Transcript Highlights:

• They get collected at the end, and they get recycled.
• They get collected at the end, and they get recycled.
• They get collected at the end, and they get recycled.
• They get collected at the end, and they get recycled.
• They get collected at the end, and they get recycled.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the time we had a collected.
• So, can you speculate what percentage of toll revenue they're actually collecting?
• Evidence-based practices, yes.
• evidence-based practices.
• We have about five evidence-based practices that are provided to children.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 10 minutes and then moved through a large agenda of contract reviews, including a deferred Kentucky Transportation Cabinet item tied to Louisville bridge tolling and RiverLink. Transportation officials explained that the contract was part of a bi-state arrangement with Indiana: Indiana Finance Authority held the main contract with HNTB, while Kentucky needed a mirror contract to pay its 50% share under the bi-state management agreement. Members questioned why the work was treated as effectively no-bid, how much input Kentucky had in vendor selection, RiverLink’s collection performance, and when tolls might end. Transportation said Kentucky had equal representation in selection, HNTB served as a toll services advisor, collections and customer service had improved, and tolls are expected to remain until debt obligations are paid off in 2058. Several members criticized the company’s past performance and voted no as a statement of concern, but the contract still moved forward. The committee then deferred a Kentucky State University item because the vendor was not registered with the Secretary of State. It also approved the overall agenda and contract review lists. A Board of Optometric Examiners contract drew significant discussion: board representatives said they had previously relied on the Public Protection Cabinet for legal services, but that office lacked staff and advised them to seek outside counsel. Some members argued the committee could not approve a contract that appeared to conflict with statute, while others said the board should not be left without legal counsel and that the Attorney General should be brought in to resolve the issue. The committee ultimately voted to defer the optometric contract for one month and requested the Attorney General appear at the next meeting. Finally, the committee reviewed an Administrative Office of the Courts amendment for the Court of Appeals building project. Staff explained that the General Assembly had authorized the project, the design contract had already gone through multiple approved phases, and the current item was only an administrative correction to a prior modification amount. Members approved the amendment, with one member noting appreciation that the project costs had been reduced when an error was found.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you try a case and you incorrectly admit evidence or keep evidence out that should be admitted
• My experience is most judges let all the expert evidence come in to evidence.
• First, we'd simply say that the proponent of the evidence, of the expert evidence, carries the burden
• That's true of any evidence.
• That's true of any evidence.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first heard House Bill 2255, sponsored by Rep. Barry Hovis, which would update Missouri’s expert witness statute to align with the amended federal Rule 702 and the Daubert reliability framework. Supporters, including defense lawyers, the Missouri Hospital Association, business groups, insurers, and a sterilization company, argued the bill would clarify judges’ gatekeeping role, require expert testimony to be shown reliable by a preponderance of the evidence, and reduce inconsistent rulings and costly retrials. Opponents, including the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, a public advocate, and a justice reform group, argued the bill was unnecessary, would shift too much discretion from juries to judges, and could increase pretrial litigation and costs, especially for plaintiffs. No vote was taken on HB 2255 during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 3155, sponsored by Rep. Benny Cook, on sentencing and parole eligibility changes. Cook and supporters, including prosecutors and some public safety advocates, said the bill would improve transparency in sentencing, make parole timing clearer, and help address repeat serious offenders by setting firmer service percentages. Opponents, including justice reform and anti-poverty advocates, argued it would increase incarceration costs, especially for lower-level and drug offenses, without improving public safety, and would reduce incentives for rehabilitation. Some members questioned whether the bill could lead to longer time served, while supporters said it would apply evenly and clarify existing sentencing practices. At the end of the hearing, the committee took up an executive session on House Bill 2637 and House Bill 3155 together under a House Committee Substitute. The substitute was adopted, and the combined committee substitute for HB 2637 and HB 3155 was voted do pass by an 8-3 roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the money, I think, that was collected did offset that, but I don't know the formula.
• We have to recognize that we can't collect a victim penalty assessment from everybody.
• But because we can't collect it from everybody doesn't mean we can't collect it from most.
• We were spending dollars to collect dimes.
• This is a growing issue that we can collectively intervene in and prevent.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several bills, with testimony limited because of the large number of sign-ups. House Bill 2146 would expand the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor to include causing a minor to view sexually explicit conduct that is being photographed or shown in a live performance. The prime sponsor, Olympia police, and Pierce County prosecutors described cases involving adults masturbating in front of children and argued the current law leaves a gap by treating such conduct as only misdemeanor indecent exposure or communication with a minor. Committee members asked about comparisons to other states, forensic interviews, and whether related offenses could be enhanced. House Bill 2349 would expand notice requirements for sexually violent predator releases, conditional releases, address changes, discharges, and escapes to include local elected officials such as sheriffs, county executives, city officials, and legislators. The sponsor said the bill would codify a practice already occurring in some cases and help officials respond to community concerns with accurate information. DSHS supported increased communication but requested technical amendments. Several city officials testified in support, saying they had not always been notified in advance of placements in their communities. Defense advocates opposed the bill, warning that broader notification could fuel public pressure, vigilante responses, and constitutional problems for the civil commitment system. The hearing on the bill was left open for amendments. House Bill 2532 would make it a gross misdemeanor to sell or distribute nitrous oxide canisters or similar containers, with exemptions for medical, dental, food, industrial, and automotive uses. The sponsor and supporters described rising misuse among youth and young adults, public health harms, and incidents involving impaired driving and overdose deaths. Tribal representatives, the Attorney General’s Office, the Washington Poison Center, and public health officials supported the bill, while veterinary representatives asked for clarification or an amendment to preserve veterinary use. The committee also heard testimony on House Bills 2430 and 2457, which both concern the crime victim penalty assessment. Representative Barno’s bill would restore the assessment for certain offenses involving victims, while Representative Davis’s bill would increase the assessment and add a surcharge for defendants with substantial financial resources. Victim advocates, prosecutors, and sheriffs supported the bills as needed to restore funding for victim services, while defense groups opposed them as burdensome fees on indigent defendants. The chair directed the two sponsors to work together on a single proposal, and the hearings were held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• The definition of occurrence, clearing convincing evidence, the pleading requirement, those were items
• So you're talking about the evidence has to be more likely.
• , you're already deciding what the preponderance of evidence standard is.
• Our rules of evidence, you would, Have to talk about insurance in order to do this.
• Our rules, Of evidence, UJI evidence.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Through this model, the patient can access timely evidence-based care for their alcohol use disorder
• Overwhelming evidence indicated that we needed a sexual assault-specific helpline.
• The forensic collection is secondary to that.
• , and with rape, we can have the evidence.
• Make sure you don't shower during that time, because they do need to collect the evidence."

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires Minnesota Math Corps to use evidence-based instructional support to evaluate and accelerate
• student learning on foundational mathematics skills and adds a definition of evidence-based.
• unilaterally modify the terms and conditions of employment of a teacher that are provided in a collective
• investigative data, as well as comprehensive law enforcement data, instead of the statutes governing data collected

Bills: HF1306

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: education, school policy, teacher training, student health, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• providing that the standard of proof in a probation revocation proceeding is preponderance of the evidence
• House Bill 136, adding exposure to the use of fentanyl as evidence of abuse of a child, is ordered printed
• It imposes a five-cent fee on barrels of produced water from oil or gas wells and deposits money collected
• attend professional development sessions and share her learnings with colleagues to develop their collective

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> collections for all motans. collections for all motans.
• </c><00:58:53.839><c> Additionally,</c> collections available. Additionally, collections available.
• build their own collections.
• build their own collections.
• </c> library collections. library collections. Thank<01:04:07.839><c> you.</c> Thank you.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Participants find a supportive community and evidence-based strategies to prevent and cope with chronic
• There is no evidence that high interest rates compel payment.
• For collecting debts. And that's why we increased it to 1%.
• And you're able to charge... ...them some interest on that and even send it out to collections.
• And pretty soon, the board that runs a grocery store that's elected by the people that collect taxes

