Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate uh the input hard work.
• of input from teachers, secretaries,<00:41:36.319><c> principles.
• It's hard to coordinate the data systems. You do memory of agreements.
• You do to coordinate the data systems.
• And then you can do comprehensive evaluation to improve those data systems.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• He said county input is advisory and not controlling.
• County input is advisory and not controlling.
• Do you see some county or municipality actually input?
• Do we have that data? have on appraisal value of a neighboring property. Do we have that data?
• Sure, and I don't have the data here.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• “We have the transparency around emissions data.
• New regulations, new frameworks to deal with these emerging waste streams.
• So that's a bit of knowledge and data that we are taking in.
• Do we have data to keep track of these SETs?
• Those data sets are available. Both the Air District and U.S.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everyone received more input.
• Nothing in this section is added regulation.
• All is previously... ...this section is added regulation.
• There are no changes related to any federal rule or regulation.
• With the annual data reporting requirements.

Summary: The committee first approved the December 3 minutes, then heard a request from the Board of Clinical Laboratory Practice to amend its proposed rule on exempt test methods to add certain closed-system DNA/RNA tests, including rhinovirus. After testimony explaining that the board had considered late comments from BioMérieux and wanted the rule record to reflect that review, the committee agreed to a limited amendment and passed the motion unanimously. The Department of Agriculture then outlined broad rule updates affecting dairy, eggs, poultry, pesticides, animal health, environmental mitigation, and the Egg Product Utilization Commission. The commissioner said the changes mostly clarified existing requirements, updated references, and reduced some burdens, such as easing dairy hauler training/licensing timing and clarifying out-of-state grade A milk language. Members asked about dairy industry decline, the APUC scoring system, and the rationale for the milk-hauler and out-of-state milk provisions. The State Board of Dental Examiners presented extensive rule changes tied to recent legislation and workforce issues, including a new professional health program for dentists, expanded duties for assistants and hygienists, broader local anesthetic authority for hygienists, and fee increases to fund the program and cover administrative costs. Testimony from Dr. Edward May strongly supported the professional health program based on his own recovery experience. The committee also heard from Game and Fish on rules easing some guide/outfitter experience requirements, allowing electronic exams, and modifying boating safety equipment rules, with no public comment and no fiscal impact. Later, Health and Human Services received approval for an extension to update tattoo/body art rules and a separate motion to repeal an obsolete nurse aide training chapter. HHS also described nursing facility rule updates, lodging sanitation revisions, and related clarifications on licensing, safety, pest control, and fire requirements. The Department of Environmental Quality received an extension for septic-system installer rules, and also presented rules for above-ground storage tanks and water/wastewater operator certification, including new fees and third-party testing options. The Industrial Commission’s oil and gas division described multiple rule changes, some withdrawn after comments, including drilling unit flexibility, site stability, wildfire authority, and streamlined transport/reporting procedures. Finally, DPI began presenting several rule packages, including school construction loan limits, school bus standards, cooperative agreements, special education rules for public charter schools, and new math curriculum and intervention requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. ...border-to-border route, which they had to request from data practices.
• The community was informed of a proposed bike trail to get their input.
• The community was informed of a proposed bike trail to get their input.
• Regular updates and get their input.
• ,</c><00:35:13.280><c> how</c> we the state enacts regulations, how we the state enacts regulations,

Summary: The committee heard House File 1012, as amended by the A1 amendment, and the author moved the bill to be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill. The amendment, adopted on a voice vote, changed the timing for public input in trail planning, removed language on decommissioning trails, and combined the measure with another ATV-fee bill. The author said the bill would unify ATV trail signage policy statewide, align statute with DNR best practices, and not affect the forest trail inventory, existing ATV-accessible miles, or hunting exemptions. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives of the Minnesota Public Lands Coalition, tribal officials from the Max Band and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, a retired DNR conservation officer, a retired wildlife manager, and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, argued the bill would better protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, and culturally significant areas, improve transparency and tribal consultation, and make trail planning and enforcement more workable. The EQB said the amended bill’s rulemaking timeline was more workable, and the DNR described its existing multi-step trail review and consultation process. Opponents, including ATV Minnesota, county commissioners from northern counties, and a representative of the Minnesota Trappers Association, argued the bill would burden or restrict existing trail systems, increase costs, and threaten tourism and local economies. They said current trail development already involves DNR and local review, and that the bill could reduce access for riders, trappers, and other users. In member questions, the author and a Minnesota Association of Townships representative said the bill was intended to codify DNR best practices and bring local governments into the process earlier, while confirming that hunting exemptions were not removed.

Transcript Highlights:

• DFPI regulates a wide variety of financial services and professionals, working to protect consumers in
• the marketplace through effective supervision and regulation.
• The Business Consumer Services Agency will contain our departments that regulate some of California's
• now have our data system that is able to track that data and hold our communities accountable for continuing
• On the regulations, one of our calls... Appreciate that.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on Governor Newsom’s 2025 reorganization plan to split the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two new agencies: a Business and Consumer Services Agency and a California Housing and Homelessness Agency. Secretary Tamika Moss and department leaders from Consumer Affairs, Cannabis Control, DFPI, and Alcoholic Beverage Control said the business-side reorganization would sharpen consumer protection and regulatory oversight without increasing licensee fees or office-space needs. Members generally supported the concept, but several raised concerns about the timing relative to the budget process, the May Revision, and whether the new structure would add costs or disrupt legal and regulatory work. Public commenters from industry groups largely supported the business-side proposal. The second half of the hearing examined the proposed Housing and Homelessness Agency and a new Housing Development and Finance Committee intended to streamline affordable housing funding. Moss, HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez, and CalHFA’s Rebecca Franklin argued the reorganization would reduce fragmentation, speed approvals, improve compliance and asset management, and better coordinate housing, homelessness, and civil rights functions. They said CalHFA’s statutory and financial independence would remain intact, that the proposal would not affect existing homelessness programs administered by HCD, and that the plan would be phased in over several years, with the new agencies and committee expected to become operational by July 2026. Members pressed on whether the plan would truly create a one-stop shop, how it would interact with tax credits and bonds outside the Governor’s control, whether it would include a single application and unified inspections, and how it would address Los Angeles homelessness oversight and federal uncertainties such as tariffs and Section 8 changes. Developer witnesses strongly backed the housing proposal, describing the current system as slow, opaque, and costly. Margaret Miller of the John Stewart Company and Jeffrey Morgan of CHISPA gave examples of projects delayed or lost because multiple funding sources required separate applications, awards, and closings; both said a cabinet-level housing secretary and a consolidated funding process could save time and money and produce more units. Public advocates including Housing California, the California Housing Partnership, and the California Housing Consortium supported the concept but stressed that success would depend on implementation, adequate funding, transparency, and broader coordination with tax credit and bond programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and the committees heard testimony and questions on the proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• The publication is shaped by extensive input from feed manufacturers, distributors, regulators, and researchers
• Like AAFCO, it is developed with input from manufacturers and distributors.
• That makes up 68% of the total for the first time since this data series began in 1924.
• And then there is a regulated stocks-to-use ratio at the federal level.
• And somehow that ratio was not regulated to the degree it should have been.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the transparency around emissions data.”
• The first is updating our regulations to reflect the changes that are in 279.
• Us to consolidate reporting systems, and that would help our data intake.
• So that's a bit of knowledge and data that we are taking in.
• Do we have data to keep track of these SETs?

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard budget overviews and several budget change proposals from CalRecycle, CalEPA, and DTSC. CalRecycle outlined its proposed 2026-27 budget of 987 positions and $1.9 billion, and members focused on edible food recovery funding under SB 1383, beverage container recycling fees and infrastructure under SB 1013, plastic packaging reduction under SB 54, and composting implementation under SB 279. CalRecycle said edible food recovery has recovered more than 300 million meals but lacks ongoing funding, explained that beverage container processing fees are set by statute and reflect higher recycling costs for difficult-to-recycle materials, and noted that SB 54 implementation will include a pollution prevention mitigation fund for legacy plastic cleanup. The committee also discussed the need for more composting capacity and the role of volunteer cleanup groups, while public commenters urged continued funding for food recovery, composting, and landfill response. CalEPA presented its department overview and a proposal to strengthen landfill response and enforcement, emphasizing climate, air quality, water, and cleanup priorities. Secretary Garcia described the agency’s work on methane monitoring, toxics reduction, drinking water compliance, Exide cleanup, pesticide alternatives, and implementation of AB 617, while also noting the agency’s response to federal rollbacks. Members pressed CalEPA on landfill fires and subsurface elevated temperature events, especially at Chiquita Canyon, asking about authority, scientific resources, and when intervention should occur. CalEPA said it has authority to respond but needs more coordinated technical and enforcement capacity, and later presented a $5.1 million, 12-position multi-agency proposal involving CalEPA, CalRecycle, DTSC, and the Water Board to address current landfill events and improve future prevention and response. DTSC and the Board of Environmental Safety presented several proposals tied to reform implementation, hazardous waste oversight, and emerging waste streams. DTSC reported progress in clearing its permit backlog, advancing safer consumer products regulations, and continuing Exide cleanup, while seeking additional resources for cost recovery and enforcement, PFAS work, recycling infrastructure for solar panels and lithium batteries, and a new statewide planning division to implement the hazardous waste management plan and consolidate reporting systems. The Board of Environmental Safety described its oversight role, public meetings, permit appeals process, and fee-setting authority, and said its priorities include permit appeals, hazardous waste plan oversight, and performance metrics. Members questioned whether DTSC was creating too many new subdivisions, but the department said the new structure is needed to handle growing workload and modernize regulation. Public testimony generally supported the landfill proposal, DTSC consumer product enforcement, water board staffing, and continued funding for food recovery and composting programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we know from data in Kentucky, the most recent data available to us, the 2024-2025 school year, we
• </c> And we do have uh some supplemental data And we do have uh some supplemental data uh<00:15:56.480
• ,</c> we're excited about is some of the data, we're excited about is some of the data, um,<00:26:32.240
• Uh, that's the regulation in question. I'm going to start with that particular regulation.
• </c> regulation until next month say I. regulation until next month say I.

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• KSP will be the agency responsible for inputting it.
• KSP will be the agency responsible for inputting it.
• KSP will be the agency responsible for inputting it.
• </c><00:21:14.480><c> This</c> national data database. Nothing. This national data database.
• This is simply referring it to get inputted into the national database. additional rules or regulations

Committee: Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephanie Chan, and I am the Director of Data and Research for Stop AAPI Hate.
• And this data still just represents the tip of the iceberg.
• Let me be clear: you cannot regulate what you cannot define.
• Let me be clear, you cannot regulate what you cannot define.
• So having employee input is critical.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the transparency around emissions data.
• The first is updating our regulations to reflect the changes that are in 279.
• ... ...us to consolidate reporting systems, and that would help our data intake.
• So that's a bit of knowledge and data that we are taking in.
• Do we have data to keep track of these SETs?

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard department budget overviews and several budget change proposals from CalRecycle, CalEPA, and DTSC. CalRecycle presented its 2026-27 budget and discussed priorities including edible food recovery, composting, beverage container recycling, and landfill response. Members asked about funding for food recovery grants, processing fees for wine and spirits containers under SB 1013, plastic packaging generation under SB 54, restaurant food waste requirements under SB 1383, and litter cleanup efforts. CalRecycle said edible food recovery has helped recover more than 300 million meals, but there is no sustained funding source; it also explained that beverage container processing fees are set by statute and that new producer responsibility and infrastructure investments are intended to improve recycling rates over time. The committee then heard CalEPA’s overview, including the agency’s response to climate, air quality, water, toxics, and enforcement challenges. Secretary Garcia emphasized federal rollbacks, methane monitoring, AB 617 implementation, safe drinking water progress, Exide cleanup, and pesticide reduction efforts. Members questioned the agency about regional gasoline blends, authority and technical thresholds for landfill intervention, and the growth in the Secretary’s office staffing and budget. CalEPA said the budget increase reflects expanded coordination, technology modernization, hazardous materials response, and legal capacity. The committee also discussed a proposed landfill support, response, and enforcement package for subsurface elevated temperature events, with CalEPA describing a coordinated multi-agency approach and the need for stronger early response tools. DTSC presented its department overview and several BCPs. Director Butler highlighted progress on permit backlog reduction, safer consumer products rulemaking, Exide cleanup, PFAS work, and planning for emerging waste streams such as solar panels and lithium batteries. The Board of Environmental Safety described its oversight role, public meetings, permit appeals, and fee-setting authority, and identified community concerns about cumulative impacts, hazardous waste planning, accessible data, and engagement. The committee also heard a proposal to expand DTSC’s Office of Policy into a statewide planning division to implement hazardous waste management plan recommendations and improve reporting systems. Members raised concerns about whether the new division duplicated existing work, but DTSC said it would fill identified gaps and improve coordination. Public testimony largely supported the proposals, especially ongoing funding for edible food recovery, composting, safer consumer products enforcement, and the coordinated landfill response package. Witnesses from StopWaste, California Against Waste, Waste Management, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, and water advocacy groups urged continued or increased funding for these programs. No votes were taken; the chair held all items open and adjourned the hearing after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3 is from the agency's budget bill, and this section specifies data classifications for pieces
• of data from under the Great Start Compensation Payments Program.
• Sources being spent on one more regulatory item in an already very highly regulated environment.
• data has.
• Now, some specific input on provisions that are moving forward.

Bills: HF2436

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just going to provide some brief remarks and some data, some contextual remarks and data around enrollment
• with new language based on extensive input.
• So that is part of our CCDF regulations, not Health and Safety Code.
• So that is part of our CCDF regulations, not Health and Safety Code.
• That's compatible with existing data systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I'm looking at data, sir, and the data says it's not what you want.
• We've asked for a lot of input and we've had hearing on that. We've collected comments.
• We haven't seen the data on that yet.
• And the EU's new deforestation regulation is a great example of this.
• world, global trade policy, without any input from the United States Congress.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: tariffs, Trump administration, economy, public testimony, trade policy, market access, export controls

Summary: The meeting focused on various significant topics concerning the recent tariff policies and their wide-ranging implications on the American economy. Members expressed their concerns regarding the negative impact of increased tariffs as proposed by the Trump administration, with specific emphasis on how families might suffer from higher costs and market access issues. The discussion was lively, with members questioning the clarity of the tariff plan and raising concerns about its potential effects on small businesses and American exports.

Transcript Highlights:

• They like that the data collected goes to make management decisions and other regulatory decisions.
• They like that the data collected goes to make management decisions and other regulatory decisions.
• And across the data sets, every metric shows that millions of Californians lack nature access.
• , leveraging data, leveraging... ...natural resource agency all toward the one goal of leveraging data
• I represent the Morongo Basin residents for reasonable Western Joshua Tree regulations.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Transcript Highlights:

• The final area I'll be discussing is data accessibility.
• It seems like we're missing a lot of input.
• for data-driven regulation.
• However, we have improved our ability to track and trace the data and process the data in a much more
• They released so much data.

Summary: JLARC met on December 3, 2025, with a quorum present and approved the September 17 minutes. The committee first voted to suspend the 2026 lodging tax expenditure report for one year, citing the report’s self-reported nature, limited use, and the availability of State Auditor accountability audits; members also discussed introducing legislation to remove the biennial report from statute. JLARC then approved renaming its I-900 subcommittee to the “Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits,” while keeping the opening script that explains the committee’s work stems from Initiative 900. The committee then heard follow-up presentations on the Department of Health’s hospital oversight audit and the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s cannabis market study. JLARC staff reiterated that DOH was late on most hospital inspections, could not verify third-party inspection standards, did not review adverse event reports, and had limited public accessibility for hospital data. DOH presented a draft strategic management plan with goals to improve inspection timeliness, accreditation oversight, complaint access in preferred languages, adverse event analysis, and data reporting; it said it had improved on-time inspections from 28% to 49% and planned updates in 2026, but members pressed for firmer deadlines and expressed concern that language-access improvements could take too long. LCB staff said its current cannabis tracking system remains limited because it is self-reported, but the agency has improved processing and is seeking about $9 million over two biennia for a new traceability system; members asked about plant tagging, staffing, and whether the system would improve revenue and oversight. JLARC staff also briefed the committee on follow-up tools for tracking audit recommendations, including a new “resolved/not yet resolved” framework and improved web dashboards and landing pages. The committee then received the annual public records reporting summary, which showed 236 of more than 2,300 agencies reported, with about 484,000 requests received, 465,000 closed, and $127 million spent fulfilling requests; staff said they are working with OFM and others to simplify some reporting guidance for 2025. Finally, the committee adopted the proposed final report on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which found OPDP meets statutory responsibilities but should have its mandate updated and its performance measures better tied to outcomes. The meeting ended with the start of the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering several preferences including natural gas transportation fuel, travel agents and tour operators, nonprofit low-income housing development, multi-purpose senior centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, and several agricultural-related preferences; staff summarized whether each preference met its objective and noted where the Citizens Commission on Tax Preferences endorsed or commented on JLARC’s recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need input at all levels.
• We need input at all levels.
• We need input at all levels.
• And they don't regulate people in the sense that a medical licensure board regulates them.
• And they don't regulate people in the sense that a medical licensure board regulates them.

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Mr Cooper, do you think that input from federal unions is important?
• the laws and regulations are followed.
• Scott, there was a massive data breach at OPM a decade ago.
• You work with data for a long time. You've done a lot of great work on that.
• privacy and data protection.

Committee: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Keywords: nominations, Scott Cooper, Eric Ulan, federal workforce, Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, accountability, collective bargaining

Summary: The committee convened to discuss the nominations of Scott Cooper for Director of the Office of Personnel Management and Eric Ulan for Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget. This meeting highlighted the critical roles both positions play in managing the federal workforce, which comprises over two million civilian employees. Concerns were raised regarding the current administration's approach to federal employment, citing issues like mass firings and the undermining of collective bargaining rights. Members expressed the need for better accountability and transparency within the federal system, emphasizing the importance of attracting talented public servants.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not regulate imports, pricing, sourcing decisions, or blending practices.
• I mean— —costs, inputs, labor costs, I mean, they're through the roof.
• As data has shown, repeat offenders continue to drive illegally.
• There's lots of data out there.
• And if we're going to do something like this, I think we need to look at the data.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with extensive testimony and debate. AB 2507 by Assembly Member Wynn would strengthen state consultation with federally recognized tribal governments by requiring clearer tribal liaison roles, a tribal advisory committee, and more consistent early engagement across agencies. Support came from Wilton Rancheria and the California Tribal Business Alliance, with members praising the bill as improving respect, coordination, and outcomes for tribes. AB 2024, also by Wynn, would require the Outdoor Advertising Act permitting process to reach a determination on submitted applications, aimed at reducing delays and uncertainty; it drew support from the outdoor advertising industry and the California Association of Realtors, with members describing it as a technical cleanup measure. Both bills were later moved to Appropriations, along with a consent calendar of several other measures. AB 1585 by Assembly Member Connolly would require wine labeled as American to be made from 100% American-grown grapes, aligning the federal “American” label with California’s existing 100% state-origin standard. Supporters, including California wine grape growers, family wineries, consumer advocates, and several local agricultural groups, argued the bill would improve truth in labeling and help struggling growers. Opponents from major wine companies and industry groups warned it could reduce flexibility, create labeling complications, and limit the ability to list varietal and vintage on some blended wines. After a lengthy debate over labeling standards, consumer expectations, and impacts on interstate wine sales, the committee passed the bill to Appropriations. AB 1605 by Assembly Member Ransom would allow judges to place a no-alcohol-sales notice on the licenses of repeat or serious DUI offenders, restricting their ability to purchase alcohol as a preventive measure. Supporters, including the California Police Chiefs Association, the Safe California Roads Coalition, and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the bill would give courts another tool to reduce recidivism and save lives. Retailers and restaurant representatives raised concerns about implementation and ID-checking burdens, but the bill was amended and passed to Appropriations. AB 2211 by Assembly Member Hoover, which would allow craft distillers to operate a second tasting room, also advanced with support from the California Distillers Association. Finally, AB 1578 by Assembly Member Jackson, presented by Assembly Member Solache, would require anti-hate speech training for local and state elected officials; it drew strong opposition over First Amendment and definitional concerns, and members pressed for a clearer definition of hate speech before further action.