-0. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of Dr. Dorothy Viola Calvin, followed by announcements, recesses, and final adjournment until the next scheduled floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• This increases uncertainty for solar's future in California.
• across California.
• Building six gigawatts of solar and storage across California.
• the power which California needs.
• Developers need the certainty they need to continue building the power which California needs for grid

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee held a final hearing on a series of Senate bills, with the chair explaining the committee’s suspense-file process and then taking up measures in regular order and later from suspense. SB 1329 on solar property tax assessment drew the most extensive testimony: the author and industry supporters said it would create statewide assessment standards, exclude intangibles, and provide certainty for solar development, while county assessors and county representatives opposed it as a statutory formula that would undercut fair market value and reduce local revenue. The bill was sent to suspense during the first portion of the hearing and later passed suspense 5-2 after amendments. SB 661, dealing with airport funding and aviation fuel tax revenues, also generated support from airport and local government representatives but opposition from airlines over the proposed distribution formula; it was referred to suspense and later passed 7-0 with amendments. SB 1172, which places guardrails on tax-sharing agreements, was supported by local governments and retailers; after the author accepted committee amendments, opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 4-2 to the floor. SB 9-1-1, a wildfire safety measure using the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report to notify fire agencies about defensible-space compliance, was supported by fire chiefs and wildfire-safety advocates but opposed by assessors; it passed 5-2 to Appropriations. SB 1408, authorizing Contra Costa County to place a transportation sales tax on the ballot, passed 4-2 to the floor. SB 1072, the housing omnibus bill, passed 7-0, and SB 1424, expanding a sales tax exemption for zero-emission vehicle fueling equipment, was held in committee after support from hydrogen and electric transportation advocates and no opposition. In suspense-file action, the committee also passed SB 1435, SB 288, SB 296, SB 420, SB 881, SB 888, SB 1053, SB 1406, and SB 1407, while SB 353 and SB 1249 were held. The chair closed by thanking members, staff, stakeholders, and a retiring consultant, and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Penal Code, and the Government Code.
• As technology changes, California must continue to advance our efforts and our standards to protect against
• The standards have not.
• Oh, yes—the California Chamber of Commerce is somewhere else in the building, and they are opposed to
• This declaration triggered the provisions of California Penal Code Section 396, which prohibits price

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing a long agenda of public safety bills. The chair announced recess and return times, noted several consent items, and said SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Testimony procedures were explained, including limits on principal witnesses and public comment. Several bills were heard out of file order with authors presenting and witnesses speaking in support and opposition. SB 1446 would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make votes public, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluations in certain cases. Supporters, including the author and district attorneys, said it would improve transparency and public safety; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual or serial sexual offenses from elderly parole eligibility; the author and district attorneys cited recent releases of serious sex offenders and the need to respect victims and sentences, while opponents said the elderly parole process is already rigorous and evidence-based and that the bill would reduce rehabilitation incentives. The chair and other members strongly supported the measure, but no vote was taken. The committee also heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement forces from entering California without the governor’s permission; the author and supporters framed it as a state sovereignty and constitutional authority measure, and the committee discussed an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for implementation of Proposition 36; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and related services, while opponents called it fiscally reckless and said the budget process was the proper place to address funding. The chair summarized amendments removing a specific appropriation and limiting eligible recipients, and members emphasized that the voters approved Prop. 36 but it remains underfunded. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer oversight for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment providers, especially ABA providers serving children; it drew support from health plans and behavior analysis groups and no opposition. SB 1210 would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to all gang databases, including local ones; supporters described privacy harms and racial disparities, while police chiefs opposed applying CalGang rules to informal local investigative files. SB 1019 would create a DOJ cargo theft task force; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, and port interests described organized theft, rail sabotage, and supply-chain losses, and there was no opposition. SB 1217, on non-consensual intimate image removal, was introduced with privacy and public safety amendments and framed as a survivor-driven effort to create a DOJ clearinghouse for rapid takedown requests; the author said it would help end ongoing digital harm from exploitation.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 73 builds upon that work by further strengthening our defenses.
• California should continue. ...in our elections and law enforcement.
• California should continue leading with a clear message.
• That's the Government Code, Section 26602.
• I represent CALA, which is California Action for Legislative Accountability.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also have a definition here very similar from California government code.
• code a little bit too.
• code a little bit too.
• Did they build it to code? Now you're starting to get into the guts of the security controls.
• Did they build it to code? Now you're starting to get into the guts of the security controls.

