Transcript Highlights:

• at the Association of California Healthcare Districts.
• penalties at times levied against the individual officers themselves.
• reshoring jobs here in the Bay Area in particular, in my district.
• reshoring jobs here in the Bay Area in particular, in my district.
• District than anywhere else in California.

Summary: The committee heard several AI- and consumer-protection-related bills, with extensive testimony from authors, supporters, and industry opponents. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would create transparency requirements for large AI developers, including disclosure of safety and security protocols, reporting of critical safety incidents, whistleblower protections, and the CalCompute public cloud. Supporters said it is a narrower, transparency-based follow-up to last year’s vetoed AI safety bill, while opponents argued it still relies too much on company size, could expose trade secrets, and should be narrowed further. The committee approved SB 53 on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify the FTC’s Cars Rule and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases, along with stronger disclosure rules on pricing, add-ons, and government affiliation claims. Supporters said it would save consumers money and time and help buyers avoid bad deals, while dealer and industry groups said amendments addressed many of their concerns. Several former opponents moved to neutral, and the committee passed SB 766 unanimously as amended to Appropriations. SB 7 by Senator McNerney would regulate automated decision-making systems in employment by requiring notice, human review for discipline and termination, and limits on predictive behavior analysis. Labor and consumer advocates supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or overly automated workplace decisions, while employer and industry groups raised concerns about scope, notice burdens, and the predictive-analysis ban. The committee passed SB 7 to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote, with the roll held open. SB 833, also by Senator McNerney, would require human oversight of AI used in critical infrastructure, along with training and system assessments; it drew limited opposition focused on scope, and the committee passed it as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote, also holding the roll open. Later, the committee took up SB 11, which would address AI-generated voice, image, and video cloning and deepfakes by clarifying likeness protections, requiring consumer warnings, and addressing misuse and evidence tampering. Supporters framed it as a targeted response to nonconsensual deepfakes, while industry groups said recent amendments improved the bill but still had concerns about penalties and warning language. The committee also heard SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which would let cities opt into a revised red-light camera system that shifts from driver to owner liability, removes facial identification, makes violations civil rather than criminal, and directs revenue toward transportation safety projects; the author presented the bill, but the transcript ends before any final action on SB 720.

Transcript Highlights:

• :04.960><c> Casper,</c><00:49:05.520><c> Finn</c> school, Triary School in Casper, Finn school, Triary
• This applies to all political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, school districts, community
• </c><01:43:01.040><c> districts,</c> cities, towns, school districts, cities, towns, school districts
• It is not to refer to for lobbying and anywhere in the school districts or wherever else.
• It is not to refer to for lobbying and anywhere in the school districts or wherever else.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Levi Randon. I'm a 17-year-old from Wailua High School.
• My name is Levi Randon. I'm a 17-year-old from Wailua High School.
• I also go to Wailua High School with Levi.
• I also go to Wailua High School with Levi.
• I also go to Wailua High School with Levi.

Summary: The joint committees first heard House Bill 229, which would establish a statewide speed restriction for motor vehicles under certain circumstances. Testimony on the bill was limited and came in support from the City and County of Honolulu’s transportation services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. No one testified in opposition, and there were no questions. The committees then took up House Bill 860, which would grant immunity from liability to the state or counties when they repair or maintain a street whose ownership or jurisdiction is disputed between them. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted written testimony, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee, Hawaii County Council member Heather Kimble, and the Iolani Homestead Community Association for Justice testified in support. The Ho Association for Justice opposed the bill, arguing the immunity was too broad and that the issue had already been addressed by prior legislation. In discussion, members raised concerns about liability and asked whether a different approach, such as extending the 2017 law transferring Oahu roads in limbo to the counties, would be acceptable; county representatives said that path could be considered if immunity were removed. House Bill 1161, which would authorize counties to use a road usage charge mechanism similar to the state’s, drew support from the Department of Transportation, the Energy Office, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, several county and city offices, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. Rental car companies and industry groups supported the concept but asked for amendments, including a flat fee instead of a per-mile charge, relief for plug-in hybrid vehicles, and a delayed implementation date. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii also supported relief for hybrids. Members questioned the rental car representatives about the flat-fee proposal, and they said a per-mile charge would be difficult to calculate and pass on to customers. At the end of the joint agenda, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1161 to Tuesday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m., and the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee also deferred the three measures to that date and time. The Transportation and Culture and the Arts committee then began hearing House Bill 925, which would create a Performing Arts Special Fund, and House Bill 1378, which would establish a Performing Arts Grants Program and Special Fund and revise the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ responsibilities and funding sources. HB 925 received support from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and written support or comments from DBEDT, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, and others. HB 1378 drew extensive testimony and discussion focused on preserving arts funding while addressing concerns about the use of Works of Art Special Fund dollars for positions and programming. The Governor’s office said it supported the intent but had concerns; the Attorney General warned that the bill’s cap and transfer provisions were unclear and could affect the tax-exempt status of bond-funded dollars; and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts opposed the measure, urging an audit, tracking of deposits, and a shift of positions and programs to general funds instead of changing the law. The chair explained that the bill was intended to protect arts funding while tightening the legal guardrails around bond-financed dollars and preserving federal support, and asked testimony to focus on new points as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Levi, as always, thanks for being the master at tech. by moving to non-grandfathered, and that's why
• Levi, as always, thanks for being the Master at Tech. Thank you so much. Well, good morning.
• So this bill draft requires a school district, if eligible under federal law, to participate in the PERS
• Currently, political subdivisions, including school districts, have the option of participating in the
• district.

Committee: Joint Employee Benefits Programs Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Levi, did you get all that? Okay. Representative Swantec. Mr.
• Levi, can you please place that in there? Okay.
• You don't have that one actually in front, but Levi has that information, and so he's working on getting

Bills: SB2018

Committee: House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Summary: The E&E Committee met to finalize action on Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce Department budget. Members reviewed several funding lines and made verbal adjustments, including reducing tourism marketing awareness to $5 million, keeping Operation Intern at $2 million, restoring the Destination Development Fund to $20 million, setting Autonomous Agriculture Grants/Grand Farm at $10 million, and reducing the WIP Regional Workforce Impact Program to $5 million. Representative Martinson proposed additional earmarks for the Fargo Theatre, Maddock trolley cars, a theater in Marmarth, and Driscoll’s community hall, and also moved to keep the Destination Development Fund at $25 million; the committee discussed these items, but the transcript does not show separate recorded votes on those proposals. The committee adopted two amendments. One dealt with the drone replacement program and related data-collection direction, with language agreed to by UAS representatives, IT, and the governor’s office. The second, offered by Representative Swantec, created a trigger for funding children’s science centers in Fargo and Grand Forks if the SIF fund exceeds a specified threshold during the 2025-27 biennium; the amendment was clarified to use the term “Children’s Science Education Center” and passed 7-0. The committee then approved a do-pass motion on the Commerce budget as amended and with the verbal changes discussed, passing the bill 7-0. During debate, Representative Louser raised concerns that the budget’s spending could affect property tax relief, while the chair responded that there would still be sufficient money for tax relief and that the programs funded were ongoing and successful. The chair closed by thanking members and staff, noting conference committee assignments and a committee dinner, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's why the state has already authorized counties, school districts, and community colleges to use job
• It is in most school districts working very well with the best practices that have been established across
• School districts across the state are facing increasing special education costs.
• My school district, my town has 3,000 people, and 30% of our teachers quit this year.
• So we are down almost 20 teachers in one school district.

Transcript Highlights:

• Administrative Director and Chief Counsel at the Division of Workers' Compensation; and Judge Page Levy
• That's not what most people will recommend in business school.
• On levies, it's 30,000, and I'm estimating.
• Our team reaches constituents of Senator Ciardo's district.
• These are representative of public entities across the state and in every single district.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard presentations on labor and public employment issues from the Employment Development Department (EDD), the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), and the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The committee first focused on EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on online claims, call center upgrades, language access, fraud prevention, and the Integrated Claims Management System (ICMS). The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged closer legislative oversight, especially as the project moves into the most difficult phase. Senators asked about the revised timeline, total cost, fraud reduction, stress testing, transparency around change orders, and the decision to phase in disability insurance and paid family leave before unemployment insurance. EDD said the overall project cost remained about $1.2 billion, that it had no major cost overruns, and that it had saved more than $20 million by shifting some shared customer portal work into ICMS. The subcommittee then considered CWDB’s request for additional operational resources and trailer bill language to streamline reporting. CWDB and the Department of Finance said staffing had been expanded during the pandemic-era surge in grant funding and should now be reduced as one-time grant programs wind down. Senators questioned the proposed staffing reduction, arguing that workforce development needs remain strong and that the board’s policy role still requires adequate capacity. The committee also discussed a proposal to consolidate multiple annual and interim reports into a single biennial report, with LAO supporting the streamlining. Members asked about reporting for specific programs and the cost savings from reducing duplicative evaluations. A major portion of the hearing addressed DIR’s proposed reforms to the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and related workload funding. DIR and LAO described rapid growth in applications, a large and growing backlog, and sharply rising liabilities and employer assessments. The administration’s trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply reforms to open cases, and use contemporaneous evidence and QME reports to document preexisting disabilities. LAO said the proposal largely matched its prior recommendations and would help return the program to its original intent. Senators raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, the effect on workers with undocumented preexisting conditions, and whether the QME system could absorb the added workload. The committee also heard DIR’s request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, with members objecting that some vacancies reflect unmet enforcement and safety needs rather than excess capacity. The hearing continued with DIR proposals for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff, permanent changes to Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition deadlines, and apprenticeship-related funding increases. DIR sought 14 permanent positions for its Bureau of Investigation to handle serious workplace fatalities and injuries, and members emphasized the importance of timely investigations and family communication. The WCAB requested making permanent a 2024 change that starts the 60-day reconsideration clock when a case is transmitted rather than when the petition is filed; the board said this had reduced the number of cases awaiting decisions from 637 to 460. Finally, DIR proposed increasing apprenticeship training grants from $3 million to $20 million annually using the Apprenticeship Training Contribution Fund, citing an $80 million fund balance and workforce demand tied to rebuilding and infrastructure needs, and then began discussion of a separate request to expand pre-apprenticeship programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• at the Association of California Healthcare Districts.
• Carlos Lopez with the California School Employees Association in support.
• Carlos Lopez with the California School Employees Association in support. Thank you.
• Parents are picked up on their way to work while dropping off their kids at school.
• reshoring jobs here in the Bay Area, in particular in my district.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several bills on consumer protection, privacy, AI, and employment technology. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would require large AI developers to disclose safety and security protocols, report serious incidents quickly, and create CalCompute and whistleblower protections; supporters said it is a transparency-based, narrower follow-up to SB 1047, while industry groups opposed unless amended over concerns about size-based thresholds, trade secrets, and security. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify FTC car-sales rules and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases; testimony was broadly supportive, and several dealer and industry groups moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. The committee also heard SB 7 by Senator McNerney, which would require notice and human oversight for automated decision-making in employment, and SB 833 by the same author, which would require human review and monitoring for AI use in critical infrastructure; both drew support from labor and consumer advocates and opposition or concerns from business and public-sector groups about scope and compliance. The committee also began hearing SB 11 on AI-generated voice/image/video cloning and nonconsensual deepfakes, with supporters backing consumer warnings and liability rules and opponents seeking narrower language and lower penalties. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized the need to balance innovation with safety, with supporters arguing California should act where Congress has not, and opponents urging narrower definitions, stronger trade-secret protections, and more limited enforcement. On SB 53, committee members praised the author’s outreach but noted the bill still needs work; the bill was moved out on a do-pass-as-amended motion with seven votes and held open for absent members. SB 766 received unanimous support after amendments and was reported out 9-0. SB 7 and SB 833 were both advanced on do-pass motions but were left open with only partial vote counts at the time of the hearing. The committee later recessed and returned to continue the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> children just based on updated school children just based on updated school census<00:08:41.240>
• So, school districts use screenings to link families with health and early learning opportunities and
• </c> school, what happened to her. school, what happened to her.
• </c><00:42:18.680><c> She</c> stopped wanting to go to school. She stopped wanting to go to school.
• and a special needs school.

Bills: HF3415

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Brackett: Removes special districts from the bill.
• Brackett: and don't apply to them at hospital districts.
• House Bill 4067 is the Plantation Acres Improvement District bill.
• special district, reestablishing it as a dependent district of the city.
• Right now my water management district, Northwest Florida Management District, and the rural counties

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed House Bill 4765, teacher, school personnel, and state police pay raise.
• year to fund projects identified in the Safe Schools Fund requests.
• district terminates its program.
• district terminates its program.
• throughout the school year, including at least one discussion per school year, to ensure continued awareness

Transcript Highlights:

• We have committed $225,000 from the City of Slayton, Murray County School District, and Murray County
• We also have many state highways and county roads in our district.
• and elementary school.
• Representative Bjorn Olson from District 22.
• Terry Steer, District 22B, and I'll pass it off to the testifiers.

Bills: HF2418 , HF1666 , HF232 , HF344 , HF402 , HF431 , HF468 , HF547 , HF583 , HF1476 , HF1711 , HF2787 , HF2788 , HF3207

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• some... and so I would encourage folks to grab a colored handout afterwards so you can see how your districts
• handout afterwards so you can see how handout afterwards so you can see how your<00:03:19.080><c> districts
• ><c> impacted</c><00:03:21.720><c> one</c><00:03:21.840><c> of</c><00:03:22.000><c> the</c> your districts
• are impacted one of the your districts are impacted one of the reasons<00:03:22.840><c> for</c><00:03
• when it comes to addressing the cost of dollars going into people’s homes from their job back home, levying

Summary: House File 771, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion. The bill would create a state supplemental grant program to build on LIHEAP, with the goal of expanding energy assistance beyond the winter season to cover summer cooling needs and reduce utility shutoffs. Representative Craft said the proposal would use existing LIHEAP systems, help more eligible households, and support related services like weatherization. The committee adopted the author’s amendment, DE2, without objection. Supporters testified that energy costs remain unaffordable for many Minnesotans, especially in rural areas and among low-income households, seniors, and people using delivered fuels. Annie Levenson-Faulk of the Citizens Utility Board said only about a quarter of eligible households receive assistance, summer shutoffs are common, and cooling needs have grown significantly. Trisha Leite of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Amanda Macky of Minnesota Valley Action Council, and Ken Schum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association all supported the bill, saying year-round assistance would help households, reduce disconnects, stabilize demand for aid, and ease pressure on utility rates. Michael Schmitz of the Department of Commerce said Minnesota has received about $112 million in LIHEAP funds so far this year and is awaiting additional federal money; he also noted recent funding has been lower than in prior years and inflation has reduced its value. Members discussed the scale of utility shutoffs, the increase in cooling demand, and whether the bill addresses root causes or serves as a temporary fix. Representative Weiner argued that the state should focus on keeping more money in taxpayers’ pockets and reducing the need for subsidies, while Representative Craft responded that the underlying issue is low incomes and widening wealth inequality, and that policies like the child tax credit are better ways to address poverty. The chair also asked how LIHEAP dollars flow, and Commerce said most benefits are paid directly to utilities on behalf of households rather than as direct cash payments to recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in my district in particular, I'm a state rep... ...and I represent the entire state, but in my district
• A 16-year-old kid wakes up tomorrow, goes to school, drives his dad's truck to school, and on his way
• As a district court judge, I did family court for 14 years. I know what goes on.
• Well, I sit down and I write my budget from my fire department and district.
• But the proposal would be the sheriff's school board.

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The committee first took up HB 51 by Rep. Villio, a constitutional amendment to prohibit post-conviction bail for people convicted of aggravated offenses against minors. Members adopted a technical amendment to simplify the ballot language, heard a 6.8A report explaining the committee’s authority over constitutional amendments, and then adopted the report and passed HB 51 with amendments. Support was noted from law enforcement and district attorney groups. The main item was HB 526 by Rep. Dickerson, which would cap general damages in civil cases at $500,000 in most cases and $1 million for severe permanent injury, while leaving economic damages uncapped. The bill drew extensive testimony from trucking, logging, business, and insurance-reform advocates who argued that unpredictable verdicts and “nuclear verdicts” drive up commercial insurance costs and push businesses out of Louisiana. Opponents, including attorneys and victims’ advocates, argued the bill would unfairly limit recovery for seriously injured people and could harm sexual assault survivors and families in wrongful death cases. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying the cap applies per individual plaintiff rather than to the action as a whole, but then rejected a motion to report the bill; the roll call was 4 yeas and 5 nays, so HB 526 remained in committee. The committee then heard HB 173 by Rep. Bamberg, which would bar recovery for bodily injury or property damage by a driver who had failed to maintain required auto insurance for at least 30 days before the crash. Supporters said uninsured motorists contribute to higher premiums and should not recover large awards, while opponents warned the bill would punish innocent spouses, children, and other people who may be unaware coverage lapsed. An amendment was adopted to add the 30-day uninsured requirement, and the bill moved to opposition testimony, but the transcript cuts off before any final vote on HB 173.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the Minnesota Department of Education, nearly nine and 10 Minnesota school districts report
• According to the Minnesota Department of Education, nearly nine in 10 Minnesota school districts report
• My name is Scott Kist with the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, and thank you for the opportunity
• What does it actually cost our school districts?
• </c> what does it actually cost our school what does it actually cost our school districts<01:04:44.880

Bills: HF550 , HF412 , HF796 , HF140

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Representative Jaron Crane, District 12 in Nampa.
• And fourth, a high-tier duty is levied against out-of-program imports.
• Back when I was in high school, I took trombone lessons from his dad.
• He graduated from high school with a scholarship to go to Diesel Mechanics School.
• He graduated from high school with a scholarship to go to Diesel Mechanics School.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Chicago Meatacking District. Chicago Meatacking District.
• worker</c> Conservatory District takes worker Conservatory District takes worker safety<02:42:46.640>
• </c> people in our districts. Here you go. people in our districts. Here you go.
• </c> places like my district. places like my district.
• </c> the consumers in all of our districts. the consumers in all of our districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• well being inactive, now you've got to de-electrify so that you don't have what happened in your district
• operators to remove electrical equipment from inactive well sites, and the Railroad Commission to levy
• I've got stuff growing faster than the school district can keep up with. ...that new development.

Bills: HB 1237 , HB2663 , HB3071 , HB4384

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Notifications from social media come during the school day.
• And unfortunately, this is coming to a district near you, I think.
• That is on the shoulders of the fire districts.
• So there does need to be more fire district involvement and presence.
• , within the 7th legislative district, and across the state.

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade and Economic Development Committee first held a work session on protecting children online. Testimony focused on a proposed Kids Online Protection Act that would limit addictive algorithmic feeds for minors and restrict push notifications during school hours and at night. Supporters included a former tech executive, a Meta whistleblower, and a psychology researcher, who argued that social media design exploits adolescent development, harms well-being, and that the bill gives parents and children more control without banning access to content. Industry and trade group witnesses opposed the approach, arguing it would violate the First Amendment, create privacy risks through age verification, and could reduce useful personalization and safety tools; they said companies are already implementing teen protections and parental controls. The committee did not take a vote during the work session. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5928, sponsored by Senators Warnick and Short at the request of the Insurance Commissioner. The bill would require property insurers using wildfire risk scores or models to disclose more information to consumers, explain adverse factors, provide appeal and rescoring processes, and account for mitigation actions in rate filings and discounts. The Office of Insurance Commissioner, a Colville Tribal representative, fire district testimony, climate advocates, realtors, hospitality businesses, and insurance agents generally supported the bill as a transparency and consumer-protection measure, with some urging inclusion of commercial lines and stronger recognition of local fire mitigation. Several insurance trade groups opposed or were neutral, warning that the bill goes too far, could expose proprietary underwriting information, increase regulation and costs, and should be narrowed to align with other states’ approaches. No vote was taken, and the chair adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities of color in my district, 48% of my constituents are on Medi-Cal.
• And similarly, I mean, it is outrageous that there are barbers in my district that are paying more, an
• We do have schools, colleges, and universities.
• of California Healthcare Districts and the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
• Association of Recreation and Park Districts.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review subcommittee heard four budget trailer bills: AB 110, AB 122, AB 125, and AB 177. AB 110 was described as a budget bill junior identifying budget-related legislation. AB 122 would extend sales tax to electronically delivered or remotely accessed prewritten software, extend and later limit business tax credits, reduce the annual LLC/LLP/LP tax for first-year businesses for three years, and impose a 100% tax on certain federal anti-weaponization fund settlements. AB 125 would renew the managed care organization (MCO) tax for three years beginning in 2027 to support Medi-Cal and targeted provider rate increases. AB 177 would require the Department of Finance to return by March 1, 2027 with options for assessing large employers for the Medi-Cal costs of employees enrolled in the program, including at least one employer-paid premium option for firms with 250 or more employees, and would appropriate $1,000 General Fund for implementation. Administration witnesses said AB 122 modernizes the tax system and helps create general fund revenue, while AB 125 is needed to preserve Medi-Cal financing and targeted rate increases under new federal constraints from H.R. 1 and to avoid a budget hole if the MCO tax expires. On AB 177, Finance said the bill is only a study and does not itself impose a tax, but would direct the administration to develop options for future consideration. Supportive members argued the package is part of a balanced approach to address the structural deficit, protect health care and other safety-net programs, and ensure large corporations pay more of their share. They also said AB 177 is a necessary step toward asking large employers to help cover public health care costs for workers who rely on Medi-Cal. Opponents, led by Vice Chair Niello and several other Republicans, argued the state does not have a revenue shortage but a spending problem, warning that the proposals would raise costs on consumers and businesses, discourage innovation, and expand taxes beyond their intended scope. They criticized AB 122 as potentially taxing labor-like services and limiting research and development credits, and said AB 125 would increase premiums for commercial enrollees and employers. On AB 177, they questioned the lack of definitions and specifics, saying the bill is too vague and could eventually burden employers, including hospitals and part-time workers, without clear standards. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the committee heard testimony and questions before public comment and later action.