Transcript Highlights:

• Martin, Columbia, Prestonsburg, Benton, Hazard, Paintsville, Danville, Greenville, McDowell, Harlan,
• Martin, Columbia, Prestonsburg, Benton, Hazard, Paintsville, Danville, Greenville, McDowell, Harlan,
• </c><00:54:34.799><c> painsville</c> prestonburg Benton Hazard painsville prestonburg Benton Hazard painsville
• </c> a profit you buy low and you sell high a profit you buy low and you sell high and<01:16:14.800><
• You buy things at the lowest price and you sell at the high.

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 785, as amended by a committee substitute that combined language from HB 785 and HB 787. The bill was described as addressing Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) audits, provider contract notice and amendment procedures, mental health parity compliance, and related transparency requirements. Supporters said the measure would tighten notice to providers, limit repeated contract amendments and rate reductions, require more standardized audit procedures, and add reporting on Medicaid claims, appeals, and grievances. It also includes a provision requiring coverage of at least two evaluation-and-management billable services per physician per recipient per date of service, and a section addressing narcotic/opioid treatment program licensing and reimbursement language. Testimony in support came from Representative Kim Moore, John Inman of BrightView Health, Michelle Sandborne of the Children’s Alliance, and Kelly Cormic of RYSE. They argued that MCOs often use audits and recoupments in ways that are burdensome, opaque, and financially damaging to providers, especially smaller and rural ones. They cited examples of multiple audit requests in short timeframes, large record requests with short deadlines, delayed or absent feedback, and recoupments taken before appeals are resolved. They also said parity laws are not being consistently enforced and that the bill would give the Department of Insurance authority to suspend or revoke an MCO certificate of authority for willful or repeated parity violations. Committee members generally expressed support for provider protections and transparency, while asking for clarification on the narcotic treatment and E/M billing provisions. Tom Stevens of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans testified in opposition, saying the bill is complex to implement and should be handled through the broader Medicaid oversight work of House Bill 9, the MOAB. He said the issues raised were better suited for that bipartisan stakeholder process and noted the committee substitute had not yet been fully reviewed by his group. After discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute and then moved to a vote on the bill; the roll call began, with several members recorded as voting yes, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote result is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• made over the last couple years with a budget that was increased by 40%, but that’s water over the dam
• So, and the last thing I will mention is that $1.3…” the dam at this point and and so um that the dam

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• We all fit our staff with the latest high-visibility gear. We put up signs. We put up barrels.
• I have two very good friends on this job who were struck at high speed.
• I have two very good friends on this job who are struck at high speed.
• A high school senior was lost in East Falmouth on May 17th.
• So the speed limit is already set, in my opinion, too high.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The hearing focused on a broad package of traffic and roadway safety bills, with repeated emphasis on work zone safety, the Move Over law, automated enforcement, and protections for pedestrians, cyclists, and roadside workers. MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver strongly supported a bill allowing MassDOT vehicles to use blue flashing lights in limited work-zone settings, arguing that blue lights reliably slow drivers and could help address a rise in work-zone crashes and fatalities. District Attorney Marion Ryan, State Police representatives, and police association leaders supported a separate Move Over bill that would raise penalties for repeat violations and add an education component, citing officers and workers killed or injured roadside and saying the goal is deterrence and safer driver behavior rather than revenue. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to automated enforcement bills for speed and red-light violations, including proposals for school zones, work zones, and broader local options. Senator Brownsberger and Senator Jalen argued that automated enforcement is needed because speeding and red-light running remain common while police traffic enforcement has declined, and they described the bills as civil, opt-in tools that issue tickets to vehicles rather than drivers. Supporters from WalkMass, T4MA, Safe Roads Alliance, MassBike, Medford officials, and other advocates cited fatal pedestrian crashes, neighborhood speeding, and the need to protect vulnerable road users, while also pointing to privacy and equity safeguards in the bills such as limits on photographs, data retention rules, public reporting, and local approval processes. Several local and advocacy witnesses backed targeted camera programs. Senator Lovely and Representative Cruz supported a Salem school-zone camera bill, describing repeated violations around schools and buses. Medford officials and school-safety advocates supported a similar statewide camera bill, citing recent pedestrian deaths and dangerous cut-through traffic. AAA Northeast and the Massachusetts Aggregate and Asphalt Pavement Association also supported targeted enforcement in work zones and school zones, while urging public education and warning periods. Some witnesses raised concerns about the color of lights for highway workers, with State Police representatives preferring green over blue to avoid confusion with law enforcement, and committee members asked about constitutional issues, surchargeability, and possible targeting concerns. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have high confidence in the folks providing those services to continue to provide those services.
• When I graduated high school in the Mid 90's, my grandfather had already committed suicide.
• high.
• high rarely does a week go by without one of my patients inquiring about society individually.
• You mentioned right now, it does only have the educational requirement of high school.

