Senate budget subcommittee advances broad package of natural‑resources and energy items; Delta conveyance moved to policy

The California State Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 advanced a broad set of natural‑resources and energy budget items at a public hearing, moving most measures forward while recording a handful of no votes and abstentions.

The subcommittee approved two large blocks of items by unanimous 4–0 votes and passed other packages with a 3–1 margin where Senator Choi voted no and with a series of items where Choi recorded abstentions. The chair opened the hearing noting members would take public comment before voting; public testimony ran across water, energy, transit and conservation interests.

The committee’s work reflected a larger fiscal constraint repeatedly referenced at the hearing. Senator Choi said, “With the $120,000,000,000 budget deficit, unfortunately, our state is facing, I wish we had plenty surplus so we can satisfy all the needs that we hear,” and added that the deficit requires…