Transcript Highlights:

• We had some really good people that were ready to step up for 47A.
• So, I think really it's just set me up for really hitting the ground running and catching up very quickly
• very quickly in the and catching up very quickly in the Senate.
• So, during your swearing-in ceremony, you had purple butterfly earrings.
• Uh, so the purple ones were a gift from my daughters and my husband.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reactions include a rash all the way up to a flare-up, which may cause the patient's condition to revert
• Can one of you step up?
• Can one of you step up?
• I've heard examples that the reactions have caused a flare-up that led them to go to the hospital.
• It's not quite like a full-blown flare-up, but there is a change.

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard SB 1094 by Senator Weber Pearson, which would expand pharmacist and health plan authority to substitute biosimilars for reference biologic drugs in order to lower prescription drug costs. The author and supporters, including Blue Shield of California, Sharp HealthCare, and several business and health groups, argued that biologics are a major driver of rising health care spending and that biosimilars can provide substantial savings while maintaining safety and efficacy. The bill also included transparency provisions and committee amendments, including notice requirements and clarifications around substitution and exceptions. Opposition came from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the California Rheumatology Alliance, and Biocom, who said the bill was not scientifically justified, could undermine FDA standards, and might lead to unwanted switching, side effects, or delays in care for patients with chronic conditions. They emphasized that pharmacists can already substitute interchangeable biosimilars and that non-interchangeable products can be changed with prescriber contact. Committee discussion focused on patient safety, the meaning of “do not substitute,” the 30-day notice provisions, and the distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars. After debate, the committee adopted a due pass as amended motion to the Senate Health Committee. The bill passed the committee on a 10-0 roll call vote and was sent onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you all for showing up for our Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought.
• So what we added up was entirely different. It's just the variability.
• So that prevents a top-up of that drought emergency response account.
• If I can have a follow-up? Please proceed. Thank you, sir.
• We can also follow up by email so you have that in written form.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Summary: The committee heard first from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco, who reviewed the weather and snowpack conditions that contributed to Washington’s 2025 drought. She said the state had a very warm and dry water year, with April through September ranking among the warmest and driest periods on record, and that three straight years of below-normal snowpack and precipitation had compounded drought impacts, especially in the Yakima Basin. She also explained that a weak La Niña could bring a wetter-than-normal winter, though temperature forecasts were less certain, and noted that long-term climate projections point to continued snowpack decline and earlier runoff timing. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then described the state’s drought declaration process and response. They said Washington’s statutory drought threshold is less than 75% of normal water supply plus a hardship finding, and that Ecology extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it statewide in June. They discussed reliance on federal monitoring data and staffing at NRCS, USGS, Reclamation, and NOAA, and said federal staffing and funding instability has created concerns for snowpack and water data. They also reviewed drought response funding, noting that grants have supported projects in the Yakima and Dungeness basins and that the drought emergency account still has a balance available for current needs. Burns gave a detailed update on the Yakima Basin, saying it experienced unprecedented conditions this year, including nearly empty reservoirs, curtailment orders sent to about 1,500 water users, and the first time even the most senior 1855 surface water rights were turned off. She said widespread compliance occurred, though the process exposed areas for improvement, especially coordination with federal partners. Committee members asked about the long-term basis for climate projections, the 75% drought threshold, federal impacts, drought insurance, reservoir storage, and whether the state should consider more drought funding or new storage projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we added up was entirely different. It's just the variability.
• So that prevents a top-up of that drought emergency response account.
• Chair, if I can have a follow-up. Please proceed. Thank you, sir.
• We can also follow up by email so you have that in written form.
• I can follow up with an email after this with those specific numbers.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought received a detailed presentation from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco on the conditions that led to Washington’s 2025 drought. She described below-normal snowpack, especially in the Cascades, a very dry January, warm and dry spring and summer conditions, and the compounding effect of three consecutive years of poor snowpack and precipitation. She also outlined the outlook for winter, noting a weak La Niña and a likely wetter-than-normal winter, while cautioning that one wet year would not erase large basin deficits such as in the Upper Yakima. Members asked about the basis for long-range climate projections, microclimates, and hydropower impacts, and Bumbacco explained the difference between weather forecasts and climate modeling and emphasized that statewide averages can mask local variation. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then reviewed the state’s drought declaration process and response. They explained Washington’s statutory drought threshold of less than 75% of normal water supply plus hardship, and said the state extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it in June to 19 additional watersheds. They described the role of federal data sources such as NRCS snowpack readings, USGS gauges, NOAA, and the Bureau of Reclamation, and raised concerns about staffing and funding instability affecting those systems. They also summarized drought response tools, including expedited water transfers and emergency grants, and noted that 2023 statutory changes created a $3 million drought emergency response account, though the one-transfer-per-fiscal-year rule could complicate future back-to-back droughts. Committee members asked about the amount of drought funding used, whether any balance remained, and whether drought insurance exists for municipalities; Ecology said the account still has funds available and that they were not aware of municipal drought insurance. Ecology also described severe impacts in the Yakima Basin, where low reservoir storage, three years of drought, and the adjudicated water-right system led to unprecedented curtailment orders in October. Staff said nearly all senior surface-water rights in the basin were turned off, a first for the basin, and that the action was necessary to protect the most senior rights. They credited the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and prior planning investments with reducing impacts, but said more resilience work is needed. In committee discussion afterward, members raised broader questions about whether the drought fund should be increased, whether reservoirs or other storage projects should be expanded, and whether drought insurance or other long-term tools could help local governments and irrigators. The meeting ended with general agreement that drought is becoming a recurring condition in Washington and that more planning and water conservation will be needed going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I I've been involved wrap up with.
• That invitation was not taken up.
• I assume in part was not taken up.
• </c> we'll uh open it up to questions. Okay. we'll uh open it up to questions. Okay.
• </c> Kentucky and it and it and it ends up Kentucky and it and it and it ends up always<00:55:21.440>