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We do that through codes and standards—things like lighting, and, you know, we did television standards
• California, potentially some outside of California. ...in a lot of build in California, a lot of projects
• When you think about what it says, first of all, most of the build is in California.
• And so things like that will lead to build in California.
• And so things like that will lead to build in California.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Nicole Piper, teacher at California Virtual Academies and president of California Virtual Educators United
• California committed to ending out-of-state placements for foster youth due to a California committed
• California must stand ready.
• I urge your yes vote for SB 743 to build a stronger California education system. Thank you.
• , residing in Oceano, California.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum for much of the hearing and heard several bills out of order. SB 249 by Senator Umberg would move county board of education elections from the primary to the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters and many educators, argued the change would increase turnout and make the electorate more representative. The Orange County Board of Education opposed the bill, saying it would increase costs, reduce local control, and bury education races on crowded general-election ballots. The chair and members discussed turnout, cost, and representation, but the bill was held pending a quorum. Senator Grove presented SB 373, which adds safeguards for California students placed in out-of-state non-public schools through IEPs. The bill would require more robust LEA and CDE oversight, including annual site visits, student interviews, quarterly contact, stronger certification standards, and restrictions on prone, supine, and mechanical restraints. Testimony from a survivor of an out-of-state placement and from advocates emphasized abuse, neglect, and the need for stronger monitoring. There was broad support and no opposition testimony, but the measure was also held pending a quorum. Senator Ashby presented SB 568, the epinephrine in schools modernization act, to clarify and expand requirements for stocked epinephrine so they clearly apply to all public schools, including preschool programs. School nurses and medical experts said the bill would close gaps created by universal preschool and ensure life-saving treatment is available for anaphylaxis. The committee discussed dosing and implementation, and the bill was supported without opposition testimony. The committee also heard SB 414, the Charter School Accountability Act, which would strengthen fiscal oversight, audit standards, and transparency for charter schools and authorizers. Supporters said it responds to fraud and audit findings while preserving charter flexibility; opponents, including school employees and teachers, said it did not go far enough on authorizer accountability and small-district oversight. After discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 414 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also briefly heard SB 743 by Senator Cortese, which would create an equalization reserve account to provide additional funding to underfunded school districts and reduce funding inequities tied to ZIP code. The author said the bill would support student achievement and teacher retention over time. The transcript cuts off before testimony or action on SB 743 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 262 as stated would create the California Individual Assistance Act under the California Office of
• This bill is supported by a coalition that includes the California Travel Association, the California
• According to our partners, Visit California, California, and the U.S., travelers infused $156.4 billion
• We used to have whole cities burner down because building codes allowed cities to burning on and on and
• Furthermore, public resources code 25520 requires an application to the California Energy Commission

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, Mexican national does not have a definition in California statute or code.
• These standards already exist in other states, such as California, Colorado, Oregon, and Maryland, and
• Madison Whittamore, on behalf of Housing California, Smart Justice California, Courage California, Vera
• So when they talk about the growth in zip codes that are outside of California, they're largely talking
• Currently, California has no statewide standard for dispatcher training.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• As technology changes, it's important that California try to advance our standards to keep up and make
• And there is a suite of laws that are in the criminal space, criminal code, penal code, that address
• It's pretty standard.
• And a simple standard like reasonable suspicion, it's not a high standard, right?
• And a simple standard like reasonable suspicion, it's not a high standard, right?

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several privacy, technology, and public safety bills. SB 898 would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long software support will last and to notify consumers when support is nearing its end; Consumer Reports supported the measure, while members raised concerns about private enforcement, notice mechanics, and replacement obligations for leased devices. The bill was amended and passed 5-1 to Judiciary, with the measure placed on call. SB 1279 would authorize Long Beach to install additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway under the same privacy and equity guardrails as the existing pilot program, including limits on data use, no facial recognition, warning periods, and reduced fees for low-income recipients. Supporters cited severe crashes and fatalities on PCH, while opponents raised civil liberties and due process concerns and questioned how the system identifies the actual driver. The committee approved the bill 6-2 and placed it on call. SB 1111, the Artificial Intelligence Abuse Protection Act, would create civil remedies for non-consensual AI voice, image, and video cloning and digital replicas. Support came from SAG-AFTRA and Common Sense Media, and members discussed concerns about background images and employer liability, including a request to preserve a rebuttable presumption for good-faith employers. The bill passed 7-1 to Public Safety and was placed on call. SB 1217 would create a DOJ-run clearinghouse for survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery and deepfakes to request removal from online platforms; survivors and advocacy groups testified in strong support, and members discussed privacy, cybersecurity, funding, and the lack of a private right of action. It passed 8-0 to Public Safety and was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1095, which would require fusion centers and participating agencies to adopt MOUs barring use of sensitive personal information for immigration enforcement or racial/identity profiling, require annual reporting, and allow audits and inspections. Supporters argued fusion centers have operated with too little oversight and have been used to circumvent state privacy and immigration laws; some members supported the transparency goals while others raised concerns about operational ambiguity and the bill’s interaction with existing law. The discussion continued, with the author and members debating the scope of permissible information sharing and enforcement consequences for violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• and how we can build trust by passing important regulation.
• Then we sort of color-code the boxes. It's pretty dumb.
• and staying here in California?
• Standards are super important.
• So it's really up to, I think, California.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Summary: The hearing was an informational session of the Consumer Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on AI risks and mitigation, with the chair framing the discussion around two areas: automated decision systems used in high-stakes settings and frontier models with broader capabilities. The chair emphasized that California has already passed some targeted AI measures, but broader regulation has stalled, and criticized a proposed federal moratorium on state AI laws as a threat to public safety and state innovation. The hearing was organized into two panels, and members repeatedly returned to the balance between innovation, trust, and guardrails. The first panel focused on automated decision systems and algorithmic discrimination. Princeton professor Arvin Narayanan described predictive AI as often only modestly accurate and prone to reproducing historical bias, citing examples such as welfare fraud, criminal risk tools, hospital discharge predictions, and opaque hiring systems. Alondra Nelson, former White House OSTP official, outlined a spectrum of algorithmic discrimination—allocative harms, surveillance and privacy harms, targeting and profiling, and misrepresentation—using examples from IRS audits, Life360 data sharing, facial recognition misidentification, ad targeting, and health care. Cathy O’Neil described her auditing work as building a “cockpit” for AI systems to identify who could be harmed, measure disparities, and set thresholds; she argued that audits, impact assessments, and transparency can improve systems and reward better actors. Members asked about costs, whether AI is more biased than humans, the availability of auditors, and whether state regulation would drive business away; witnesses responded that compliance costs can be managed, that many harms are already occurring, and that companies often need outside pressure and access for meaningful audits. The second panel turned to frontier models. Joshua Bengio warned that frontier AI capabilities are improving rapidly, with planning and reasoning benchmarks advancing at an exponential pace, while alignment and honesty problems remain unresolved. He cited recent research showing models that appear to deceive trainers, preserve their own goals, or even blackmail in simulated settings, and said these behaviors are especially concerning as systems become more agentic and able to act over time without human oversight. The overall discussion ended with bipartisan remarks from members about the need for California to lead on AI safety, protect consumers, and support innovation in lower-risk uses such as agriculture while imposing stronger oversight in consequential domains like employment, housing, health care, and elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• It strikes language requiring building code upgrade coverage at 20% during a state of emergency.
• Construction costs have surged, building codes have evolved, and the gap between policy limits and actual
• Building code upgrade coverage.
• When building homeowners must meet current safety codes, SB 876 strengthens coverage so families are
• Good morning, Audrey Ritechuk, on behalf of the California Building Industry Association.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several insurance-related bills, with SB 1301 by Senator Allen and SB 876 by Senator Padilla receiving the most discussion. SB 1301 would reform residential property insurance non-renewals by requiring clearer written explanations, giving policyholders a chance to fix identified issues, and limiting non-renewals based on unreasonable grounds. The bill was supported by consumer advocates, fire survivors, local officials, and several organizations, while insurers said they had worked extensively with the author and were moving to neutral, though they still raised implementation and proprietary-information concerns. The committee voted to pass SB 1301 as amended to Appropriations, with the roll left open briefly before the bill was declared out. SB 876 would overhaul wildfire and disaster claims handling by requiring updated replacement-cost estimates, stronger extended replacement-cost and building-code coverage options, faster status updates when adjusters change, and other consumer protections. Supporters included the Department of Insurance, United Policyholders, consumer groups, and local representatives, who argued the bill addresses underinsurance, delays, and inconsistent claims handling exposed by recent wildfires. Several industry groups said recent amendments resolved major concerns and moved them to neutral, while the California Fair Plan remained respectfully opposed pending further review. The committee approved SB 876 as amended to Judiciary, again leaving the roll open briefly before finalizing the vote. The committee also took up a consent item, SB 536 by Senator Archuleta, which was approved unanimously to Appropriations. Other bills listed at the start of the hearing, SB 555 and SB 795, were pulled at the request of the authors and were not heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• California has a long-standing role in setting balanced, work-focused standards.
• And what California...
• We've always here in California led the way on setting responsible standards for emergency technologies
• We've always here in California led the way on setting responsible standards for emergency technologies
• This bill aligns California with national standards, creating stronger due process for nonprofits while

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on privacy, accessibility, labor, and public safety. AB 1798 by Assemblymember Wilson would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information, including direct-to-consumer test results, in underwriting. Supporters argued the bill would protect privacy and encourage genetic testing, while insurers opposed it as unnecessary and said genetic data should be treated like other predictive health information. The bill passed the committee on a 7-0 vote and was held open for absent members. AB 2190 by Assemblymember Wallace would create website accessibility standards based on WCAG guidelines and add affirmative defenses intended to reduce serial litigation while improving access for people with disabilities. Disability advocates supported the measure as a needed civil-rights update, while business groups warned it could increase liability and create unclear compliance obligations. The bill passed 9-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2721 by Assemblymember Carrillo would require hotels to post notice when they know or should know that U.S. Customs and Border Protection or ICE are using the premises, with supporters saying workers and guests deserve transparency and safety. Hotel and business groups opposed it, citing privacy, liability, and concerns about interfering with federal operations. The committee voted 6-2 to pass the bill to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2027 by Assemblymember Ward would restrict employers from using worker data to train AI systems that replace workers and limit sharing of worker data for automation; labor groups supported it and business and public-sector groups opposed it as too broad. The bill passed 7-2 to Appropriations, with the roll left open. The committee also heard AB 1837 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, which would extend and tighten privacy rules for transit agencies’ use of forward-facing cameras to enforce bus-lane violations; supporters said the cameras improve transit flow and safety, and the bill was presented with amendments, though no final vote is reflected in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our members include developers, architects, attorneys, and labor partners who build housing across California
• You can build all the housing in the state of California, but if we don't create the programs and create
• Building on the senator's comments, California relies on a self-enforcing HOA model.
• These standards directly impact the quality and durability of the housing we are building.
• Audrey Ritechak, on behalf of the California Building Industry Association, echoing those concerns and

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Ben Turner with Axiom Advisors on behalf of the California Building Industry Association.
• Don Keppke, on behalf of the Green Building Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ANSI standards developer
• used for a state-level building could help it become more prevalent in California.
• So again, it doesn't meet California standards for these facilities, but at least meets federal standards
• So again, doesn't meet California standards for these facilities, but at least meets federal standards

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several energy, environmental, and consumer protection bills while operating at times without a quorum. Senator McNerney presented SB 925, which would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy, and SB 1350, which would expand the use of green hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using hydrogen. Supporters said both bills would help California maintain leadership in emerging clean-energy industries, attract investment, and create jobs. Opponents of SB 1350 raised concerns about greenwashing, resource shuffling, and increased NOx emissions from hydrogen combustion, while supporters said committee amendments added guardrails against those outcomes. Senator Ashby presented SB 1010, a manufacturer-funded extended producer responsibility program for refrigerants in appliances; supporters said it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve recovery, while opponents argued existing laws already regulate refrigerants and that the bill could raise costs and disrupt recycling markets. Senator Grayson presented SB 1145 to streamline CEQA and federal reuse procedures for qualifying projects in the Concord Reuse Project Area, which supporters said would help deliver long-planned housing, jobs, and open space, while one housing group sought stronger affordable-housing guarantees. Senator Cabaldon presented SB 1341, which would give CalRecycle authority to reduce processing fees for wine and spirits bag-in-a-box containers when fee collections exceed program needs; supporters said the current fee increase was abrupt and excessive, while opponents warned against giving the agency too much discretion. Senator Padilla presented SGR 13, urging the U.S. to secure enforceable commitments to eliminate transboundary sewage pollution in the Tijuana and New River watersheds during the 2026 USMCA review, and SB 1033, which would require testing and disclosure of heavy metals in protein products; SGR 13 drew strong support from border and environmental justice advocates, while SB 1033 drew support from consumer and health groups and opposition from industry groups concerned about labeling burdens and scope. Senator Caballero presented SB 1183, requiring a state study of the environmental, land-use, and economic impacts of industrial solar in the Central Valley; farm and land-use advocates supported the bill, while solar industry groups opposed unless amended, saying it should better reflect solar’s benefits and existing state analysis. After testimony, the committee took roll and adopted several measures on a 4-0 or 3-0 basis, with bills including SJR 13, SB 925, SB 1350, SB 1145, SB 1341, SB 1033, and SB 1010 advanced on call to Appropriations or, in the case of SB 1010, already voted with a 3-1 result before being held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, California has a minimum indoor temperature standard to protect people from the cold, yet
• So this would actually be Water, food, other types of services, anywhere in California code.
• And that compassion is killing California because it doesn't come with standards.
• It means it is time to raise the standard here in California because it is not working.
• Kareem Dresi, on behalf of the California Building Industry Association, we align our comments with those

