Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development

Alright. Welcome everyone to the Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee. We are going to start as a subcommittee as we do not have quorum. Once we establish quorum, we're gonna take role and get on our way. But since we are gonna start as a subcommittee, I'd like to make a couple of announcements.

We have four bills on today's agenda. A reminder to everyone in this committee, we accept testimony from members of the public and witnesses at the microphone. Everyone will be time two minutes each, two for the lead support and two for the lead opposition. Me too's both opposition and support will happen at the same time.

Senator Reyes, if you would like to bring up file item number 1, SB 969.

Thank you, Madam Chair, members for this opportunity to present SB 969. The bill updates the regulatory framework for EV charging accuracy testing.

Two seconds. Since we have another member, I'd like to get a roll call and quorum established so we can finish this quicker.

[roll call]

Thank you. We have established quorum, and out of respect for the author, if you would like to start at the very beginning.

I thank you again, Madam Chair and the members, for the opportunity to present SB 969. This bill updates the regulatory framework for EV charging accuracy testing at the division of measurement standards within the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Despite California's climate goals, stakeholders report that the current enforcement for EV charging accuracy varies widely by county within some with some areas lacking the resources or capacity to inspect and test chargers.

Simply put, the existing process by which these chargers are regulated is slowing EV charger deployment at a time when the State needs rapid expansion. This bill addresses this gap by removing unnecessary barriers to installing and operating new charging stations across California.

Under the bill, the counties retain their existing authority to test chargers at their discretion and most importantly, at the request of a consumer. Amendments taken in the Assembly were negotiated closely with the county sealers who conduct the testing and removed all opposition, and the bill has enjoyed bipartisan support.

Here to testify on the bill today are Reid Addis on behalf of the EV Charging Association and Marquise Mason on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Two minutes.

Thank Two minutes. Thank you, Chair and members. Reid Addis on behalf of the Electric Vehicle Charging Association in strong support today. We are desperately trying to get 300 units installed every day to meet the state's ambitious climate and environmental goals. That's a challenge.

And one of the key challenges that we've been grappling with is that one of the tools that's used to do in field or field testing is made by one company, and it's terribly expensive. So one of the key elements of this bill that we really appreciate is it allows us to do factory testing, will help make sure that we expedite the ability to get those 400 units on the ground each and every day. Thank you very much.

Good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee. My name is Marquise King Mason.

I'll be speaking on behalf of Natural Resource Defense Council in strong support of SB 969. California's climate, air quality, and clean transmission goals depend on the rapid deployment of reliable EV charging infrastructure. That means drivers need to have the confidence that charging stations are accurate and transparent, but it also means our regulatory framework needs to be practical, scalable, and capable of keeping pace with the growth of EV charging.

SB 969 strikes that balance. California's existing weights and measures framework was originally designed for traditional fuel dispensing systems. As applied to EV charging, it has created administrative procedural challenges that can delay charge to deployment and increase costs without always providing consumer benefits.

SB 969 makes targeted practical forms while preserving strong consumer protections. In particular, the bill allows EV charging equipment that has already been factory tested and certified to be placed into service while maintaining registration, requirements, inspection authority, and enforcement of accuracy standards. This bill does not eliminate oversight.

It helps focus oversight where it matters most on measurement, accuracy, transparency, and consumer trust. Reducing unnecessary cost and delays and especially is especially important in expanding charging access to multifamily housing, workplaces, public space, and others shared charging infrastructure settings.

Reliable charging will access will determine whether the benefits of transportation and electrification be applied to all or just few. SB 969 is common sense reform, and for that reason, we ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Lead opposition witnesses? Seeing none, moving on to me too's. Seeing none, we're gonna move on to me too's.

Thank you, Chair and members. Chris Strong with Capital FC on behalf of ChargePoint in support. Thank you.

Thank you. We're gonna move on to committee members. Seeing none, would you like to close, Senator?

I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Do we have a motion?

Senator Archuleta moves. Let's get a vote.

Motion is that the Assembly amendments be concurred in.

[roll call]

That bill is 6-0. It's gonna be on call until some of our other members join us.

We're gonna move on to Senator Richardson file item number 2, SB1312.

Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. All right. Thank you, Madam Chair and members of this BMP Committee. I want to thank you for allowing me to present an update on SB 1312.

There are currently 187 private cemeteries in the State of California that are subject to abandonment. These cemeteries that have already been abandoned, the reason why they become abandoned is when a cemetery becomes full, it's no longer profitable. And therefore, that's why oftentimes private owners walk away, leaving cities and municipalities and loved ones without proper maintenance of the cemeteries, the ability to continue their burial rights and to really seek the rest that they had hoped that their loved ones would have had.

Abandoned cemeteries quickly also become a public nuisance. They are distressing to families when they see weeds up to my hip.

And in my case, we have cemeteries where individuals have actually removed gravestone markers. We found them inside the graves themselves, opening mausoleums to take out jewelry. And now, when the volunteers have even attempted to have guard dogs at the facility to guard it during the evening because there isn't money to provide adequate security, the guard dogs have now been killed. We must act now to adapt, to adopt lacking policy to address the growing issue and ensure that these sacred places are preserved.

You might recall last year I had a bill, SB 777.

With that bill, Mr. Berman on the Assembly side with BNP had asked that we would do a, a working group meeting which occurred, in March of this year that a report would be produced in June. And based upon that is now why we have coming before you today because we incorporated those meeting notes, in SB 1312. We also have worked with the administration, with DCA, the Department of Consumer Affairs, to incorporate their recommendations of how we should move forward with positive policy.

Essentially, what SB 1312 now will do is it formally defines an abandoned endowment care cemetery.

And it also establishes a mechanism for a city, county, or a municipality to declare an endowment care cemetery abandoned so they can begin the process of a title transfer. By doing a title transfer, then we can potentially have a public cemetery district that would then care for the cemetery. With that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote and I believe, the gentleman, Mister Connolly from the Assembly has a subsequent bill.

I think it's 09/29 where he wants to add some protections for Marin County, which I'm in support of as well. With that, I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Do we have any lead support witnesses? Lead support. Lead opposition.

We are We're gonna get to meet you. Tweener.

Okay. Just state your name, your organization, whether you support or oppose.

Okay. Jerry Desmond with the Cemetery and Mortuary Association of California. We are adopting a position as we speak, but we see this as a positive measure coming out of the

Thank you.

Work group process.

So Appreciate it.

Alright. Do we have any lead opposition? No. Senator Strickland. I just wanna thank the Senator.

You bet.

Thank you.

I know how much you've worked on this issue and working through this. And with that, I'd like to move the bill.

Thank you. Senator Archuleta.

Thank you.

Thank you for bringing it back on the work you've done, Senator. My concern is just a question, intimate domain. How is it that the county or the city is going to absorb ownership and at what point is that declared because it becomes a nuisance? Is that a city council issue, county issue? So then we can get begin the process to secure and start to maintain it for those loved ones that have lost their their relatives and so on.

And now they can go and visit and have a more of a beautiful setting that I'm hoping will happen because the funding and the ability to to bring up the the level and the stature of that lost cemetery.

That's an excellent question and that's actually the whole point of thirteen twelve is to establish what what qualifications need to be determined to say that the cemetery is abandoned. Things like, how long the property has been vacant, how long, there has been in terms of people there providing security, is maintenance being provided, are, burial services being provided? The Department of Consumer Affairs is the one that oversees the actual endowment account and are aware, each year a cemetery needs to produce their annual report.

So once it gets to the point, and that's the whole point of thirteen twelve, once it gets to the point where there are no longer adhering to the rules, even including such as paying taxes on their property, that's what gives the county, city, municipality the ability to transfer the title. Once they transfer the title, then that's when we can establish how the work can begin.

So that's the whole point of the bill and to give the DCA Department of Consumer Affairs the authority to then say, yes, this cemetery is abandoned. And yes, now the county or city can take it over.

Good. Thank you.

Once again, thank you for your work on this. And of course, I'll be supporting it.

Thank you. Senator Shui.

Now my question is that how we can prevent future cemeteries from becoming the same condition. And the second second quest question is that what if the city or the county in the dispute in in that local jurisdiction over that property refuses to take it over, what happens?

Excellent question. So as you know, this is my part two of this issue and next year I'll be coming with part three. Yes, the goal is is that once the DCA would deem that, yes, the cemetery is in what we call abandoned status, meaning the private owner is no longer operating the cemetery, and it could then the title be transferred.

If the county, were to refuse, we do hope in the bill, since now the municipality would have access to the endowment funds, we're hoping that they would willingly accept because they don't wanna accept that they're gonna be, excuse my French, stuck with the asset, a cemetery without the resources. So now that that has been determined, what exists is what's called LAFCO.

LAFCO has the ability to then assign it to a public cemetery district. It's our hope there if the public cemetery that exists doesn't want it, then a new public cemetery would be established. But now we're going into when you'll see me next year of the next steps.

Thank you. Some some cemeteries may have endowment fund left over, which is a positive side. Yeah. But will there be any property with some kind of liabilities that the county or city will have to take over when they take over their property?

Excellent question. A part of the bill says that the city, county, municipality, or public cemetery district would not incur any liabilities of what the private owner did. So if the private owner did not provide appropriate, you know, maintaining of the grave area, If things were lost, if they didn't do proper burial services, the entity that takes it on would not assume any liability for him then.

Thank you.

That was a very

important point. We have a motion by Senator Strickland. Could I get a vote?

Motion is that the Assembly amendments be concurred in. Wahab?

Aye.

Wahab, I Choy?

Aye.

Choi, Aye. Archuleta? Aye. Archuleta, Aye. Adegaine Caballero?

Grayson? Aye. Grayson, Aye. Menjivar? Aye.

Menjivar, Aye. Nilo. Smallwood, Cuevas? Aye. Smallwood, Aye.

Strickland, Aye. Embargo. Yes.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you. Appreciate it. Senator Grayson, if you would like to present SB 700 file item number 3.

Good afternoon, madam Chair, committee members. SB 700 provides stopgap funding for a program created back in 2022 by our dear colleague from Merced and our current Pro Tem. This bill provides the state treasurer with additional flexibility in supporting small businesses through a cap through the capital programs and climate financing authority. SB 700 would add to the list of authorized funding activities the California Investment and Innovation Program or Cal IIP.

Cal IIP is the state's mechanism for supporting develop community development financial institutions that we all know as CDFIs.

CDFIs do amazing work across our state and in supporting affordable housing, small business growth, and underserved communities. In three years, Cali IP has been active. We have seen incredible results that my witness will expound on, but we are nearing the point of exhausting available funds. Using the authority provided in this bill, we can fund another partial round of grants to support our CDFIs. This bill has no opposition and has received unanimous bipartisan support.

When the time comes, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Do we do we have a lead when it's okay? Two minutes timed.

That's me. I won't even take two minutes. Rachel Mueller, Director of Advocacy for the California Coalition for Community Investment. Excuse me. I hear on behalf of, SB 700.

As Senator Grayson pointed out, the, this is a straightforward measure that gives the state treasurer additional flexibility to use existing state dollars to support the California or California Investment and Innovation Program. CDFIs across the state, including those in underbanked and under represented communities and districts, use this funding to support community development projects like small businesses, affordable housing, childcare access and healthcare. Just wanted to say thank you so much and respectfully ask your ad vote.

Appreciate it. Anybody else? Seeing none, opposition? Seeing none, me too. Alright.

Do we have a motion? Move the bill. Thank you. Senator, would you like to close?

Respectfully ask for an ad vote.

Really appreciate all your work on this. Let's get a roll call vote.

Motion is that the Assembly amendments be concurred in. Wahab. Aye. Wahab, Aye, Choi.

Aye.

Choi, Aye, Archuleta. Aye. Archuleta, Aye, Adegin. Caballero, Grayson.

Grayson, Aye, Menjivar. Aye. Menjivar, Aye, Nilo. Smallwood Cuevas. Aye.

Aye.

Smallwood Cuevas, Aye, Strickland, Aye, Amberg.

Alright. That bill is on call. We would like for sergeants to request that Senator, Umberg present himself and also Assemblymember Conley to present. I know I gotta go back to. All right.

Assemblymember Conley. File item number 4AB929. Anytime.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Chair and members. I wanna start by thanking Chair Wahab and the committee staff for working with my office to hear this bill. This one is extremely important to my district. I'm pleased to present AB 929, which will allow the County Of Marin to transfer ownership and management of the Mount Tamalpais Cemetery located in San Rafael to either California nonprofit organization or a licensed cemetery authority. Following actions by the attorney general and the cemetery bureau, the state revoked the cemetery's license in 2025.

This is due to years of neglect, financial impropriety and mismanagement by the owner. Right now, families must personally maintain the graves of their loved ones in overgrown grounds, damage and difficult to locate gravesites and unsafe conditions. The County Of Marin participated in the state working group established following passage of SB 777 offered authored by Senator Richardson, as you know, last year to identify solutions for abandoned private endowment care cemeteries.

The recommendations from the bureau helped inform SB 1312, which I believe you just heard, which we initially thought would help fix the issues at Mount Tam Cemetery. Unfortunately, it was late in the session when we realized we needed very specific language to address the unique situation in Marin County, which brings us to the need for AB 929.

Because the County Of Marin cannot take on long term ownership or management of Mount Tam Cemetery, they have been working with the city of San Rafael, community organizations, faith groups, and other partners to transfer the property to either a nonprofit or a licensed cemetery authority. AB 929 authorizes the county to pursue this process and importantly, temporarily protects a successor from liabilities created by the prior owner, since they will have to fix decades of neglect.

This bill only applies to Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, sunsets 01/01/2029, and only becomes operative if SB 1312 is enacted. With me to testify in support is Dylan Elliott speaking on behalf of Marin County.

You have two minutes.

Thank you very much. Good evening members. I hope I will take drastically less than that. First and foremost, wanna say Dylan Elliott here today on behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, sponsors of AB 929, strong support. Appreciate Assemblymember Connolly and his leadership on this issue.

This is a really, really narrow bill specific to Marin County Mount Tamalpais. It's got no opposition. Sunsets in 2029. Happy to answer any questions, but urge your support. It means a lot to the community.

Thank you. Any other lead support? Seeing none, opposition. Seeing none, Me Too's. Name, organization, and whether you support or oppose.

Jerry Desmond, Cemetery Mortuary Association of California. The bill was just amended today. We anticipate support. We see it as a positive measure for Marin that could go forward for the rest of

the Support.

Thank you.

Thank you. If we can get committee members? I'll move the vote. Thank you. Would you like to close?

Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Can we get a roll call?

Motion is do passed to the Senate floor. Wahab? Aye. Wahab, aye. Choi, aye.

Archuleta? Aye. Archuleta, aye. Adegaine. Cabrera?

Grayson? Aye. Grayson, Menjivar? Aye. Menjivar, aye, Nelo?

No. Nelo, no. Smallwood Cuevas? Aye. Smallwood Cuevas, Aye.

Strickland? Aye. Strickland, Aye, Amberg. Please call Caballero. Caballero?

No. Okay. But for comment.

You wanna you wanted to say what it is? AB2929?

Give her two seconds.

Yeah. I'll

go through my camera. Fourth one. File item number 4.

Aye. Alright. Cover your eye.

Call absent members.

SB969, ground votes six to zero. Caballero? That's aye. Caballero, Aye. Menjivar?

Aye. Mangivar, Aye. Nilo? Aye. Nilo, Aye.

Smallwood Cuevas? Aye. Smallwood Cuevas, Aye. umberg.

Alright. That bill's out. 10 to zero. What is it? 10 to zero.

Zero. File item number 2.

Current vote seven to zero, Adagin.

What is this s p 700?

This is 1312.

Adagin Caballero? Aye. Caballero, aye. Niello? No.

Nilo, no. Umberg. 8 to one.

8 to one that fills out. Okay. File item number 3SB700.

Can vote seven to zero. Adegin Caballero? Aye. Caballero, aye. Nilo?

Aye. Nilo, aye. Umberg. Okay. That's 9 to zero.

9 to zero. That bill is out. We are officially done. I do want to thank all of the members that presented, and we're here. And again, thank you to our committee staff.

Really appreciate it.