SB299 — The committee takes up SB 299 out of order because the author is present.
SB299 — The author begins presentation of SB 299 and accepts committee amendments.
SB299 — The bill is described as making the prior promise regarding child care exemptions real.
SB299 — The bill is described as correcting an error in the statute affecting child care in residential zones.
SB299 — The bill is described as resolving the procedural challenge faced by child care providers.
SB299 — The bill is described as having passed the Human Services Committee unanimously and is now being supported by witnesses.
SB299 — The witness urges an aye vote on SB 299.
SB299 — The bill is described as critical to ensuring the CEQA exemption for child care facilities in residential zones.
SB299 — The witness requests an aye vote on the bill.
SB299 — First detailed committee discussion of the bill's policy changes and amendments.
SB299 — Described as a straightforward CEQA exemption for day care facilities in exclusively residential areas.
SB299 — Described as a common-sense CEQA exemption for day care facilities in residential areas.
SB299 — Described as narrowly tailored and heard before the broader cleanup of SB 131.
SB299 — SB 299 is taken up as file item 2 and moved do pass as amended to appropriations. The committee first announces a 5-0 vote, then later in the same discussion the vote is updated to 7-0, with Senators Hurtado and Perez voting aye, and the bill is declared out.
SB131 — SB 131 is discussed as last year’s CEQA legislation that made major changes, including new exemptions and limits on administrative record content. Speakers note that the current bill is being separated from the SB 131 framework, but also positioned as part of a broader effort to clean up and more comprehensively address the outstanding concerns raised by senators. The discussion emphasizes continuing the work from SB 131 and making good-faith commitments from that prior legislation real.
Courtney Jensen — Courtney Jensen is introduced as a witness representing the Low Income Investment Fund and then speaks on behalf of the organization in support of SB 299.
John Kennedy — Introduced as a witness and then speaks on behalf of RCRC and 40 rural counties in support of SB 299.
John Kennedy — John Kennedy of the Rural County Representatives of California testified in support of the bill on behalf of RCRC, noting that RCRC is a co-sponsor with INSAC and RCC. He explained that local governments are responsible for managing solid waste and household hazardous waste, setting up the broader context for why the bill matters.
Lauren De Valencia — Speaks in support on behalf of the American Planning Association.
Sarah Botches — Speaks in support on behalf of Children Now.
Rosanna Carvacho-Eliate — Speaks in support on behalf of the Early Care and Education Consortium.
Melissa Sparks Crens — Speaks in support on behalf of the League of California Cities.
Jordan Wells — Speaks in support on behalf of the California State Association of Counties.
Alex Lumer — Speaks in opposition on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife and the California Native Plant Society.
Alex Lumer — Testified in opposition on behalf of several environmental justice organizations.
Mariela Racho — Speaks for Leadership Council and says the group is not opposing but wants a more comprehensive approach to SB 131.
Mariela Racho — Testified in support on behalf of the Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability.
Suzette Valladares — Suzette Valladares thanked the author for bringing the bill forward and expressed strong support for its connection to CEQA modernization and child care. She shared that she is passionate about these issues, described the difficulty of finding existing properties suitable for child care centers based on her own experience running one, and said the bill is important. She concluded by thanking the author again and stating that she would love to be a co-author.
Suzette Valladares — Suzette Valladares is called present during roll call, is recorded as voting aye on SB 58, is identified as the Vice Chair who moved the item, and is later recorded as voting aye on SB 811 as the committee proceeds through related floor actions.
Suzette Valladares — Recorded as voting no.
Benjamin Allen — Benjamin Allen spoke in support of the child care facilities bill, thanking Senator Cabaldon and the committee, emphasizing the importance of child care centers and their economic and developmental benefits, and noting that CEQA should not be used to delay these community-serving facilities. He also said he has long championed child care slots and funding, acknowledged broader CEQA issues that should be addressed in a comprehensive cleanup effort, referenced ongoing work and prior commitments related to SB 131, and concluded by asking for an aye vote.
Benjamin Allen — Senator Allen is repeatedly referenced as the legislator who previously worked on the issue, was the next author to be called up, and had to wait briefly while the committee voted on SB 58 before presenting SB 501. Once recognized, he introduces SB 501 as a bill to expand California’s extended producer responsibility program for loose batteries, and the discussion also notes related prior legislation, including SB 1215.
Lena Gonzalez — Lena Gonzalez is referenced in a discussion where the speaker thanks 'Senator Reyes' and later notes that Senator Reyes made comments about the issue, specifically in the context of concerns about SB 131.
Lena Gonzalez — Acknowledges the role of shredding facilities and begins committee questioning.
Lena Gonzalez — Lena Gonzalez is called during quorum roll call and the subsequent vote sequence for SB 58, where her vote is recorded as aye and her name is repeatedly called as part of the roll.
Lena Gonzalez — Lena Gonzalez appears throughout the roll-call vote sequence for SB 811: she is first called during the roll, then recorded as voting aye. The call is subsequently lifted for Senator Gonzalez/Gonzales, and she is again included in later vote-call and final tally references, all within the same voting process.
Catherine Blakespear — As chair, asked for confirmation that the committee amendments were accepted and began her comments on the bill.
Catherine Blakespear — Explained SB 299 as a CEQA exemption for day care facilities in exclusively residential areas and described environmental guardrails.
Catherine Blakespear — Described the 3,200-foot setback from oil wells and refineries as an added environmental guardrail in SB 299.
Catherine Blakespear — Said SB 299 is a common-sense CEQA exemption and explained that it amends SB 131.
Catherine Blakespear — Explained concerns about SB 131 and noted a letter co-authored with Senator Cabaldon urging fixes.
Catherine Blakespear — Said she is spearheading a broader effort to clean up SB 131 and address concerns raised in committee and on the Senate floor.
Catherine Blakespear — Said SB 299 is narrowly tailored and should be heard before the broader SB 131 cleanup process.
Catherine Blakespear — Referenced as the chair being thanked and as part of continued collaboration.
Catherine Blakespear — Referenced as the chair with whom the author will continue to collaborate.
Catherine Blakespear — Announced there was no quorum yet, said the committee would continue as a subcommittee, and invited Senator Padilla to present SB 58.
Catherine Blakespear — As chair, noted Senator Padilla was in the room and invited him forward for SB 58.
Catherine Blakespear — Addressed as Madam Chair while the committee moves to SB 58.
Catherine Blakespear — Addressed as Chair by the witness.
Catherine Blakespear — The Chair asks whether the amendments are being accepted.