Transcript Highlights:

• Like, did the voters turn it down in the past, or...?”
• “I have never heard of the authority to ask the voters for a sales tax that the local governments didn
• for now, and the goal is to limit the sales tax to what the ballot measure would actually tell the voters
• then it is possible the money can go to various municipalities and not go to the purpose that the voters

Committee: House Ways and Means

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met in executive session to consider House Bill 2379, which had a pre-distributed House Committee Substitute. The bill sponsor, Rep. Cecily Williams, explained that the substitute was revised to align with a Senate version and to clarify definitions, limit applicability to certain counties, rename the fund the Early Childhood Education Fund, expand eligible uses to include child care services, move fund custody to the county treasurer, broaden the types of eligible providers, and prioritize children with the greatest financial need. Members discussed how the measure would work in practice, with repeated clarification that it does not create a new tax but instead governs how locally approved early childhood sales tax revenue would be collected and distributed. Several members focused on whether the bill involved tax credits or a sales tax, whether any tax was already in place, and whether the money would otherwise go to general revenue. The sponsor and other members clarified that local governments already have authority to place an early childhood sales tax on the ballot, and the bill would require any revenue approved for that purpose to be deposited into a dedicated children’s service fund rather than diverted to general funds. Supporters, including Rep. Taylor and Rep. Wright, said the bill would improve transparency and ensure funds are used for the intended early childhood purpose, while Rep. Davis questioned the fairness of a sales tax that would be paid broadly but benefit only families with young children. Rep. Coleman also raised questions about the funding mechanism and remained uncertain during the discussion. The committee first adopted the House Committee Substitute by voice vote. It then voted on the substitute version of House Bill 2379 and passed it do pass by a roll call vote of 7 ayes and 2 noes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, did the voters turn it down in the past, or...?
• Sponsor: I have never heard of the authority to ask the voters for a sales tax that the local governments
• for now, and the goal is to limit the sales tax to what the ballot measure would actually tell the voters
• that, it is possible the money can go to various municipalities and not go to the purpose that the voters

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Um during that time period if the voter<05:18:14.798><c> the</c><05:18:15.040><c> voter</c><05:18:15.360
• voter could come and prove voter the voter could come and prove their<05:18:16.400><c> citizenship</
• Uh, gentlemen, I do appreciate your efforts for voter integrity, but this seems like voter suppression
• </c> access to our voter records. access to our voter records.
• </c> &gt;&gt; I don't know about access to our voter &gt;&gt; I don't know about access to our voter

Transcript Highlights:

• It's anti-democratic if local government entities create programs that the voters... voters don't like
• , they are accountable to their local voters.
• The local voters can vote them out if they do not like these policies or oppose them.
• accountability in a democracy and what we would like to see is these local policies be based on what the voters
• conflicts by prohibiting a home rule municipality from. submitting a proposed charter amendment to the voters

Bills: SB231 , SB667 , SB689 , SB825 , SB965 , SB992 , SB1059 , SB1220 , SB2368 , SB2601

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill undermines voter intent.
• The taxpayers and voters in New Mexico should decide that.
• House Bill 185 hands voter power to an appointed bureaucrat.
• House Bill 185 hands voter power to an appointed bureaucrat.
• Voters can recall board members. Boards can censure their own members, and they do.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• that permitting process more efficient for a very complex engineering project of the scale that the voters
• whether one of those decisions turns out to be more complicated than it was anticipated when the voters
• If voters in the impacted district approve a property tax levy lid lift, the impacted taxing district
• If a taxing district subsequently passes a voter-approved levy lid lift, the tax allocation base value
• If voters in the impacted district approve a property tax levy lid lift, the impacted taxing district

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2517, which would give regional transit authorities, especially Sound Transit, more flexible permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects. Staff and the bill sponsor said the goal is to let permit applications and technical reviews proceed concurrently with property acquisition and land use decisions, reducing delay and uncertainty for large transit projects. Sound Transit testified that the bill could save as much as nine months, while a city representative from Bothell asked for an amendment requiring notice to property owners before permits are advanced on land not yet owned or controlled by the agency. The committee then took testimony on HB 2313, concerning publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas. The bill would let cities acquire land, build or rehabilitate stores, seek capital grants, and create tax increment financing areas for grocery access projects, with annual reporting requirements. Supporters, including the sponsor, Food Lifeline, and Northwest Harvest, argued that grocery closures and food deserts are real problems and that local governments need tools to fill gaps when private grocers leave. Opponents, including grocery industry groups and several students, warned that public stores could undercut private grocers, burden taxpayers, and create operational and property-rights concerns; some testimony also questioned the need for government ownership and the use of tax increment financing. A proposed substitute removed eminent domain and tax increment financing provisions and narrowed the bill to grant-funded stores in underserved areas. Next, the committee heard HB 2451, a major rewrite of local tax increment financing rules. The bill would tighten notice, consultation, reporting, and mitigation requirements for TIF areas, strengthen the “but-for” test, limit where increment areas can be located, and protect existing taxing districts by excluding certain levies and requiring negotiation, mediation, or arbitration when impacts are significant. Cities, ports, counties, libraries, fire chiefs, and hospital districts largely described the bill as a negotiated compromise that improves transparency and addresses unintended impacts, though some local governments said they still wanted more flexibility or protections for existing projects. One city testified against the bill, arguing the new restrictions would make TIF much less useful for large redevelopment efforts. The committee then heard HB 2298, which would authorize county auditors to create voluntary property title protection programs to help prevent land-record fraud by allowing owners to record a protection instrument that delays recording of a title transfer for up to five business days unless identity verification is provided. Auditors, treasurers, and county officials strongly supported the bill as a practical response to rising deed fraud, while title and foreclosure industry representatives said the proposal was too limited, could interfere with foreclosures or other transfers, and would only delay—not prevent—fraud. The final bill heard was HB 2566 on local government procurement, which would raise certain small-purchase and small-public-works thresholds for counties, remove some differences between larger and smaller counties, and give counties more options when no bids are received. County representatives supported the bill as a needed update to procurement rules and a way to reduce bureaucracy and keep pace with inflation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know about the voters, but in 22 and 23, they were up 9.1, 9.4.
• So we have the voter approved rate, which is the highest rate that you could approve without triggering
• We have typically adopted a rate lower than the voter approved rate in the last several years in order
• head as we bring this back and we exempt this then we look at our nudity revenue rate and then our voter
• This would allow voters to decide for themselves whether to enact this change.

Bills: HB8 , HB9 , HJR1 , HB22 , HB8 , HB9 , HJR1 , HB22

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we have the opportunity to ask the voters to take the next step and go even to the future.
• So this is a critical bill to move forward, and it's critical that we move it to the voters right now
• , as it's a constitutional amendment that has to go before the voters.
• It did not have to go before the voters because it's a concurrent resolution.
• A constitutional amendment is required to go before the voters.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill clarifies that voters may propose and approve a local transactions and use tax of up to 0.5%
• It also ensures that any voter-approved MTS tax is excluded from the existing statutory cap on local
• The bill also ensures that any voter-approved MTS tax is excluded from the existing statutory cap on
• It allows the voters to decide, which other jurisdictions throughout the state have that authority.
• Respectfully, I ask for your aye vote in allowing the voters to make this decision in 2028.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation heard testimony on a large agenda of transportation-related bills, with several measures discussed before a quorum was established. AB 1588 focused on sideshows and street takeovers, with the author, San Francisco Police Department, and Streets Are for Everyone arguing the bill would modernize enforcement, add motorbikes and dirt bikes to the sideshow framework, and improve public safety; there was no opposition testimony. AB 2015 would require Caltrans to study the effects of third-party navigation apps on congestion, local streets, infrastructure, and emergency response, and was supported by Streets for All, AAA, and local agencies, with no opposition. AB 2717 would extend a sunset for off-site advertising displays at large sports venues; the Dodgers supported it, the San Jose Sharks and others noted amendments, and no opposition was heard. AB 1608 would strengthen the independence and transparency of the High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General by requiring public reports, adding confidentiality protections for sensitive security information, and granting staffing and purchasing authority; the First Amendment Coalition supported the amended bill, while the Vice Chair raised concerns about transparency and limiting confidential notices to committee chairs. The committee also heard AB 2346 on e-bike safety, which would require speedometers on Class 2 e-bikes, lights, a statewide sidewalk speed limit, local authority over bike-path speeds, and point-of-sale disclosures. Support came from medical, law enforcement, local government, and safety groups citing rising injuries and confusion over e-bike rules; PeopleForBikes remained opposed unless amended, mainly over lighting and disclosure requirements, though Streets for All withdrew its opposition after amendments. Members broadly supported the bill and discussed helmet use, youth safety, and the distinction between e-bikes and higher-powered e-motos. AB 1919 would let Santa Cruz Metro place a citizens’ initiative on the ballot to secure transit funding and protect service and jobs; the sponsor, bus operators, and labor supported it, with no opposition testimony. AB 2012 would streamline permits for moving manufactured homes under an annual permit, and AB 2024 would clarify Outdoor Advertising Act permitting and relocation procedures; both drew support from industry and housing groups and no opposition. After quorum was established, the committee adopted the consent calendar, which included items 13, 6, 8, 11, 14, 15, and 21, by roll call vote. The committee then heard AB 2484, which would allow San Diego voters to authorize a local transit tax initiative for MTS; the author and MTS argued it would preserve service and allow voters to decide future funding, and the bill advanced on a 5-2 roll call with the roll left open for absent members. The committee also heard AB 2560, which would codify the state transportation climate principles known as CAPTI; supporters said it would lock in goals for transit, rail, active transportation, equity, and greenhouse gas reduction, while Orange County Transportation Authority opposed. The author closed by asking for aye votes, and the committee proceeded toward roll-call action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona voters were very clear on wanting a vertically integrated system from seed to sale to ensure
• Arizona voters wanted a highly regulated and vertical market, and a limited market, too.
• The voters wanted one dispensary for every ten pharmacies.
• Arizona voters wanted a highly regulated and vertical market, and a limited market, too.
• The voters wanted one dispensary for every ten pharmacies.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee took up a series of Senate bills, beginning with SB 1421, a contentious measure restricting financial institutions and check cashers from accepting certain identification from unauthorized immigrants and limiting remittance transfers without proof of lawful status. An attempted strike-everything amendment by Rep. Villegas would have redirected the bill to authorize tax-deeded property sales for affordable housing, but the committee rejected that amendment. After public testimony both for and against the underlying bill, the committee voted 6-2 to give SB 1421 a due pass recommendation. The committee then approved SB 1254, which revises Industrial Commission of Arizona statutes, including renaming certain positions, shifting boiler and elevator oversight, and requiring fee schedules to be posted online. It also passed SB 1515, which creates a public safety parity fund for retention pay and benefits for DPS and corrections employees using investment earnings from the budget stabilization fund; supporters cited vacancies, turnover, and pay gaps, while opponents argued the state should fund raises through the general fund. Both bills received due pass recommendations after amendment adoption and roll call votes. Other measures considered included SB 1206, which restricts adjusters and contractors from soliciting work during active loss events or emergency responses, with an exception for essential services; SB 1563, which continues the Barbering and Cosmetology Board and lowers certain fee caps; and SB 1649, which creates a digital assets reserve fund, though an amendment to turn it into a transparency measure on employers receiving public assistance was rejected. The committee also passed SB 1290 after rejecting an amendment on emergency price controls and adopting a Carter amendment clarifying HOA executive sessions may be closed only for discussion without action; testimony on that bill focused heavily on HOA transparency versus privacy concerns. Finally, the committee approved SB 1670, a contractor licensing preemption bill, and SB 1671, which continues the Department of Gaming and related commissions and updates reporting and conflict-of-interest requirements, with the department supporting the continuation and amendment language.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation required the state to mail informational pamphlets on ballot initiatives directly to voters
• ' homes, which allowed voters to receive the information they need to cast informed votes.
• Arizona voters deserve to know that their voices matter just as much as any other voter anywhere else
• with happened five times in our nation's history, and when that occurs, millions of voters are left
• Arizona voters deserve to know that their voices matter just as much as any other voter, anywhere else

Transcript Highlights:

• But it didn't really get started and really get its feet under it until the voters approved Prop 1A in
• But it didn't really get started and really get its feet under it until the voters approved Prop 1A in
• But it didn't really get sort of started and really get its feet under it until the voters approved.
• sort of started and really get its feet under it until the voters approved Prop 1A in 2008.
• in support, 82% support among younger voters will be the long-term beneficiaries of the system.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee held an oversight hearing on California High-Speed Rail, focusing on the authority’s supplemental project update report and the newly released 2026 draft business plan. Committee leaders emphasized transparency, the project’s funding challenges, and the need for clear answers on costs, schedule, and scope. The High-Speed Rail Authority said the project has made major progress in the Central Valley, including substantial construction completion, right-of-way acquisition, and railhead development, and highlighted over $14 billion in savings from a rebased project plan, plus an additional $2 billion in savings in the draft business plan. The authority also said it expects to begin laying track by the end of the year and continues to pursue private-sector partnerships and clean-energy opportunities. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Inspector General both raised concerns about whether the current funding plan is sufficient and whether the authority has clearly identified the timing of future expenditures versus revenues. The LAO said the project likely still faces a funding gap for Merced-to-Bakersfield once financing costs and the loss of $4 billion in federal funds are considered, and warned that cap-and-invest revenues are volatile and may not be well suited for borrowing without additional safeguards. The Inspector General said the authority still has not provided a precise funding plan, estimated the project is about two years away from lacking funds on hand to stay on schedule, and urged lawmakers to focus on financing costs, procurement timing, schedule risks, and distinguishing true cost cuts from scope changes. Members questioned the authority about proposed statutory changes, including CEQA and permitting streamlining, court resources, third-party process changes, sales tax exemptions on materials, and expanded land-use/value-capture tools. They also pressed the authority on the loss of federal funds, the withdrawal of litigation over those funds, and whether the project’s revised savings depend on moving station locations away from downtown Merced and Bakersfield and on other scope changes such as more single-tracking and blended operations south of Palmdale. The authority said it is still committed to Merced-to-Bakersfield, believes the business plan shows a path to completion with sufficient funding, and will work with the Legislature on any needed changes before the final plan is submitted.

Transcript Highlights:

• You had the Phoenix Transit 2000 initiative, which voters approved.
• approved by Phoenix voters.
• Transportation 2050 in 2015 was approved by Phoenix voters.
• All of those public votes by Phoenix residents and voters approved light rail.
• So the voters in Phoenix support light rail.

Bills: SB1088 , SB1156 , SB1157 , SB1169 , SB1245 , SB1273 , SB1330 , SB1332 , SB1391 , SB1498 , SB1531 , SB1550 , SB1598 , SB1677 , SB1707 , SB1811 , SB1818

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, appropriation, public safety, detention, unauthorized aliens, local government funding, border security, fencing, appropriations, southern border, local government, medical education, physician shortage, healthcare funding, Arizona health care

Transcript Highlights:

• limited the amounts that cities, counties, and special districts can increase their tax levy without voter
• Very few of them understand how my office... to a no new revenue rate or voter approval rate.
• approval rate, not a 3.5% voter approval rate because they are developing MUDs.
• Other than determining that no new revenue and voter approval. rate, I consider those to be benchmark
• to have the voters approve that.

Committee: House S/C on Property Tax Appraisals

Transcript Highlights:

• We asked voters to vote on taking out a new bond to fund new projects and new very critical investments
• I think that the assembly feels. to be true to the voters here that they voted for climate funding to
• We think that that's an important issue to understand for the voters and the public.
• Our starting point is, hey, that's what the voters wanted, that to happen.
• So I think some of the earlier comments reflected voter intent that the $10 billion be additive.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would require voter registration rules to be...
• , dramatically expanding our public access to personal voter information.
• Transparency and voter security are not mutually exclusive, but this... Voters.
• protecting our voters, not exposing them.
• It allows you to get a copy of the voter rolls. Why should we be special?

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge, approved the journal, and welcomed several guests in the gallery, including a high school student and an advocate connected to the domestic violence bill HB 2995. The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, first advancing HB 4155, HB 4156, and HB 4157, then HB 4164, HB 4165, and HB 4166, all with do-pass recommendations and no substantive amendments on those calendars. Later, the House also considered SB 1326, a victims’ rights measure, adopted a floor amendment, and reported it out as amended. The House corrected an earlier clerical error regarding HB 4155-4157 being referred to engrossing rather than third reading. The House then took up a long series of final passage votes on Senate bills. SB 2174, SB 2611, SB 1011, SB 1012, SB 1016, SB 1018, SB 1038, SB 1039, SB 1040, SB 1053, SB 1055, SB 1057, SB 1060, SB 1061, SB 1068, SB 1069, SB 1075, SB 1100, SB 1113 on reconsideration, SB 1160, and SB 1170 all passed. SB 2873, SB 1004, SB 1009, SB 1042, SB 1043, SB 1049, SB 1093, and SB 1143 failed. SB 2995, the emergency family-law/domestic-violence bill known as the Alec and Lydia Act, passed with the required two-thirds vote after extensive debate; supporters said it would better protect children and clarify judicial standards, while opponents argued its definitions were overly broad and could harm families. SB 1018 on foreign laws also drew extended debate over Sharia law, with supporters framing it as a defense of American values and opponents calling it unnecessary and discriminatory. Several votes included explanations focused on policy concerns. SB 1004 on sex-offender registration and monitoring drew debate over whether electronic monitoring is effective. SB 1040 on voter registration transparency prompted arguments over public access to voter rolls versus privacy and security. SB 1118 on municipal zoning and historical homes was debated as a property-rights and local-control issue, with supporters saying it could help preserve affordable housing and opponents warning it would override local decisions. The House also adopted motions to reconsider prior actions on SB 1043 and SB 1100, and it requested the Senate return SB 1552 for reconsideration. The session ended with the House still processing additional Committee of the Whole business, including HB 4158, HB 4159, HB 4160, HB 4161, HB 4162, and HB 4163, with HB 4162 and HB 4163 receiving floor amendments and do-pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• , dramatically expanding public access to personal voter information.
• , dramatically expanding public access to personal voter information.
• protecting our voters, not exposing them.
• It allows you to get a copy of the voter rolls. Why should we be special?
• Every one of your campaigns has purchased voter rolls.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a well-established proposition in the Constitution that the voters have adopted repeatedly.
• California voters themselves spoke loudly through the failure of Prop 16 in 2020.
• SB 1414 would dismantle this voter-approved approach.
• SB 1414 would dismantle this voter-approved, proven approach and impose a new structure without clear
• California must step up and ensure military and overseas voters from our state retain the ability to

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through confirmations and floor legislation. Three California Housing Finance Agency and State Mining and Geology Board appointments were confirmed unanimously. The chamber then took up several policy bills, with debate often focusing on housing, public safety, energy, and local government impacts. Among the major measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense jury instructions passed after supporters argued it would give judges limited discretion and improve fairness, while opponents warned it could create inconsistency. SB 1354, barring out-of-state military or law enforcement activity in California without the Governor’s permission, passed despite objections that it conflicted with federal commander-in-chief authority. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed to restrict unsolicited purchase offers in fire-affected areas, and SB 966 passed to preserve refinery worker safety participation rights. SB 1256, a local housing/land-use bill, passed unanimously after discussion of fire-safety concerns and ongoing amendments. The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning and regional coordination for jurisdictions not receiving HAP funds, SB 938 on peace officer training requirements for certain immigration-enforcement-related applicants after the author committed to major amendments, SB 1359 on natural gas planning to reduce ratepayer costs, SB 923 on privacy rights under the CCPA, SB 1098 on utility memorandum and balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery for cooling appliances, SB 937 on restricting flashbang use in crowd control and immigration enforcement, SB 1082 on inter-district pupil transfers, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. Several bills drew split votes and pointed debate over mandates, taxes, local control, and regulatory certainty, but most ultimately passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• boards to have six members unless voters choose<01:18:52.960><c> to</c><01:18:53.199><c> expand</c><
• </c> fewer students to ask their voters fewer students to ask their voters whether<01:19:08.000><c> their
• Uh if the<01:22:10.880><c> voters</c><01:22:11.199><c> in</c><01:22:11.360><c> that</c><01:22:11.600>
• <c> community</c><01:22:12.560><c> approve</c><01:22:12.880><c> the</c> the voters in that community
• </c> providing small districts with a voter providing small districts with a voter approved<01:24:03.760

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Weissman and Lindstead concerning voter Weissman and Lindstead concerning voter transparency<00:
• </c><00:52:53.359><c> the</c><00:52:53.520><c> fiscal</c> If voters want to know the fiscal If voters
• </c> that we um present to the voters. that we um present to the voters.
• </c> voters should have in fiscal policy? voters should have in fiscal policy?
• </c> believe the voters give us that as well. believe the voters give us that as well.