Chris McCabe — Identified as speaking on behalf of Humboldt Mendocino Redwood Companies in support of the bill.
Diane Dixon — The chair twice calls on Assemblymember Diane Dixon to present AB 623, inviting her to begin her presentation of the bill.
Diane Dixon — Named as the author of AB 623.
AB623 — AB 623 is introduced and presented to the committee. The speaker expresses support for the bill and accepts the committee’s amendments. The amended bill is described as addressing reports on the effects of emergency suspensions and assessing the effectiveness of the emergency proclamation. The chair then notes the bill has a due pass recommendation and asks Assemblymember Dixon to present it.
AB623 — Fourth file item; motion was due pass as amended to appropriations.
David Alvarez — Assemblymember David Alvarez introduces AB 35 to the committee, thanks members for their work, and then turns the presentation over to Supervisor Aguirre, who acknowledges Alvarez as the bill's introducer.
David Alvarez — David Alvarez closes on the bill, thanking the chair and committee staff for the opportunity to discuss it. He notes that what began as a San Diego issue turned out to be a concern across the state, drawing support from a broad coalition and 31 co-authors, and he respectfully asks for an aye vote.
David Alvarez — Bill author named in the roll call.
AB35 — AB 35, the Proposition 4 Implementation Acceleration Act, is described as creating a targeted exemption from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed the deployment of Proposition 4-funded programs and projects while still preserving accountability and ensuring they move forward quickly and effectively.
AB35 — First item called; urgency was being adopted, amended, and sent to appropriations.
SB867 — Referenced as the measure through which the legislature placed Proposition 4 on the ballot.
Supervisor Paloma Aguirre — Introduced as a witness, former mayor of Imperial Beach, and current San Diego County supervisor leading efforts on the Tijuana River crisis.
Paloma Aguirre — Paloma Aguirre, representing District 1 along the U.S.-Mexico border, describes the severe and ongoing impacts of Tijuana River pollution on her community. She explains that residents are getting sick from both direct contact with coastal waters and even breathing contaminated air, citing research indicating widespread illness. She details the range of health problems affecting constituents, especially seniors and children, and says flood-control infrastructure has worsened the situation by stirring up viruses, bacteria, parasites, and toxic gases like hydrogen sulfide. She closes by expressing strong support for the bill and noting that the county is investing in a feasibility analysis so a shovel-ready project will be ready to remove the harmful infrastructure if the bill passes.
Kristen Olson — Kristen Olson introduces herself and explains that she is speaking for rural and agricultural communities and water agencies that depend on Proposition 4 funding. She adds that she also previously represented the Urock tribes’ interests in the bond, reinforcing her perspective on the importance of these water-related dollars.
Stacey Heaton — Identifies herself as with Rural County Representatives of California and states support for the measure.
Michael Chen — States support on behalf of Audubon California.
Kim Delfino — States support on behalf of multiple conservation organizations.
Megan Cleveland — Megan Cleveland, speaking for The Nature Conservancy and related coalition partners, states support for the measure on behalf of environmental and wildfire-focused organizations.
Julia Hall — States strong support on behalf of the Association of California Water Agencies.
Cam Besdick — States support on behalf of the Northern California Water Association.
Melissa Sparks Cranz — States support on behalf of the League of California Cities.
Rebecca Marcus — States support on behalf of the California Climate and Agriculture Network.
Rebecca Marcus — Testified on behalf of the California Climate and Agriculture Network, aligning with the opposition concerns.
Jack Werson — States support on behalf of Santa Clara Valley Water District and Padre Dam Municipal Water District.
Stephanie Jimenez — States support on behalf of Bay Area Council.
Janelle Selik — States support on behalf of the American Canyon Community and Parks Foundation and Napa River and Colony Center.
Jessica Gager — States support on behalf of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies.
Adam Cuyanez — States support on behalf of Mesa Water District.
Alex Torres — States support on behalf of Perimeter Solutions, Aurora Tech, and the Thermalito Water and Sewer District.
Mark Henley — States support on behalf of the California Waterfall Association.
Jamie Miner — States support on behalf of the California Stormwater Quality Association and several water districts.
Tasha Newman — States support on behalf of multiple land trust and conservation organizations.
Kasha Hunt — States support on behalf of California Water Association.
Andrea Abragell — States support on behalf of the California Municipal Utilities Association.
Reid Addis — States strong support on behalf of several conservation and parks organizations.
Chris Aldo Chavez — States support on behalf of several conservation and parks organizations.
Beth Olasso — States support on behalf of Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley Advocacy Fund and Water Reuse California.
Charles Delgado — States support on behalf of the California State Association of Counties.
Jake Schultz — States strong support on behalf of several land trust and conservation organizations.
Rosanna Carvacho Elliott — States support on behalf of Mission Springs Water District.
Franco (unclear first name) — States support on behalf of the California Fire Chiefs Association and the Fire Districts Association of California; first name is unclear in the transcript.
Doug Houston — Represents the Sierra Business Council, the Sierra Consortium, and the California Park and Recreation Society in support.
Mark Fenstermaker — Represents Sonoma Water, Sustainable Conservation, and the California Association of Resource...
Fender Maker — Testified in support on behalf of Sonoma Water, Sustainable Conservation, and the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.
Kyle Jones — Testified in support on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley Water Collaborative Action Program and Community Alliance with Family Farmers.
Kelsey Hinden — Testified in support on behalf of Community Water Center, Clean Water Action, Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, and Central California Environmental Justice Network.
Environmental Justice Network — Testified in support.
Brenda Bass — Testified in support on behalf of Western Municipal Water District.
Brian Sanders — Testified in support on behalf of the City of Sacramento.
Steve Wallach — Testified in support on behalf of the California Tawa Alliance.