Transcript Highlights:

• </c> seen states like uh I believe Texas seen states like uh I believe Texas initially<00:31:36.559><
• </c><02:09:48.159><c> is</c> uh you know the the range of funding is uh you know the the range of funding
• </c> state funds. state funds.
• It's not an effective use of state funds.
• So, I don't have the personal funds.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• 37:28.160><c> mental</c> one, increasing funding for mental one, increasing funding for mental health
• </c> the department for per pupil funding the department for per pupil funding purposes<01:12:35.920>
• </c> taken as the schools have lost funding taken as the schools have lost funding for<01:12:50.000><
• And that looks like funding.
• So they're looking for funding needs with flexibility in funding.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we can Fund this center all we want and it's a great center.
• Chair, Senator, we don't have the funding to repurpose it, let alone pay the bond.
• over 6.5 billion dollars. in federal funding.
• And now I see What's going on in Texas and I see California's response.
• This is a mobile gun battle.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• This equipment fund was set up to... This equipment fund was set up.
• general fund.
• It'll come from the general fund, unless we find another fund.
• funding.
• funded.

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the February 4 minutes and announced several bills would be held, including SB 1317, SB 1416, SB 1419, SB 1490, and SB 1493. It then heard SB 1579, which would appropriate about $4.7 million from the general fund to expand a law enforcement data-sharing pilot through the Department of Administration, with funding for DPS, county sheriffs, university police, city/town police, and an amendment adding $125,900 for Scottsdale Police. Supporters, including the Flagstaff mayor, the Eloy police chief, and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office staff, said the system improves real-time information sharing, officer safety, and efficiency. The committee adopted the amendment and gave SB 1579 a do pass as amended recommendation by a 6-0 vote with one not voting. The committee next heard SB 1581, which would use the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund for pepper ball equipment and public safety training simulators. The amendment increased the Nogales Police Department’s pepper ball appropriation and expanded simulator funding so Yavapai County could buy two simulators with a three-year warranty. Testimony from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Phoenix Police, Glendale Police, Flagstaff, and Cochise County emphasized pepper ball’s de-escalation value and the simulators’ role in crisis-response and scenario-based training, including interactions involving autism, mental illness, and hearing impairments. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1581 as amended on a 7-0 vote. SB 1673 was then heard to appropriate $8.2 million from the general fund to the Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification Fund, with the sponsor and witnesses describing the automated victim-notification system as constitutionally required and already reducing workload while keeping victims informed through texts and other alerts. The committee passed SB 1673 with no amendment on a 7-0 vote. SB 1544, which would make adult probation records public on request subject to redactions and appeal procedures, drew mixed testimony over transparency versus privacy concerns, especially around risk assessment tools and sensitive records; the committee passed it 4-3, with several members explaining no votes pending amendments. SB 1376, a civic leadership development special plate bill directing funds to a nonprofit focused on youth civic education and leadership, passed unanimously 7-0. Finally, SB 1550, a three-year Queen Creek pilot program to address runaway youth and exploitation through specialized police work, received support from local officials and anti-trafficking advocates but drew a no vote from one member over concerns about how runaway youth are treated in other legislation; it passed 5-1 with one not voting. The committee also heard SB 1504, a public safety retirement bill changing normal retirement and COLA timing for Tier 2 and Tier 3 members, with strong support from police and fire groups and opposition from local government and pension reform advocates, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One was to add all four employees to our funding with temporary funding.
• If I would have used your growth funds in lieu of our other funds that I may have had.
• funds in New Mexico.
• to fund personnel primarily.
• And our reclamation fund or restoration reclamation fund at the Land Office in terms of funding some

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the line impact what federal funding the line impact what federal funding that<00:54:38.000><c>
• The CCD fund standard requirements.
• </c> of losing $30 million of federal funding of losing $30 million of federal funding because<01:16:
• </c><02:43:34.000><c> So</c> the funding that we receive. Right. So the funding that we receive.
• </c><04:43:13.600><c> and</c> funded and funding for cultural and funded and funding for cultural and

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• fund deals with liabilities that without the fund would be shouldered 100% by California ratepayers.
• fund. ...billion dollars to the fund and shareholders will contribute $9 billion to the fund.
• And then we have the general fund.
• But more so, this cap and tax fund has become a slush fund. That's what it's become.
• Guys, your cap and tax fund has become a slush fund.

Summary: The meeting began with procedural announcements, a vote change on SB 414, and adoption of the consent calendar, including ACR 107 on the Diablo Range. Members also agreed to take several Senate messages up without reference to file. A point of order was raised urging members to respect staff by arriving on time after a late-night session. The main floor debate centered on SB 237, a major oil and gas measure. Supporters said it would help stabilize fuel supply and prices, address refinery closures, strengthen offshore pipeline safety, clarify Kern County oil permitting, and allow possible suspension of the summer gasoline blend. Opponents argued it was a giveaway to big oil and a setback for climate goals. The bill passed 59-0. The Assembly then passed SB 254, an energy affordability and wildfire package that would reduce ratepayer costs, strengthen the wildfire fund, and speed utility infrastructure and clean energy permitting; it passed 58-0. SB 840, the cap-and-invest reauthorization and spending framework, drew the most divided debate, with supporters emphasizing climate policy, transit, housing, and community investments, and opponents calling it a tax increase and slush fund; it passed 54-15 on the urgency and 54-15 on the measure. AB 1207, the Assembly’s cap-and-invest reauthorization bill, also passed, 55-10 on both urgency and the measure. Members also approved SB 352 to make the Bureau of Environmental Justice permanent and require more reporting on air quality and AB 825 to create a Westwide electricity market, which supporters said would lower costs, improve reliability, and reduce emissions; AB 825 passed 67-2. AB 8, a cannabinoids bill with Senate amendments, was concurred in 66-0, and AB 383, a firearms cleanup bill, was concurred in 66-0. The session ended with immediate transmittals of the major measures to the Senate or Governor as applicable.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill creates a successor insurance fund to the wildfire fund called the continuation account that
• fund deals with liabilities that without the fund would be shouldered 100% by California ratepayers.
• fund.
• And then we have the general fund.
• But more so, this cap and tax fund has become a slush fund. That’s what it’s become.

Summary: The chamber reconvened after a late-night session and first adopted the consent calendar, including ACR 107 on the Diablo Range, by a 48-0 vote. Members then took up several Senate bills and Assembly measures, with repeated remarks about the long hours and the need to respect staff and keep proceedings moving. A vote change was also announced for Assembly Member Patel on SB 414, changing from aye to not voting. The main policy debate centered on energy, climate, and affordability. SB 237, dealing with oil and gas policy, refinery closures, pipeline safety, Kern County permitting, gasoline blend flexibility, and regional fuel coordination, drew strong support from members who framed it as a managed transition to stabilize fuel supply and protect jobs, and strong opposition from members who called it a giveaway to oil interests and a setback for climate goals. The bill passed 59-0. SB 254, an energy affordability and wildfire package, included wildfire mitigation financing, a successor wildfire fund, transmission cost reductions, clean energy permitting changes, and energization timelines; members raised some concerns about local control, but the bill passed 58-0. SB 840 and AB 1207 advanced the cap-and-invest reauthorization package, with supporters emphasizing emissions reductions, housing, transit, wildfire prevention, and community air programs, while opponents argued it would raise costs and function as a tax-and-spend scheme. SB 840 passed 54-15 and AB 1207 passed 55-10, both with urgency and immediate transmittal. Members also approved SB 352, which makes the Bureau of Environmental Justice permanent and requires air quality monitoring and reporting on AB 617 implementation, by 43-19. AB 825, authorizing California to help establish a Westwide electricity market, was presented as a way to lower bills, improve reliability, and reduce emissions; it passed 67-2 and was sent to the Governor. Additional actions included concurrence in Senate amendments to AB 8 on cannabinoids and AB 383 on firearms cleanup, and the chamber began consideration of AB 764 on wildlife as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill should not necessitate new state funding.
• Eligibility through mobile reporting and get information through text messages.
• through state funding.
• through state funding.
• It would reject... ...funded Medi-Cal populations where the state has discretion.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• When they come from Alabama and when they come from Oregon, you know, they come from Texas where we don't
• see them, it is a little harder... ...Texas where we don't see them, it is a little harder.
• out that this particular concern is the fact that when you're applying state-specific regulation to mobile
• phones, mobile phones cross state boundaries all the time.
• Nowadays, mobile devices are tremendously important in users' day-to-day life.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 452, a right-to-repair bill for agricultural equipment. Farm Bureau and several manufacturers’ representatives opposed the bill, arguing that existing memorandums of understanding already provide farmers access to parts, diagnostics, and repair information, and warning that broader software access could increase emissions tampering and safety risks. Supporters, including repair advocates, a legislator, and a farmer representative, argued that the MOUs are not binding, that farmers need enforceable repair rights to avoid costly delays during critical harvest periods, and that owners should be able to repair equipment they bought without dealer lock-in. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills to limit or eliminate “grab-and-go” alcohol sales at large venues, including House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 225. Union workers from Fenway Park and the TD Garden described self-checkout alcohol kiosks as creating public safety and compliance problems, including underage access, over-serving, theft, and difficulty monitoring intoxication in crowded settings. They said workers are often understaffed and bear discipline when violations occur. In contrast, the Boston Red Sox and Aramark defended the supervised self-checkout model, saying it speeds service, is widely used, and operates with multiple layers of supervision, training, and regulatory oversight; they said they had not received violation notices and that any incidents are isolated. Senator Edwards also testified in support of House Bill 369, aimed at restricting marketing of certain harsh cosmetic products to children, and in support of the grab-and-go bill. She argued that children should not be targeted with products containing toxic chemicals and that alcohol service should remain supervised by trained staff to protect consumers and jobs. Senator Collins and other legislators also spoke in favor of restricting grab-and-go alcohol service, citing concerns about underage drinking and overconsumption. The hearing additionally included a separate bill on Sunday morning alcohol service, with Representatives Scanlon and Lewis arguing for allowing sales beginning at 8 a.m. on Sundays rather than 10 a.m., but that bill was only discussed briefly and no action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we've already allocated the funds.
• The state loses federal funding it should otherwise receive, and our goal is to preserve this funding
• Today, I am here to ask for those ongoing funds.
• , but the baseline funding amount will remain the same at $61 million in General Fund.
• To be clear, that's general fund dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><04:20:26.640><c> seek</c> the gentleman from Texas seek the gentleman from Texas seek recognition
• </c><05:00:15.520><c> on</c> brazen and flagrant waste of funds on brazen and flagrant waste of funds
• </c> Endeavors Incorporated, a Texas-based Endeavors Incorporated, a Texas-based NGO,<05:03:46.480><c
• </c><05:05:15.520><c> a</c> administration was funding a administration was funding a billion-dollar<
• So last year we spent $1.133 trillion in interest. trust fund or these other things, which trust fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, the state’s efforts Like gas stations and mobile sources like diesel trucks.
• The other compliance option is what we call the remediation fund.
• Instead, the remediation fund is funds that basically say the company is not reducing the emissions themselves
• , but instead are providing funds to the local air districts.
• Correct, which is the purpose of the remediation fund.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Utilities and Energy, Transportation, and Natural Resources focused on California’s transportation fuels sector, especially the state’s response to refinery closures and the broader transition away from fossil fuels. Opening remarks emphasized the tension between climate and air-quality goals, fuel affordability, refinery jobs and local tax bases, and the need to avoid crisis-driven responses as Phillips 66 and Valero consider shutting refineries in Wilmington and Benicia. Professor Emily Grubert framed the issue as a long-term managed transition in which the public already bears much of the risk and should also capture benefits from a well-planned shift. CARB Chair Leanne Randolph reviewed the state’s emissions and fuel policies, including AB 32, the low-carbon fuel standard, clean vehicle programs, and the at-berth regulation for ocean-going vessels. She said California’s transportation sector remains the largest source of greenhouse gases and a major source of smog-forming pollution, but that the state has made substantial progress and still needs to reduce demand for fossil fuels while maintaining compliance with federal air-quality standards. Randolph also said CARB’s recent LCFS amendments had not caused the predicted spike in gas prices and explained that compliance pathways for the at-berth rule include emissions-reduction technologies or payments into a remediation fund. CEC Vice Chair Gunda described declining gasoline demand, shrinking in-state refining capacity, and growing dependence on imports, arguing that the state is in a “mid-transition” period that requires both support for legacy infrastructure and continued investment in cleaner alternatives. He outlined the administration’s petroleum market stabilization proposal, which aims to return California crude production to 125 million barrels a year through four components: codifying the ban on fracking, validating the Kern County oil-and-gas permitting ordinance, creating a temporary CEQA exemption paired with a two-for-one plug-and-drill framework, and strengthening pipeline and spill-safety requirements. Department of Conservation Director Jennifer Lucasey said the proposal is intended to stabilize crude supply and pipeline throughput while preserving health and environmental protections, and noted that CalGEM would still review permits and enforce other requirements. Mayor Steve Young of Benicia testified that a Valero closure would significantly reduce city revenue and leave the community facing years of cleanup and redevelopment challenges. He said the city supports environmental protection but is worried about the economic hit, the possibility that Benicia becomes a fuel-import terminal, and the lack of local influence over refinery decisions. Members pressed the panel on the CEQA exemption, tribal and habitat review, disclosure of closure liabilities, fuel-demand projections, and whether the proposal should include more demand-side measures. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and officials said some proposals, including a margin-cap pause and further transition planning, would be taken up later in the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• year 2024 level of funding.
• base program funding.
• They are not a first-resort fund. They are a last-resort fund.
• And he didn't just do the 9/11 fund. He also did the BP fund, which was funded very differently.
• He didn't just do the 9/11 fund. He also did the BP fund, which was funded very differently.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Transparency held a hearing focused on three issues: federal funding cuts and delays, possible state revenue impacts from reduced IRS enforcement, and the fiscal effects of AB 218 on local governments. The Franchise Tax Board described how state and federal tax systems are closely linked, how most returns are filed electronically through software, and how FTB relies on IRS information sharing for compliance, fraud prevention, offsets, and nonfiler work. Members raised concerns that federal staffing cuts at the IRS could weaken audits of large corporations and reduce California revenue, and asked about VITA and ITIN filers; FTB said it was not aware of VITA reductions, noted ITIN returns are processed the same as other returns, and said ITIN filing appeared slightly down this year. The Department of Finance said it is monitoring federal developments, summarized the continuing resolution and reconciliation process, and noted that California lost nearly $940 million in earmarked federal projects under the CR, while major federal budget decisions remain uncertain until the President’s budget and later congressional action. The University of California reported substantial federal pressure on research, student aid, and health care. UC said hundreds of millions of dollars in federal awards have already been canceled, with additional threats to NIH and DOE facilities-and-administration rates, graduate fellowships, student loan repayment plans, international student visas, Pell Grants, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal funding. Committee members pressed UC on the effects of DEIA-related federal restrictions, the loss of clinical trials and research staff, and the impact on low-income students and patients. UC said it is pursuing litigation with the Attorney General and other institutions, but emphasized that court action is only a temporary solution and that sustained state and private support may be needed. The second panel addressed the fiscal consequences of AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims against public agencies. FCMAT presented a report with 22 recommendations, including better statewide data collection, financing mechanisms, a possible victims compensation fund, and prevention measures. Los Angeles County described a tentative $4 billion settlement tied to AB 218 claims, saying it will require reserves, borrowing, and long-term annual payments through 2050, while also forcing curtailments and cuts to vacant positions to preserve services. Members discussed insurance pools, retroactive premiums, unidentified future claims, and the need for a compensation fund or other financing tools. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with public comment, including testimony from local health officials about nearly $400 million in terminated federal public health grants and the resulting layoffs and service impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• transporting passengers and delivering goods commercially in places like California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas
• Texas and Michigan.
• Texas just updated this law in a certain respect for operations to have a process by which, if there
• It is not Texas. Our roads are more complex. Our traffic is denser.
• AVs are a part of a broader mobility ecosystem that augments and expands good jobs across our economy

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on autonomous vehicle technology in California, with testimony from industry, safety advocates, first responders, drivers, and state regulators. The chair framed the hearing as an overview of AV deployment, safety, first responder interactions, and current and future regulation. Witnesses from the AV industry argued that autonomous vehicles can reduce crashes and injuries, create jobs, and support California’s leadership in innovation, while critics and crash survivors described serious safety failures, including phantom braking, inadequate transparency, and crashes involving Tesla’s Autopilot/Full Self-Driving systems. Several witnesses urged stronger disclosure, data preservation, independent safety validation, and clearer accountability for companies deploying these systems. First responder and labor witnesses described operational problems in San Francisco and elsewhere, saying AVs have blocked fire engines, ambulances, and police responses, shut down in emergency scenes, and caused major delays during outages. They asked for faster and more reliable remote support, a public safety manual override, clearer enforcement authority, and limits on deployment in complex conditions. A police chief representative said law enforcement supports innovation but needs standardized protocols, training, and clear statutory authority. A Teamsters representative criticized proposed DMV rules for heavy-duty autonomous trucks, arguing they rely too heavily on manufacturer self-certification and do not impose enough independent safety review or geographic limits. State regulators from the DMV and CPUC defended California’s existing AV framework, saying the state has regulated AVs since 2014 and now has an end-to-end system with permits, reporting requirements, enforcement tools, and first responder coordination. DMV officials said the new rulemaking would add more reporting, address heavy-duty AVs, and require compliance with emergency geofence messages and law enforcement direction. CPUC testimony emphasized that its role is limited to passenger service and ride-hail operations. Committee members asked about crash data, remote operations, liability, response times, and whether California should adopt more uniform standards and stronger guardrails. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• transporting passengers and delivering goods commercially in places like California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas
• transporting passengers and delivering goods commercially in places like California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas
• Texas and Michigan.
• It is not Texas. Our roads are more complex. Our traffic is denser.
• AVs are a part of a broader mobility ecosystem that augments and expands good jobs across our economy

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Kiara Nixon, Equal Ground Action Fund. Thank you.
• funds.
• Tested claims bill for local funds in the amount of $500,000 payable from unencumbered funds of Miami-Dade
• I think it is meant to harass and chill access to funding.
• I think it is meant to harass and chill kind of access to funding.

Summary: The Committee on Rules met and first approved several open-government sunset repeal bills and related measures. SB 7024 and SB 7026, both sponsored by Senator Mayfield, were explained as consolidating and extending public records/public meetings exemptions for cybersecurity information and trade secrets held by agencies; both were reported favorably. SB 7020, sponsored by Senator Trumbull, reenacted an aquaculture records exemption for records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and was also reported favorably. Later, the committee approved SB 14 and SB 24, claims bills for relief involving Miami-Dade County, and SB 16, a claims bill for Heriberto Sanchez Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg; all were reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved CS for SB 806, a consumer right-to-repair bill creating portable wireless device and agricultural equipment repair acts, despite opposition from several industry groups, and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we, the, the fund is for all behavioral health services.
• There's a funding mechanism, and then there's what agency has the funding. Um, in, uh.
• There's also a lot of funding uh for housing that was separate.
• There's um funding for corrections that was separate.
• There's funding for education that was separate.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the bigger solution is to fix our K fund the bigger solution is to fix our K fund funding<00:53:
• </c><01:12:27.600><c> and</c> communities are now in Texas and communities are now in Texas and Louisiana
• </c><01:24:55.920><c> So</c> to a federal facility in Texas also.
• So to a federal facility in Texas also.
• Um, and I think the places like Texas.

Bills: HF4077 , HF3798 , HF3886

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce Solutions got 17 million over three years from that fund to focus on the areas that the fund
• And so we were able to invest some of that fund, 500,000, in the Northern New Mexico Youth Fund.
• me the parameters of the fund?
• As part of our funding agreement With the youth fund, we have a seat on that scoring table.
• So those funds.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee