At a Senate Budget and Fiscal Review hearing, the Department of Finance defended a more modest 20% cap and SAL exclusion, while advocates urged larger caps and structural fixes (unemployment insurance, targeted reserves). Senators debated business exits, EDD debt and whether to create separate emergency reserves.

The Legislative Analyst's Office told the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee that California's current reserve rules would cover about 30% of downside funding shortfalls under a conservative benchmark and recommended raising the constitutional BSA cap from 10% to 50% by 2055, with options to broaden deposit rules or deposit full excess capital gains.

Senators pressed CalSTA and Caltrans about an overdue SB 1098 report and systemic underperformance on the Los Angeles–San Diego rail corridor, while state officials described millions in recent investments, a new project planning database (CRIS) and steps to scope San Clemente coastal resiliency work.

Industry and consumer groups pushed the Senate committee to limit policy to concentrated synthetic 7OH while preserving access to natural kratom; public‑health witnesses and some scientists warned that flawed studies complicate interpretation and enforcement challenges remain.

Health officials and county medical examiners told the Senate Health Committee that concentrated 7‑hydroxymitragynine (7OH) products are linked to a recent rise in unexplained deaths and that gaps in testing and enforcement hinder efforts to remove dangerous products from retail shelves.

During public comment dozens of residents urged the council not to renew the city’s vehicle‑reader / surveillance camera contract (identified in testimony as Flock) and asked that the city redirect funds to parks, lighting and services. Speakers cited privacy and immigration‑enforcement concerns.

City staff presented Ordinance MC1660 to regulate short‑term rentals. Councilmembers debated enforcement capacity, potential revenue and monitoring costs, then voted to introduce the ordinance by title and continue the hearing with a second reading set for March.

The Watershed Project and city partners outlined a community-driven sea-level-rise resilience planning effort for Richmond’s shoreline. Staff asked residents to help confirm vulnerable assets and priorities; the plan will move to design and funding phases and is expected to span several years.

Scores of speakers from the San Bernardino airport community and advocacy groups urged council not to renew the city's contract with Flock over privacy and possible data sharing with federal agencies; speakers asked council to place the contract on the next agenda before the March 31 renewal date.

Committee members said theft and vandalism of EV-charger and shared-vehicle infrastructure has repeatedly taken chargers offline; they pointed to California Assembly Bill 425 as newly strengthened law that tightens recycler records, increases fines and criminalizes organized metal theft.

The district presented its midyear Local Control and Accountability Plan, detailing five priorities, 72 actions and a roughly $161 million set of LCAP and related funds, with officials pointing to expanded coaching and EL supports but acknowledging ongoing gaps for English learners.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a 23-item 2025 code amendment package that removes a 25% unenclosed porch limit for accessory dwelling units, creates standards for movable tiny homes and electrified fences in nonresidential zones, and adds a narrow parcel‑split exception in agricultural zones; staff and public speakers flagged implementation issues for snow loads and tiny‑home manufacturers.

Casey Fritz of 0 Waste Marin told the Corte Madera committee that the countywide JPA enforces California waste laws (including SB 1383), runs a decade‑old schools program that has prevented nearly 18,000 tons of greenhouse‑gas emissions, and coordinates household hazardous‑waste collection and outreach.

County leaders and statewide housing advocates told the Assembly subcommittee that HAP has produced housing outcomes and urged the state to make funding ongoing or multi‑year, consolidate reporting and avoid requirements that would delay distribution of funds to local programs.

A Leica/diagnostics representative told the Assembly select committee that digitizing pathology slides and applying FDA‑cleared AI tools can speed diagnoses and reduce rural disparities, but infrastructure costs and lack of reimbursement keep U.S. adoption below 5%.

Public commenters including the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition and Consumer Watchdog said survivors have not yet felt recovery on the ground and warned that streamlining interveners could reduce public participation; industry groups welcomed insurer filings but cautioned the rollout will take time.

A Y Combinator‑backed founder told the Assembly committee that permitting timelines, zoning and thin local contract manufacturing capacity make California less viable for scaling medtech manufacturing, and asked the committee to streamline permits and offer incentives.

Legislators and witnesses at a California State Assembly subcommittee hearing debated whether stricter accountability for the Homelessness Assistance and Prevention (HAP) program is slowing disbursement and undermining local services — and whether consolidated reporting and multi‑year funding could preserve impact while improving transparency.

Labor and community witnesses told the committee that unplanned refinery closures create extended unemployment, unsafe understaffing during pre‑closure periods, and large local revenue losses; they recommended expanding displaced worker funds, tax‑stabilization mechanisms, safe‑staffing rules, and local planning supports.

A Cervia Neurosciences co‑founder told the Assembly committee that California lacks mid‑stage non‑dilutive funding for medtech, which risks losing innovations; she proposed a targeted state translational fund (low‑tens of millions) to de‑risk companies and attract private capital.

Researchers, Water Boards and environmental attorneys told the committee that refinery operators often do not disclose asset‑retirement obligations and that the state should adopt standardized cost estimates and financial assurance to prevent liabilities shifting to communities.

Industry witnesses told an Assembly select committee that medical technology differs from biopharma, relies on manufacturing clusters and mid‑skill workers, and needs state policy attention on workforce training, supply chains and translational funding to keep production and jobs in California.

At the hearing, industry representatives blamed California regulation for refinery departures, while researchers told the committee global market dynamics, declining in‑state crude productivity and consolidation also explain closures; CARB and CEC emphasized multi‑factor causes.

State agencies, researchers, labor and community groups told the Senate Environmental Quality Committee that California must plan proactively for refinery closures to avoid large cleanup bills, protect workers, and preserve fuel reliability; industry blamed state policy for closures and urged action to preserve in‑state refining.

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara told the Assembly Insurance Committee the department’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy has produced faster claims payments, five approved SIS filings and other indicators of market stabilization; he said visible consumer relief could appear in 12–24 months, with structural recovery over 3–5 years.