Transcript Highlights:

• Um I did find it was hard to more to do.
• <01:07:03.680> the through, they couldn't find the through, they couldn't find the spiritual
• Let's find a loophole. We have no loopholes.
• We are constantly finding loopholes because they're going around the laws to find a law to do always
• >> And then people are just trying to find >> And then people are just trying to find

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Oberacker to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the result.
• Senator Bailey to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the result.
• Senator Bailey to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the result.
• Senator Harckham to be recorded in the affirmative.
• >> SENATOR HARCKHAM TO BE RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up a budget extender. Senator Serrano’s appropriation bill was recalled from the Assembly, reconsidered, amended, and sent through Rules to the floor. During debate, senators discussed the ongoing delay in finalizing the state budget, the 13th extender, school aid payments, the Yonkers school district payment, and unresolved issues such as Tier 6 retirement changes and other budget policy items. The extender was passed 57-2 after debate, with senators pressing for more transparency about the budget negotiations and the majority responding that those issues were not germane to the extender. The chamber then recognized several resolutions and guests. Senators spoke in support of Resolution 1948 honoring New York State 4-H and its Capital Days participants, Resolution 2054 commemorating Italian American Day, and Resolution 1620 mourning Denis Michael Troy of Rockland County. The Italian American Day resolution drew extensive remarks from many senators about family histories, immigration, cultural contributions, scholarships, and community traditions, and the Senate welcomed honored guests from the Italian American community. The Rosalyn Yalow Charter School fencing team was also introduced, along with the family of Denis Troy. The Senate then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing measures on public service, city administrative code, municipal law, correction law, criminal procedure, real property tax, education, social services, public health, executive law, parks, judiciary, and alcoholic beverage control, among others. Several members explained votes on bills related to ratepayer protection, hip-hop lyrics in criminal cases, sovereign nations and gaming compacts, and the Traveling with Dignity Act requiring adult changing stations in public facilities. Most bills passed with broad support, though some drew notable negative votes. The Senate completed the calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hancock's bill had solved this to find out nope this was left out of it and it can be quite a
• And members if I could make a public announcement about witness affirmation.
• That finding was central to his conclusion because the U.S.
• As we find usually breaking in news media and other places.
• And a lot of times what we're finding is.

Bills: SB502, SB513, SB622, SB670, SB731, SB732, SB916, SB961, SB1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• will now be able to appoint a temporary treasurer for up to 60 days, thus allowing adequate time to find
• days, thus allowing the adequate time 60 days, thus allowing the adequate time to<01:21:08.400> find
• the right person for the job to find the right person for the job instead<01:21:10.239> of<01
• earlier in the year, due to the heavy usage during the peak winter months, many utilities did not find
• So the vote and the passage in the affirmative was on the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 75 with

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:00:12.559> in sometimes also what you find in sometimes also what you find in department
• Wherever they find you, they'll be coming. I have them coming by my house.
• >> Wherever<01:17:16.320> they<01:17:16.560> find<01:17:16.800> you,<01:17
• Um, it also<01:43:23.760> requires<01:43:24.239> affirm<01:43:24.560> affirmatively<
• /c> also requires affirm affirmatively also requires affirm affirmatively enable<01:43:25.760> the

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Upon finding out about the end of this precious life, I was in shock.
• Upon finding out about the end of this precious life, I was in shock, and I felt immediate grief.
• Upon finding out about the end of this precious life, I was in shock.
• Upon finding out about the end of this precious life, I was in shock, and I felt immediate grief.
• This bill allows for the registration of a fetal death certificate and affirms parental rights over the

Bills: HB2122, HB2184, HB2910

Keywords: technical registration, engineering, architect, land surveyor, reciprocity, endorsement, qualification standards, fetal death, funeral homes, informed consent, abortion, women's rights, medical assistance, emotional support, contractors, administrative recovery, regulation, statute of limitations, residential contractors' recovery fund, 1182

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from February 18 and March 4, 2026, then took up House Bill 2122 while holding House Bill 2910. HB 2122 would clarify reciprocity and endorsement requirements for professional registration with the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration, including that applicants must hold a valid license, registration, or certification issued by the proper authority in another jurisdiction and, in some cases, a national council record. Support testimony described it as a simple cleanup measure that would facilitate reciprocity, including for Arizona engineers and the United Kingdom. The committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2122 a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2184 with an eight-page strike-everything amendment. The amended bill would extend the deadline for filing death certificates after taking possession of human remains from seven calendar days to 14 business days, require a disposition transit permit in certain cases involving unborn children under 20 weeks’ gestation or under 350 grams, and address parental authority and abortion clinic form requirements. Testimony in support emphasized grieving parents’ need for dignity, burial options, and recognition after miscarriage or fetal death, while opposition was narrow and focused on replacing the term “unborn child” with “fetal remains.” Several members said they were sympathetic but also stressed that wording mattered. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and then voted 4-3 to give HB 2184, as amended, a do pass recommendation. Senators Epstein, Fernandez, and Ortiz voted no, with Epstein explaining that he wanted the bill to move forward but believed the language needed to be changed before final passage. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• another angle to checkle they would find another angle to checkle it<00:59:18.640> from<00:59
• I think that would be certainly something we would need to dig into more to find out the facts that we
• out the facts that we into more to find out the facts that we can<01:00:23.160> provide<01:00
• or affirmation uh research um<01:42:29.320> and<01:42:29.560> and<01:42:29.679> so<
• or gender transition um I do affirmation or gender transition um I do not<01:43:13.239> have<

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee met and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The chair noted that agency overviews from the Office of Higher Education and other state agencies were not available, so the committee proceeded with University of Minnesota presentations instead. The committee also reviewed posted committee rules. University of Minnesota representatives gave an overview of the university’s research enterprise, describing it as a system of five campuses with a possible expansion to St. Cloud, and highlighting research strengths across campuses in agriculture, energy, natural resources, health, and the Twin Cities flagship campus. They said the university has more than $1.3 billion in annual research expenditures, receives most of its research funding from federal sources, and is ranked highly for both overall research and interdisciplinary research. Examples discussed included the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Forever Green initiative, and research tied to sustainable crops, health, and commercialization. Members asked questions about specific research areas, including biodegradable or renewable plastics, wheat research, food dyes, health and environmental toxins, and the market for winter camelina and winter pennycress. University staff said they could follow up with more detailed information and explained that the winter crop work is intended to become market-driven over time, while also improving soil health and creating new revenue streams for farmers. They also clarified that the university’s federal research funding includes money from NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD, and other agencies, and that the “other” funding category includes foundations, subawards, and internal university seed funding. The committee then heard a second University of Minnesota presentation focused on partnerships, commercialization, and workforce development. Testimony highlighted collaborations with industry and government partners such as U.S. Steel, 3M, Medtronic, Cisco, and defense-related industry leaders, as well as programs supporting microelectronics, AI, cybersecurity, and sustainable aviation fuels. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee ended the segment by moving on to the next testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• risk of negative impacts are those seeking reproductive care, including abortion care and gender-affirming
• Whereas many compact states explicitly ban gender-affirming care, abortion, and other reproductive care
• Throughout my career, I have seen the impact of having access to gender-affirming care on the LGBTQ+
• Whereas many compact states explicitly ban gender-affirming care, abortion, and other reproductive care
• Throughout my career, I have seen the impact of having access to gender-affirming care on the LGBTQ+

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 1925, which would have Minnesota join the nurse licensure compact. Rep. Schumacher described the bill as a way to improve workforce flexibility, telehealth, care coordination, and border-community access, while maintaining safeguards such as the same licensure exam and federal background checks. He also said the compact could help retain Minnesota-trained nurses who currently leave for neighboring compact states. Several members questioned whether the compact would weaken Minnesota’s standards or actually solve staffing problems, and some raised concerns about outside states’ differing practice rules and continuing education requirements. Supporters, including a nurse leader, a travel nurse, a business group representative, and a hospital nursing leader, testified that the compact would ease staffing shortages, speed hiring, support telehealth, and reduce administrative burdens. Opponents, including nurses and union representatives, argued it could lower standards, not address root causes like unsafe staffing and turnover, and could create risks for patients seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care. The committee also considered two related amendments tied to rural health transformation recommendations. The A1 amendment would have required two hours of continuing education on nutrition for physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses; members criticized it as government overreach, unrelated to many specialties, and an attempt to chase uncertain federal funding. The amendment failed on a voice vote. The A2 amendment would have reinstated the presidential fitness test in schools and allowed parents to opt out; it also failed. A3, which updated the compact bill’s effective date language from 2025 to 2026, was adopted. Members noted the bill also contained an appropriation and might need referral to other committees if it advanced. The committee then began hearing public testimony on HF 1925, with witnesses split between support and opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, Chair, I was trying to find out if BSO was speaking.
• Certainly, I'd like to find out more about the cost to some of these counties.
• Certainly the, I'd like to find out more about the cost to some of these counties.
• Yes, I'd like to be shown in the affirmative on tab 5, 848, and tab 228. Senator Jones?
• Yes, I would like to be voted in the affirmative for tab 5, Senate Bill 848. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills, with several focused on water safety, utilities, and local government transparency. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was explained as clarifying water quality credits and water quality enhancement areas, and it was reported favorably after one support appearance. SB 28, a claim bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland arising from injuries caused by a police shooting, was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 658 on water safety requirements for rental properties drew extensive testimony in support from child advocacy and drowning prevention advocates, who cited Florida’s high child drowning rates and the disproportionate impact on children with autism; the bill was amended to require front-end certification and remove local add-on authority, then passed favorably. CS/SB 18, a claim bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, was reported favorably after questions about the verdict, settlement posture, and who would receive the funds. SB 934 on areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a provision viewed as conflicting with the Live Local Act and then passed favorably. SB 1622, which creates a one-time waiver for certain late-filed financial disclosure fines, also passed favorably with support from an appearance form. SB 1264 on private schools and zoning was reported favorably after members noted ongoing concerns and planned further discussion. CS/CS/SB 260 on electric vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to narrow the bill to storage issues and cap the fee period until inspection; it drew both support and opposition from insurers, fire officials, and vehicle industry representatives, and was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1014, dealing with municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, was amended to limit it to residential development and clarify capacity standards, then passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 expanded the local infrastructure surtax to include body camera programs and was reported favorably after an amendment requiring voter approval. Finally, CS/SB 1724 and SB 1566, both on local government utility and budget transparency, were amended and reported favorably despite concerns from cities and counties about implementation costs and burdens.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would ask for your affirmative support, and Chancellor Reeser is here as a resource unless he still
• high-demand fields through over 7,600 industry partnerships statewide, and graduates can expect to find
• friends who majored in fields like biomedical engineering, it took them a year after graduation to find
• friends who majored in fields like biomedical engineering, it took them a year after graduation to find
• job in their field. in fields like biomedical engineering, it took them a year after graduation to find

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several higher education and public school bills. Senator Burwell presented SB 1242 to remove an outdated Coordinating Board approval requirement for Texas State Technical College land and facility acquisitions, and SJR 59 to create a constitutionally dedicated endowment for TSTC capital needs; both drew strong support from industry and workforce groups and were left pending. SB 757, by Senator Middleton, would create a debt-to-earnings accountability system for public college programs, with supporters saying it would protect students from low-value degrees and opponents warning it could unfairly penalize programs with long-term value, especially graduate, medical, and public service fields; it was also left pending. SB 1241, by Senator Millington, would expand acceptable college entrance exams beyond the SAT and ACT, including the Classic Learning Test, and was left pending after testimony from CLT, homeschool, and student groups in support. SB 1085, by Senator Blanco, would let Sul Ross State University offer lower-division courses at its satellite campuses in the Middle Rio Grande region; it too was left pending. The committee then took up a series of public school and higher education measures, voting several out favorably. SB 605, as substituted, limits commissioner approval of charter school expansion amendments for schools under conservatorship or a management team and was reported favorably 9-0. SB 1871 and SB 1873, both by Senator Perry, were revised to narrow teacher immunity, clarify removal and suspension procedures, require periodic review of in-school suspension placements, and align discipline rules; both substitutes were adopted and reported favorably. SB 1872, SB 1874, SB 762, SB 1962, SB 1750, SB 2252, SB 2253, SB 2365, SB 1924, and SB 37 were also considered, with most reported favorably on party-line or near-unanimous votes. SB 1750 would replace a flat charter school facilities funding cap with an attendance-based formula; SB 2252 and SB 2253 address kindergarten readiness, early literacy/numeracy, and educator preparation; SB 2365 concerns student phone use during instructional time; SB 1924 restores local citation authority for certain school offenses and adds reporting, notice, and completion requirements; and SB 37 would expand state oversight of higher education curriculum, governance, faculty senates, and compliance with state law. Other measures heard included SB 769, which would require a Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education; supporters emphasized the need for better data and accessibility, while witnesses suggested broader reporting on race, disability types, and K-12-to-college transitions. SB 2231 would designate a Free College Application Week in October and was left pending. SB 1878 would modernize the Josie School statute and provide formula funding and aid eligibility for Polytechnic College. SB 1409 would authorize universities to offer self-funded student health benefit plans, with Rice University and Texas 2036 supporting the measure as a way to lower costs and expand coverage. SB 2431 would require universities to give foreign language credit for study abroad programs, SB 2314 would require schools to inform students about opting in or out of record sharing for direct admissions through My Texas Future, and SB 2138 would extend the state’s anti-ESG contracting restrictions to public higher education endowments and governing boards; these later bills were introduced and left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, if I can find it. There we go.
• <00:08:07.280> Uh Chair, if I can find it. There we go. Uh Chair, if I can find it.
• Thank you. positive affirmative vote, ensuring that positive affirmative vote, ensuring that um<00:34
• <00:45:43.920> of simple information and affirmation of simple information and affirmation
• Policy findings.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the first time in their lives, that working families don't have to move out of California just to find
• They could be better allocated to staff retention efforts as we continue to struggle finding qualified
• They could be better allocated to staff and retention efforts as we continue to struggle finding qualified
• AB 1066 affirms that in order to be compassionate, we must also be responsible.
• California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, San Francisco Public Defender's Office, and Chinese for Affirmative

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee met with quorum established after beginning as a subcommittee. The committee heard AB 790, which would require jurisdictions receiving state homelessness funds to develop systems specifically supporting women and children, especially single mothers and survivors of domestic violence. Supporters said current homelessness programs overlook this population; the bill was amended and passed unanimously on a 7-0 vote. The committee also heard ACA 4, the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, which would dedicate a minimum share of the state general fund to affordable housing and homelessness programs. Supporters argued more stable funding is needed to address the housing crisis, while opponents questioned whether more spending would help; the measure passed 5-2 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Members then heard AB 349, which would index the infant supplement for parenting foster youth to inflation. The author and sponsor described the needs of pregnant and parenting teens in foster care and rising costs for diapers and formula; the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 779, which expands a domestic violence consultant pilot in child welfare offices statewide, also passed 6-0 after testimony that it would help keep families together safely and improve trauma-informed responses. AB 1335, which would remove a private CARF accreditation requirement for regional center employment programs and rely on state oversight instead, drew support from disability service providers but opposition from the chair over concerns about weakening quality checks; it failed on a 2-2 vote and reconsideration was denied. The committee also considered AB 1066, a bill to bar state-funded immigration legal services for people unlawfully present in the country who have certain serious felony convictions. Supporters framed it as a public-safety and fiscal-responsibility measure, while opponents said it would restrict due process and align California with mass-deportation policies. The bill failed on a 2-2 vote. Two bills, AB 277 and AB 318, were pulled by the author and not heard. After final roll calls on absent members, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you love the Lord, and I've always told them, if you find someone that loves the Lord, they love themselves
• and the record be shown that the roll has been called and all members voted present and in the affirmative
• The vote is now closed by a vote of 69 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative.
• grandmother repeatedly stressed the importance of making the most of each and every opportunity, and of finding
• path that I have traveled since I came to live in this country, I have been fortunate to be able to find

Transcript Highlights:

• It seems like we have difficulty finding enough people to satisfy it by May.
• for election judge are difficult to find by May, let alone March?
• I don't know exactly what you mean by hard to find.
• <01:07:50.079> candidates office that trying to find candidates office that trying to find
• for election judge are difficult to find for election judge are difficult to find by by by may<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me get these affirmations done. I will take questions. Is that correct? Yes.
• So, we don't… Not give those kinds of assessments to students because teachers find them valuable.
• I find it problematic that you don't know whether that data point, which is so startling, is correct
• So you can read our TTAP reports that have many of these findings in them, that the test could be shorter
• If we have a finding, a fact that there's a violation of school law in the state, then we take action

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• SCR38 affirms Texas's sovereignty over its coastal zone and recognizes... ...the Gulf of America's critical
• Even parents whose first language is English find it difficult.
• After extensive research, I spoke out about my findings and concerns at a school board meeting, which
• Could they find a different REALTOR® if they had a problem with them? Sure.
• The board of directors will review the entire file to affirm or deny that decision.

Bills: SB1361, SB2105, SB2690, SB2713, SCR38, SB2637, SB2881

Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business

Transcript Highlights:

• So we worked to find other apps that could meet his specific needs.
• quickly came to a strategy and decided that we should bring this forward to the legislation to try and find
• accessible, plain-language resource. language, searchable online handbook as one centralized place to find
• The Texas Attorney General has affirmed parental rights in an Attorney General opinion.
• It affirms that abstinence is not just a talking point but the standard of behavior Texas expects for

Bills: SB204, SB570, SB735, SB784, SB1207, SB1396, SB1447, SB2392, SB2540, SB747, SB875

Keywords: parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district, open-enrollment charter school, student support services, school counselor, principal, administrator

Transcript Highlights:

• People can go find it.
• So he came to our store to find something that might help her.
• I first want to state that, of course, I find the farm bill troubling, but I do understand that it is
• I would like to be voting in the affirmative on tab five, please. Any other senators?
• Affirmative on tab five, thank you. Any objection? Seeing none, the motion is adopted.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy considered several bills and reported all of them favorably. SB 70-24, on state planning and budgeting, was presented as a modernization of the long-range planning program to simplify reporting, remove outdated measures, and focus on key data points and outcomes; it passed without opposition. CS/SB 166, on administrative efficiency in public schools, made broad changes to school accountability and operations, including lowering the stakes of certain student assessments, giving districts more flexibility on evaluations, contracts, certification, calendars, facilities, and VPK oversight. Two amendments were adopted: one clarifying that Title I funds may be used for STEM services, and another refining how advanced degrees count on salary schedules. The bill passed favorably after testimony both supporting and opposing the changes, with supporters emphasizing flexibility and opponents raising concerns about teacher evaluation and instructional practice. CS/SB 164, on vessel accountability, was described as a measure to address derelict and at-risk vessels by improving owner identification, creating a free long-term anchoring permit program, increasing penalties, and authorizing grants for local governments in the FWC prevention program. It received support from marine industry groups and was reported favorably. CS/SB 472, on education and correctional facilities for licensed professions, would allow inmates to receive credit toward licensure for qualifying coursework; a strike-all amendment added coordination with DBPR and professional boards. The bill drew support from criminal justice, business, and policy groups and passed unanimously. The committee spent the most time on CS/SB 438, on food and hemp products. Senator Burton and co-sponsor Senator Davis argued the bill was needed to regulate intoxicating hemp products, restrict child-appealing packaging and signage, ban synthetic hemp products, cap THC content in edibles and beverages, and require hemp beverages to be sold through alcohol-style distribution channels. Supporters, including alcohol distributors and some public safety advocates, said the bill would improve testing, labeling, and consumer protection. Opponents, including hemp retailers, farmers, and libertarian advocates, argued it would harm small businesses, reduce consumer choice, and push sales to the black market. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on tab five, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 953 affirms that a loss of life carries lasting weight.
• SB 953 affirms that a loss of life carries lasting weight.
• It does require a court hearing, factual findings, and a judge's determination.
• The court must find it to be both necessary and supported by factual findings.
• We also have to remember... ...necessary and supported by factual findings.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety heard several bills, with most of the discussion centered on criminal justice, public safety, and detention-related issues. SB 498 by Senator Becker would make prison electronic messaging free and end 15-minute limits on voice calls for incarcerated people; supporters said it would strengthen family ties and rehabilitation, while the bill advanced on a due-pass recommendation. SB 953 by Senator Niello would require DMV points to be recorded when a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter case is dismissed through diversion; family members of crash victims testified in support, the ACLU opposed it as potentially discouraging diversion, and the committee passed the bill to the Transportation Committee. The committee also heard SB 1306 by Senator Cortese, which would align California law with federal exemptions for certain GBL-containing chemical mixtures used in semiconductor manufacturing. The author and industry witness said the bill would reduce unnecessary regulation without affecting pure GBL, and it passed to Appropriations. SB 941 by Senator Padilla would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; supporters described high prices for basic necessities and poor conditions, and the bill advanced on a due-pass vote. Members also considered SB 691 by Senator Wahab, which would require law enforcement body-camera policies to allow EMS personnel to request redaction of recordings before public release when patients are receiving medical or psychological treatment. Supporters framed it as a privacy measure, while sheriffs’ representatives raised concerns about overlap with existing law and local policy discretion; the bill moved forward on a due-pass recommendation. Finally, SB 562 by Senator Ashby would allow partial refunds of bail bond premiums when charges are not filed or are dropped early; supporters called it a fairness measure for low-income families, while bail industry representatives and some others warned it could reduce incentives to post bail and harm small businesses. The bill advanced on a divided vote. Several other items were adopted on consent or pulled by the authors, and the committee adjourned after completing its votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 694 is a simple, common-sense bill that affirms a basic right that...
• I can tell you, as a parent's attorney, we're always the last to find out anything.
• When we do find things out, however, it is by email, so they all... Our email address.
• I would need to go find him and talk to him about that. You were trying to add it back in.
• We could maybe find that number. I don't know that. I got one question.

Bills: HB107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655, HB107

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records