Bills: HF3454 , HF3917 , HF2906 , HF3832 , HF3769

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:08.839><c> chief</c> that he was the uh a high chief that he was the uh a high chief descended
• It’s going to create a fire hazard below Waʻahila Ridge that could create another Lahaina.
• It’s going to create a fire hazard below Waʻahila Ridge that could create another Lahaina.
• It’s going to create a fire hazard below Waʻahila Ridge that could create another Lahaina.
• It’s going to create a fire hazard below Waʻahila Ridge that could create another Lahaina.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 707, which would create a state income tax deduction for contributions to Hawaii 529 college savings accounts and conform state law to federal changes allowing 529 funds to be used for K-12 expenses. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the bill as written. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the measure but asked that ABLE accounts be included and that the program title be changed; the Department of Taxation indicated the title issue could be a problem because the bill’s expanded purpose may not fit the current program name. No vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 617, which would fund a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. UH Community Colleges supported the bill, and Maui nursing staff testified that faculty recruitment is challenging but manageable, clinical placements are available, and the campus already has a statewide RN-to-BSN pathway; they said the new program would create two tracks, including a four-year BSN option. Members also heard support from several organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, nursing groups, and health care associations. No action was taken. Next were several UH-related measures. HB 718 would fund faculty and staff positions at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; the dean and other supporters testified in favor. HB 1279 would create a medical education liaison position tied to Project ECHO; the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns about statewide concern and grant standards, while an individual witness supported the concept but suggested the bill should focus on liaison/support functions rather than program administration. HB 1169 would consolidate conference center revolving funds, and HB 1168 would authorize up to $800 million in UH revenue bonds; UH’s CFO said both were procedural/housekeeping measures and supported them. On HB 1168, members questioned debt service, possible uses, and whether deferred maintenance would be included; the CFO estimated annual debt service could be about $33 million to $41 million at current rates, said likely uses could include student housing and research facilities, and said deferred maintenance was not the current strategy. The CFO also explained that revenue bonds require both legislative authorization and a Board of Regents resolution approving the project and amount. Finally, the committee heard HB 548, which would authorize revenue bonds and appropriations to acquire the St. Francis School campus for UH Mānoa. UH supported the bill but noted the property is privately owned and not known to be for sale. A supporter described the site as a unique 11-acre parcel contiguous to the main campus and urged the committee to seize the opportunity for future generations. No vote or final action was taken on the bills in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m with the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch in the Environmental Health Administration, Department
• I’m with the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch in the Environmental Health Administration, Department
• Hawaii Natural Energy Institute on page 41 of the testimony packet, they have charts showing very high
• very high levels of arsenic<00:07:46.520><c> chromium</c><00:07:47.039><c> and</c><00:07:47.240><c>
• </c><01:16:57.440><c> in</c> and wellbeing of potential hazards in and wellbeing of potential hazards

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 103, relating to electric vehicle batteries, and then moved to Senate Bill 995, relating to renewable fuel. On SB 103, the Department of Health and the State Energy Office supported the measure, and Redwood Materials said it supported the bill’s intent but requested an amendment to add a battery recycler to the commission. Other testimony on SB 103 included support from several individuals and organizations, with one opponent noted. A committee member also raised a possible deadline change requested by the Alliance of Automobile Innovation for future work on the measure. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 995, which would create tax incentives for sustainable aviation fuel and related renewable fuel production. Supporters included the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, Pono Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Tax Foundation, PAR Hawaii, Pacific Biodiesel, and others. Supporters said the bill would help build a local SAF industry, encourage camelina and other feedstocks, and advance decarbonization goals. Several supporters also said they had proposed amendments or technical comments and stood on their written testimony. Opposition testimony argued the bill could allow toxic waste feedstocks, such as construction and demolition waste, into fuel production, and questioned whether the incentives would truly benefit Hawaii farmers or consumers. One opponent said the bill’s benefits could flow to the producer and to imported feedstocks rather than to local agriculture, and another questioned the scale of local land and water available for camelina production. Committee members pressed witnesses on acreage, water use, expected yields, the role of PAR Hawaii’s refinery investment, and whether the state would be subsidizing a business decision that might not produce significant local fuel. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• governments that are on the front lines and ensure the integrity of the science underlying the current fire hazard
• governments that are on the front lines and ensure the integrity of the science underlying the current fire hazard

Summary: The committee met to hear four Senate bills, with SB 345 (Hurtado) and SB 793 (Arreguín) placed on the consent calendar and both approved without discussion. The committee then heard SB 326, presented by Assembly Member Calderon on behalf of Senator Becker, which would create a framework for evaluating wildfire mitigation investments and require the State Fire Marshal’s office to develop planning tools, risk baselines, and mitigation scenarios. The only testimony was in support from the League of California Cities, and the bill was moved and passed to the Committee on Natural Resources on a vote of 5-0, with two members not voting. The final bill heard was SB 629 by Senator DeRazo, also presented by Assembly Member Calderon, as part of the Senate’s fire response, recovery, rebuilding, and prevention package. The bill would apply WUI building code and defensible space requirements to areas burned in wildfires, require urban conflagration modeling in fire maps, and mandate annual defensible space inspections in fire-prone areas. Local government representatives said they had concerns but appreciated amendments worked out with the author, while Assembly Members DeMaio and Hadwick spoke in opposition, citing burdens on private property owners and local governments. Despite those concerns, the bill was moved as amended to the Committee on Natural Resources and passed 4-3, with no roll held open before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The result is high-wage jobs, new companies, and sustained innovation in communities both large and small
• When funding is uncertain, researchers understandably hesitate to launch new projects or pursue bold, high-risk
• , high-reward ideas. ...and this slows progress on major health challenges like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's
• Washingtonian, whether that's direct impacts and threats to our homes and livelihoods, exposure to hazardous

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee held its final meeting of the 2026 session, opening a public hearing on Senate Bill 6321, which would authorize up to $6 billion in state general obligation bonds over six years and create the Washington Institute for Scientific Advancement within the Department of Commerce. Staff explained that the institute would oversee grants for scientific research and facilities, with the proposal requiring voter approval for the debt and institute creation. Senator Slatter, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to stabilize research funding in Washington in response to federal cuts and uncertainty, and noted it was modeled in part on similar efforts in California and Texas. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support. Representatives from Washington State University and the University of Washington described the state’s research enterprise as an economic engine and emphasized the importance of stable funding for jobs, innovation, and competitiveness. University of Washington witnesses said federal funding disruptions had reduced new NIH awards, cut student support, and threatened research programs in medicine, mental health, clean energy, forest resilience, and climate adaptation. Several early-career researchers and union members testified about personal impacts from grant terminations, furloughs, and delayed career transitions, arguing that the bill would help protect scientific work, workforce development, and public health outcomes in Washington. After closing the hearing on SB 6321, the committee moved into executive session. It voted do pass on Substitute House Bill 2525 and sent it to the Rules Committee. The committee also approved a slate of gubernatorial appointments for confirmation recommendation, and then adjourned after thanking staff and members for their work during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• During a wildfire, smoke is not only a significant hazard outdoors, but can also enter homes through
• exposure. to particulate matter indoors by requiring health care service plans to include coverage for high-efficiency
• difficult questions and normally when a PUC procedure is required to implement a bill it gets a very high
• The one big reason why we have this crisis in California of high...

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there is not enough supply to meet the demand, the prices are going to stay high.
• , high-road jobs for all construction workers in California.
• You all know that development and construction costs are at all-time highs.
• Yet the appraisal assumes high-density residential redevelopment using density bonus.
• I started using drugs my junior year of high school.

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Sir, thank you. immediately create a safety hazard for immediately create a safety hazard for the<00:
• Um we're these are very high numbers.
• </c> going to just try to hit some high going to just try to hit some high points<02:39:10.479><c> even
• </c><03:24:08.800><c> road</c> breakdowns, and hazardous road breakdowns, and hazardous road conditions
• ><c> the</c> conditions, hazardous conditions on the conditions, hazardous conditions on the road.<03

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• For high-performing academic programs, we provide increased funding for the Craft Academy at Morehead
• </c> in high school. in high school. for<00:28:35.200><c> high</c><00:28:35.440><c> performing</c><00
• </c> for high performing academic programs. for high performing academic programs. we<00:28:38.320><c
• pension fund along with non-hazardous pension fund along with funding<00:35:44.640><c> for</c><00:35
• </c> plumbing, boiler, HVAC, and hazardous plumbing, boiler, HVAC, and hazardous material<00:40:09.839

Summary: The House convened with 97 members present, declared a quorum, approved excusing absent members, and suspended the rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The journal for February 25, 2026 was approved. The clerk also reported that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 98 and 122 and requested concurrence. The House then received second-reading reports on a range of bills, including measures on prison educational programs, respiratory care, dietitians, wildlife depredation, temporary structures, military families, civil rights, local boards of education, light pollution, controlled-substance prescribing licenses, youth health services, class sizes for exceptional children, the athletic trainer compact, limited commercial driver’s licenses, and Senate Bill 145 relating to the Department of Agriculture and Alcohol Beverage Control. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including the main budget bills House Bill 500 and House Bill 504, along with measures on workforce investment, data centers, domestic violence, guardians ad litem, domestic relations, health delivery and “food is medicine” initiatives, state personnel, open records, and fish and wildlife resources. House Bill 500 and House Bill 504 were taken from the Rules Committee and placed on the orders of the day. House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill, was then taken up for third reading and explanation. Members presented extensive floor explanations of House Bill 500 and House Committee Substitute 1, describing it as a “good first draft” of the executive budget. Supporters said the proposal emphasizes restrained spending growth, base reductions with exemptions for key areas, employee salary increments, and deposits to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future one-time investments. They highlighted funding for K-12 education, postsecondary aid and workforce training, Medicaid and behavioral health, public health infrastructure, pensions, veterans, public safety, economic development, tourism, and state technology and facility maintenance. The budget substitute was adopted by voice vote, and the discussion continued with detailed descriptions of the bill’s provisions; no final passage vote was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate also added in sections 9 through 12, which are technical changes to the covered household hazardous
• to the which are technical changes to the covered<00:15:52.399><c> household</c><00:15:53.360><c> hazardous
• </c><00:15:53.839><c> waste</c> covered household hazardous waste covered household hazardous waste products

Transcript Highlights:

• Blocked bus stops are safety hazards, especially for disabled transit users.
• Block bus stops are safety hazards,<00:08:20.080><c> especially</c><00:08:20.400><c> for</c><00:08:20.639
• ><c> disabled</c><00:08:21.039><c> transit</c> hazards, especially for disabled transit hazards, especially

Transcript Highlights:

• Hazards present upon inspection by the Railroad Commission.
• The results were clear: the narrow openings, poor western location, and hazardous hydrodynamics threatened
• very large container and crew vessels... ships face collision risk, shearing forces, and grounding hazards
• Glass is sometimes overlooked because it can be hazardous and heavy to transport, and we're happy to

Bills: SB410 , SB795 , SB2510 , SB728 , SB2689 , HB143 , HB143

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• School League Class 3 state championship, defeating Lake Taylor High School with the final score of
• Today in the gallery is an outstanding group of students from Surrey County High School.
• Today in the gallery is an outstanding group of students from Surrey County High School.
• So please join me in giving a warm House welcome to the Surrey County High School Class of 2026.
• Warm House welcome to the Surrey County High School Class of 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Harrison is our high school program.
• Harrison is our high elementary program. Harrison is our high school<00:27:06.960><c> program.
• School and I have an South High School and I have an 18-year-old<00:43:17.920><c> daughter.
• I have a child who is a member, a senior in high school this year.
• ,</c> involved so that accountability is high, involved so that accountability is high, use<01:15:07.920

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 6244 extends the hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products
• extends a tax incentive, and it may look a little scary when you see the title, but it's from the hazardous
• If any of these materials are actually used in our state, the hazardous substance tax would apply and

Bills: SB5994 , SB6244

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: timber tax, school funding, levy failure, tax distribution, education funding, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Bill 6244 extends the hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products
• extends a tax incentive, and it may look a little scary when you see the title, but it's from the hazardous
• If any of these materials are actually used in our state, the hazardous substance tax would apply and

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on March 2 and reviewed a series of tax and property-tax bills. Staff described measures including removing acreage limits for nonprofit public assembly hall property tax exemptions (ESSB 5252), extending timber tax distributions to certain school districts (SB 5994), expanding housing-related local sales tax uses (SB 6027), updating Department of Revenue tax administration provisions (ESSB 6113), consolidating the state property tax levy and expanding senior/disabled exemptions (ESSB 6162), extending disaster-related property tax relief (SB 6343), rolling back 2025 estate tax changes (SB 6347), adding tribes to the Conservation Futures Program (SB 6097), and extending a hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products (SB 6244). Members also discussed several amendments, including changes to rental assistance, library and school tax treatment, veterans’ income definitions and application assistance, estate-tax exemption and CPI language, and reporting requirements for conservation futures land acquisitions. The committee adopted some amendments and rejected others. HRA 440 was adopted to allow rental assistance as an eligible use of the local sales tax revenue for all jurisdictions rather than only Snohomish County. On ESSB 6113, the committee adopted the striking amendment H-3718.2 but rejected amendments to exempt investigative services, live presentations for schools and nonprofits, and library-related exemptions. On ESSB 6162, amendments to modernize veterans’ benefit language, require DOR application assistance, and lower the levy rate were all rejected. On SB 6347, the committee adopted an amendment restoring the estate tax exclusion amount to 2.193 million and changing the CPI reference, while the broader bill was later reported out as amended. On SB 6097, an amendment requiring county reporting on conservation futures acquisitions was rejected. The committee then voted to report several bills out with do pass recommendations: ESSB 5252, SB 5994, ESSB 6027 as amended, ESSB 6113 as amended, ESSB 6162, SB 6343, SB 6097, and SB 6244. SB 6347 was reported out with a do pass as amended recommendation after the adopted amendment. Members generally framed the bills as providing tax relief, clarifying tax administration, supporting housing and schools, or extending existing exemptions, while some members raised concerns about fiscal impact, tax burden shifts, and the need for more accountability or broader policy changes. The meeting concluded with thanks to staff and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• the school, where, of course, that could create a different kind of danger and a different kind of hazard
• declares that the operation of a commercial vehicle by an unauthorized alien is an imminent safety hazard
• The purpose of the bill is to remove imminent hazards from our highways, to discourage and penalize those

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice