Transcript Highlights:

• clear, consistent, and reflect the understanding that detention must remain the exception, not the rule
• So I have a problem with the way the bill is structured right now.
• So I have a problem with the way the bill is structured right now.
• In Maryland in particular, their law was the subject of a federal court case in which the court ruled
• According to the National Rifle Association's gun safety rules, firearm safety is paramount.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, the secretary takes rule. Are the witnesses? Are the witnesses all set? Okay.
• They'll respond structurally.
• So I think that's something that would be done via rule.
• Yes, so yes, it would be a rule adopted by...
• It is important that we fund our water structures in this state.

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commission shall affect no ruling commission shall affect no ruling promaggation<00:08:26.560><c
• Requires the Mississippi Department of Health to create and adopt rules with objective point values to
• Requires the Mississippi Department of Health to create and adopt rules with objective point values to
• This is the same structure as the bill we just passed.
• City retains ownership of the system assets under the lease structure and can financial share and no

Committee: Joint Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• to develop and test electronic methods of voting and rules governing the use of any approved portal.
• to develop and test electronic methods of voting and rules governing the use of any approved portal.
• A per-signature pay structure incentivizes signature gatherers to put themselves in harm's way.
• The paper signature structure rewards speed over accuracy and discourages the worker from going into
• Their experience shows that eliminating this payment structure does not shut down direct democracy.

Bills: SB6081 , SB5902 , SB6034 , SB6035 , SB5892 , SB5973

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: SB 6081, Washington privacy, sex designation, gender marker, nonbinary, transgender, vital records, birth certificate, death certificate, fetal death, stillbirth, driver license, ID card, Department of Licensing, public records exemption, confidential records, record sealing, data sharing, government records, privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Three-day rule. So moved, Mr. President. Senator Blanco moves suspension of the three-day rule.
• Senator Cook moves to suspend the constitutional three-day rule. Suspension of the three-day rule.
• The rule is suspended.
• The rule is suspended.
• Members, Senator Creighton moves suspension of the three-day rule. A rule, there is objection.

Bills: SB128 , SB203 , SB317 , SB393 , SB397 , SB731 , SB781 , SB801 , SB867 , SB1071 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1232 , SB1262 , SB1444 , SB1483 , SB1782 , SB1798 , SB1861 , SB1897 , SB1944 , SB2023 , SB2082 , SB2215 , SB2309 , SB2497 , SB2549 , SB2566 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2617 , SB2688 , SB2797 , SB2799 , SB2841 , SB2891 , SB2919 , SB2928 , SB2969 , SB2994 , SB3070 , HB 11 , HB 12 , HB26 , HB33 , HB34 , HB45 , HB48 , HB 130 , HB148 , HB198 , HB210 , HB303 , HB647 , HB668 , HB677 , HB762 , HB791 , HB 1022 , HB 1041 , HB 1188 , HB 1240 , HB 1242 , HB 1261 , HB1318 , HB1397 , HB1465 , HB1520 , HB1535 , HB1729 , HB1778 , HB1950 , HB2003 , HB2027 , HB2029 , HB2559 , HB2596 , HB2607 , HB2692 , HB2712 , HB2742 , HB2768 , HB2775 , HB2788 , HB2802 , HB2894 , HB3474 , HB3594 , HB3611 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HB3700 , HB4187 , HB4753 , HB4804 , HB4850 , HB4885 , HB5061 , HB5238 , HB5560 , HCR90 , SJR34 , SB529 , SB541 , SB693 , SB963 , SB1173 , SB1646 , SB1734 , SB1833 , SB1968 , SB2544 , SB1 , SB17 , SB260 , SB509 , SB1506 , SB1637 , SB2308 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SB2023 , SB128 , SB2309 , SB1861 , SB2617 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB507 , SB1434 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1122 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB511 , SB1085 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB884 , SB1200 , SB1845 , SB2458 , SB801 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB2797 , SB2076 , SB2876 , SB1640 , SB1449 , SB1181 , SB1234 , SB2926 , SB2841 , SB1528 , SB2891 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB1237 , SB2819 , SB629 , SB2608 , SB1602 , SB2009 , SB867 , SB640 , SB1698 , SB2680 , SB913 , SB1071 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1483 , SB1444 , SB1553 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2298 , SB2622 , SB2955 , SB2334 , SB1367 , SB2044 , SB2363 , SB2565 , SB1888 , SB3036 , SB3057 , SB3043 , SB3063 , SB3035 , SB203 , SB2799 , SB2688 , SB2522 , SB2459 , SB2655 , SB2251 , SB1884 , SB2928 , SB2566 , SB1749 , SB2549 , SB2553 , SB2919 , SB1782 , SB1944 , SB1232 , SB2969 , SB2497 , SB1798 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB781 , SB524 , SB2233 , SB2683 , HB1393 , HB2559 , HB26 , HB2607 , HB3810 , HB388 , HB 12 , HB2712 , HB2692 , HB1633 , HB1318 , HB685 , HB4753 , HB2742 , HB303 , HB198 , HB1535 , HB762 , HB148 , HB1520 , HB5061 , HB2286 , HB1606 , HB 1041 , HB132 , HB 11 , HB45 , HB48 , HB 1261 , HB1465 , HB1778 , HB2596 , HB5238 , HB33 , HB 1188 , HB210 , HB 1022 , HB1458 , HB5560 , HB 1240 , HB1950 , HB2027 , HB2768 , HB2788 , HB2791 , HB3146 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HB1893 , HB3700 , HB4850 , HB4187 , HB1397 , HB4885 , HB4804 , HB3751 , HB3611 , HB2775 , HB2061 , HB2003 , HB1729 , HB 1242 , HB791 , HB2029 , HB647 , HB2522 , HB4738 , HB3033 , HB3594 , HB3474 , HB2563 , HB2802 , HB34 , HB 128 , HB 130 , HB581 , HB668 , HB677 , HB766 , HB2259 , HB2960 , HB2358 , HB2894 , HB4384 , HB2663 , HB748 , HB793 , HB 1193 , HB1734 , HB2340 , HB2350 , HB3104 , HB5180 , HB4739 , HB1584 , HB4344 , HB4238 , HB4219 , HB3806 , HB3805 , HB3804 , HB3803 , HB3229 , HB3228 , HB1922 , HB1522 , HB431 , HB3597 , HB1612 , HB4224 , HB754 , HB1314 , HB2254 , HB2789 , HB3560 , HB4643 , HB 1237 , HCR90 , HCR98 , SJR60 , SB1319 , SB1978 , SB3038 , SB3045 , SB1633 , HB3126 , HB2856 , HB3114 , HB3041 , HB3505 , HB4205 , HB5652 , HB3687 , HB5424 , HB4506 , HB3370 , HB2025 , HB4273

Transcript Highlights:

• c> the</c><00:35:29.240><c> determination,</c> structural change in the determination, structural change
• </c><02:29:52.440><c> and</c> blindside by requiring clear rules and blindside by requiring clear rules
• </c> the completion of the AG's rule making. the completion of the AG's rule making.
• ,</c> broad authority to create rules, broad authority to create rules, it<02:30:46.080><c> it</c><02
• </c> those rules should be focused on. those rules should be focused on.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:59.199><c> that</c><00:05:59.319><c> would</c> that we have a structure that would that we
• have a structure that would allow<00:05:59.880><c> the</c><00:06:00.000><c> work</c><00:06:00.759><c
• Speaker, can you talk about your governing style from the podium ruling on Germans, for instance, in
• , the temporary rules, that move forward.
• </c><00:35:12.160><c> so</c> agreement and adopt temporary rules so agreement and adopt temporary rules

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:22.319><c> Um,</c> their own rules. Um, their own rules.
• education rules, I saw that changes in education rules, I saw that as<01:15:45.440><c> giving</c><01:
• rule making process?
• </c><01:25:36.000><c> We</c> to know how much this rule costs. We to know how much this rule costs.
• </c> about the structure you're proposing. about the structure you're proposing.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We have rules to ensure we maintain order and run an efficient and fair hearing.
• The rules for today's hearing include no talking or loud noises from the audience.
• Thank you all for your patience as we read through those ground rules.
• AB 1860 is about making our school construction rules clearer and more consistent.
• AB 1860 is about making our school construction rules clearer and more consistent.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2193 fixes a problem by establishing clear and fair rules.
• He doesn't know the rules. 'Oh, I'm invincible.' So I really like the bill.
• cannot follow the rules and know what it says, it drives me nuts.
• He doesn't know the rules. Oh, I'm invincible. So I really like the bill.
• They don't understand the rules of the road.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• elements in the bill that the uh intervention thing is uh a technical change from current law moves to rules
• Most of those are just moving from rule to law.
• when making from rule making when making determinations<00:10:03.520><c> under</c><00:10:03.720><c>
• </c><00:20:35.240><c> And</c><00:20:35.480><c> so</c> structure and governance issues.
• And so structure and governance issues.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Practitioner who has to sort of make sense out of some of the new rules.
• The tax pricing rules and international sourcing rules are complicated.
• Sourcing rules for certain kinds of income called subpart F income.
• Madam Chair, Representative, the rule the representative is talking about is the heat exhaustion rule
• Regardless of whether that occurs as a state rule, there may be a federal level rule that we would have

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I would like to send this to rules. All right, uh, Secretary, please... to rules.
• Secretary, please receive the report from the Committee on Rules.
• We know there's been an administrative rule passed, but we know that administrative rules can be easily
• Would you adopt the amendment using previous rule?
• We have... structure to stay in place. We have honored that.

Bills: SJR 1 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SJR 36 , SJR 1 , SJR 5 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SR 61 , SR 91 , SR 97 , SR 103 , SR 104 , SR 112 , SR 115 , SR 116 , SCR 16 , SB 26 , SB 26

Transcript Highlights:

• enforcement of the statutes and rules governing the practice of chiropractic to ensure a standard of
• enforcement of the statutes and rules governing the practice of chiropractic to ensure a standard of
• </c><00:41:29.319><c> continuous</c> in the Minnesota rules continuous in the Minnesota rules continuous
• The structure of the medical board is that we have 16 members.
• I know we changed the board's rules so that you could go and inspect.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Rule, please come forward, and we'd love a staff briefing on House Bill 2427. Rep.
• Rule, please come forward, and we'd love a staff briefing on House Bill 2427.
• Rule, please tell us about your bill. Thank you, Acting Chair Nance and committee.
• Rule. Are there any questions for our prime sponsor? Yeah, Representative Lally, thank you, Mr.
• Privates are very different, and I should have noted that; they have different rules.

Bills: HB2427 , HB2458 , HB2474 , HB2540 , HB2589

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: ink of hope act, mental health, substance use, rehabilitation, community support, Washington college grant, postsecondary education, nondegree programs, student access, financial aid, consumer protections, school closures, educational programs, student rights, emergency medical services, EMT recertification, healthcare, first responders, public health, encampments

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot rule that out.
• They've become a structural problem.
• The point is the structural deficit married with the structural uncertainty, which is just as massive
• The point is the structural deficit married with the structural uncertainty, which is just as massive
• It's in our rules. It's in our structure. It's in our committees. The process is fully laid out.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget and presentations from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Chair Laird described the proposal as roughly balanced with $23 billion in reserves, while Vice Chair Niello argued the revenue estimates were overly optimistic and warned of a structural deficit, calling for a deeper review of programs and concern over the state’s $20 billion unemployment insurance debt. Finance said the budget is balanced in the budget year but still leaves a roughly $2.9 billion deficit, with out-year gaps above $20 billion, and characterized the plan as largely a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. The LAO said its office sees substantial downside risk to the revenue forecast, emphasized the volatility of stock-market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to begin addressing the structural deficit now rather than waiting until May. Members focused on the implications of federal policy changes, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and the MCO tax, as well as the state’s reserve strategy. Senators Menjivar and Richardson raised concerns about health coverage reductions, county costs, hospital finances, and the lack of a broader revenue solution, while Finance said the state cannot fully backfill federal cuts and is still assessing the impacts. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal to suspend the rainy day fund deposit and setting aside the proposed Proposition 98 settle-up rather than using it for spending. Finance defended both proposals as necessary to balance the budget year and said it plans to begin discussions with legislative leaders before the May Revision. The committee also discussed climate and transportation funding, including cap-and-trade/GGRF allocations for Cal Fire, interest earnings from the fund, zero-emission vehicle incentives, and AB 617 air quality investments. Senator Reyes questioned the focus on light-duty ZEV incentives instead of heavy-duty vehicles, and Finance said the proposal is intended to partially replace the federal consumer tax credit and that some heavy-duty funding remains from prior years. Senator Richardson also raised concerns about Olympics-related infrastructure, courthouse repairs, and displaced workers, while other members stressed homelessness funding and the need for more immediate action on out-year budget problems. No formal votes or actions were taken during the portion provided; the hearing was informational and moved into member questions after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• They’re considered a money service business, but there’s no exam structure in place.
• They’re considered a money service business, but there’s no exam structure in place to enforce it.
• In 43 states and Puerto Rico, there are now similar laws, rules from the Financial Industry Regulatory
• We do have that in law and also in our rules. But we are requesting additional...
• In law and also in our rules, but we are requesting additional disclosure specific to crypto kiosks.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by Susanna Pratt. JLARC found that Washington produced roughly two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that incomplete, unreliable traceability data limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate, verify taxes, and track diversion. The presentation also reviewed canopy estimates, market conditions since legalization, and the social equity program. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 implementation timeline was more realistic. JLARC also recommended the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity beyond new producer licenses, noting that 10 new producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on overall production capacity. Members asked about social equity licensing delays and about whether Washington could look to other states’ traceability systems, including Biotrack and Metric, for model practices. The committee then heard a series of presentations on financial fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scams, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, social media companies, and regulators. He noted that Australia’s whole-of-government anti-scam model has reduced losses and said Washington could look to other states for model legislation, including crypto ATM restrictions and telecom accountability measures. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the emotional and financial harm to victims, emphasizing the need for education, information sharing, law enforcement partnerships, and stronger protections around scam-related transfers. She also highlighted the role of high school financial education and the challenges posed by authorized peer-to-peer transfers and crypto ATMs. Kyle Innes of SIFMA focused on investor scams, especially “pig butchering” and other crypto-related relationship scams, and said Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law for vulnerable adults helped shape similar laws in most other states. He stressed that fraud has become more professionalized and international, and that better coordination among adult protective services, law enforcement, and financial firms is needed. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs of the Department of Financial Institutions then described pig-butchering scams in more detail, including fake profiles, fake trading platforms, and escalating demands for more money, and said recovery is difficult because funds move quickly through crypto channels. They pointed to DFI’s investment tracker and other consumer education efforts as tools to warn the public and disrupt scams.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we begin with today's agenda, I want to remind everyone that the Assembly has ruled...
• Before we begin with today's agenda, I want to remind everyone that the Assembly has rules to ensure
• The veterinarians have played by the rules.
• But we are open to the conversation about what structure might be best.
• AB 2386 offers a structured solution.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• telling an otherwise eligible voter, 'You are too late,' it gives elections officials a lawful, structured
• states, reducing registration barriers brings in voters who would otherwise be excluded by timing rules
• of telling an otherwise eligible voter you are too late, it gives elections officials a lawful, structured
• states, reducing registration barriers brings in voters who would otherwise be excluded by timing rules
• It was blocked in 2022 and then ruled unconstitutional by the Montana Supreme Court in 2024.

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a hearing on Initiative Petition 25-01, H.5-001, an act relative to election day registration. The co-chairs explained the Article 48 initiative process and noted that the committee must report on the petition to the legislature. The hearing focused on how election day registration differs from same-day registration, how it is used in other states, and what implementation would require in Massachusetts. Three expert witnesses testified in support of the concept. A Northeastern University political science professor said the research shows election day registration would likely increase turnout, especially among younger voters, renters, recent movers, and other underrepresented groups, while requiring planning, training, and funding. A National Conference of State Legislatures policy analyst described how election day and same-day registration work in other states, including proof-of-residency and ID requirements, provisional ballot options in some states, and the need for updated voter systems and staffing. An MIT election administration professor said the proposal is mainstream, likely popular with Massachusetts voters, and administratively workable if the state addresses workload, wait times, and system integration. Committee members asked about costs, residency documentation, use of Real ID, provisional ballots, rural polling places, and whether election day registration could increase lines or discourage advance registration. Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin and volunteer proponent Norma Shulman testified in favor of the petition. They argued that election day registration would help eligible voters who miss deadlines or move before an election, reduce reliance on provisional ballots, and improve participation. Galvin said the proposal includes a 10-day reconciliation period and would likely require additional staffing and possibly technology, but he viewed the reform as worth the cost and consistent with broader election reforms. Shulman said voters she encountered during the signature drive strongly supported the measure and viewed it as common sense. In questioning, Galvin said the measure would help voters who move within a community or arrive at the polls unregistered, and he said many provisional ballots are not counted because of eligibility or registration problems. Opponents from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association argued that while expanding access is important, election day registration would add to already heavy workloads for local clerks, who are managing early voting, vote-by-mail processing, and election-day operations with limited staff and resources. They said any major election change should be developed through the traditional legislative process with direct input from local officials, and they urged caution until municipalities receive more administrative and financial relief. The hearing then moved into the public testimony section, beginning with a representative from Mass for Fair Elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't want to capitulate to a federal rule that does those things.
• That's the way the Constitution structures it, and powers are separated.
• But there's not a unitary power structure.
• I was head Rules Committee, so I missed the bulk of your presentation.
• Rules Committee, so I missed the bulk of your presentation.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and approved HB 2468 and HB 2481. HB 2481 was amended to replace earlier federal-style language with the governor’s recommended definitions and executive-order language, then rolled into a committee substitute and passed out of committee on a 9-3 vote. The discussion on HB 2481 centered on SNAP-related definitions and whether the revised language would affect federal waivers or change food-stamp purchasing rules; the sponsor said it would not. The committee then moved to regular session. The main public hearing was on HB 3070, the Second Amendment Preservation Act. Representative Hardwick said the bill was revised to remove language the Eighth Circuit had found problematic, while keeping Missouri’s anti-commandeering approach and prohibitions on state or local participation in certain federal gun-control actions, such as firearm registries, tracking, and confiscation from law-abiding citizens. Members questioned whether the bill would interfere with task forces, federal cooperation, courthouses, FFL paperwork, or local officers sharing information with federal agents. Hardwick and supporters said it would not affect Missouri enforcement of state gun laws or cooperation on other crimes, and that the bill was intended to stop Missouri officers from being used to enforce specific federal gun-control measures. Supporters from the Missouri Firearms Coalition and a gun-rights advocate backed the bill and emphasized civil penalties and anti-commandeering protections, while an opponent from Moms Demand Action argued it would handcuff police, weaken interstate trafficking enforcement, and create a dangerous patchwork of enforcement. No vote was taken on HB 3070 in the hearing. The committee also heard HB 388, which would prohibit certain anti-competitive health-care contracting practices, including anti-steering, anti-tiering, gag clauses, and most-favored-nation clauses. The sponsor and supporting witnesses described the bill as an anti-consolidation measure intended to improve price transparency, preserve competition, and help consumers and insurers steer patients toward lower-cost providers. They said the bill would apply to both providers and insurers and would not be anti-hospital or anti-payer. Members asked about effects on rural access to care, 340B pricing, physician-owned referral arrangements, and whether the bill would actually lower consumer costs. Supporters said the goal was to give payers more negotiating leverage and ultimately benefit patients through more competitive pricing, but no action was taken during the hearing.