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and did not approve minutes, but heard testimony on budget line items for Data Seam and Teach for America. Andrew McNeel of Kentucky Free and representatives from the Commonwealth Policy Center argued that both programs rely heavily on recurring taxpayer support and should be re-evaluated. McNeel cited a 2020 Office of Policy and Audit examination of Data Seam, saying the program had received more than $30 million in state support since 2006, including $3.5 million in the current budget, and that the audit raised concerns about administrative overhead, alleged threats to districts, and the use of line-item language to justify sole-source contracting. He recommended suspending Data Seam funding this biennium, directing a new special audit, and requiring reimbursement of audit costs. The witnesses also urged the committee to withhold funding for Teach for America, saying the organization’s materials and history showed a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that they opposed. They pointed to past statements, leadership titles, and program language as evidence that DEI concepts remained embedded in the organization, and suggested any funding should be redirected directly to school districts instead. Mike Harmon and Richard Nelson echoed those concerns, while also saying long-running programs should be periodically reviewed for efficiency. Teach for America Appalachia representatives then testified in support of the program. Executive director C.D. Morton described the organization as a teacher-preparation and leadership-development program serving rural eastern Kentucky, saying it had recruited and supported more than 325 teachers since 2011, with about 30 current core members in several counties and roughly 2,800 students impacted daily. He said the program helps fill hard-to-staff vacancies, that about 80% of teachers stay for a third year, and that many alumni remain in education. In response to questions from Representative Bojanowski about retention and cost, Morton said more than 60% of alumni are still in education, but he could not give a precise classroom-teacher retention number beyond the program’s broader alumni data.

Transcript Highlights:

• And follow-up? Follow-up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr.
• All right, next up we have Seeing none. Thank you. All right. Next up we have Steve Lambert.
• Chairman, follow up? Follow up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms.
• Chairman, follow up? Follow up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms.
• I'm still tearing up. I'm so sorry.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, now you can stand up. Okay, okay. Paul, why don't you stand up and remain standing.
• Yeah, now you can stand up. Okay, okay. Paul, why don't you stand up and remain standing.
• c> stand</c><00:10:32.600><c> up</c><00:10:32.839><c> and</c> Paul why don't you stand up stand up and
• Paul why don't you stand up stand up and and<00:10:33.279><c> and</c><00:10:33.560><c> remain</c> When
• </c> check on him in this case we ended up check on him in this case we ended up rushing<00:30:26.000

Transcript Highlights:

• Reactions include a rash all the way up to a flare-up, which may cause the patient's condition to revert
• Can one of you step up?
• Can one of you step up?
• I've heard examples that the reactions have caused a flare-up that led them to go to the hospital.
• It's not quite like a full-blown flare-up, but there is a change.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, for every 10 projects that are going to move up, or for every project that moves up, there
• You know, for every 10 projects that are going to move up, or for every project that moves up, there
• So y'all would feel good in maybe cleaning up this? This could possibly clean up this bill.
• Has purple is LED. Military is orange.
• The issue that comes up, I mean, I think everybody can acknowledge this, is construction costs go up.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• In the irrigation season, we can pick it up.
• The actual schedule is we put this up in October. The schedule is we put this up in October.
• Follow-up? Yeah.
• We will start the water up again next year.
• You follow up?

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to call her up: Lisa Walters. If you can come up and speak.
• If you can come up and speak.
• the system of intake, setting up a phone line, setting up a website, to set up the system of intake,
• And our children need an advocate who is willing to stand up and also stand up to us.
• Grace Margaret Arena up.

