Transcript Highlights:

• It is great to see folks here in person, and we know that there are others that are watching remotely
• our committee members to remind us that we do conduct our meetings in person, but we do allow for remote
• If you are remote and able to put yourself onto gallery view, you'll be able to see our timer.
• With that, we'll start with our remote panel.
• I think she's remote. That's correct.

Summary: The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee opened its 2026 session with member introductions and a work session on the Employment Security Department’s structure and programs. ESD officials described their roles and reviewed paid family and medical leave, WA Cares, unemployment insurance, workforce services, and agricultural worker outreach. Senators raised concerns about call volume, program solvency, fraud detection, employer access to information, and whether workers can receive leave benefits while working other jobs. ESD said WA Cares is in a limited pilot, PFML has seen rapid growth, UI trust fund solvency is projected to be near the statutory trigger level, and they would follow up with more detailed information on eligibility, fraud referrals, and employer scenarios. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5292, which would replace the current PFML rate-setting formula with a forward-looking actuarial model and require a four-month reserve beginning in 2030. Supporters, including the sponsor, JLARC staff, labor advocates, and employer groups, said the change would improve stability and follow JLARC recommendations; opponents warned it could lead to higher payroll taxes and argued the program is already too costly. The chair said she intended to keep the bill narrow as it moved forward. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6014, a technical bill on pregnancy-related accommodations that would preserve the ability of pregnant workers to request certain accommodations without a doctor’s note and create a public records exemption for sensitive complaint and investigation records; the sponsor and supporters said it corrects a drafting error and protects privacy. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 5972, which would remove the population threshold limiting interest arbitration for correctional officers in jails, and Senate Bill 5869, which would make permanent and expand from residential to all building construction sites a requirement that L&I notify employers or owners within 10 working days when a hazard is identified. Correctional officers’ representatives and labor groups supported SB 5972 as a fairness and safety measure, while the sponsor said it would create consistency across jurisdictions. Construction industry groups supported SB 5869, and L&I said it had no concerns but wanted the bill kept narrow; the chair noted the bill’s purpose was to speed hazard communication. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5874, which would allow ESD to waive penalties for minor errors in quarterly unemployment reports, especially missing SOC/job-title information. The sponsor said small businesses were being hit with unnecessary fines, and ESD said it had identified a sharp rise in penalties and was working with the sponsor on possible fixes. The committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Voting Vice chair for the vote, please.
• Any<01:07:26.280><c> no</c><01:07:26.440><c> votes?</c> Any no votes? Any no votes?
• Any<01:08:43.080><c> no</c><01:08:43.240><c> votes?</c> Any no votes? Any no votes?
• Voting Vice Chair for the vote, please.
• Voting Vice chair for the vote, please.

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 31 and heard a series of resolutions focused on roadway safety, transportation access, and infrastructure coordination. Early measures included HCR 104/HR 96 on advancing coastal trails on O‘ahu’s North Shore and HCR 63/HR 57 on clarifying responsibility for Honouliuli Bridge and addressing safety, wildfire, and emergency access concerns. The Department of Transportation supported both, and a resident testified that the Honouliuli bridge is a single-lane emergency replacement on state land that has limited access for fire protection, heavy vehicles, permits, and repairs. DOT said it was working with DLNR and that jurisdiction may ultimately lie with the County of Maui, with research ongoing. The committee also heard HCR 62/HR 56 on alternative vegetation management along Hana Highway, HCR 43/HR 39 on raised crosswalks near Ala Wai Elementary, and HCR 52/HR 48 on integrating the safe system approach into county road design; these drew support testimony and no opposition. The committee then considered HCR 120/HR 112 on regulating transportation network companies under motor carrier law. DOT and the Public Utilities Commission offered comments, while Lyft opposed, arguing the legislature already created a TNC-specific framework in 2022 and that motor carrier law is not a good fit for app-based ride platforms. In questioning, PUC explained that TNCs would fall under both PUC motor carrier jurisdiction and DOT permitting, and DOT said it would follow up on enforcement questions. Members also discussed HCR 119/HR 111 on an indirect traffic disruption grant program, with the chair asking DOT to clarify how it enforces penalties when contractors or others fail to follow road closure requirements. Other measures discussed included HCR 96/HR 88 on moving to a demerit-point driver licensing system, which DOT supported; HCR 128/HR 120 on coordinating capital improvement planning for Hawaiian Home Lands developments, which DOT and DHHL supported; HCR 127/HR 119 on a state highway police force, which DOT supported; and HCR 125/HR 117 on a statewide plan for derelict utility poles and lines, which drew support from DOT, Hawaiian Electric, and Hawaiian Telcom, with DOT acknowledging it lacks current statutory authority to force immediate removal. The committee also heard HCR 58/HR 54 on school crosswalk safety for Mililani Elementary, HCR 55/HR 51 on using artificial intelligence to mitigate traffic and improve road safety, and HCR 54/HR 146 on expanding the Hele-On Shared Ride program on Hawai‘i Island. Supporters of the Hele-On measure said expanded service would help rural residents, kupuna, and people with disabilities reach medical appointments and daily activities, while noting cost and technology-access concerns; they said missed or delayed appointments are a real issue in remote areas. The final item discussed in the excerpt was HCR 64/HR 58 on minimizing rumble strip dimensions on Kūhiō Highway on Moloka‘i, with DOT saying it had already removed some strips where large emergency vehicles were affected on narrow curves.

Transcript Highlights:

• or vote a certain way and what this Vote or vote a certain way and what this language<01:07:52.720><
• </c> somebody to vote or refrain from voting somebody to vote or refrain from voting in<01:16:35.400>
• Co-Chair Freiberg voted yes. Vice Chair Altendorf voted no. Vice Chair Lee voted yes.
• Representative Acomb voted yes. Representative Coulter voted yes. Representative Davis voted no.
• Representative McDonald voted no. Representative Roach voted no. Representative Virnig voted yes.

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here asking you to vote against this bill. I'm here on behalf of myself.
• We're not going to vote on this in the next few minutes.
• I'll answer just in my 10,000 vote. All.
• Baird, well we like that one so much we're gonna try to vote it twice.
• And so we... ...so that the option will be available to reconsider this vote.

Bills: HB220 , HB783 , HB2240 , HB3336 , HB4202 , HB4449 , HB4904 , HB3441 , HB4284

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• That bill has seven votes. That bill has seven votes.
• Not voting. Dixon, not voting. Brian. Dumao. Aye. Brian. Aye.
• The vote is 7-0. AB 1137 by Assembly Member Krell. The vote is 7-0. Brian, aye. DeMaio? Not voting.
• The vote is 7-2. Dixon? No. DeMaio? No. Irwin? Not voting. Ortega? Aye. Petrie-Norris? Not voting.
• The vote is 8-0. DeMaio? No. DeMaio, no. Irwin? Not voting. Petrie-Norris? Irwin, not voting.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 56, which would require social media platforms to display a warning label about potential mental health harms from prolonged use, with amendments shortening the initial warning and allowing immediate access to the platform. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost a daughter to suicide and a therapist, argued that social media contributes to teen anxiety, self-harm, and other harms and that families need clearer public health information. Opponents from tech and civil liberties groups argued the bill would be ineffective, burdensome, and likely unconstitutional, saying it would create warning fatigue and should be replaced by more targeted tools and digital literacy measures. Several members discussed emergency access concerns, language access, and whether the warning should be more actionable; the bill was moved on a 9-0 vote to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then took up AB 358, which would amend CalECPA to allow law enforcement, with the victim’s consent, to inspect certain abandoned tracking or surveillance devices found in a victim’s home, vehicle, or personal property without first obtaining a warrant. The author and a San Diego prosecutor said the bill is narrowly tailored to devices used solely for spying and is intended to help stalking and domestic violence survivors act quickly before evidence is lost. Opponents from EFF and the ACLU warned the bill would weaken warrant protections, create a loophole around CalECPA, and reduce transparency and accountability. Members debated Fourth Amendment issues, abandonment, and the practical need for rapid access; the bill passed the committee on a 9-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1137, which builds on last year’s CSAM reporting law by allowing any user to report child sexual abuse material, requiring clearer reporting mechanisms, adding human review in some cases, and mandating third-party audits and public reporting. Supporters, including survivor advocates and a parent of a child victim, said the bill would reduce the burden on survivors and improve removal of abusive content. Tech industry opponents said they support the goal but objected to the human-review mandate, public audit disclosures, and enforcement provisions, arguing they could create security risks and compliance burdens. Members generally supported the bill’s intent but raised questions about audit frequency and human review; the bill was moved on call with seven votes at the time of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then joining us remotely is Dean Dennis Becker of our College of Natural Resources.
• And then joining us remotely is Dean Dennis Becker of our College of Natural Resources.
• Fish and Game voluntarily withdrew the bill once it was clear the votes were there to kill it.
• So hunters and trappers had the ability to access remote areas like the Thank you. winter this year,
• Okay, we'll take a vote. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Those against, nay.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from University of Idaho representatives on the university’s land-grant mission and its role in federalism, followed by detailed overviews of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Speakers described the Morrill, Hatch, and Smith-Lever Acts, the university’s history, and examples of research, extension, and workforce training in agriculture, engineering, law, forestry, fire science, and youth programs such as 4-H. They highlighted facilities and programs including research stations, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, the deep soil ecotron, the Wildland Fire Center, the experimental forest, and the policy analysis group, while also noting the impact of federal and state funding delays and cuts on staffing and research capacity. Committee members asked about several current issues, including quagga mussels, screw worm, chronic wasting disease, and the effects of funding cuts. University officials said they were not actively researching some of those wildlife and livestock disease issues but were willing to help if capacity and funding allowed. They also said budget reductions had caused real losses, including layoffs and reduced programs, and that federal grant delays had disrupted research timelines. The committee also raised questions about conflicts of interest and university employees’ outside work; the university said it has annual conflict-of-interest and conflict-of-commitment training and review procedures. The committee then heard from Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse and the Idaho Sheriffs Association on the federal 287(g) immigration partnership program. Hulse argued that participation should remain voluntary and locally controlled, describing the different 287(g) models, the training and liability concerns, and the distinction between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. He said Idaho agencies already cooperate with ICE in other ways and that mandatory participation could create staffing, legal, and community-trust problems. Members asked about costs, liability, detention standards, and whether deputies lose local control under task force arrangements; Hulse said the answer depends on the specific model and operation, and he emphasized the need for local discretion. Later, the committee took testimony on the long-running bighorn sheep and domestic sheep conflict affecting western Idaho grazing allotments. Idaho Wool Growers representatives and affected ranchers described the history of state legislation, federal litigation, and the closure of grazing areas after bighorn sheep transplants, which they said cut livestock operations in half and caused major financial and personal hardship. They argued that the state and federal agencies had not lived up to assurances that permittees would be held harmless, and they urged continued attention to the issue. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So members, please vote your district, vote your conscience, don't vote early, don't vote often, but
• </c><00:12:37.680><c> your</c> vote your district, vote your vote your district, vote your conscience
• </c><00:12:39.680><c> vote</c> conscience, don't vote early, don't vote conscience, don't vote early,
• </c> often, but just vote. often, but just vote.
• Go ahead and vote for it if you like. Vote. Don't vote for it if you don't want to.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chief, Kirk, will call the name of the member voting remotely. Katiza Wittoon. Are you ready?
• committee of four members of the House to meet with a committee appointed by the Senate on the disagreeing votes

Transcript Highlights:

• It also includes remote monitoring.
• continuous glucose monitors to pregnant women, but per Healthy Moms Healthy Babies, this covers the remote
• Pittman, I'm going to take a motion to expunge a vote by which we reviewed the glucose monitoring so
• Okay, so we're expunging the vote by which I reviewed without objection the rule regarding glucose monitoring

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing on 6186, SNAP benefits, unhealthy food, and we're going to first call up our first panel that's remote
• If we could have in, sorry, remote, Claire Wilson. That's me. Happy Monday.
• So please vote no on this bill, and thank you for your time. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your time, and we urge you to vote yes and move this bill out of committee.

Bills: SB6007 , SB6186 , SB6212

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: assessment practices, public policy, children, youth, families, evaluation, outcomes, SNAP, nutrition, public health, food access, unhealthy foods, benefit program, assistance, pilot program, state support, public welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• At a duly held town meeting, Carver voted to dissolve the North Carver Water District by a vote of 110
• At a duly held town meeting, Carver voted to dissolve the North Carver Water District by a vote of 110
• At a duly held town meeting, Carver voted to dissolve the North Carver Water District by a vote of 110
• At a duly held town meeting, Cara voted to design by the system.
• At a duly held town meeting, Carver voted to dissolve the North Carver Ward District by a vote of 110

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wouldn't really have an answer on how many people attend remotely because I would say I attend remotely
• I wouldn't really have an remotely.
• </c> as a whole has voted to take a position. as a whole has voted to take a position.
• </c> often cancelled and quorum for voting often cancelled and quorum for voting was<00:46:52.000><c>
• </c> people work remote for us. people work remote for us.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Kendris declares the vote.
• Representative Schreiber, do you care to vote? Representative Schreiber now declares the vote.
• German Fetgatter, you care to vote? Declare the vote. With a vote of six 'yays' and three 'nays'.
• Clear the vote with a vote of 90 nay. We'll report your bill out as a due pass.
• Representative Kendrick and Representative Schreiber declare the vote with a vote of 90 nay.

Bills: SB44 , SB134 , SB1378 , SB1400 , SB1403 , SB1832 , SB2018 , SB2143

Committee: House A&B Finance Subcommittee

Keywords: sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, Olympics, funding, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, local businesses, revolving fund, event hosting, sales tax, tax exemption, tax refund, Oklahoma Sales Tax Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair votes aye. Vice Chair votes aye. Senator Decoy votes aye.
• no vote no reservations any no votes no vote no vote<01:02:36.880><c> no</c><01:02:37.079><c> vote</
• no vote for Senator D court and no vote no vote for Senator D court and no vote<01:02:39.440><c> for
• Chair votes aye. Vice Chair votes aye. Senator DeCorte votes no. Senator Rhodes votes aye.
• Vice Chair votes aye. Senator DeCorte votes aye. Senator Rhodes votes aye. Senator Awa votes no.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint hearing covered SB 1023, which would create a spay-neuter special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and free-roaming cats, with funding sources including an income tax checkoff. The Department of Taxation had no substantive comment, while the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the measure but opposed any trap-neuter-release or re-release approach, saying spay-neuter is important but release does not reduce cats on the landscape. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about creating another special fund and tax checkoff, saying the fund may not meet statutory criteria and could create administrative burdens. The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly supported the bill, arguing the state currently provides little funding for animal overpopulation control and that the measure would help nonprofits and align conservation and animal welfare goals. Several other supporters testified, including a cat sanctuary representative who described the need for a dedicated funding mechanism and a possible Oahu sanctuary to remove cats from sensitive areas. After questions about the effectiveness of trap-neuter-release and the need for alternative management tools, the committees voted to recommend passage with amendments, including blanking appropriation amounts, moving them into the committee report, setting the effective date to July 1, 2050, and noting Budget and Finance concerns; the recommendations were adopted in both committees, with some members voting with reservations. The hearing then moved to SB 1120, relating to transportation and a clean fuel standard. The Department of Transportation said it supported the intent but wanted more information on economic impacts. Electrify America and Neste supported the bill, saying a clean fuel standard would help finance EV charging, encourage investment, and expand lower-carbon fuel options such as renewable diesel. In response to questions from senators about rural and agricultural transportation needs, witnesses said the standard could support both electrification where feasible and cleaner liquid fuels in the interim for equipment that cannot yet be electrified. DOT also described county transit efforts and said it was working with Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island on assessments for zero-emission bus replacement and charging infrastructure. The committees also heard testimony on SB 586, relating to climate change and zero-emission buses by 2045, with the State Procurement Office supporting the intent but suggesting the language be moved to a different statute; DOT said it was providing pass-through funding to counties and had some zero-emission bus purchases and charging stations on order. The discussion emphasized infrastructure costs and implementation challenges, but no final vote on SB 1120 or SB 586 was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, to say the people voted.
• </c> bring to the table by removing the vote bring to the table by removing the vote and<02:44:29.840
• </c><02:47:34.560><c> It</c> non- voting. Um what did I just say? It non- voting.
• c><02:54:17.520><c> to</c><02:54:17.680><c> the</c> 400 votes to be voted on to the 400 votes to be voted
• </c> the vote. That would be a problem. the vote. That would be a problem.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The following members intend to vote from a remote location under Rule 40.7: Senators Abeler, Bahr, Howe
• A member just voted for somebody that was sitting in their seat and said they were voting for them remotely
• </c> could you explain to me how remote could you explain to me how remote voting<00:44:30.000><c> works
• and said they were voting for them remotely. remotely. remotely.
• I was just waiting for Senator Jasinski to finish getting votes for those who are voting remotely.

Transcript Highlights:

• Highway 190 and that the fisherman has actually been on the water at a remote camp that can be accessed
• Are there any members who wish to reconsider the vote that we took earlier?
• I'm going to be probably objecting and voting against this one for that particular purpose.
• This thing was done and the legislature never got a vote on it.
• Representative McCormick, you know, we voted yours out of here.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> remotely is Mr. Gino Frag Fraginedo. remotely is Mr. Gino Frag Fraginedo.
• Madam Chair, tomorrow I will be remote. I'll be participating remote.
• Madam Chair, tomorrow I will be<01:04:19.880><c> remote.</c> be remote. be remote.
• There's a I'll be participating remote.
• So, if you do have here remote.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Ta: not voting. Hoover: not voting. Pacheco: aye. Chaco: aye. Hoover: not voting. Chico: aye.
• Carrillo: aye. 1430: not voting. Ta: not voting. Hoover: not voting. Not voting. Todd: not voting.
• Not voting. Haw? Not voting. Hoover? Hoover? Not voting. Chico? Aye. Chico? Aye. Ramos? Aye. Ramos?
• no vote.
• The vote is 9-0. Stephanie, aye. The vote is 9-0. The bill is out.

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of housing, water, and local finance bills, with the chair repeatedly reminding attendees about hearing rules and noting that several measures were being heard without a quorum at first. Early items included AB 407, which would broaden eligibility for state-run loan and financing programs to help small businesses fund environmental, seismic, and ADA upgrades, and AB 93, which would require data centers to estimate and report water use and follow state best practices. AB 93 drew support from water advocates and local government groups, while the Data Center Coalition opposed it, arguing the bill could be overly restrictive, difficult to retrofit, and raise trade secret or security concerns. The committee also heard AB 650 on housing element review, AB 1044 on creating a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency, and AB 523 on allowing proxy voting for single-representative member agencies on the Metropolitan Water District board; all drew broad support from local agencies and related stakeholders and no recorded opposition in the room. Several housing bills were presented as part of a broader fast-track housing package. AB 507 would streamline adaptive reuse of office buildings into housing, especially in downtowns with high vacancy; supporters said it would revive urban cores and help meet housing and climate goals, while the League of California Cities and a few cities opposed it unless amended, citing concerns about one-size-fits-all by-right approval and fee limitations. AB 1294 would create a universal housing application and limit early application requirements; it drew strong support from housing and business groups, with the American Planning Association and League of California Cities seeking more flexibility and input. AB 610 would require local governments to disclose housing constraints in their housing elements and limit new constraints after certification for three years unless disclosed; supporters said it would improve transparency and certainty, while opponents warned it could chill legitimate local policy choices and inclusionary housing requirements. Both AB 610 and AB 698, which would require analysis of the housing and property tax impacts of proposed transfer taxes, were moved out of committee on 7-0 votes after discussion and amendments. The committee also heard AB 1112, which would repeal an outdated Riverside County property tax provision affecting Rancho Mirage; the city argued it was the only qualifying no-low property tax city not receiving the standard minimum and sought equal treatment. After quorum was established, the bill was passed 6-0 with amendments and sent to Appropriations. AB 1021, heard later, would make it easier for school districts and other local education agencies to build employee housing, with the author citing teacher recruitment and retention problems and support from education stakeholders. Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized the need to balance housing production, local fiscal tools, and infrastructure needs, and several authors accepted committee amendments and committed to continued negotiations with opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ta: Not voting. Hoover: Not voting. Motion and a second.
• Carrillo, aye. 1430. 1430, not voting. Ta not voting. Hoover. Not voting. Not voting.
• Todd, not voting. Not voting. Hoover, not voting. Pacheco? Pacheco, aye. Ramos? Aye. Ramos. Ransom.
• Not voting. Haw, not voting. Hoover, not voting. Pacheco, aye. Ramos, aye. Ransom... Pacheco, aye.
• no vote.

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long slate of bills, with the chair opening by outlining hearing rules, noting in-person testimony only, and identifying several bills for the consent calendar. The committee repeatedly operated without a quorum for much of the hearing, so several authors closed with requests for aye votes before formal action could be taken. AB 407 (Jackson) was heard first and would broaden eligibility in state loan and financing programs to help small businesses fund environmental, seismic, and ADA upgrades; it drew support from the Treasurer’s office and no opposition. AB 93 (Papan) would require state and local agencies to develop best practices and reporting around data center water use; supporters emphasized water scarcity and transparency, while the Data Center Coalition opposed it as overly restrictive and potentially burdensome. The League of California Cities and water agencies were generally supportive or neutral with amendments. The committee also heard several housing-related bills. AB 650 (Papan) would give cities earlier RHNA information and require HCD to provide clearer, more actionable housing element feedback; it received broad support from cities, planning groups, and housing advocates, with no opposition. AB 507 (Haney) would streamline adaptive reuse of office buildings into housing, especially in downtowns, and AB 1294 (Haney) would create a more standardized housing application process; both drew strong support from housing and business groups, while local government groups raised concerns about one-size-fits-all mandates and local discretion. AB 610 (Alvarez) would strengthen housing element transparency and limit new local housing constraints and fees after certification; supporters said it would improve certainty, while legal aid and city groups opposed it as too rigid and potentially harmful to inclusionary housing and local fee authority. AB 610 ultimately received a 7-0 do-pass recommendation to Appropriations. Other measures included AB 1044 (Macedo), which would create a new groundwater sustainability agency structure for Tulare County to help the region comply with SGMA; it was backed by county and agricultural water representatives and had no opposition. AB 523 (Irwin) would allow proxy voting for single-representative member agencies on the Metropolitan Water District board, with support from several water districts and no opposition. AB 1112 (Wallace) would repeal an outdated property tax carve-out affecting Rancho Mirage; the city supported it as restoring equity, and the committee called the roll after reaching quorum, then moved the bill do pass as amended to Appropriations by a 6-0 vote with the roll left open. Finally, AB 698 (Wicks) would require analysis of the housing, market-rate, and property tax impacts before a local transfer tax is adopted; supporters said it would inform local decision-making, while opponents, including a coalition tied to Los Angeles’ Measure ULA, argued it could undermine local revenue tools and housing funding. The committee discussed that the bill was forward-looking and not retroactive, and then moved it forward as amended.