Transcript Highlights:

• Its members comprise the overwhelming majority of pet health insurance providers in North America and
• Kind of what was the source of charging those tanks?
• They rely on static water sources to fight fire, so rivers and lakes and ponds, things of that nature
• He spent three weeks in the ICU after birth and had major surgeries at three months old.
• For many of us, graduate assistantships and teaching positions are our only source of income.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing with about 43 witnesses and a 1:00 p.m. hard stop, and the chair repeatedly asked speakers to keep testimony to three minutes. Much of the hearing focused on S. 747/H. 1336, which would extend paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers. Supporters included legislators, union leaders, graduate workers from MIT, Harvard, BU, WPI, UMass Lowell, and others, and legal advocates. They argued graduate workers perform full-time teaching and research work, pay taxes, and should not be excluded from basic safety-net benefits; several witnesses described personal hardships involving childbirth, serious illness, mental health crises, funding cuts, or fear of losing income. Testifiers also said the change would be revenue-neutral or revenue-generating and would not create major administrative burdens for universities, which already provide similar benefits to other employees. The committee also heard testimony on insurance-related bills. Christopher Stock of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported H. 1113 on public adjusters and H. 1345/S. 753 on flood-zone notifications for homebuyers, but opposed H. 4112, which would add a $2 surcharge on home insurance policies to fund fire cistern programs. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council strongly supported H. 1345, saying flood disclosure is needed because Massachusetts lacks statewide flood-notification requirements and flooding risks are increasing. Karen Alvarado supported H. 4352 on travel insurance, and John Fielding supported H. 1186 on pet insurance; both said the bills would create uniform regulatory frameworks and consumer protections. Rep. LeBoeuf testified for H. 4061 on workers’ compensation premium fraud, describing the bill as a transparency measure to combat fraud in construction by creating a public certificate-of-insurance database and QR-code verification system. Joe Bright of the carpenters’ union also supported H. 4061, citing fraud, misclassification, and the harm to injured workers. The hearing also included testimony on H. 4112, a bill to create a statewide fire suppression water resource fund and cistern program. Rep. Hogan and a Stowe fire chief described drought, brush fires, and the need for dedicated cisterns in communities without municipal water systems, saying the tanks provide reliable water for firefighting and are relatively low-tech once installed. Committee members asked questions about tank capacity, siting, maintenance, and funding. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The last or the major point that we've been speaking of is the pressures.
• We've lost a major... we have a major oil and gas global that has told me, 'Y'all change your mind all
• I would assume that it is because they're going to go to the food sources.
• So I think that's a major distinction between the two instruments.
• Tensas Parish in 2022, and to date that’s where the majority of detections have occurred.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• We have lost about six or seven major food processors in the last two, two and a half years, with a lot
• has been written in policy in six major WDFW documents stating about the 10-year rolling average.
• They're a very stable food source, a necessary food source.
• We're going to follow up with more of this data along with the sources that we use to compile it.
• We're going to follow up with more of this data along with the sources that we use to compile it.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2619, which would create a joint legislative task force to review and recommend ways to reduce regulatory burdens in agriculture, and on House Joint Memorial 4009, which asks Congress to ensure federal wildfire response agencies remain capable of protecting communities, natural resources, and firefighter safety. On HB 2619, the prime sponsor and supporters from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, cattle, wheat, potato, onion, and dairy interests said the bill responds to farm stress and suicide concerns by examining regulatory overload; WSDA supported the concept but noted a fiscal note, and members discussed whether the task force scope and cost could be reduced before policy cutoff. On HJM 4009, staff and the sponsor described the memorial as a request for stronger federal wildfire capacity and coordination, with testimony from tribes, counties, forest landowners, conservation groups, and public employees emphasizing wildfire risk, smoke impacts, and the importance of federal-state cooperation; the committee also repeatedly tied the memorial to support for state wildfire funding under 1168 and heard broad support for restoring that funding. The committee then took up House Bill 2221, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and begin predator mitigation when certain population declines occur, while also requiring annual reporting and white-tailed deer surveys. The sponsor argued the bill addresses rapidly declining deer and elk herds, predator pressure, food security, and rural economies in northeast Washington. Supporters included some local residents, ranchers, sheriffs, county officials, and the Colville Tribes, who said predators, livestock conflicts, and reduced hunting opportunity are harming communities and that the state should act more aggressively. Opponents included WDFW staff, Washington Wildlife First, the Sierra Club, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and other conservation voices, who said the bill is not scientifically supported, would be costly, and wrongly blames predators rather than habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions; several said predator control would have limited value and could undermine wolf recovery. Some agricultural and sportsmen groups supported the bill in principle but asked for amendments, especially to remove or revise the in-state wolf translocation provision. No final votes or executive action were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next page talks about the other major risk that we think is facing the state budget, or the major
• You know, this is a good breakdown of all of our revenue sources and all these things.
• So of all the revenue sources, it shows the percent change over time.
• So that's, I think, a major factor. Okay.
• It came from a variety of different sources, and the Assembly Member spoke to this on the floor.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee opened its hearing on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget with remarks emphasizing the start of a months-long process, the need for fiscal responsibility, and concerns about structural deficits, federal funding losses, housing and homelessness, and oversight. The vice chair echoed those concerns, warning against budgets built on short-term fixes and urging accountability. The Department of Finance presented a balanced budget year proposal of about $349 billion in total expenditures, including $248 billion General Fund, while acknowledging a structural imbalance in the out years and proposing a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. Finance said the budget relies on stronger-than-expected revenues, but also on constitutional obligations such as Proposition 98 and Proposition 2, and on suspending a rainy-day fund true-up deposit to cover a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit. The administration highlighted higher education funding, climate and wildfire resilience investments, a new ZEV incentive, added Health and Human Services costs tied to H.R. 1, child care funding, and three tax proposals: third-party delivery tax compliance, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. The LAO, by contrast, warned that the budget is “precariously balanced,” cited downside risk from stock market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to use reserves, avoid suspending rainy-day deposits, and begin shrinking multi-year deficits sooner rather than later. Member questions focused on wildfire mitigation and insurance, transit and GGRF funding, federal cuts affecting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, the proposed tax credits, homelessness accountability language, and education funding. Several members pressed for earlier partnership on deficit solutions and for more scrutiny of budget choices. The committee also discussed declining enrollment in K-12, community colleges, and CSU, with concerns about whether funding formulas are aligned with actual student demand. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• said, and I quote, 'A brief exposition of the constitution will unfold' to young people the genuine source
• it is the sincere desire of this rider that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source
• You can go through 1f,000 different documents right now and primary sources that talk about the founders
• I don't have the source here, but they show that in this study, 14% of teachers reported being actually
• You know, out of the five core subjects, it is a majority male team.

