Transcript Highlights:

• It was because they had the most experience of any fund investment.
• phase to replace the Higgins Corner Fire Station.
• Construction Fund for the construction phase of the McDowell Fire Station.
• The McDowell Fire Station was built in several stages beginning in the 1940s.
• . personnel assigned to the station.

Transcript Highlights:

• We wear them collectively as a visual reminder of our unity and experience and purpose.
• </c><00:09:04.560><c> and</c> reminder of our unity and experience and reminder of our unity and experience
• Property Tax Credit, Retail Service Stations, Conversions. Favorable with two amendments.
• </c> service station sitting there service station sitting there &gt;&gt; uh<00:32:04.559><c> abandoned
• 00:32:48.080><c> in</c><00:32:48.480><c> Charles</c> service station like that in Charles service station

Summary: The Senate convened with 39 members present, heard the invocation from Reverend Meredith West, and journalized her remarks. The chamber then recognized several guest groups and observances, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Second District Corridor 1 for “100 Q’s in Annapolis Day,” the Kent Island High School boys lacrosse team for winning the Maryland 2A state championship, Arts Day participants, Rural Maryland Council members, Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition advocates, and visitors from the Maryland Judiciary. Senators also spoke about the meaning of Kente cloth during Black History Month, and the chamber recognized a birthday and thanked protocol staff for Valentine’s Day decorations. The Senate’s featured presentation was the annual Lincoln Day speech by the Senator from the 37th District. The senator reflected on Abraham Lincoln’s life, political career, and moral leadership, emphasizing his self-education, opposition to the expansion of slavery, the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg, and the idea that the nation’s founding principles of liberty and equality guided Lincoln through the Civil War. The minority leader praised the address, and the Senate agreed without objection to journalize the remarks. After the ceremonial portion, the Senate moved to business. Bond initiatives on the calendar were read and referred to the Capital Budget Subcommittee. The Executive Nominations Committee reported favorably on a list of recess appointees, including gubernatorial secretaries, district court judges, and a state board appointee, and the report was special ordered to Monday, February 16, 2026. The chamber then began second-reader consideration of Budget and Taxation bills: Senate Bill 25, altering the cyber security technology and service tax credit, was amended and ordered printed for third reading; Senate Bill 58, creating a property tax credit for retail service station conversions, was discussed with questions about who would receive the credit and why the incentive was needed, and consideration was ongoing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think on the next slide, you can see we also have weather stations.
• I think on the next slide, you can see we also have weather stations. Also have weather stations.
• Um, Harmony, do you want to speak on just some of your experiences?
• And >> Yeah, I chose WKU for all the experiences.
• :35.920><c> needed</c><01:22:36.239><c> to</c> experience, and relationships needed to experience, and

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force met with a quorum, adopted the minutes from the previous meeting, and heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University’s Disaster Science Operations Center. WKU described its multidisciplinary disaster science effort, including meteorology, emergency management, the Kentucky State Climate Center, the Kentucky Mesonet, and the Disaster Science Operations Center, which was created in 2021 and serves as an operational hub for forecasting, emergency planning, crisis management, training, and decision support. Speakers emphasized applied learning, student field work, partnerships with industry and event venues, and a five-year NSF/UK-led research project focused on weather hazards, disaster preparedness, and building a statewide disaster database to improve mitigation and resilience. Members asked about flooding, the relationship to EKU’s program, Tennessee’s capabilities, and the timeline and goals for the research project; WKU said the data collection is underway and that the evidence suggests tornado risk is shifting east and occurring more at night. A WKU graduate student also described the value of hands-on storm-chasing and operational forecasting experience, saying it helped prepare her for work in forecasting and emergency management. Members asked about her motivation for joining the program and about the practical realities of storm chasing. The discussion also touched on whether Kentucky’s tornado risk is shifting east; WKU said the evidence from tornado observations and other studies points in that direction, with added concern about nighttime events and communicating warnings to vulnerable communities. The task force then heard from Amy Shaquinn of the Mayfield Graves County Long-Term Recovery Group, who outlined the county-level recovery process after the 2021 tornadoes. She said Kentucky ranks among the top states for federally declared disasters, has seen a high number of tornadoes in recent years, and also faces major flood risk and earthquake concerns along the New Madrid fault. Shaquinn stressed the distinction between immediate response and long-term recovery, explaining that response covers rescue, cleanup, temporary housing, and short-term assistance, while recovery is the longer effort to restore survivors to safe, sanitary, and secure housing through local long-term recovery groups. She said community-led recovery is essential and that preparedness and mitigation follow once immediate recovery needs are addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We run through three counties and 31 stations.
• So more people at more stations could take advantage of our express trains.
• Our ridership was up for that entire week, especially at our San Francisco station.
• But what do you think about that as part of the transit experience?
• development would potentially involve us getting a new train station.

Transcript Highlights:

• "WE WANT TO ENSURE NO EXPERIMENT OR COVERT ACTIVITY OCCURS WITHOUT PROPER OVERSIGHT AND PROPER PUBLIC
• IT BANS GEOENGINEERING EXPERIMENTS THAT LACK TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT.
• ESTIMATES AND AUTOMATED COSTS OF THE COST FOR STUDENT STATION.
• THE COST PER STUDENT STATION. SO WHY ARE WE CHANGING IT JUST TO AN OPAGA STUDY?
• THE RECEIVING STATION WILL AND/OR THE SUSPENSION WILL END.

Bills: SJR12 , SCR39 , SB27 , SB29 , SB241 , SB406 , SB414 , SB464 , SB568 , SB578 , SB609 , SB660 , SB689 , SB693 , SB785 , SB857 , SB879 , SB921 , SB922 , SB955 , SB985 , SB993 , SB996 , SB1008 , SB1035 , SB1036 , SB1059 , SB1098 , SB1120 , SB1122 , SB1147 , SB1188 , SB1197 , SB1209 , SB1227 , SB1245 , SB1267 , SB1307 , SB1321 , SB1332 , SB1386 , SB1396 , SB1453 , SB1484 , SB1494 , SB1536 , SB1537 , SB1596 , SB1610 , SB1664 , SB1741 , SB1814 , SB1822 , SB1841 , SB1948 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2188 , SB2230 , SB2406 , SB2407 , SJR36 , SJR12 , SJR81 , SJR50 , SCR22 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SB406 , SB689 , SB765 , SB62 , SB666 , SB888 , SB687 , SB847 , SB1248 , SB504 , SB857 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB241 , SB304 , SB1023 , SB204 , SB609 , SB670 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1539 , SB447 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB1215 , SB1302 , SB583 , SB673 , SB681 , SB1172 , SB955 , SB957 , SB1120 , SB541 , SB266 , SB1415 , SB53 , SB1352 , SB785 , SB1450 , SB1502 , SB1566 , SB414 , SB1062 , SB711 , SB746 , SB1404 , SB1448 , SB507 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1355 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596 , SB1403 , SB667 , SB1059 , SB1567 , SB310 , SB311 , SB505 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1470 , SB264 , SB1029 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1569 , SB1376 , SB1228 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB462 , SB827 , SB1585 , SB1396 , SB1484 , SB1273 , SB1741 , SB927 , SB1227 , SB1229 , SB1353 , SB1464 , SB1709 , SB1729 , SB1733 , SB1744 , SB1772 , SB1841 , SB2188 , SB1147 , SB879 , SB1008 , SB1536 , SB2016 , SB1453 , SB1173 , SB1163 , SB996 , SB27 , SB568 , SB1370 , SB1321 , SB1101 , SB860 , SB993 , SB693 , SB1610 , SB1537 , SB1332 , SB1307 , SB963 , SB493 , SB922 , SB984 , SB619 , SB1098 , SB1122 , SB455 , SB522 , SB1057 , SB1239 