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills, with most of the discussion centered on SB 655, which would establish a state policy that residential units should be able to maintain a safe maximum indoor temperature. The author and supporters argued the bill responds to deadly extreme heat, especially in older and lower-income homes, while members raised concerns about grid impacts, regional differences, and the lack of a specific temperature threshold. The committee ultimately approved SB 655 on a vote of 8-0, and the consent calendar bills SB 484, SB 489, SB 686, and SB 724 also passed unanimously. The committee also heard SB 634, which would prohibit state and local governments from banning or penalizing organizations that provide basic survival services to unhoused people. Supporters described cases where service providers faced fines, arrests, or prosecution for offering food, water, blankets, or other aid, and argued criminalization worsens homelessness. Opponents from several cities and counties said local governments need flexibility to manage public spaces and homelessness responses. The bill passed 8-2. SB 772, which would revise the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program to better support walkable, climate-resilient infill housing, was presented as a way to expand infrastructure funding for housing and mixed-use development. Supporters said it would help make more housing feasible and add resilience features such as stormwater parks, levees, and wetland restoration. The committee approved the bill 8-2. Later, SB 838, which would exclude transient lodging from housing streamlining laws under the Housing Accountability Act, drew support from housing and labor advocates who said the laws should be used for homes, not hotels, and opposition from realtors and builders who warned it could limit mixed-use financing and local development options. The committee passed SB 838 8-2 and adjourned after taking up remaining votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a standard procedure, let me read our standard statement.
• I was not aware that it was part of California Ed Code and most teachers are not.
• California and strong support.
• California lacks a comprehensive standardized approach to preventing abuse in K through 12 schools.
• I'm the Executive Director of the California State University. California EDGE Coalition.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 262, as stated, would create the California Individual Assistance Act under the California Office
• of California in support.
• We used to have whole cities burned down because building codes allowed buildings to be built right next
• It should be standard practice.
• Furthermore, Public Resources Code Section 25520 requires an application to the California Energy Commission

Summary: The Emergency Management Committee met to adopt its rules and hear a series of disaster- and public safety-related bills. Several measures were placed on consent and approved, including bills sending items to Appropriations, Natural Resources, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. AB 262, by Assembly Member Caloza, proposed a California Individual Assistance Act to create a state grant program for disaster-related costs when federal aid is unavailable; supporters cited Rio Dell’s earthquake recovery as an example, while some members raised concerns about eligibility, cost, and whether the bill could aid undocumented residents. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote. AB 549, by Assembly Member Gabriel, would create an interagency coordination framework for major sporting events such as the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics, with supporters emphasizing public safety and anti-trafficking planning. An opposition witness argued the bill could be used to justify prostitution arrests and misuse trafficking funds, but the committee members largely supported the coordination concept, and the bill passed 6-0 to Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism. AB 270, by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris, would establish a three-year pilot for autonomous aerial firefighting helicopters overseen by the Orange County Fire Authority; supporters described it as a way to extend wildfire response into conditions where crewed aircraft are limited, and the bill passed 6-0 to Privacy and Consumer Protection. Later, AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, sought to require Ventura County water districts in high fire-risk areas to top off tanks during red flag warnings, maintain backup generators, and harden critical water infrastructure. Water agencies opposed the bill unless amended, citing cost, flexibility, and liability concerns, while the author argued the requirements were necessary after failures during the Thomas Fire; it passed 6-1 to Utilities and Energy. AB 615, by Assembly Member Davies, required emergency response plans to be submitted with initial applications for battery energy storage and other energy facilities and to be reviewed with local responders; it passed 7-0 to Utilities and Energy. AB 1075, concerning privately contracted firefighters, also passed on consent to Natural Resources. Finally, AB 1143, by Assembly Member Bennett, would create a voluntary statewide home hardening certification program through the State Fire Marshal; supporters called it a best-practices approach to reduce wildfire losses and insurance risk, and it passed to Natural Resources. The committee then completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned after all bills were moved out.