Bills: SB5223 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare, financial burden, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, including the roll call, approval of the previous day’s journal, referral of committee reports and gubernatorial appointments, and the removal of Senate Joint Memorial 8003 from the consent calendar to the regular calendar. The chamber also received and referred Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1604 to the Committee on Human Services, and later took up several gubernatorial confirmations. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8682 recognizing the YMCA’s 150th anniversary in Washington. Senators spoke in support, describing the YMCA’s role in child care, swim lessons, youth programs, civic engagement, camps, and community health, and guests from YMCA organizations were recognized on the floor. The Senate then confirmed Jeffrey P. Fairchild to the Whatcom Community College Board of Trustees, Randall V. Scott to the Lake Washington Institute of Technology Board of Trustees, and Anna M. Franklin to the Community Colleges of Spokane Board of Trustees, each by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for the family of Representative Tom Dent after his wife suffered a stroke. After caucuses, the Senate returned to floor action on two major bills. Substitute Senate Bill 5185, creating a pilot pathway to physician licensure for international medical graduates, was advanced to final passage and approved 39-1. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5993, lowering the interest rate on medical debt, drew extensive debate about affordability, charity care, and the impact on rural hospitals; amendments were considered, including one to make the bill prospective rather than retroactive, which was adopted, while a rural-hospital differential-rate amendment failed. The bill ultimately passed 29-19. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have these significant revolving dollars that we've collected in both of the funds, more so on the
• um not a live animal but evidence um not a live animal but evidence<02:00:13.599><c> of</c><02:00:13.760
• This is a multi-year undertaking, and the current focus of that project is collections care.
• storage areas, so you understand the critical nature of that collections care and stewardship.
• </c> focus of that project is collections focus of that project is collections care<02:02:08.960><c>

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> project between mdh and CDC to collect project between mdh and CDC to collect information<00:32:
• the program. 2024 data collection was not yet complete, and data collection for 2025, due to start in
• evidence is the other one.
• </c><01:43:06.080><c> evidence</c><01:43:06.440><c> is</c><01:43:06.639><c> the</c> purposes of collecting
• evidence is the purposes of collecting evidence is the other<01:43:07.040><c> one</c><01:43:07.840><

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The school year ratings collected by the Texas Education Agency had not been released before spring of
• We need not look far for evidence of these things either.
• Oftentimes, the only evidence that I can rely upon to show that my client acted appropriately is the
• I've supplied evidence showing that the library...
• We already operate under mandatory HB 900 policies for collection development and reconsideration.

Bills: SB 13 , SB 27 , SB 57 , HB1325 , HB1655 , HB3312 , HB5526 , SB13 , SB57 , SB207 , HB441 , HB591 , HB5019 , SB27 , SB843

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: lobbying, public funds, political subdivision, local government, county association, municipal lobbying, registered lobbyist, Texas Legislature, taxpayer lawsuit, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, government finance, county dues, state association of counties, sheriffs association, law enforcement officers, legislative advocacy, bill tracking, legislative alerts, Government Code Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• And so healthy birth, healthy mother, pre-planned C-section is how they collect this discarded afterbirth
• patients, how do you get your patients and how are these women, are these women paid to be able to collect
• When a major study determines that the evidence is insufficient and recommends restraint, that should
• Legislatures routinely draw coverage boundaries based on medical evidence, fiscal priorities, and public
• D-transitioners deserve care, and we need to collect the data to understand the long-term effects.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then took up a large agenda of health-related bills. SB 1214, the Arizona Stem Cell Therapy Act, drew extensive testimony from supporters who said it would create guardrails for regenerative medicine, protect patients, and encourage biotech investment, while opponents argued it was tied to abortion politics and imposed harsh penalties. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote. SB 1194, which would prohibit health professionals and institutions from denying care based on vaccination status, also passed 4-3 after testimony from supporters framing it as an access-to-care and religious-freedom measure and opponents warning it would interfere with private practice policies and parental choice. SB 1814, creating a study committee on substance use disorder treatment standards and oversight, passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1602, increasing stipends for kinship foster parents, passed as amended 7-0, and SB 1603, expanding child-only cash assistance eligibility, also passed as amended 7-0. The committee then considered several bills focused on gender-related care and public funding. SB 1177, which bars public monies from funding gender transition procedures and makes intentional violations a felony, passed 4-3 amid testimony that it protects taxpayers and counterarguments that it is discriminatory and unsupported by evidence. SB 1014, requiring insurance coverage for detransition procedures when transition care is covered and directing data reporting on transition and detransition, passed 4-3 after supporters said it would help detransitioners and collect needed data, while opponents argued it would chill providers and target transgender patients. SB 1094, creating civil liability for physicians who perform irreversible gender reassignment surgery on minors, was heard with testimony from supporters citing malpractice concerns and detransitioner harms and from opponents saying it would create a hostile environment for providers and treat trans patients differently; the transcript cuts off before the vote is shown. SB 1752, which classifies commercial harvesting or sale of mescaline as a felony while preserving bona fide religious use defenses, passed unanimously 7-0. Later, SB 1628, requiring insurers to report claims-denial and prior-authorization data and DIFI to publish standardized reports, passed unanimously 7-0 after supporters emphasized transparency and opponents called it redundant to federal reporting. SB 1629, requiring AHCCCS managed care organizations to give advance notice and network-adequacy documentation before terminating high-volume providers without cause, also passed 7-0; supporters said it would prevent patients from losing access to behavioral health care, while health plans and Access said existing oversight already covers much of this and warned the bill could slow necessary network changes. Throughout the meeting, the committee repeatedly adopted motions for due-pass recommendations and, where applicable, amendments, with several bills passing on party-line or near-party-line votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for instance, all of our projects over time were required, when we collect data, to collect more
• It’s separate from just—they’re just providing basic housing, just collecting that basic information
• The focus is not to point fingers at each other but to address where we are at as a collective state,
• But I think collectively we can do it.
• Law enforcement supports housing-first approaches and evidence-based solutions to homelessness.

Summary: The Housing Committee held work sessions on federal Continuum of Care homelessness funding and on state step-housing siting rules before moving into public hearings on House Bill 2266 and House Bill 2489. Commerce staff said HUD’s late and restrictive Continuum of Care funding notice put about $120 million a year in Washington operating support for existing homeless housing projects at risk, but a lawsuit led by the Attorney General forced HUD to restart renewal funding. Commerce also reviewed how local governments are implementing step-housing requirements, including model ordinances, planning updates, and ongoing compliance reviews under recent state law. House Bill 2266 would require cities and counties to allow step housing in all nonindustrial zones, apply the same permitting and environmental review as other residential uses, limit design review to administrative processes, and remove certain local standards and conditions on existing buildings and affordable housing. Supporters, including Plymouth Housing, Disability Rights Washington, King County, the Attorney General’s Office, and Catholic Community Services, argued the bill would reduce discriminatory barriers, protect people with disabilities, and make it easier to site shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Several city representatives and the Association of Washington Cities opposed or sought amendments, saying the bill was too broad and could limit local authority over operational agreements, safety plans, spacing, community engagement, and funding conditions; some asked for clearer carveouts for emergency shelters and related uses. House Bill 2489 would bar local governments from enforcing public-space anti-camping or similar laws unless adequate alternative shelter space is available, with “life-sustaining activities” and “adequate alternative shelter space” defined in detail. Rep. Gregerson said the bill would create a statewide floor and prevent punishment for survival conduct when no real shelter option exists. The ACLU, service providers, and shelter operators supported the bill, citing displacement from fragmented local ordinances, enforcement costs, and the need to align enforcement with actual shelter availability. Testimony also described low-barrier shelter operations and examples of people stabilizing once housed. The hearing on HB 2489 began with staff explanation and initial testimony; no votes were taken on either bill in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd like to have a unified approach here in eastern Washington based on our collective concerns.
• Despite substantial evidence of its addiction potential and associated physical and psychological harms
• prevention strategies that are currently funded by the Department of Health through grants to be evidence
• based. ...to the extent vapor products tax collections and other revenues to the Andy Hill account result
• prevention strategies that are currently funded by the Department of Health through grants to be evidence

Bills: HB2291 , HB2629 , HB2439 , HB1078 , HB1701 , HB2207 , HB2501 , HB2361 , HB1932

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: kratom, consumer protection, regulation, health safety, substance control, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, pet insurance, insurance regulation, animal welfare, claims processes

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so if the inmate has to make—I know when I accept collect calls, I think it's $3.10 for 30 minutes
• I know when I accept collect calls, I think it's $3.10 for 30 minutes.
• He wanted to collect some of his belongings.
• The premise behind that was to follow evidence-based research that says over-supervising your low-risk
• Once again, I'll go back to evidence-based research and say that— Once again, I'll go back to evidence-based

