Transcript Highlights:

• Any primary witnesses in support? Any additional folks in support?
• I'm in support of SB 509. Amandip Singh, in support of SB 509.
• I supported SB 509. Thank you. I supported SB 509. Thank you.
• I support SB 509. Satbal Singh, Tadlaka, I support SB 509. I support SB 509.
• I support SB 509.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on August 20, 2025, and considered a large number of bills, with most of the discussion centered on election redistricting and several health, labor, environmental, and government-operations measures. The first major item was ACA 8, a constitutional amendment tied to a proposed November special election and temporary mid-decade congressional redistricting in response to partisan redistricting efforts in other states. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a 2020 redistricting commissioner, labor groups, and allies of the measure, argued it was necessary to defend democracy, protect representation, and respond to federal actions affecting California. Opponents, including Assemblymember Tom Lackey reading a statement for Assemblymember Gallagher and Assemblymember Dixon, argued the measure would undermine the independent redistricting commission, amount to a partisan power grab, and cost taxpayers roughly $230 million. Committee members also focused heavily on fiscal questions, including litigation costs and county election funding, and Department of Finance staff said counties would be made whole and funding would be advanced. The committee ultimately voted the measure out on a B roll call. The committee then heard SB 280, the implementing bill for the special election and related redistricting process. Supporters repeated the argument that California needed to respond to Texas and other states, while opponents again emphasized the cost, the strain on county budgets, and the state’s broader fiscal pressures. Department of Finance witnesses said the election funding would be provided in advance and that the state would work with counties and the Secretary of State. The bill was moved out on a roll call after extended debate. The committee also advanced several other bills, including SB 283 on battery storage safety standards, SB 470 extending remote participation and open-meeting flexibility for state boards and commissions, SB 697 modernizing stream adjudication procedures, SB 513 requiring more accessible employee training records, SB 30 restricting transfer of older diesel locomotives, SB 841 and SB 81 creating protections for vulnerable facilities and health care spaces from immigration enforcement, SB 358 revising traffic impact fee standards, and SB 630 streamlining state parks land acquisitions. Other measures discussed included SB 62 expanding health coverage benefits, SB 68 requiring restaurant allergen disclosures, and the committee heard both support and opposition on SB 68 from the California Restaurant Association and consumer advocates. Supporters of the health and immigrant-protection bills emphasized patient safety, reproductive health, immigrant rights, and access to care, while opponents on the restaurant bill warned of added mandates and litigation risk for small businesses. Across the hearing, committee members frequently returned to fiscal impacts, county implementation burdens, and whether the bills would save money, cost money, or shift costs to local governments. Several bills were reported out of committee, often on A or B roll calls, with some members not voting on particular measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• A portion of this program was intended to be supported by fees.
• I'm here to request your support, and thank you, Senator Cabaldon, for expressing your support already
• I'm here to thank you for your support and ask for your continued support to ensure that the California
• But I'm here to thank you for your support and ask for your continued support to ensure that the California
• And we support their efforts to try to address that problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support of those vital communities. support of those vital communities.
• </c> colleagues to support HR6387. colleagues to support HR6387.
• </c> housing, food, education, and health. housing, food, education, and health.
• Cut food to Cut health care to fund war. Cut food to fund<06:45:03.840><c> war.
• From food to gas to rent. expensive. From food to gas to rent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, John Garcia, Um, I'm in support of this bill. Um, and Um, I'm in support of this bill.
• Dwayne Bautista in support. Mel Cahel in support. Shila Maderas in opposition.
• Michael Older in support. There are four others also in support.
• trucks</c><00:10:51.600><c> um</c> example, food booths and food trucks um example, food booths and food
• </c> testifying in strong support. testifying in strong support. Thank<00:38:22.160><c> you.

Committee: Senate Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs briefly met and adjourned after noting that GM 574, a nomination on its agenda, had been withdrawn, leaving the committee with no business to consider. A separate joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Hawaiian Affairs then took up HCR 192, a resolution to convene a tourism and gaming working group. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Nation of Hawaii, and CARES, said the measure would allow Hawaiians to have a seat at the table, learn from Native nations with gaming experience, and make informed decisions about whether and how gaming should be approached. Some supporters emphasized that the working group was about research and self-determination, not immediate legalization, and suggested the state should focus on broader economic development options as well. Opponents, including the Honolulu prosecuting attorney and several community members and faith leaders, warned that gambling would increase addiction, crime, family breakdown, debt, and exploitation of low-income and vulnerable residents. They argued that online sports betting and other forms of gaming would be especially harmful, with some citing examples from other states and concerns about problem gambling, domestic violence, and illegal activity. Committee members questioned witnesses about the purpose of the working group and whether it could provide enough data to make an informed decision, while supporters and opponents alike acknowledged the need for Hawaiians to be involved in any future discussion. No vote or final action on HCR 192 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• for your support as well.
• Are there any other witnesses in support? I would like to show their support.
• support.
• I support.
• I'm happy to be a labor supporter, always very happy to support our teachers.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• I've always said food security is national security, and I'm very interested in that.
• The biggest asks are for staff and money to support the agency's needs.
• Consumer protection is the other, and food and nutrition would be the third one.
• We support area food banks.
• So we've got good global partners that kind of keep the food supply moving.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Uh largely it's been supported Uh largely it's been supported bipartisanly<00:05:06.400><c> by</
• Uh uh I'm I welcomed bipartisan support.
• We don't want to see milk and food thrown away.
• We don't want to see milk and food thrown away.
• </c><00:08:58.320><c> thrown</c> don't want to see milk and food thrown don't want to see milk and food

Transcript Highlights:

• We support this bill. Okay, let's go online. We'll take two in support. One minute.
• To support this bill.
• Today, I'm here in support of HB 459 as a representative of Agricultura Network and the New Mexico Food
• We are in full support of this bill, including our sponsors from the Agriculture and Food Policy Council
• We transport a lot of food around, but we won't have any food without pollinators.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Appreciate testimony. this is and uh how it supports water use this is and uh how it supports water use
• </c> and we're not aware of any pet food and we're not aware of any pet food products<00:36:18.240><c
• food and pet food as regulating human food and pet food as well,<00:36:34.079><c> if</c><00:36:34.400
• That said, we support there being a That said, we support there being a study<01:03:54.720><c> on</c>
• I we've got support right now. going. I we've got support right now.

Bills: SF0050 , SF0068 , SF0084 , HB0087 , HB0029 , HB0061 , HB0090

Committee: House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Those in support will rise. Division 1. Ayes, those in support will rise. Division 1. Zero.
• farms, agricultural conservation, and the Mass Food to Farm Project and the Mass Food Trust Program.
• farms, agricultural conservation, and the Mass Food to Farm Project and the Mass Food Trust Program.
• The Mass Food Trust Program.
• The FY27 budget makes strides to combat food insecurity with increased funding for MEAP emergency food

Transcript Highlights:

• Please hold them close and the staff that support them.
• ><c> them,</c><00:02:28.800><c> guide,</c><00:02:29.120><c> direct</c> staff that support them, guide
• , direct staff that support them, guide, direct them<00:02:30.080><c> uh</c><00:02:30.160><c> to</c><
• food as medicine initiatives.
• as</c> state agencies to advance food as state agencies to advance food as medicine<00:11:46.480><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• So, please support this request and please support St. Paul students. Thank you. dark.
• </c> there's no food options like anywhere. there's no food options like anywhere.
• :20:29.200><c> please</c><00:20:29.600><c> support</c> support this request and please support support
• She's now working for food science.
• ><c> science</c> science competitions, food science science competitions, food science competitions.<

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support they desperately need. support they desperately need.
• <00:15:40.800><c> workforce</c><00:15:41.440><c> development</c> support workforce development support
• And I think that is from food.
• Food is medicine, Mr.
• I just urge strong support support support of<02:50:31.680><c> HR5143.</c> of HR5143. of HR5143.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were supportive of this bill.
• It has the support of HHS, the Hospital Association, and It has the support of HHS, the Hospital Association
• Again, there's a pretty wide group of supporters originally in support of LB 1187 at the committee hearing
• want to support.
• Certainly, I think having a healthy lunch is more important than just having junk food, and so I support

Bills: LB878 , LB958 , LB958A , LB762 , LB1187 , LB966 , LB929 , LB962 , LB1209 , LB937A , LB962A , LB1050 , LB1050A , LB965 , LB1022 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LR293 , LR296 , LR422 , LR495 , LR496 , LR497 , LR498 , LR499 , LR500 , LR501 , LR502 , LR503 , LR504

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> where they can have a virtual food bank. where they can have a virtual food bank.
• I support the Senate Chair Fate. I support the Senate position. position. position.
• So we're supportive of this.
• We're supportive of supportive of this.
• We certainly support this.

Summary: The committee first took up a series of “same and similar” provisions between the House and Senate higher education bills and adopted them one by one, with brief explanations from members and staff. The items included a cybersecurity addition for a doctoral degree program, Northstar Promise definitions and eligibility limits, self-loan provisions on institution eligibility and data disclosure, and dual training language requiring certificates, diplomas, or degrees to come from accredited postsecondary institutions. The committee also adopted an amendment to the private career school provisions that clarified exempt institutions remain within the act, and removed certain limited-license and renewal fees for institutions participating in dual training grants or the eligible training provider list. Each of these motions prevailed by voice vote. The committee then moved into policy differences between the House and Senate bills, beginning with emergency grants and hunger-free campus grants. Members discussed shifting funding from OHE-administered competitive grants to direct appropriations for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State, while the Senate retained competitive grant access for private and tribal colleges and added reporting requirements. OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson said the added reporting would be an extra administrative task but raised no significant concerns. Testifiers from the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State, and the private college sector supported faster, more direct funding and described the grants as important for emergency housing, transportation, food insecurity, and other student basic needs. A LeadMN representative also supported the changes, saying campus staff and students wanted funds delivered more quickly. The committee also discussed direct admissions on R31. The Senate proposal would require public and charter high schools to participate in the direct admissions program by the 2029-2030 school year. Assistant Commissioner Wendy Robinson said OHE supports statewide expansion and that the program has improved FAFSA completion, college enrollment, and student retention in Minnesota. Members noted the bill had bipartisan support and heard from advocates such as Ed Allies and Students United. No votes were taken on the policy-difference items during this portion of the meeting, and the chair said further discussion of state grant and sexual misconduct policy differences would be held at a later hearing with additional OHE staff present.

Transcript Highlights:

• I encourage my colleagues to support it. Perfect. Any questions for the bill sponsor?
• to help stop deficiencies and so what that's why it says the WIC foods plus then it adds these foods
• This is something that's gained bipartisan support.
• This is something that's gained bipartisan support.
• This is something that's gained by partisan support.

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do support this bill.
• I stand here today in support of H-554.
• I am speaking in support of H-554. I am also from Gem County. I am speaking in support of H-554.
• We moved there to be able to raise our own food and produce our own food. And...
• , produce our own food.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• a support position with the committee.
• In support, on behalf of the Planning and Conservation League, also ask to register support on behalf
• Thank you, in support. Molly Colton, Sierra Club California, in support. Thank you.
• Medical Association in support.
• Chair, I came late for my support.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support HR 1736. support HR 1736.
• </c> support HR2259. support HR2259.
• </c> support HR 4070. support HR 4070.
• </c> to support HR 4071. to support HR 4071.
• </c> strong support of HR6019. strong support of HR6019.

Transcript Highlights:

• The MVMA fully supports the legal use of technology in practice to support patients and the people who
• The markup on food and the margin on food is just not enough.
• The markup on food and the margin on food is just not enough. And so this is something.
• The markup on food and the margin on food is just not enough.
• updates and technical support.

Bills: S3082 , S3090 , H5425 , H5130 , H5114

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on late-filed bills, with testimony heard both in person and remotely. The committee reviewed several measures, including H. 355 and S. 3082 on veterinary telemedicine/telehealth, H. 5445 on additional liquor licenses for East Hampton, and S. 3090/H. 5114 on consumer-connected devices and software support disclosure. The chair outlined hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and written testimony submission, and noted that Lawrence High School students were present to observe. On the veterinary bills, supporters of H. 355 argued that allowing veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship remotely would improve access to care for pets whose owners face transportation, mobility, or anxiety-related barriers, and could help veterinarians continue practicing through telemedicine. Opponents of S. 3082, including the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and several veterinarians, said the initial in-person exam is essential to detect conditions that cannot be seen on video, avoid misdiagnosis, and preserve the standard of care; they emphasized that teletriage and follow-up telemedicine are already used after an in-person relationship is established. Committee members pressed both sides on the distinction between teletriage and establishing the relationship, the timing of annual exams, and whether limited exceptions for sedatives or other pre-visit needs might be workable. Senator Lovely testified in support, citing a recent Lyme case where follow-up telemedicine would have been useful. On H. 5445, Representative Gomez and East Hampton Mayor Salem Derby urged approval of the bill to authorize eight additional liquor licenses, saying the city has reached its current cap, needs economic development, and wants to support downtown revitalization and new restaurant growth. Members asked about public safety and the number of licenses sought; the mayor said local public safety officials support the request and that the licenses would be for restaurants, not bars. On S. 3090 and H. 5114, consumer advocates and cybersecurity experts supported requiring manufacturers of connected devices to disclose software support timelines, arguing it would improve consumer transparency, cybersecurity, and reduce e-waste. Industry groups opposed the bills, saying fixed disclosure requirements could be impractical, create confusion, burden small businesses, conflict with federal efforts, and be difficult to apply to appliances, lighting, and other products with long lifecycles. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the bills during the hearing; at the end, staff announced a forthcoming poll for House members, and the committee voted to adjourn.