Committees: Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Transcript Highlights:

• Members will have a PowerPoint presentation up on the screen.
• The statewide summary shows the base FEFP in purple on your...
• So the projections are up.
• A new one opens up in a said community and it pulls 2 to 300 kids.
• You're recognized for another follow-up. Mr.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to review how Florida’s Education Finance Program (FEFP) works, receive an update from the Department of Education on the October 2024 FTE survey and third FEFP calculation, and hear from three county superintendents about forecasting enrollment and reconciling scholarship students. The chair explained that FEFP is funded by both state and local dollars, is recalculated multiple times during the year, and is now closely tied to school choice policy. Department staff said the third calculation was still being rerun but should be completed soon, and described the forecasting process as collaborative among districts, DOE, and the Education Estimating Conference. Superintendents from Polk, St. Lucie, and Hendry counties said enrollment shifts, especially students moving to Family Empowerment Scholarships, homeschooling, or private schools, make budgeting and staffing difficult. They said districts often must hold back funds to protect against midyear losses, which affects collective bargaining, staffing, transportation, and classroom organization. Several members raised concerns about duplicate counting, transparency, and whether students receiving scholarship funds can also remain in district classrooms. DOE said districts can access scholarship information through a secure portal and that scholarship funding organizations are paid quarterly, with a new process requiring certification and possible future payment adjustments to reduce duplication. The superintendents urged better real-time tracking of students through a statewide ID or student information system and suggested scholarship students should be funded separately from district FEFP calculations. Members also discussed whether more frequent or daily attendance-based calculations would improve accuracy, though some warned that daily attendance could create new problems for high-poverty districts. The committee also briefly discussed categoricals, including mental health and ESE funding, with DOE saying it evaluates programs through studies, reporting requirements, and legislative direction. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with a motion to rise and adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The big date coming up is going to be 2029.
• The big date coming up is going to be 2029.
• And we also are needing... ...up to 120 percent.
• They can go up to eight with affordable.
• They can go up to eight with affordable.

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee held a work session to review implementation of recent housing, planning, and climate-related laws. Department of Commerce staff outlined the 2023 climate planning requirements under the Growth Management Act, including the climate resiliency sub-element for all jurisdictions and greenhouse gas reduction requirements for larger ones. They described Commerce’s guidance, the use of the University of Washington’s Resilient Washington tool and FEMA hazard mitigation resources, attention to overburdened communities through the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Disparities Map, and the climate policy explorer. Members asked about specific climate impacts, flood mapping, evacuation language access, and how environmental justice and local stakeholder input are incorporated. Commerce also said climate planning grants are being drawn down from Climate Commitment Act funding and should be sufficient through the 2029 deadline for remaining Puget Sound jurisdictions. Local government witnesses described their comprehensive plan updates and implementation challenges. Pierce County said its adopted plan was a major multi-year effort that retracted some urban growth area acreage, concentrated growth near transit, expanded middle housing and streamlined permitting, and created capacity for far more housing than its 32,000-unit growth target. County staff emphasized the difficulty of balancing rural protection, urban growth, transportation constraints, climate goals, and limited transit funding, and asked for more technical assistance. Redmond said its update leveraged light rail investments, added transit-oriented development, middle housing, planned actions, and climate resilience policies, but also required costly mid-course corrections from changing state laws and agency guidance. Redmond urged more regulatory stability, clearer statutes, and streamlined certification and accountability processes. Snohomish County said it is now in early implementation, focusing on translating adopted policy into regulations, aligning with new state housing and parking laws, and coordinating across departments and with cities; it stressed the need for clearer comp plan language, realistic timelines, and more staffing and coordination support. The committee also heard from the Washington chapter of the American Planning Association about inconsistencies in recent planning laws. APA identified three issues: the use of the undefined term “guidelines” in the design review statute, the use of “variance” in a middle housing/design review context where APA said “departure” would better fit the intended flexibility, and the lack of a cross-reference or definition for “administrative design review” in the subdivision statute. APA said these ambiguities can create confusion and delay in permit processing and offered to work with the legislature on technical fixes. Senators asked whether local codes already use “departure” and whether the proposed changes would conflict with current law; APA responded that many cities already use departure provisions and that the goal is to align the RCW with existing planning practice. The meeting ended without any votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we... ...liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we will stand up and fight back.
• Get you up in front and center.
• So the purple pin on your desk is for Alzheimer's awareness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• So the purple pin on your desk is for Alzheimer's Awareness Month.
• And so it is time that we stand up, we remember these children.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several Senate bills, notices for committee hearings, and a successful motion to suspend rules so ACA 20 could be taken up later in the week. The chamber also recognized former Assembly Member Christina Garcia and later moved into a Pride Month observance. The main ceremonial item was House Resolution 115 recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Assembly Member Ward opened on the resolution, and multiple members from different caucuses spoke in support, highlighting Pride history, LGBTQ+ rights, and the contributions of LGBTQ Californians. Assembly Member DeMaio offered supportive remarks while noting policy differences, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 53 co-authors were added. The Assembly then held a Pride honoree ceremony recognizing 15 individuals and groups for contributions to the LGBTQ community. On the floor file, members also adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding co-authors: ACR 187 on Men’s Mental Health Month, ACR 157 marking the 50th anniversary of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, ACR 222 declaring Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month, and ACR 224 recognizing Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. Each drew personal testimony from members about the underlying issues, including suicide prevention, caregiving and dementia, mining reclamation, and harms to youth from social media. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 46 on mental health diversion by a 51-1 vote, and later adopted the consent calendar 66-0. The House adjourned until June 25, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we apply those principles, each one of us will end up drawing a different map.
• Members, this is messed up.
• Allowing decisions like this to be driven from the top down instead of the ground up.
• Black, white, purple, red, blue, whatever. The governor is playing in your face.
• This body has stood up as a co-equal branch of government before and said no.

Transcript Highlights:

• And one day, you know, a man showed up and the man showed up in the woman's locker room at the end of
• You stood up. Today, I'm proud to stand with you.
• Never let up. Never back up. Never back down and never, never, never quit.
• I noticed your purple shirt today and your purple tie.
• We've got a number of people up. in the gallery today.

Bills: SJR5 , SJR36 , SJR5 , SJR5 , SR105 , SR121 , SB17 , SB19 , SB25 , SB28 , SB17 , SB19 , SB25 , SB28

Keywords: bail, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, public safety, constitutional amendment, school safety, mental health, emergency response, education policy, law enforcement, SR 121, Senate Resolution 121, Pete Alfaro, Pedro Cuellar Alfaro, Pedro Alfaro, Baytown, Texas Senate tribute, in memory, memorial resolution, condolence resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll take up Tab 1, and I will recognize Mr.
• And the commissioners, they sit up and take notice.
• I see them sit up and... Customers come in and say, this is how it affects me.
• I see them sit up and take notice.
• So busy that, you know, when they look up, their clothes are out of style.

Summary: The joint committee met with a quorum present and first received an overview of its jurisdiction and duties related to appointing the Florida Public Counsel. Staff explained the committee’s authority under joint rules and state law, noted that the current Public Counsel’s term expires February 28, 2025, and that applications for the next four-year term were open with a February 6, 2025 deadline. The committee then heard an extensive update from Public Counsel Walt Truerweiler on the Office of Public Counsel’s work representing utility ratepayers before the Public Service Commission and in appeals. Truerweiler described the office’s caseload and priorities, including electric, gas, water, and wastewater rate cases; storm recovery dockets; cost-recovery clauses; rulemakings; and customer service hearings. He emphasized that the office seeks to challenge unsupported or imprudent costs, find value for customers, and use expert analysis and customer testimony to shape outcomes. He highlighted recent and ongoing matters, including major Duke, TECO, Sunshine water/wastewater, and hurricane recovery proceedings, and said the office had fully litigated four of its last five rate cases, while also achieving a major settlement in Duke that reduced a requested increase and imposed cost controls on solar projects. Members praised the office’s work and asked about the benefits of settlements, staffing and compensation, and how the office decides when to fully intervene versus provide guidance or monitor a case. Truerweiler said settlements can create predictability, reduce uncertainty and expense, and produce tangible value for both customers and utilities. He also acknowledged recruitment challenges, including lower pay than comparable agencies and difficulty attracting attorneys who do not want in-person litigation work. The committee took no substantive action beyond receiving the presentations, and adjourned after a motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• :52.399><c> taxpayers</c><00:16:53.759><c> $1</c> could end up costing taxpayers $1 could end up costing
• They've saved up are getting older. They've saved up their<03:11:45.520><c> money.
• But you start to see this purple here, the light purple.
• </c><03:35:03.279><c> That's</c> purple here, the light purple.
• That's purple here, the light purple.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we have Mr.
• up here for questions.
• </c> to get you up for your bill, too. to get you up for your bill, too.
• We've seen charity care go up. We've seen bad debt go up.
• </c> up there, Mr. Chair. up there, Mr. Chair.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:10.720><c> to</c><00:06:10.880><c> this</c> leading up to this leading up to this hearing<
• Representative Carroll followed up, then said, “No, thank you, Chair.”
• Johnson and said they might bring it back up if needed.
• Next up, we have Tom Thompson with the Sierra Club.
• He said every year the same issue comes up: whether to lift the moratorium or not.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy