LCB brief: Senate Commerce and Labor to consider AI, cannabis, insurance, licensing and labor bills this session

A nonpartisan Research Division briefing told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee that it will be among the chamber’s most active policy committees in 2025 and previewed topics members are likely to consider this session.

Patrick Ashton, policy analyst with the Legislative Counsel Bureau’s Research Division, told the committee the Commerce and Labor Committee handled 105 measures in the previous session (62 Senate and 43 Assembly bills and resolutions), with 88 bills voted out of committee and 73 measures approved by the legislature; Governor Lombardo vetoed 11 of those measures. Ashton said six vetoed bills have returned to the new legislature.

Ashton outlined the committee’s jurisdiction under Senate Rule 40, which includes banks, insurance, labor and workers’ compensation, manufactured housing, the cannabis industry, occupational licensing and related subjects. He said measures with major fiscal effects may be referred concurrently to Senate Finance.

The brief highlights policy topics the committee is likely to see this session, including artificial intelligence, cannabis regulation, health and other insurance issues, occupational and professional licensing, labor issues and prescription-drug costs. Ashton also pointed members to audits, interim committee bulletins and statutory reports provided in the electronic brief on NELIS and offered Research Division assistance with bill remarks, background research and cross-state comparisons.

Chair Julie Pizzina thanked Ashton and opened the department presentation that followed.