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard an informational presentation from the Florida Department of Corrections on how the prison and community supervision systems operate after sentencing. Assistant Deputy Secretary Hope Gartman described the reception process for new inmates, including intake, medical and mental health screening, classification, custody and housing levels, gain time, and the department’s academic, vocational, substance abuse, chaplaincy, visitation, and communication programs. She emphasized that reentry begins on day one and that program placement is driven by risk and needs assessments, with facilities matched to inmates’ medical, mental health, and security requirements. Members also asked about family contact, visitor applications, inmate welfare trust funds, tablet access, private prison placement, staffing shortages, overtime, contraband interdiction, and waiting lists for programs; several follow-up materials were requested for distribution to all members. Mr. Winkler then outlined community corrections, explaining the different supervision types under Florida law, including probation, drug offender probation, community control, sex offender supervision, conditional release, and addiction recovery supervision. He described the department’s monitoring tools, such as office and field visits, warrantless searches, alternative sanctioning for technical violations, telephone reporting for low-risk offenders, employment assistance, and mobile probation and reentry units. He said the department’s supervision success rate is about 62%, with more than 91% of successful completers not returning to custody within three years. Members questioned officer workloads, the use of radios and GPS check-ins, the rollout of uniforms and firearms, how violations are handled, and whether all circuits participate in alternative sanctioning; Winkler said the program is statewide and that the department is seeking funding for radios. During public comment, Florida Cares Charity urged the committee to consider evidence on deterrence, parole, and recidivism, arguing that community supervision is less costly than incarceration and can be effective. James Beardy of the Florida PBA emphasized the dangers faced by correctional and probation officers, including long shifts, field searches, and working alone, and argued for higher pay and better support comparable to other law enforcement. The meeting concluded with the chair thanking the presenters and public speakers, and the subcommittee adjourned without taking any legislative votes or formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> multiple occasions here evidence-based multiple occasions here evidence-based um um um evidence-based
• So yes, there is evidence, Senate floor.
• I'll read that. son's room with their collections of son's room with their collections of rocks<02:27
• It is an evidence-based public health intervention.
• <04:01:20.880><c> and</c><04:01:21.680><c> individually</c> collectively and individually collectively

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The best available evidence does not support these expectations.
• And then I would describe the available evidence as mixed on the turnout issue.
• There is some evidence that turnout is higher.
• And then I would describe the available evidence as mixed on the turnout issue.
• There is some evidence that turnout is higher. some evidence that turnout is higher in top two primary

Bills: H5001

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: election day registration, voter registration, proof of residency, provisional ballot, party affiliation

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-12, H.503, an act to implement all-party state primaries. Committee leaders explained the Article 48 process and said the hearing was part of the Legislature’s review before any measure could advance toward the 2026 ballot. The hearing format included subject-matter experts, proponents, opponents, and public testimony, though this excerpt mainly covers the expert and proponent panels. The first expert, Northeastern University political scientist Costas Panagopoulos, described top-two primaries used in states such as California, Washington, Alaska, Louisiana, and Nebraska, and said the research shows only modest or mixed effects. He argued that top-two systems do not reliably reduce polarization, can weaken party gatekeeping, may increase campaign spending and incumbent advantages, and can lead to undervoting when voters do not see a preferred candidate on the ballot. In response to questions, he said turnout effects are mixed and not substantially higher overall. Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures then outlined different primary systems, including closed, open, top-two/top-four, nonpartisan, all-comers, and blanket primaries, and reviewed Supreme Court cases holding blanket primaries unconstitutional while upholding Washington’s top-two system. She also noted that changing primary systems would require significant voter education and administrative preparation. The proponent panel, led by Danielle Allen of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, argued that Massachusetts has too many uncontested elections, low primary participation, and too little accountability, and that all-party primaries would give every voter a meaningful choice in a higher-turnout general election. Supporters said the proposal is tailored to Massachusetts, would keep party endorsements visible on the ballot, and could broaden competition, improve representation, and help independent and minor-party candidates. Jim Henderson, coalition counsel, said the bill is narrowly focused on state-level primaries and was drafted to fit Article 48 requirements. Other proponents, including Kevin Johnson, Kate Kavanaugh, and Spencer Reynolds, echoed that the current system overrepresents a small partisan electorate and that the reform would shift power to voters. Committee members pressed the proponents on turnout evidence, party endorsements, ballot access, the role of fusion-style cross-endorsements, the effect on polarization, and whether the change would actually improve representation or simply move party influence to an earlier stage. No votes or final committee action were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The best available evidence does not support these expectations.
• And then I would describe the available evidence as mixed on the turnout issue.
• There is some evidence that turnout is higher.
• There is some evidence that turnout is higher.
• So you could have many good individuals, but collectively together...

Bills: H5001

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: election day registration, voter registration, proof of residency, provisional ballot, party affiliation, 1212, all