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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Human Services Committee Mar 25th, 2025

Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • California Coalition in support. Thank you.
  • Jen Rex Road with California Alliance of Caregivers, in support.
  • Ann Quirk, Children's Law Center of California, in support.
  • Jen Rex Road, California Alliance of Caregivers, in support.
  • John Benton, on behalf of First Five of California, in support.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard several bills focused on foster youth, public benefits, housing stability, and poverty reduction. AB 373 would require attorneys in extended foster care dependency cases to represent the expressed wishes of non-minor dependents ages 18 to 21 rather than substituting their own judgment. Supporters, including California Youth Connection and the Children’s Law Center, said the bill would respect young adults’ autonomy; there was no opposition. The committee later approved AB 42, which would exempt merit-based scholarships, grants, loans, and fellowships from income calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh, with supporters arguing that students should not lose benefits for pursuing education. The bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 534, which would help transitional housing providers serving foster youth move from leasing to owning properties by extending contract terms and improving access to financing. Supporters said ownership would create more stable, affordable housing and reduce landlord barriers; there was no opposition. AB 562, a family-finding measure, would require counties below statewide placement averages to use a checklist and work with the Center for Excellence for Family Finding to improve relative placements for foster children. Testimony emphasized the importance of family-first placements and better county accountability, and the bill passed unanimously. AB 661 would direct the Department of Social Services to develop a plan for a permanent statewide guaranteed basic income program, drawing on local pilot programs and input from experts and participants. Supporters described the program as a way to improve economic security, housing stability, and access to education and health care, while one committee member voted no and the bill passed 5-2. The committee also adopted a consent calendar containing several additional bills, and all measures taken up during the hearing were reported out to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Apr 1st, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Welcome to the California Assembly.
  • This bill authorizes the California Fair Plan to request the California Infrastructure and Economic Development
  • California has some of the worst.
  • So many folks cannot afford to live in California.
  • very best of California.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Aug 27th, 2026

Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Tisha Watts with the California Housing Partnership.
  • Since 2001, the California Housing Partnership has found that California has lost over 17,000 subsidized
  • Since 2001, the California Housing Partnership has found that California has lost over 17,000 subsidized
  • , Southern California, and rural communities.
  • Marina Espinoza with the California Housing Consortium.
Bills: AB306 , AB750 , AB956 , AB1128 , AB2181
Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee met as a subcommittee and later established quorum to hear five housing-related bills. AB 306 (Schultz) would create a centralized statewide process for resolving disputes over differing local interpretations of the state building code; it drew no testimony in opposition and was ultimately concurred in. AB 750 (Quirk-Silva) would expand HCD’s Portfolio Reinvestment Program to help preserve and rehabilitate challenged affordable housing developments; supporters emphasized the loss of subsidized units and the need to preserve existing stock, and the bill passed unanimously. AB 2181 (Zbur) would limit use of speculative density-bonus assumptions in appraisals for hotel and motel ground leases, with supporters saying it protects workers and prevents inflated valuations; it also passed unanimously. The committee then heard AB 1128 (Marisicci), a gut-and-amend bill that, after Senate amendments, would apply mobile home rent stabilization to 10 mobile home parks in Torrance. Supporters, including the Mobile Home Residents Coalition, said the measure would provide predictable rent increases for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families. Opponents argued it would override local control and discourage investment and new park construction. Members debated the broader policy of rent control versus housing supply, and the bill passed on a 7-4 vote with one not voting. Finally, AB 956 (Quirk-Silva) clarified accessory dwelling unit law by allowing up to two detached ADUs, or one detached ADU plus one JADU, so long as existing size, height, setback, and safety requirements are met. Supporters described it as a modest clarification that would help families add housing on their own property, while one member objected that local agencies should retain more discretion. The bill passed unanimously. At the end of the hearing, members and staff offered extensive praise for Quirk-Silva’s housing work, noting that AB 956 was likely her last bill before the committee, and the committee adjourned after final roll-call votes were completed.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Jul 16th, 2025

Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's around 32% across the California average.
