AB1265 — AB 1265 is listed as the second bill on the suspense file and is noted as having already been heard at a previous hearing, so it will not be presented again.
AB1265 — AB 1265 is taken up as file item number two, then moved and seconded, and the committee votes on the bill, approving a do pass as amended recommendation to Appropriations by a 5-0 vote.
Mike Gipson — Called during the roll and marked present.
Mike Gipson — The speaker addresses the chair and committee members.
Mike Gipson — Mike Gipson is addressed as Chair Gibson in the course of the meeting, including a direct greeting and acknowledgment from a speaker thanking Chair Gibson and the members.
Mike Gipson — The speaker addresses the chair as 'Mr. Chair' while responding to the committee.
Mike Gipson — Recorded as voting aye.
AB796 — AB 796 is introduced as the first agenda item and a suspense candidate, then presented as the California Social Media Accountability Act. The bill would impose a fee on social media platforms based on advertising revenue and place the proceeds into a California Social Media Safety Trust Fund to support programs protecting youth from social media harms. Supporters argue it is a fair accountability measure that helps fund school-based mental health and safety supports and shifts costs from taxpayers to the platforms causing the harms. Opponents argue the tax would raise costs for businesses and consumers, create legal uncertainty under federal internet tax law, and have unintended consequences for small and family-owned businesses. In response, supporters and committee members discuss why the bill is narrower than Maryland’s law, emphasizing that it targets in-state programmatic advertising by social media platforms and does not prohibit passing the fee on to consumers or advertisers.
AB796 — Listed as file item number one and held in committee.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — Recorded as voting aye.
two witnesses — The chair notes there are two witnesses and reminds them of the two-minute limit.
Mr. Lowenthal — Begins testimony on youth mental health and social media use.
Chris Ittson — Chris Ittson is introduced as a witness in support of the measure and identified as a program administrator for the Long Beach Unified School District.
Kate Sanchez — Addressed as Vice Chair; transcription appears to have misheard the name as 'Taugh.'
Dr. Marcia Okunovic — Named as a witness in support; identified as a pediatric emergency physician at a children's hospital in Los Angeles.
Chris Sitson / Chris Ittson — Testifies in support of AB 796 and describes his role as a district administrator, former teacher, and parent.
Chris Sitson — Chris Sitson describes the pervasive impact of social media on schools in the district, explaining that even off-campus social media incidents strain mental health resources, divert staff time, and increase campus-related costs.
Dr. Marshall Kanovich — Dr. Marshall Kanovich, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, parent, and member of the Organization for Social Media Safety, testifies that his emergency department is seeing increasing real-world harms tied to social media. He explains that affected children often require observation, imaging, medications, consultations, and sometimes prolonged boarding in the emergency department because of limited mental health placement options. He concludes by urging an aye vote on AB 796.
Amy Brown — Speaks in support on behalf of the California Alliance of the Boys and Girls Club.
Esfan Nunez — Speaks in support on behalf of Parents Anonymous.
Nora Angel — Speaks in support on behalf of Children Now.
Mark Barkman — Speaks in support on behalf of the Organization for Social Media Safety, identified as the sponsor of the bill.
Shear Specter — Speaks on behalf of multiple organizations in support of AB 796.
Kim Stone — Referenced as associated with Stone Advocacy and conveying late support from additional groups.
J.C. Lee — J.C. Lee, speaking on behalf of the California Taxpayers Association and a coalition of taxpayers, testifies in opposition to AB 796 and thanks the prior witnesses before continuing to explain concerns that the bill has significant problems.
Annalee Augustine — Testified on behalf of the Family Business Association of California in opposition to AB 796.
Tim Taylor — Testified in respectful opposition on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business.
Naomi Padron — Testified on behalf of the Computer and Communications Industry Association in opposition.
Alexis Rodriguez — Testified in opposition on behalf of CalChamber.
Dylan Hoffman — Testified on behalf of TechNet in opposition.
Amy Garrett — Testified on behalf of the California Association of Realtors in opposition.
Sabrina Lockhart — Testified on behalf of the California Attractions and Parks Association in opposition.
Ashante Smith — Testified in respectful opposition on behalf of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Jacob Britt — Testified in respectful opposition on behalf of the California Retailers Association.
Jonathan Aeronbaum — Testified in opposition on behalf of the Association of National Advertisers.
Mr. Lenthal — Invited to close the presentation.
AB1296 — Called up and described as already in suspense file for hearing; chair recommends aye vote.
Carl DeMaio — Recorded as voting aye.
Juan Carrillo — Juan Carrillo is called during the roll call, with the transcript showing two brief, unclear references to his name as attendance is being recorded.
Tina McKinnor — Roll call appears to identify McKinnor as present.
Tina McKinnor — Tina McKinnor asks about the bill’s approach to keeping children safe and questions why print and radio are not taxed similarly; the speaker responds directly to her question about why print and radio are excluded.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — Roll call appears to identify Quirk-Silva as present.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — The speaker thanks Sharon Quirk-Silva for being a teacher and for sharing thoughtful comments on the issue, praising her observations and contributions.