Bills: SB843 , SB1733 , SB1476 , SB1237 , SB1410 , SB1894 , SB1272 , SB1204 , SB1721 , SB1725 , SB1735 , SB1337 , SB1339 , SB1461 , SB1975

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: school boards, educational governance, conflict of interest, employee relations, Oklahoma statutes, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, land office, land exchange, investment, education funding, real estate management, Teachers' Bill of Rights, education, teachers' rights

Transcript Highlights:

• The river is the main source of pollution to all of us.
• We're able to track these pollutants from these two major point sources.
• We're able to track these pollutants from these two major point sources.
• And typically, for all sources in San Diego County, we receive about 800 complaints per year.
• That's the source of all this.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Environmental committees held an informational hearing on the Tijuana River Valley pollution crisis, with members from both parties emphasizing that the problem is decades old, cross-border, and requires federal, state, local, and binational action. Opening remarks described the crisis as a major environmental and public health emergency affecting San Diego County beaches, air quality, marine life, tourism, and nearby communities. Assembly Member Boerner and Senator Jones both stressed the need for continued funding and cooperation, while Supervisor Paloma Aguirre outlined county efforts and called for urgent action on localized fixes and health protections. Aguirre described the scale of sewage flows from Tijuana, the long beach closures, and the county’s response, including warning signs, an air purifier distribution program, a planned epidemiological study, soil testing, and an economic impact study. She highlighted a “hot spot” near Saturn Boulevard where wastewater becomes airborne, citing elevated hydrogen sulfide levels, community illness reports, and proximity to schools and homes. Congressional staff reported that the federal delegation has secured more than $650 million for infrastructure and cleanup, supported legislation to strengthen federal watershed and IBWC programs, and pressed federal agencies for health investigations, air monitoring, and emergency declarations. Scripps scientists Dr. Sarah Giddings and Dr. Kimberly Prather presented research on water and air transport of pollution. Giddings described a five-day coastal water quality forecast model, supported by state funding, that tracks wastewater movement and helps predict beach closure risk; she said the model has about 72% accuracy and is being refined with ongoing measurements. Prather explained that polluted surf-zone spray and aerosols can carry bacteria, viruses, and gases into the air, and said her team’s measurements showed strong links between river flow, odor complaints, and hydrogen sulfide spikes, with a major drop after river diversion. She also said the team has identified thousands of airborne compounds and is studying their health implications. Dr. Paula Stigler Granados summarized public health findings, saying surveys and monitoring show nighttime exposure, sleep disruption, headaches, respiratory symptoms, anxiety, and other impacts, especially for children, workers, and older adults. She reported chemical analyses finding hundreds of contaminants in river water and a distinct chemical fingerprint at the Saturn hot spot, including evidence that pollutants infiltrate nearby homes. Sergio Dondina of Wild Coast focused on ecological and economic damage, beach loss, tire and trash pollution, and the community’s sense of being ignored. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• our state and our country to make sure that we are being good stewards of those public lands, and a major
• be some major forest fires given the be some major forest fires given the drought<00:30:51.320><c> or
• Senator Green, if you could name your source, that would be helpful to us.
• </c> without a li reliable locally sourced without a li reliable locally sourced Supply<01:04:16.160>
• </c> protecting our local aggregate sources protecting our local aggregate sources will<01:05:02.760>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• as well as groups like hired to sources as well as groups like hired to help<00:10:41.800><c> us</c>
• My grandfather was a great source of pride for our Indigenous communities, and he gave many of us the
• My grandfather was a great source of pride for our Indigenous communities, and he gave many of us the
• I recognize that you looked at the funding source and you said that there are three different sources
• I recognize that you looked at the funding source and you said that there are three different sources

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• So overall, I would say, you know, we have major challenges ahead.
• Again, so we want a major court case regarding the ESA. It's fact.
• Again, so we want a major court case regarding the ESA. It's fact.
• A major court case regarding the ESA. It's fact. There's no alternative facts.
• You're always there for us. look at the food source.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

Transcript Highlights:

• For another state highway fund revenue source, these are Proposition 1 from 2014.
• Our non-dedicated fund sources is just 1% or... about 1% of our overall budget.
• Unlike most DOTs, our state highway dollars make up the majority. of TxDOT's funding.
• And deliver projects based upon those revenue sources, so it would not cost the HB 1 bill.
• The majority of it, not all of it, but the majority of it is used. to draw down the federal funds.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• county fairs to use competitive bidding standards in the awarding of contracts and prohibit sole-source
• A recent investigation by the Los Angeles Times found... ...and prohibit sole-source contracting.
• I mean, this is a major generating source for revenue on property owned by the state.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and heard one bill, SB 1223 by Senator Padilla, after SB 1410 was pulled from the agenda. SB 1223 would require state and county fairs to use competitive bidding standards for contracts and prohibit sole-source contracting. The author and witness argued the bill was needed to close loopholes in the Public Contract Code, citing reported corruption and litigation involving fair contracts, including allegations that bid scores were altered and RFPs were written to favor a single bidder. The committee heard support testimony from the bill’s witness, who described the lawsuits and said some fair contracts had avoided competitive bidding for years. There was no opposition testimony. Committee members expressed support, noting that agricultural districts are state entities that should follow state contracting rules. The committee voted to do pass SB 1223 to the Appropriations Committee. The roll call was recorded as four votes in favor, with the bill placed on call for the absent member and then reported out 4-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• county fairs to use competitive bidding standards in the awarding of contracts and prohibit sole-source
• A recent investigation by the Los Angeles Times found... ...and prohibit sole-source contracting.
• I mean, this is a major generating source for revenue on property owned by the state.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's composed of basically three different revenue sources: general fund revenue, other transfers
• which is a component that we all are charged on our phone bills, but unfortunately, that revenue source
• If members of a subcommittee have significant concerns or major flags, they can flag them for me and
• It's really focused on schools around the state as the major interface with the public.
• The vast majority of our general fund is going to be in our Office of Guardianship, as you'll see.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And you see the source of funding.
• The the source of assembly each bianium.
• As you can see through our assessment, we did identify major deficiencies with this facility.
• As you can see through our assessment, we did identify major deficiencies with this facility.
• As you can see through our assessment, we did identify major deficiencies with this facility.

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary met without a quorum and heard an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on the judicial branch budget. AOC Director Zach Ramsey and budget director Carol Henderson outlined the branch’s current funding structure, noting that fiscal year 2026 general fund support is about 2.77% of the state general fund, below the National Center for State Courts’ typical 2% to 4% range. They emphasized Kentucky’s unusual responsibility for courthouse facilities, with the judicial branch directly involved in construction, maintenance, and operations across 229 facilities in all 120 counties. AOC said nearly 91% of its general fund is spent on personnel and other non-discretionary costs, and that the branch has long relied on agency revenue, restricted fund carryforwards, and vacancy credits to balance court operations. Members were told that Senate Bill 25 required a $34.5 million transfer into a reserve account, part of which was used to purchase the Chamberlain Avenue building in Frankfort. AOC reported that only $11.9 million remains in restricted funds, while it projects needing about $13.5 million to cover fiscal year 2026 obligations, not including roughly $9 million in flood-related remediation costs for Hardin and Franklin counties, much of which it expects to recover through insurance and FEMA. Looking ahead to the next biennium, AOC said it will seek full funding of court operations at $341 million annually, a $13.5 million increase to bring current services into the base appropriation rather than relying on reserves. It also previewed additional requests, including a 15% across-the-board pay parity plan for Kentucky Court of Justice personnel, replacement of declining master commissioner fee revenue tied to 141 deputy circuit court clerk positions, funding for technology subscription and case management system costs, JAV audiovisual system upgrades, AEDs and medical kits for courthouses, and other staffing and operational needs. Senator Funky Frommeyer asked whether the 15% salary proposal was included in the $13.5 million increase; AOC said it was not, and that it would be an additional request. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the three main sources for the HUD Uh the three main sources for the HUD fund,<00:52:24.240><c> HUTD
• Um few other minor sources of and fees.
• Uh, notably couple new revenue sources.
• </c><00:57:12.079><c> uh</c> while our primary revenue sources uh while our primary revenue sources uh
• Uh those ranged from fuel tax sources.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no other source from the state to fund them otherwise.
• There's no other source from the state to fund them otherwise.
• /c><00:55:00.160><c> Staff</c> majority of them majority of Staff majority of them majority of Staff
• I see the source is DEO.
• I see the source is DEO.

Summary: The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines. A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year. Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I believe that the vast majority, if not all, senators, That the vast majority, if not all, senators
• These are clearly major barriers, especially for providers in settings that lack resources.
• As a matter of fact, the majority of folks that I have spoken with about this bill or have read a bit
• Sugary drinks are one of the largest sources of added sugar in the American diet.
• Restaurants are a frequent source of food in American families.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health heard several bills focused on Medi-Cal access, HIV prevention, death certificate amendments, caregiver certification, advance care planning, and sugar-sweetened beverage labeling. SB 1422 by Senator Durazo would restore Medi-Cal access for income-eligible undocumented adults beginning January 1, 2027. The author and many supporters argued the enrollment freeze shifts costs to counties and hospitals, worsens health outcomes, and undermines California’s prior coverage gains. County, labor, health, immigrant-rights, and provider groups testified in support; there was no opposition. Committee members generally expressed support but also raised concerns about funding and the need for new revenue sources. The bill was discussed while the committee lacked quorum, so no vote was taken at that time. The committee also heard SB 1023 on PrEP access, SB 1071 on death certificate amendments after homicide findings, SB 1057 on criminal-history review for CNA and home health aide certification, and SB 1088 on POLST and advance care planning updates. SB 1023 would require insurers that cover injectable PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit; supporters said this would reduce administrative barriers and improve access, while health plans and insurers opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that could blur benefit design lines. SB 1071 would allow next of kin to amend a death certificate’s manner of death to homicide after a final court determination; families and law enforcement supported it as a matter of truth and closure, while coroners opposed it as blurring medical and legal findings and potentially distorting public health data. SB 1057 would replace automatic denial with individualized review for certain convictions in CNA and home health aide certification, and SB 1088 would modernize POLST/DNR rules, including electronic signatures, out-of-state recognition, and clarifying who may sign; both drew support, though clinical nurse specialists opposed SB 1088 because they were not included as authorized signers. Several of these bills were heard without quorum, so no votes were taken during the discussion. After quorum was established, the committee heard SB 869 by Senator Weber-Pierce, which would require large chain restaurants to display a clear added-sugar icon next to beverages exceeding 50% of the daily recommended limit. The author and supporters, including the American Diabetes Association and an emergency physician, said consumers need simple, visible information at the point of purchase to better understand health risks tied to sugary drinks. The bill was framed as a public health transparency measure aimed at diabetes, obesity, and other chronic disease prevention. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 869, before any final committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• What they have seen is a major influence on students leaving school early, getting correspondence work
• What we have seen is a major influence on leaving school early.
• The majority of them are M.J. Foster eligible for that funding.
• I think this would be another source that we could tap into—not only just another source, but a great
• other source.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first took up HB 987, which would move the Louisiana Geological Survey under the LSU Energy Institute to streamline energy-related programs. The author and members described it as an efficiency measure, and the committee reported the bill favorably without objection. Members then heard HB 513 on name, image, and likeness rules for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes. The bill was presented as a product of a task force and was supported by the Attorney General’s office, coaches, and a student athlete, who emphasized the need for guardrails, education, and protections against exploitation by agents or third parties. Questions focused on high school enforcement, parental consent, and what students may legally do; the committee ultimately reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered HCR 26, which asks BESE to incorporate the science of human growth and development, including prenatal development, into science or health standards and to provide instructional materials. Supporters said it would improve science education and show fetal development more clearly, while opponents raised concerns about medical accuracy, political influence, and lack of safeguards. An amendment requiring parental consent for instruction was offered but failed on a roll call vote, and the resolution was then reported favorably. Later, the committee reported HB 608 favorably as amended to protect confidentiality of documents tied to intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing, while preserving public disclosure of overall institutional spending. It also advanced HB 380, creating a pilot program to expand CDL workforce training through a community college and school partnership, and HB 392, which would require suicide hotline information on school websites, student ID cards, and, through amendment, visible signs in schools. The committee then reported HB 476 as amended, requiring Safe Haven law flyers in school restrooms, and began discussion of HB 682 to authorize veterans as school resource officers, with amendments addressing qualifications and training.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we see from this bar graph, the overwhelming majority of heat-related emergency department visits
• Families lose their source of income. Communities lose vital members. And it is all preventable.
• It wasn't a major fire, but the warning said to stay inside.
• Because the majority of us, like myself, do the caretaking.
• These really took over them, but the majority of the model at the time, which is direct payment from

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And while this progress is commendable, this still means that the vast majority of menus across the state
• Our dining program has also been recognized by the Humane Society for leadership in humane sourcing.
• Our dining program has also been recognized by the Humane Society for leadership in humane sourcing.
• You know, one piece of it is subsidies for soy and corn, which the majority of that goes to cattle feed
• Marketing, every single one of those, no matter what major might exist on this campus, there's going

Summary: The Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation held its second informational hearing at UCLA, focused on how California can expand alternative proteins through institutional food programs, market support, and research. Chair Ash Kalra said the committee’s purpose was to inform future legislation and budget actions, noting prior state investments in UC research centers and the committee’s interest in consumer education, sustainability, and student workforce development. The first panel highlighted efforts to increase plant-based options in schools, UCLA dining, and Los Angeles County food services, with witnesses describing menu changes, technical assistance, and procurement policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving access to healthier meals. Megan Jones of Friends of the Earth described California school food efforts, including technical assistance and microgrants that helped districts add plant-based meals, reduce water use and food costs, and increase student participation. Pete Angelese of UCLA Dining said the university serves more than 30,000 meals a day and has built a plant-forward dining model using alternative proteins, marketing nudges, and waste-tracking tools; he said sustainability goals raise costs but can be managed through scale and efficiency. Dr. Michelle Wood of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health outlined county board motions in 2024 and 2025 to expand plant-based food options in county venues and food assistance programs and to join the Cool Food Pledge, with early adoption in the sheriff’s jail food service. The second panel addressed barriers to scaling the industry. Zach Weston and Daniel Gertner said alternative proteins face a financing gap because companies need expensive facilities before demand is proven, and they urged grants, tax credits, loan guarantees, procurement commitments, and shared pilot infrastructure. T.K. Pillen of Beyond Meat said the category has faced a market downturn driven by overhyped expectations, negative messaging from the meat industry, and consumer confusion, and argued for reframing the category around “plant protein” and using public procurement to build demand. Members asked about subsidies for animal agriculture, supply-chain challenges, and the state’s loan guarantee cap, with witnesses saying current support structures favor conventional meat and that California could do more to keep manufacturing in-state. The final panel focused on research and workforce development at UCLA. Dr. Amy Rohat described a state-funded Future Food Fellows program and broader UC collaboration that now includes more than 50 faculty and trainees across multiple departments, with work spanning cell biology, engineering, food safety, and consumer communication. Corinne Smith, a UCLA PhD student, discussed her cultivated meat research and student outreach through the Alternative Proteins Project. Dr. Janet Tomiyama presented consumer psychology findings showing that disgust, gender norms, and language strongly affect acceptance, and said terms like “plant protein” and “cultivated meat” tested better than “fake meat.” Chair Kalra closed by emphasizing that language, policy, and public education will all be important to advancing alternative protein innovation in California.