  • We have Casey Johnson from the Consumer Attorneys of California and Sarah Flocks, California Labor Federation
  • And in California, it's $300,000.
  • It's building California.
  • Workers of the State of California, in full support.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • issues, and the California Department of Social Services.
  • The California Department of Aging has three issues, and the California Department of Social Services
  • The state of California is back.
  • The state of California is back.
  • Across California, the system is already under strain.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • California.
  • The cost of business in California is expensive.
  • The cost of business in California is expensive.
  • We're taking this tour throughout California. I'm sorry.
  • We import and export so much of our resources in California.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact held an informational hearing in Paramount as part of its “Pocketbook Tour,” focused on affordability, cost pressures, and household impacts in Los Angeles County. The first panel centered on workers and learners, with testimony from the UCLA Labor Center and the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board. Speakers described how rising living costs, tuition, and low wages force many students to work long hours, often in unrelated, low-wage jobs, while struggling with food, rent, bills, anxiety, and limited financial aid. Recommendations included expanding state-funded work study, creating a statewide internship tax credit for small businesses, improving financial aid formulas to reflect regional cost of living, increasing flexibility for students, and strengthening worker-rights education and career pathways. The second panel focused on microbusinesses and small business affordability. Testimony from microenterprise advocates, the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network, and local business owners described rising commercial rents, labor costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, insurance, utilities, and disaster-related pressures as major threats to small businesses. Witnesses emphasized that small businesses are central to local economies and asked the state to expand technical assistance, low-interest financing, disaster support, supply-chain development, and community-based outreach. They also urged more intentional support for microbusinesses and home-based entrepreneurs, including networks that connect them to resources and help them build collective buying power. Committee members asked about possible state actions, including tax credits for hiring local workers or interns, support for trades and apprenticeships, and ways to partner more closely with SBDCs and chambers of commerce. Public comment echoed the hearing themes, with speakers highlighting student hardship, nonprofit mental health funding, renewable energy jobs and internships, and the need for state support for clean-energy incentives. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with closing remarks and adjournment at 11:05 a.m.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the Executive Director of the California Energy Commission.
  • It is sitting in a federal account earmarked for California.
  • It is a— I mean, if you asked where should California be?
  • I'm a deputy director at California Energy.
  • I am Brian White on behalf of Offshore Wind in California.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We don't just face wildfires across California.
  • We don't just face wildfires across California.
  • But California professional...
  • But California professional firefighters did support it.
  • California has an opportunity to lead.
Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the rising cost and long delivery times for fire apparatus and related equipment, with opening remarks stressing that aging fleets, supply chain problems, and delayed replacements are affecting emergency readiness across California. Cal OES and Cal Fire described statewide procurement challenges, including higher prices, multi-year delivery timelines, two-year encumbrance limits, and the strain on mutual aid when engines remain in service beyond their intended replacement cycles. Cal Fire said it operates 537 engines, with 300 meeting replacement criteria and 243 at least 16 years old, and explained the difference between mandatory contracts and one-time acquisitions. The Department of General Services said vendors have cited labor costs, chassis pricing, and the need for longer production timelines, while also noting that statewide contracts can include nominal price increases but not open-ended price hikes. Local fire chiefs from Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles County, Napa, and Fullerton testified that apparatus prices have risen sharply while delivery times have stretched from under a year to three to five years or more. They described specific examples of engines and ladder trucks costing far more than prior purchases and arriving years later, forcing departments to keep older reserve apparatus in service, spend more on maintenance, and defer other budget priorities. Several witnesses said industry consolidation has reduced competition and contributed to delays and price increases, with Los Angeles County and Fullerton noting they have pursued antitrust complaints and litigation against major manufacturers. Napa also described proprietary parts and software limiting in-house repairs, and Santa Barbara County said a vendor’s unfulfilled delivery promise caused the department to lose its place in line. Members asked about possible solutions, including whether the state should consider manufacturing apparatus itself, whether procurement rules or prototype requirements could be streamlined, whether DGS staffing or contract processes could be accelerated, and whether more stable long-term purchasing commitments would help manufacturers plan production. Witnesses said safety-driven specification changes are necessary but can add time, and that the main bottlenecks are industry capacity, consolidation, and vendor performance. The vice chair raised concerns about how grant funding windows and local matching requirements are affected by multi-year delays, especially for small and rural departments that rely on grants and on used apparatus passed down from larger agencies. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with committee members indicating interest in possible legislative, regulatory, and antitrust follow-up.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • She was just inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame. So congratulations.
  • We did an event with the Southern California Food Bank.
  • when they move to California to train.
  • They moved to California to train.
  • You can note that many of the agencies are right here in the state of California.
Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, with opening remarks from Assembly Members Tina McKinnor and Chris Ward emphasizing the Games’ cultural, economic, and statewide significance. Members highlighted opportunities for arts and culture, tourism, and community participation, while also noting the need for orderly proceedings and public cooperation. LA28 leaders Reynolds Hoover and Janet Evans described the organizing committee’s structure, the scale of the event, and its goals of delivering a fiscally responsible, no-build Games centered on athletes, sustainability, and legacy benefits. LA28 testified that the Games will be the largest in Olympic history, with more than 15,000 athletes, over 800 events, more than 50 venues, and a budget of $7.2 billion. They discussed venue plans, the athlete village at UCLA, the addition of new sports such as cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash, and baseball/softball arrangements, and the first Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Members asked about fashion and merchandising, faith-based participation, venue upgrades, housing, small business opportunities, environmental goals, and athlete mental health. LA28 said it is prioritizing local and small business participation, has launched youth sports and volunteer initiatives, and is working with the IOC on mental health support and with venue owners on improvements. City of Los Angeles representative Paul Corcoran outlined the city’s role in maximizing economic benefit and long-term legacy through the Mayor’s “Games for All” vision, including accessibility, human rights, youth sports, arts and culture, and transportation improvements. He said the city is using tools like RAMP, Compete for L.A., business source centers, and procurement and financing programs to help local businesses participate, and that the city is seeking broader support for arts and culture programming tied to the Cultural Olympiad. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins described transit planning for a “transit-first” Games, including the Games-Enhanced Transit Service, borrowing about 1,700 buses from agencies nationwide, and asking the state for $379 million in construction funding for legacy transit projects. She said all projects are environmentally cleared and expected to be ready in time for the Games, while members raised concerns about traffic, multilingual wayfinding, and the need for strong public messaging to reduce congestion. Public comment urged that the Games be experienced beyond venues and across communities, and no formal votes were taken.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Raquel Mason with the California Environmental Justice Alliance.
  • We've seen the fruits of this in California.
  • Mark Stivers with the California Housing Partnership in support.
  • Divya Shiv with Housing California in strong support.
  • Kareem Dresi, on behalf of the California Building Industry Association.
Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills and moved most of them forward. SB 655 (Stern) would establish a state policy that residential units should be able to maintain a safe maximum indoor temperature, with supporters citing extreme heat deaths and the need for statewide guidance. Members raised concerns about the lack of a specific temperature standard and possible impacts on the electric grid, but the bill passed the committee 8-0 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 634 (Perez), which would bar state and local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances that punish people or organizations for providing basic survival services to unhoused people. Supporters, including people with lived experience and homelessness advocates, argued that criminalizing food, water, blankets, and outreach prolongs homelessness and harms vulnerable residents; opponents from some cities and counties warned about limits on local control. The bill passed 8-2. SB 772 (Cabaldon) would continue and expand the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program by better supporting walkability, transit, and climate-resilient infrastructure for infill housing; it passed 8-0. The committee also considered SB 838 (Dutraslo/DeRazzo), which would keep the Housing Accountability Act focused on housing by excluding transient lodging from housing streamlining protections. Supporters said some developers have used housing laws to fast-track hotel projects instead of homes, while opponents worried the bill could be too broad and limit mixed-use financing. After discussion about possible clarifying amendments, the bill passed 8-2 to Local Government. Several consent items—SB 484, SB 489, SB 686, and SB 724—also passed unanimously.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Aug 28th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill would allow students at the University of California, California State University, and California
  • within the California Department of Social Services.
  • California children do not use... ...own research has shown to be harmful.
  • California children do not use only one app. The law cannot either.
  • know today as California EnviroVoters, for over 20 years.
Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer reflecting on Hiroshima and the dangers of nuclear war, and then proceeded through a long daily and concurrence file. Early floor action included SB 259 on protecting vote-by-mail ballots from interference, which drew debate over election security and mail voting access; the bill ultimately passed with a 54-vote urgency threshold and was transmitted immediately. The chamber also approved SB 1090 on temporary Altadena housing-density relief after the Eaton Fire, SB 1168 on data centers paying utility infrastructure costs, SB 1111 on AI digital replicas, SB 811 on metal shredding regulation, and SB 1078 on gift card cash redemption rules, among others. The concurrence file included many mostly technical or policy-focused Senate amendments. Members concurred in amendments on bills covering pupil safety, municipal utility districts, state employees, housing, professions, local district governance, school communication rules, environmental review of coal terminals, landfill data transparency, criminal procedure, public post-secondary access for undocumented students, workforce development, recovery housing, Native American student data reporting, overdose response in schools, and more. Several measures drew brief opposition or split votes, including AB 40 on coal terminal review, AB 2227 on farm labor contractor protections, and AB 2015 on map apps and local streets. The most extensive debate came on AB 2, the social media platform liability bill, where supporters described harms to children from addictive design, fentanyl sales, cyberbullying, and exploitation, while framing the bill as a response to platform negligence and recent settlements. The Assembly also took up AB 2313 on gas service replacement and home electrification, with sharp disagreement over consumer choice, affordability, and decarbonization. In addition to legislation, the body paused for an adjournment in memory of Jose Luis Rocha and recognized Brenda Thibodeau Harris for her long service to the Legislature.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 13th, 2026

Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • California is—we're looking at California jurisdiction and partnership with the federal government under
  • That's the California Victim Compensation Board.
  • My local police department was part of the, part of the Northern California Center.
  • My local police department was part of the Northern California Center.
  • Symphony Barbie, on behalf of the ACLU California Action, here to support SB 957.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I am the University of California representative on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
  • In the state as large as California.
  • Recruitment and retention strategy for California.
  • Good morning, Sarah Lillis with Teach Plus California.
  • I'm Andrew Avila on behalf of Early Edge California.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Health Committee Feb 18th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • In California.
  • California has that same choice to make today.
  • In doing so, [California] would align California law with FDA's science-based efforts in this space.
  • I'm a member, I live in central California, Placerville. I live in central California, Placerville.
  • I live in central California, Placerville.
Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), focusing on public health risks, overdose deaths, and regulatory gaps in California. The chair opened by noting that FDA and CDPH consider kratom and 7-OH products unlawful, yet they remain widely sold in smoke shops, vape stores, gas stations, and convenience stores. Members referenced AB 1088, which would be considered later, and said the hearing was intended to clarify the science, medical perspective, and whether stronger safeguards are needed. The first panel featured a toxicology expert, state and local public health officials, an emergency/addiction physician, a medical examiner, and county health representatives. Witnesses from CDPH and Los Angeles County described rising deaths and enforcement actions, including statewide advisories, retailer letters, and product removals from manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Medical testimony emphasized that 7-OH acts much more like an opioid than traditional kratom leaf, can cause dependence, withdrawal, and respiratory depression, and may require naloxone, buprenorphine, or methadone in overdose or withdrawal cases. Local officials said enforcement is difficult because packaging is inconsistent, testing capacity is limited, and counties lack resources and statewide infrastructure; they generally favored a centralized state framework if regulation is pursued. Committee members asked about testing, age restrictions, scheduling, and whether a distinction between kratom and 7-OH could be enforced. Witnesses said forensic labs can potentially test for 7-OH but validated assays are not routine, emergency departments cannot readily distinguish exposures, and local health departments do not have the lab capacity to verify product labels. Several officials warned that a ban or abrupt scheduling could push products into the black market and discourage research, while others argued that current prohibition and enforcement are the most protective approach because legalization or age-limited regulation could create confusion about legality and safety. The second panel included kratom and 7-OH advocates and industry representatives, who argued that natural kratom leaf and concentrated or synthetic 7-OH are different products and should be regulated differently. They supported age-gating, labeling, testing, and packaging rules for kratom leaf while opposing a ban on the botanical. They said 7-OH is used by many adults for pain relief or harm reduction, and that prohibition would drive consumers to illicit markets and worsen harm. Committee members pressed them on whether 7-OH is more potent than kratom, the availability of testing, and whether any safe dose is known. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, with the chair noting the issue will continue to be considered in future legislation.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • or making conservation a California way of life.
  • Look, I want industry in California. We all want industry in California. We want jobs.
  • I've pulled out some of the results for California.
  • I'm not representing the University of California.
  • Beth Olaso, on behalf of Water Reuse California.
Summary: The informational hearing focused on California’s future water supply and, in particular, how the state tracks and manages commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water use, including data centers. The chair and members framed the issue as a “trifecta” of climate-driven supply uncertainty, limited monitoring of CII uses, and rapidly changing industries with significant water demands. Committee members emphasized the need for better data before imposing broad regulations, while also expressing concern about protecting ratepayers and ensuring new large users pay their fair share. Representatives from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board reviewed the state’s existing framework: urban water management plans, water supply assessments for large projects, SBX7-7’s 20% by 2020 conservation goals, and the 2018 Making Conservation a California Way of Life law. They explained that process water, including data center cooling water, is statutorily excluded from some conservation targets, and that current CII reporting is aggregated rather than facility-specific. They also noted that local water suppliers and land use agencies retain major responsibility for approving development, while state rules and groundwater sustainability requirements provide additional checks. Committee members pressed the agencies on whether data centers should be treated differently, how recycled water is categorized, whether process water should remain exempt, and whether the state has enough information to understand the water impacts of new facilities. The agencies said they could not recommend specific water sources for individual facilities, but could support community-by-community planning and best management practices. They also said the Legislature could direct additional data collection if needed. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only. The second panel, from CalWEP and California Water Service, described how suppliers are implementing CII programs in practice. They said CII use varies widely by sector and location, making one-size-fits-all benchmarks difficult. They highlighted tools such as AI-assisted customer classification, mapping of disclosure buildings, outreach guides, and customized rebate programs for high-use customers. Examples included water-saving projects at a hydrogen plant, a commercial laundry, and fire department training systems. Speakers stressed that CII conservation work is resource-intensive, often takes years, and works best when paired with local planning, customer outreach, and targeted incentives.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee May 12th, 2026

Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:
  • The California Earthquake Authority is a lean, efficient operation.
  • California is not unique here.
  • And for Southern California Edison, it was $16.5 million.
  • Edison would be fully reimbursed through the California Wildfire Fund.
  • Melissa Sparks Cranz with the League of California Cities.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • The rates across California.
  • For its support of the populations we serve in California.
  • California has a disaster guide.
  • Jordan Lindsay with the Arc of California and the Arc of United Cerebral Palsy California collaboration
  • I'm the president of the California Respite Association.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Single-family homes across California. What's the annual cost?
  • We help to, we administer the California Peer Run Warm Line.
  • Caroline Grinder, on behalf of the League of California Cities.
  • Carol Sewell from the California Elder Justice Coalition, and also speaking on behalf of the California
  • California Coalition of Crisis Centers.
Summary: The subcommittee heard budget and policy updates from the Department of State Hospitals, the Commission for Behavioral Health, and the Department of Health Care Services. DSH described its proposed 2026-27 budget of $3.2 billion, including savings tied to IST solutions, higher patient-driven operating costs, and a small increase in caseload projections. Officials said the department has met court-ordered IST treatment benchmarks, with wait times reduced from a pandemic peak of 1,953 pending placements to about 250, and average treatment initiation now around five days. Members asked about the effects of Proposition 36 and SB 1323, rising outside hospitalization costs, Medicare enrollment, and whether IST solution funding was being overbudgeted; DSH said referrals are slightly down overall, aging and medically complex patients are driving outside care costs, and the IST solution savings reflect slower-than-expected program activation rather than a service gap. The department also outlined proposed funding for CONREP cost increases, a new county-by-county LPS bed allocation model, electrical infrastructure upgrades at Napa and Patton, SB 380 transitional housing feasibility work, and additional dental staffing and space at Metropolitan and Patton. The Commission for Behavioral Health reviewed its role in the Behavioral Health Services Act transition and its new Innovation Partnership Fund. Staff said the commission is shifting from county-level innovation oversight to a statewide grant strategy, with the first $20 million RFA drawing strong interest and awards expected in mid-June. Members asked how “innovation” would be defined, whether grants could be renewed after the initial three-year contracts, and how the state would ensure the money supports real service delivery rather than general outreach or training. The commission also sought a liquidation deadline extension for the Alcove youth drop-in center grants so remaining funds can be spent before they revert, allowing sites to finish implementation and support the final evaluation. DHCS provided an overview of CalAIM and BH Connect implementation, including updated specialty mental health access criteria, new ASAM-based substance use treatment standards, contingency management, traditional health care practices for tribal members, workforce investments, evidence-based practice expansion, IMD participation, and transitional rent services. The department also addressed BHSA implementation, saying it does not track specific local program cuts but will monitor county three-year plans, performance measures, and outcomes as counties shift to the new funding structure. On H.R. 1, DHCS said it is preparing outreach, eligibility simplification, and exemption strategies to reduce Medi-Cal coverage losses, including clinic navigators, a statewide outreach campaign, and possible employment supports through a future waiver. The department also reported that BH-CHIP bond funds have supported 437 infrastructure projects, creating 546 facilities and more than 9,500 residential beds, with additional outpatient capacity and tribal investments. Finally, DHCS outlined a proposed 988 trailer bill to create a statewide designation process for 988 centers and mobile crisis teams, with implementation no earlier than October 1, 2027.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Mar 3rd, 2026

Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:
  • Co-ops are not really an issue in most of California... ...not really an issue in most of California,
  • The California Public Utilities Commission, or California PUC, CPC, is the economic regulator of investor-owned
  • And so as investors are looking at California utilities, they're evaluating California utilities in their
  • This is not unique to California.
  • California Utility Employees.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s role. Chair and members framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while maintaining reliability and keeping bills affordable. The hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and the Public Advocates Office, with testimony from Professor Severin Borenstein and CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds. Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining that generation is largely deregulated while transmission and distribution remain regulated, and that most rate-setting follows cost-of-service regulation. He emphasized that the hardest issue is setting the allowed return on equity: too high can raise bills and encourage capital-heavy spending, while too low can deter investment and harm reliability. He argued there is no silver bullet, said performance-based regulation and price caps have limits, and suggested some costs now charged through electric bills—such as climate programs, low-income subsidies, and wildfire-related public policy costs—might more appropriately be paid through the state budget. Reynolds described the CPUC’s oversight role, saying the commission reviews utility spending through general rate cases, balancing accounts, and other proceedings, and that affordability is addressed through front-end scrutiny, post-spend accountability, and legislative direction. She highlighted wildfire mitigation as a major driver of rate increases, noted recent progress on clean energy procurement and battery storage, and said the CPUC is working on return-on-equity decisions, FERC advocacy on transmission costs, and implementation of SB 254 and other statutes. Members pressed on a range of issues, including wildfire securitization, load growth from EVs and data centers, gas-system stranded assets, balancing accounts, and a water-service dispute in Keene involving Union Pacific. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up commitments from the CPUC to provide data and updates.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee Jan 13th, 2026

Elections and Constitutional Amendments

Transcript Highlights:
  • Plainly put, our election systems have been under attack in California.
  • In addition, his followers at the Department of Justice are suing at least one county in California.
  • However, in California, this authority is in question because of a 2010 California Court of Appeals decision
  • But this doesn't have to be the case in California.
  • But putting that aside, putting that aside, we want to make sure in California that is law.