Transcript Highlights:

• We are also joined by our esteemed staff coming back from last session, Karen Epps and Aden Hopwood,
• Jacob Ewing, a new staff member for Local Government, also serving on Health and Long-Term Care as well
• It's not a lot of staff. It's about 10 or 11 staff across the state.
• It's not a lot of staff. It's about 10 or 11 staff across the state.
• How many staff do you have handling that? Eleven. And what’s their caseload like?

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please contact committee staff.
• Our wildlife management staff have conducted over 7,200 different inspections and surveillance actions
• Not all of those are USDA or EPA equities.
• that will be an EPA equity on the timeline for the GE fly.
• We have about 100 full-time staff in that program.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on preparedness for the New World screwworm threat and brought together the House Committees on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism and Agriculture and Livestock. USDA officials, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Texas Animal Health Commission leadership described the pest as a serious risk to livestock, wildlife, rural economies, and beef prices, and emphasized coordination among federal, state, industry, and Mexican partners. Witnesses repeatedly stressed that Texas is currently seeing no confirmed U.S. detections, but that recent confirmed cases in northern Mexico, including Nuevo León, remain a concern because of their proximity to the border. USDA testimony outlined current surveillance and response efforts, including more than 120 screw worm-specific traps along the Texas border and neighboring states, thousands of additional dual-purpose traps, wildlife inspections, weekly coordination with Mexico’s Senasica, and a new USDA New World Screwworm Directorate. Officials said the existing Panama sterile fly facility is maxed out at about 100 million flies per week, while a dispersal facility in Tampico is helping move flies farther north in Mexico. They also described plans for a retrofitted sterile fly facility in Metapa, Mexico, expected to come online in 2026, and a new domestic production facility at Moore Air Base, with phase one targeted for late 2026 or early 2027 and phase two adding substantially more capacity later. Members pressed USDA on timelines, production capacity, the reliability of Mexican reporting, the risk from wildlife, and whether modular or mobile facilities could be deployed faster. USDA said it is also exploring innovative technologies, including a genetically engineered sterile male fly, but that such tools still require EPA review and field validation. Commissioner Miller highlighted Texas biosecurity efforts, five permanent inspection stations, cooperation with FDA and EPA on treatments such as Exzolt, and other pest issues affecting Texas agriculture. He also noted research into fly bait and private-sector efforts to speed sterile fly production. Texas Animal Health Commission officials described extensive state preparedness work, including weekly coordination calls, field response trainings, outreach to producers and veterinarians, and a Texas Screwworm Response Team. They said Texas has trained more than 100 inspectors and other personnel, with additional trainings planned, and that the state is expanding its cattle fever tick rider program. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing; the main action was the exchange of testimony and questions about readiness, surveillance, and facility timelines.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:36:07.240><c> who</c> of the things from from the staff who of the things from from the staff
• Do you, as staff, have the amendment here?
• </c><00:56:49.920><c> for</c><00:56:50.079><c> some</c> provided by staff for some provided by staff
• Staff: I'm sorry, there has to be three hands for the oral amendment for the journal.
• Staff: Senator Bahr, we have copies of your amendment here.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Civil Rights and Health Equity, Consumer Protection, Reproductive Justice, Tobacco Enforcement, and
• In the civil rights and health equity arena, this includes ensuring access to health care for our LGBTQ
• that you might provide on what else can we do, besides what you're already doing from a, you know, staff
• We are truly by us for us, meaning that 100% of our medical providers are queer, 80% of our staff are
• To ensure health equity for all people, we need to safeguard these crucial health care options.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when they did, and then I brought it to the staff here, the staff was like, well, this would work
• And when they did, and then I brought it to the staff here, the staff was like, well, this would work
• Does anybody have any questions for staff?
• John Wilson-Faley, again, committee staff.
• Don Aigner, committee staff.

Bills: HB2470, HB2353, HB2420, HB2338

Keywords: HB2470, school construction assistance, capital budget, school facilities, on-base schools, military base schools, military installations, public school construction, school plant projects, state funding assistance, superintendent of public instruction, OSPI, school capital funding, instructional space, school district construction, alternative learning experience, ALE, free and reduced-price meals, special housing burden, district growth

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> might have to have nonpartisan staff might have to have nonpartisan staff does<00:47:05.680><c>
• firms would they qualify than Equity firms would they qualify than private<01:12:22.960><c> Equity</
• I would ask nonpartisan staff if they have a comment on that.”
• Um, I would ask nonpartisan staff if they have a comment on that.” Mr. Sullivan said, “Mr.
• One morning last year, DHS staff members visited Scott County.

Bills: HF25, HF4

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief

Transcript Highlights:

• Rivera Reyes is on deck from Equity. Mr. Do: Good afternoon, committee members and Chair.
• </c> the Coalition organizer for the equity the Coalition organizer for the equity and<01:10:57.760><
• or manufacturing staff at different positions have odd hours.
• </c><01:16:30.159><c> or</c> work you know our medical staff or work you know our medical staff or manufacturing
• </c> manufacturing uh staff at different manufacturing uh staff at different positions<01:16:33.679><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• project, you know, call it a $450 million project, they put together a pretty complex business plan and equity
• And they basically put the credits they will receive into the investment in that equity stack.
• on large developments, it's a huge portion of it to be able to sell and transfer those credits as equity
• I mean, part of the financing, part of the equity is you sell them on the open market, and I presume
• Those tax credits are intentionally transferable and can be sold so that they can be monetized as equity

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don’t have the staff time. So who’s going to pay for it?
• I think it was Miami Realtors, actually using GIS mapping technology to actually plot equity in a number
• You look at equity available on those. Are these...
• So I think there's more equity coming in, and also I think this law will help the debt availability for
• I have not studied the individual equity to date on the condo market. And how about...

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met for a panel discussion on current issues affecting Florida condominiums. DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin highlighted the department’s expanded condo education, complaint, and ombudsman services under HB 1021, including new online resources, board member certification, increased outreach, and broader complaint jurisdiction. She said the division has filled most of its new positions and that the new condo website is intended to improve transparency and access to records and information. Other panelists focused on insurance, inspections, and market impacts. Insurance agent Mike Clarkson said the condo insurance market remains difficult, especially for older buildings, and raised concerns about roof replacement demands, Citizens’ depopulation practices, and the mismatch between reserve studies and insurer timelines. Building officials representative Ron Laceca described challenges with phase one and phase two inspections, including incomplete databases, limited contractor capacity, and the need for local flexibility and better recordkeeping. University of Florida researcher Bill Hughes said his data show the condo market has not suffered a major overall decline from the new laws; he argued the rules have made costs more transparent and may strengthen the market over time. Community association manager Jamie Ballard said the biggest pressures on associations are rising insurance costs and early roof replacement requirements, and she supported board certification while opposing the continuing education exemption for long-tenured CAMs. In committee discussion, members pressed witnesses on whether recent condo laws caused insurance and roof-cost problems, and witnesses generally said those issues are driven more by the market than by the legislation. Senators also discussed possible reforms, including better data collection, clearer reporting duties for managers, and possible changes to insurance and reserve practices. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• worked</c><00:32:49.519><c> with</c><00:32:49.760><c> SBI</c> Then the task force worked with SBI staff
• SBI staff used the historical returns, asset allocations, revenues, and forward-looking distribution
• returns of uh negative 20% in a equity returns of uh negative 20% in a row<00:44:46.000><c> and</c><
• Certainly there is uncertainty in equity markets.
• Um certainly there is uncertainty<00:46:43.760><c> in</c><00:46:44.079><c> equity</c><00:46:44.480><c

Bills: HF3900

Keywords: permanent school fund, school endowment fund, Minnesota constitutional amendment, school aid, public school funding, State Board of Investment, investment income, distributable amount, school districts, property taxes, income taxes, voter approval, ballot question, constitutional amendment 2026, education finance, fund perpetuity, purchasing power, trust lands, swamp lands, internal improvement land fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, the board is requesting funding for staff attendance and staff training at job-related conferences
• that were given across the board to classified staff. five staff and one-time bonuses, making it even
• Our second exceptional item request is for... targeted staff salary increases to bring all staff to the
• So, those targeted staff increases that bring every staff member to the midpoint of their salary range
• Do something that no one else seems to be doing, which is thank you and your staff and the LBB staff

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is an economic issue, a workforce issue, and a matter of equity.
• It is an economic issue, a workforce issue, and a matter of equity.
• At the same time, we know that we do not. ...force issue and a matter of equity.
• special significance as the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, a moment rooted in equity
• Today some wildlife areas have only one or two full-time staff managing thousands and thousands of acres

Summary: The Assembly convened without a quorum, then quorum was established and the chamber proceeded with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and a series of procedural motions. Members approved multiple unanimous-consent requests to suspend rules, re-refer bills to committees, and allow committees to notice bills pending re-referral. The day also included several guest introductions recognizing student leaders, public power executive Randy Howard, a family member of Assemblymember Gallagher, higher education leaders, Leadership Torrance, and the Vacaville PAL program. On the floor, the Assembly adopted several resolutions and heard extensive remarks in support of them. ACR 160, proclaiming April 2026 as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, was adopted by voice vote after co-authors were added. H.R. 98, designating California Holocaust Memorial Day, received broad bipartisan support and was adopted after 76 co-authors were added. H.R. 100, recognizing Vaisakhi, also passed by voice vote after 73 co-authors were added, with members highlighting Sikh history, service, and cultural contributions. The Assembly then took up several bills on the third-reading file. AB 1977, relating to online notarization and notaries public, passed 69-5. AB 1987, which would direct wildlife-area fees back to operation and maintenance of state wildlife areas, passed 69-0. Other items on the second- and third-reading files were passed and retained, continued, or placed on the consent calendar as noted by the presiding officer. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory tributes for La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven, community organizer Cynthia Brantley Pierce, coach John Beam, and Ralph Cavallo. The Assembly then adjourned until Thursday, April 16, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of the staff suffered workplace injuries and exposure to zoonotic diseases.
• Also want to thank Alyssa and your staff and your committee staff for their incredible work in analyzing
• I want to begin by thanking the author and committee staff.
• And we asked your staff and we couldn’t get an answer back, which is why I’m asking you.”
• There are staff members.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I get to work as the chief, one of the chiefs of staff at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• So it would be great to throw an extra four there for equity purposes.
• One, two, three, almost the entire audience who's not staff? Okay, six. All right.
• One, two, three, almost the entire audience who's not staff? Okay, six. All right.
• Arturo Castillo, Director of Equity and Culture at Conservation Voters New Mexico, or CVNM.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 20, as amended, which would limit prior authorization for certain medications used to treat serious mental illness and extend prior authorization approvals for other chronic maintenance drugs to three years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would reduce treatment interruptions and administrative burden for patients, clinicians, and pharmacies, while opponents argued the three-year period could raise safety concerns, reduce annual clinical review, and increase costs and premiums. After public testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 7-2 vote. The committee then considered SB 21, as amended, establishing an annual Medigap open enrollment period with guaranteed issue protections for eligible Medicare beneficiaries already enrolled in Medigap plans. The Aging and Long-Term Services Department said the measure would give seniors more flexibility to change plans as their needs and premiums change, and OSI said premium impacts were expected to be limited. An amendment setting the effective date at January 1, 2027 was adopted, and the bill passed unanimously. Next, the committee heard SB 177, a large economic development package centered on quantum, advanced energy, defense, and related workforce and research investments. The sponsor and administration witnesses described New Mexico as uniquely positioned to attract major private and federal investment, while members raised questions about guardrails, reporting, use of the Research and Development Fund, and whether EDD could manage the spending and educational components. An amendment removed the public safety section, a technical title fix was adopted, and the bill passed 9-1. The committee also took up SB 189, which would protect existing coverage and expand insurance coverage for reproductive and gender-affirming care, including mid-year enrollment options for pregnancy and coverage for double electric breast pumps. Supporters said the bill would prevent abrupt coverage changes and ensure access to care, while opponents objected to abortion-related coverage and argued existing law and Medicaid already cover much of the care. A motion to table failed, and the bill then passed 6-4. Finally, the committee unanimously passed Senate Memorial 6 honoring golfer Nancy Lopez and her New Mexico roots and achievements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alia Kennedy, staff to the committee.
• Again, Alia Kennedy, staff to the committee.
• For the record, I'm with committee staff.
• I'm Michael Banzan, staff to this committee.
• I'm Michael Banzan, staff to this committee.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on several tax and retirement bills, beginning with Senate Bill 6073, which would move eligible Department of Natural Resources wildland and aviation firefighters from PERS into LEOFF 2 prospectively. Committee staff described the higher retirement age and benefit differences between the systems and noted a small implementation cost and a modest actuarial rate increase. DNR, the Washington Public Employees Association, and a committee member all raised support or questions, with DNR acknowledging additional review with the LEOFF board was still needed. The hearing then turned to Senate Bill 6113, a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative changes to the tax code, including clarifications tied to last session’s ESSB 5814 service-tax changes, a six-month transition period for reclassified businesses, and a section affecting advertising-related exclusions. DOR said the bill was revenue neutral and intended to codify guidance and improve certainty, while school districts, arts groups, broadcasters, newspapers, and business groups testified both in support of the technical fixes and in opposition to provisions they said would continue or worsen unintended consequences from last year’s tax law. Senators also questioned how some definitions would apply, especially to school and higher-education-related services. Senate Bill 6116 would restore the vapor-products tax structure by moving nicotine-containing vapor products back under the per-milliliter vapor tax instead of the 95% other tobacco products tax, and would restore distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and Foundational Public Health Services account. Public health agencies, cancer research representatives, and some retailers supported the bill as a fix to funding disruptions, while tobacco-control groups opposed lowering the tax and argued it would weaken public health policy. The committee also heard that the current law creates a double-tax issue on pre-existing inventory because products held when the definition changed became subject to a new tax classification. Finally, Senate Bill 6129 proposed a broader nicotine-tax overhaul, including a 90% tax on nicotine products, a 10% tax on flavored nicotine products, higher cigarette taxes, and new revenue distributions and tribal compact provisions. Supporters, including public health organizations, pediatricians, and civil rights advocates, said higher taxes would reduce youth use and restore funding for cancer research and public health; opponents, including retailers, tobacco and vapor businesses, broadcasters, and some harm-reduction advocates, argued the bill was regressive, would fuel illicit markets, and would harm small businesses and adult consumers using lower-risk products. The committee then began a briefing on Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform bill that would expand senior and disability property tax relief, adjust state property tax rates, and change property tax billing statements, but the hearing on that bill was not completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:14.760><c> identified</c><00:13:15.240><c> an</c> 2024 DHS staff identified an 2024 DHS staff
• </c> and then prevention Health Equity and then prevention Health Equity programming<01:01:50.440><c>
• As we knew the bill was coming to our committee, I and my staff and others, nonpartisan staff, we had
• </c> staff and um others um nonpartisan staff staff and um others um nonpartisan staff we<01:45:45.080
• As nonpartisan staff, I think it was just missed because of the late-breaking information. came last

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• H. 2976 corrects this unfair denial, restores equity for educators who led the way in new vocational
• H. 2976 corrects this unfair denial, restores equity for educators who led the way in new vocational
• And we developed, along with the supervisors and other staff at the school, a criminal justice program
• And we developed, along with the supervisors and other staff at the school, criminal justice program

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its third hearing of the 194th General Court session, taking testimony on several individual bills and home rule petitions, mostly involving retirement and pension-related relief. The committee chair outlined hearing procedures, including three-minute limits for individuals, ten-minute limits for panels, livestreaming, and the deadline for written testimony. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that House matters heard that day must be reported by Friday, July 11, 2025, subject to extensions, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded. Several witnesses supported bills seeking retirement credit or pension adjustments for public employees. These included H. 2917 for Dedham-Westwood Water District employees seeking pension buy-in credit; H. 2976 for Eileen Mullen to purchase creditable service for teaching in a criminal justice pilot program; H. 2996 for Virginia Cummings, a retired Department of Correction lieutenant seeking greater pension parity; H. 2977 for Wendy Lopieri to buy back part-time community college service; and H. 2989 for Wayne Taylor, who said he was mistakenly credited for fewer years of select board service than he expected. Testimony emphasized long public service, injuries, and what witnesses described as unfair denials or flawed interpretations of retirement law. The committee also heard testimony on bills involving post-retirement earnings and disability-related relief. Kevin Blanchett testified in opposition to H. 2931, arguing it would improperly reduce money owed to a regional retirement system and its members, while the bill’s sponsor argued the retirement board was seeking an excessive recovery based on law firm gross earnings rather than the individual’s earnings. Jamie Magarian described severe injuries from a 2018 crash and urged favorable action on his bill, with support from the State Police Association. Michael Palmer testified in favor of S. 1841, seeking to extend prior violent-crime retirement income-cap relief to his case after being shot on duty and later finding that even part-time private-sector work exceeded his retirement earnings limit.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions for staff? No, Representative Zahn, I heard you didn't get any...
• Any questions for staff? I don't see our prime sponsor.
• This rate increase must be passed on to staff for wages and benefits.
• a national private equity firm.
• I'd like to take a minute and thank our staff.

Bills: HB1873, HB2600, SB5957

Keywords: child care, Working Connections Child Care, WCCC, graduate students, professional students, higher education, full-time student, affordable child care, subsidized child care, child care subsidy, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, income eligibility, state median income, copayment, copay waiver, family support, workforce participation, working families, special needs child care

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to start by thanking the chair and the committee staff for the help with the bill.
• I just want to start by thanking the chair and the committee staff for the help with the bill.
• what we have seen is private equity partners who are looking to jumpstart ridership.
• But I not only want to thank the author, but thank committee staff.
• Chair, and I'll just re-echo your gratitude for staff for working through this.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So he'll be on deck, and I'll ask staff to promote him in the Zoom room.
• On deck, and I'll ask staff to promote him in the Zoom room.
• And importantly, tribal governments also staff the adaptive management program.
• They are principal investigators and staff scientists in the adaptive management program.
• DNR provides staff support, as I mentioned, to the board.

Summary: The committee held a work session on the history, implementation, and current challenges of Washington’s Forest and Fish law and related Habitat Conservation Plan. Testimony from tribal representatives Jim Peters and David Herrera, former Rep. Jim Buck, and mediator Tim Thompson described the original timber, fish, and wildlife negotiations as a broad, collaborative effort intended to balance salmon and habitat protection with a viable timber industry. DNR’s Sabur Jawad outlined the program’s statutory framework, the roles of DNR, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, tribes, local governments, landowners, and the Forest Practices Board, and explained that changes to aquatic-resource rules can come through adaptive management, legislative direction, or court orders. He also described the permitting and enforcement system, the programmatic HCP, road maintenance and abandonment work, and the adaptive management process, including the long-running NP stream-buffer studies and resulting rulemaking timeline. Agency and stakeholder testimony emphasized accomplishments such as decades of HCP coverage, annual compliance monitoring, road and fish-barrier improvements, small forest landowner assistance programs, and the completion of numerous adaptive management studies. DNR’s Katie Allen said the program has strong successes but also faces resource-intensive implementation, rising costs, and watershed-wide pressures beyond forestry, and she pointed to a State Auditor review that produced 13 recommendations now being addressed through an action plan and a structured decision-making model. Washington Farm Forestry Association executive director Elaine O’Neill said small forest landowners supported the agreement expecting assistance and flexibility, but argued the balance has shifted toward more protection and less practical consideration of rural vitality and property rights. Washington Forest Protection Association executive director Jason Spadero said the agreement has produced measurable environmental gains and regulatory predictability, but criticized the recent NP rule and urged continued science-based, economically balanced management. In the final discussion, tribal representatives said the collaborative, consensus-based process still works in some areas, but that the principals need to be re-engaged more directly and periodically to restore accountability and trust. They said the adaptive management process and funding remain important, but expressed concern that consensus has broken down in some recent rulemaking and that side negotiations or outside pressure can undermine the original agreement. Members asked how to restore the collaborative model; Peters suggested renewed commitment from the principal parties and more regular high-level meetings, while Herrera echoed the need to implement the auditor’s recommendations. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the work session.