Appropriations Committee advances dozens of bills; debates parole credits, public health, housing and animal-welfare measures

The California State Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced a large suspense calendar and approved or moved forward a series of bills on April 23, 2025, while members heard extended testimony on several measures including AB 263 (temporary water flow rule extension), AB 309 (sterile syringe access), AB 631 (animal shelter data posting), AB 867 (restrictions on declawing cats), and AB 622 (clarifying prison credit rules for people with indeterminate sentences).

Why it matters: The committee’s action clears multiple bills for further consideration by the Legislature and focused debate on items with fiscal effects or policy implications — notably a contentious correctional-policy bill that drew sharp opposition from law enforcement and victims’ advocates and support from criminal-justice reform groups that said it will save state funds.

AB 263 — temporary flow regulations for Klamath tributaries Assemblymember Rogers presented AB 263, a district bill that would maintain temporary flow regulations on the Smith and Shasta rivers into the Klamath by allowing a multi-year extension while permanent regulations are completed. The author said the change would move from yearly reapprovals to a 5‑year hold or until permanent rules are adopted and asserted the change “saves the state about $2,000,000,000 over the next 5 years.”

Clifton Wilson, speaking on behalf of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, registered respectful opposition and said his office looked forward to continuing conversations. Alex Baron of the California Farm Bureau also stated respectful opposition and asked for additional discussion about precedent and placing regulation text inside the Water Code. Melissa Kosachuk of Western Growers registered respectful opposition.

The committee moved AB 263 to a roll call for further processing (motion carried out to a roll call; tally not specified in the hearing record).

AB 309 — maintaining pharmacist syringe access An author presented AB 309 as a measure to preserve existing law allowing pharmacists to provide sterile syringes without a prescription. The bill’s sponsors and supporters argued that wider syringe access lowers rates of HIV and hepatitis transmission…