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1259 , SB1341 , SB1664 , SB1877 , SB464 , SB1277 , SB32 , SB732 , SB660 , SB731 , SB921 , SB268 , SB1822 , SB1188 , SB1589 , SB397 , SB2230 , SB1058 , SB1036 , SB1267 , SB2112 , SB1930 , SB532 , SB1035 , SB2155 , SB508 , SB29 , SB292 , SB291 , SB901 , SB1333 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB964 , SB779 , SB1378 , SB2312 , SB1719 , SB1386 , SB287 , SB2143 , SB1245 , SB261 , SB1247 , SB1948 , SB2406 , SB2407 , SB1882 , SB1197 , SB1814 , SB618 , SB38 , SB393 , SB2065 , SB1371 , SB1394 , SB1365 , SB2243 , SB2226 , SB2039 , SB1919 , SB1895 , SB1598 , SB1493 , SB1810 , SB1791 , SB1706 , SB1644 , SB1238 , SB783 , SB458 , SB22 , SB651 , SB897 , SB1809 , SB1080 , SB745 , SB826 , SB989 , SB1320 , SB1437 , SB2320 , SB2289 , SB1171 , SB664 , SB1637 , SB27 , SB29 , SB857 , SB879 , SB922 , SB1098 , SB1453 , SB1536 , SB1741 , SB2188 , SB2230 , SB406 , SB689 , SJR12 , SR358 , SR361 , SR362 , SR368 , SJR74 , SJR76 , SB2408 , SB2409 , SB2461 , SB2462 , SB2463 , SB2464 , SB2465 , SB2466 , SB2467 , SB2468 , SB2469 , SB2470 , SB2471 , SB2472 , SB2473 , SB2474 , SB2475 , SB2476 , SB2477 , SB2478 , SB2479 , SB2480 , SB2481 , SB2482 , SB2483 , SB2484 , SB2485 , SB2486 , SB2487 , SB2488 , SB2489 , SB2490 , SB2491 , SB2492 , SB2493 , SB2494 , SB2495 , SB2496 , SB2497 , SB2498 , SB2499 , SB2500 , SB2501 , SB2502 , SB2503 , SB2504 , SB2505 , SB2506 , SB2507 , SB2508 , SB2509 , SB2510 , SB2511 , SB2512 , SB2513 , SB2514 , SB2515 , SB2516 , SB2517 , SB2518 , SB2519 , SB2520 , SB2521 , SB2522 , SB2523 , SB2524 , SB2525 , SB2526 , SB2527 , SB2528 , SB2529 , SB2530 , SB2531 , SB2532 , SB2533 , SB2534 , SB2535 , SB2536 , SB2537 , SB2538 , SB2539 , SB2540 , SB2541 , SB2542 , SB2543 , SB2544 , SB2545 , SB2546 , SB2547 , SB2548 , SB2549 , SB2550 , SB2551 , SB2552 , SB2553 , SB2554 , SB2555 , SB2556 , SB2557 , SB2558 , SB2560 , SB2561 , SB2562 , SB2563 , SB2565 , SB2566 , SB2567 , SB2568 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB2571 , SB2572 , SB2573 , SB2574 , SB2575 , SB2576 , SB2577 , SB2578 , SB2579 , SB2580 , SB2581 , SB2582 , SB2583 , SB2584 , SB2585 , SB2586 , SB2587 , SB2588 , SB2589 , SB2590 , SB2591 , SB2592 , SB2593 , SB2594 , SB2595 , SB2596 , SB2597 , SB2598 , SB2599 , SB2600 , SB2601 , SB2602 , SB2603 , SB2604 , SB2605 , SB2606 , SB2607 , SB2608 , SB2609 , SB2610 , SB2611 , SB2612 , SB2613 , SB2614 , SB2615 , SB2616 , SB2617 , SB2618 , SB2619 , SB2620 , SB2621 , SB2622 , SB2625 , SB2626 , SB2627 , SB2628 , SB2629 , SB2630 , SB2631 , SB2632 , SB2633 , SB2634 , SB2635 , SB2636 , SB2637 , SB2638 , SB2639 , SB2640 , SB2641 , SB2642 , SB2643 , SB2644 , SB2645 , SB2646 , SB2647 , SB2648 , SB2649 , SB2650 , SB2651 , SB2652 , SB2653 , SB2654 , SB2655 , SB2656 , SB2657 , SB2658 , SB2659 , SB2660 , SB2661 , SB2662 , SB2663 , SB2664 , SB2665 , SB2666 , SB2667 , SB2668 , SB2669 , SB2670 , SB2671 , SB2672 , SB2673 , SB2674 , SB2675 , SB2676 , SB2677 , SB2678 , SB2679 , SB2680 , SB2681 , SB2682 , SB2683 , SB2684 , SB2685 , SB2686 , SB2687 , SB2688 , SB2689 , SB2690 , SB2691 , SB2692 , SB2693 , SB2694 , SB2695 , SB2696 , SB2697 , SB2698 , SB2699 , SB2700 , SB2701 , SB2702 , SB2703 , SB2704 , SB2705 , SB2706 , SB2707 , SB2708 , SB2709 , SB2710 , SB2711 , SB2712 , SB2713 , SB2714 , SB2715 , SB2716 , SB2717 , SB2718 , SB2719 , SB2720 , SB2721 , SB2723 , SB2724 , SB2725 , SB2726 , SB2727 , SB2728 , SB2729 , SB2730 , SB2731 , SB2732 , SB2733 , SB2734 , SB2735 , SB2736 , SB2737 , SB2738 , SB2739 , SB2740 , SB2741 , SB2742 , SB2743 , SB2744 , SB2745 , SB2746 , SB2747 , SB2748 , SB2749 , SB2750 , SB2751 , SB2752 , SB2753 , SB2754 , SB2755 , SB2756 , SB2757 , SB2758 , SB2759 , SB2760 , SB2761 , SB2762 , SB2763 , SB2764 , SB2765 , SB2766 , SB2767 , SB2768 , SB2769 , SB2770 , SB2771 , SB2772 , SB2773 , SB2774 , SB2775 , SB2776 , SB2777 , SB2778 , SB2779 , SB2780 , SB2781 , SB2782 , SB2783 , SB2784 , SB2785 , SB2786 , SB2787 , SB2788 , SB2789 , SB2790 , SB2791 , SB2792 , SB2793 , SB2794 , SB2795 , SB2796 , SB2797 , SB2798 , SB2799 , SB2800 , SB2967 , SB3034 , HJR1 , HJR4 , HB9 , HB 13 , HB22 , HB135 , HB143 , HB195 , HB908 , HB1392 , SB861 , SB1013 , SJR74 , SJR76 , SB2408 , SB2409 , SB2461 , SB2462 , SB2463 , SB2464 , SB2465 , SB2466 , SB2467 , SB2468 , SB2469 , SB2470 , SB2471 , SB2472 , SB2473 , SB2474 , SB2475 , SB2476 , SB2477 , SB2478 , SB2479 , SB2480 , SB2481 , SB2482 , SB2483 , SB2484 , SB2485 , SB2486 , SB2487 , SB2488 , SB2489 , SB2490 , SB2491 , SB2492 , SB2493 , SB2494 , SB2495 , SB2496 , SB2497 , SB2498 , SB2499 , SB2500 , SB2501 , SB2502 , SB2503 , SB2504 , SB2505 , SB2506 , SB2507 , SB2508 , SB2509 , SB2510 , SB2511 , SB2512 , SB2513 , SB2514 , SB2515 , SB2516 , SB2517 , SB2518 , SB2519 , SB2520 , SB2521 , SB2522 , SB2523 , SB2524 , SB2525 , SB2526 , SB2527 , SB2528 , SB2529 , SB2530 , SB2531 , SB2532 , SB2533 , SB2534 , SB2535 , SB2536 , SB2537 , SB2538 , SB2539 , SB2540 , SB2541 , SB2542 , SB2543 , SB2544 , SB2545 , SB2546 , SB2547 , SB2548 , SB2549 , SB2550 , SB2551 , SB2552 , SB2553 , SB2554 , SB2555 , SB2556 , SB2557 , SB2558 , SB2560 , SB2561 , SB2562 , SB2563 , SB2565 , SB2566 , SB2567 , SB2568 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB2571 , SB2572 , SB2573 , SB2574 , SB2575 , SB2576 , SB2577 , SB2578 , SB2579 , SB2580 , SB2581 , SB2582 , SB2583 , SB2584 , SB2585 , SB2586 , SB2587 , SB2588 , SB2589 , SB2590 , SB2591 , SB2592 , SB2593 , SB2594 , SB2595 , SB2596 , SB2597 , SB2598 , SB2599 , SB2600 , SB2601 , SB2602 , SB2603 , SB2604 , SB2605 , SB2606 , SB2607 , SB2608 , SB2609 , SB2610 , SB2611 , SB2612 , SB2613 , SB2614 , SB2615 , SB2616 , SB2617 , SB2618 , SB2619 , SB2620 , SB2621 , SB2622 , SB2625 , SB2626 , SB2627 , SB2628 , SB2629 , SB2630 , SB2631 , SB2632 , SB2633 , SB2634 , SB2635 , SB2636 , SB2637 , SB2638 , SB2639 , SB2640 , SB2641 , SB2642 , SB2643 , SB2644 , SB2645 , SB2646 , SB2647 , SB2648 , SB2649 , SB2650 , SB2651 , SB2652 , SB2653 , SB2654 , SB2655 , SB2656 , SB2657 , SB2658 , SB2659 , SB2660 , SB2661 , SB2662 , SB2663 , SB2664 , SB2665 , SB2666 , SB2667 , SB2668 , SB2669 , SB2670 , SB2671 , SB2672 , SB2673 , SB2674 , SB2675 , SB2676 , SB2677 , SB2678 , SB2679 , SB2680 , SB2681 , SB2682 , SB2683 , SB2684 , SB2685 , SB2686 , SB2687 , SB2688 , SB2689 , SB2690 , SB2691 , SB2692 , SB2693 , SB2694 , SB2695 , SB2696 , SB2697 , SB2698 , SB2699 , SB2700 , SB2701 , SB2702 , SB2703 , SB2704 , SB2705 , SB2706 , SB2707 , SB2708 , SB2709 , SB2710 , SB2711 , SB2712 , SB2713 , SB2714 , SB2715 , SB2716 , SB2717 , SB2718 , SB2719 , SB2720 , SB2721 , SB2723 , SB2724 , SB2725 , SB2726 , SB2727 , SB2728 , SB2729 , SB2730 , SB2731 , SB2732 , SB2733 , SB2734 , SB2735 , SB2736 , SB2737 , SB2738 , SB2739 , SB2740 , SB2741 , SB2742 , SB2743 , SB2744 , SB2745 , SB2746 , SB2747 , SB2748 , SB2749 , SB2750 , SB2751 , SB2752 , SB2753 , SB2754 , SB2755 , SB2756 , SB2757 , SB2758 , SB2759 , SB2760 , SB2761 , SB2762 , SB2763 , SB2764 , SB2765 , SB2766 , SB2767 , SB2768 , SB2769 , SB2770 , SB2771 , SB2772 , SB2773 , SB2774 , SB2775 , SB2776 , SB2777 , SB2778 , SB2779 , SB2780 , SB2781 , SB2782 , SB2783 , SB2784 , SB2785 , SB2786 , SB2787 , SB2788 , SB2789 , SB2790 , SB2791 , SB2792 , SB2793 , SB2794 , SB2795 , SB2796 , SB2797 , SB2798 , SB2799 , SB2800 , SB2967 , SB3034 , HJR1 , HJR4 , HB9 , HB 13 , HB22 , HB135 , HB143 , HB195 , HB908 , HB1392 , SB861 , SB1013

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been the beneficiary of significant public investment in light rail, with four stations that
• So in that regard, to that end, we have TOD focus areas around all of our light rail stations.
• With respect to the experience, it was defined by a couple of really key factors.
• With respect to the experience, it was defined by a couple of really key factors.
• So again, thanks for the opportunity to share Snohomish County's experience.

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:

• So we have two stations here in North Dakota, the Leland Olds Station and the Antelope Valley Station
• And we also have in Wyoming, Dry Fork Station and the Laramie River Station.
• This is Dry Fork Station again.
• This is Dry Fork Station again.
• Because from my experience and what I know is, From the PSC right now, because from my experience and

Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• station, and the northeast Minneapolis stations.
• station, and the northeast Minneapolis stations.
• station, and the northeast Minneapolis stations.
• station, and the northeast Minneapolis stations.
• station, and the northeast Minneapolis stations.

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It contradicts the delivery of ballots to the central counting station.
• Without absentee voting, these people would not be able to make it to polling stations without taking
• up a significant amount of their time, their valuable time, let alone if the closest polling station
• And then also, coalescing the voting stations, I feel, makes it harder to access than it would be if
• I am speaking today to share my lived experience and express my opposition to SB 2487.

Bills: HB45 , SB1540 , SB2225 , SB2284 , SB2382 , SB2487 , SB2514 , SB2595 , SB2876 , SB2877 , SB3031 , SB2753

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The committee first adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 30 and then voted to report the substituted bill favorably to the full Senate; the roll call showed six ayes and one nay, with later unanimous-consent corrections noted for additional aye votes. The committee also reported Senate Bill 801 favorably to the full Senate by an eight-to-one vote. Both bills were left with no further action in the meeting after the votes. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2595 by Senator Middleton and Senate Bill 2876 by Chairman Hughes, both aimed at addressing masked harassment and riot-related conduct. Supporters said the bills would deter intimidation, protect public order, and respond to recent protests and anti-Semitic incidents, while opponents from civil rights, disability, and advocacy groups argued the measures were overly broad, could chill peaceful protest, and would burden people who wear masks for religious, medical, or disability-related reasons. Public testimony was taken on both bills, and both were left pending after testimony closed. Senate Bill 2753, by Senator Hall, proposed consolidating early voting and election day into a single continuous in-person voting period with common procedures and equipment, while preserving countywide voting and mail voting. The Secretary of State’s office said the bill could improve ballot secrecy and simplify administration, though witnesses raised concerns about ballot privacy, logistics, and access for disabled voters; some county election officials were neutral or supportive of the concept, while others opposed it as confusing or potentially burdensome. The bill was left pending after extensive testimony. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2225 on allowing spirit-based ready-to-drink beverages to be sold in grocery and convenience stores, with supporters arguing the law should focus on alcohol content rather than the source of the alcohol and that the bill would modernize an outdated code. Later, Senate Bill 1540, which would add election officials and related workers to confidentiality protections, drew support from county election officials who described threats and harassment, though one witness suggested the bill’s language may need technical adjustment to better match its intent. Finally, Senate Bill 2382, concerning statewide voter registration systems and offline counties, drew opposition from county election administrators and vendors who warned about capacity, cybersecurity, and single-point-of-failure risks, while others suggested a phased approach or API-based integration; the transcript ends with testimony still open on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the terms that I use is a self-service station.
• It was a very frustrating experience. Yeah.
• Because my experience with McDonald's in D.C. was awful, because I had no idea.
• And again, it was a learning experience.
• I had a very similar experience going to a place, didn't know what happened.

Summary: The committee met in hybrid format on June 18, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so minutes were not approved until later in the meeting after additional members joined. The committee heard a series of bills, with most receiving supportive testimony from sponsors, agency officials, advocacy groups, and frequent public commenter Robert Overmiller. Several measures focused on transportation and public safety, including HB 363 on residential speed limits, HB 384 extending DelDOT open-end contracts from three to five years, HB 413 allowing green flashing lights on road work and emergency vehicles, HB 456 streamlining subaqueous lands permitting, and HB 388 letting drivers with temporary medical suspensions keep their license for ID purposes while being flagged in the system as not allowed to drive. Members asked questions mainly about implementation, enforcement, and scope, and sponsors or agency witnesses explained that the bills were intended to improve safety, efficiency, and administrative clarity. The committee also took up HB 111, which would require single-use food service items such as utensils, straws, napkins, and condiments to be provided only upon request, with exemptions for schools, nonprofits, health care facilities, correctional facilities, and similar settings. Supporters, including Plastic Free Delaware and the Sierra Club, said the bill would reduce waste and save businesses money, while opponents from the restaurant industry argued it could confuse customers, hurt tourism, and be difficult to enforce. Sponsors emphasized that restaurants could still ask customers if they wanted items and that the bill included a phase-in period and capped penalties. The committee also heard HB 393, a consumer protection bill for third-party electric suppliers that tightens oversight, training, reporting, renewal notices, and rate limits after concerns about misleading sales and unexpectedly high bills; it drew support from environmental advocates and members who had seen constituent complaints. Finally, the committee heard HB 412 on hunting and trapping education and wildlife drug administration, which was described as a safety and modernization measure and supported by the Division of Fish and Wildlife and sportsmen’s groups, and SB 346, which would speed up Environmental Appeals Board hearings and decisions. SB 346 drew broad support from DNREC, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and business groups, though one witness asked to clarify that Superior Court appeal rights would remain intact; DNREC confirmed they would. The committee also approved the June 10, 2026 minutes after quorum was established, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn and unanimous approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Soldiers from across the United States remain stationed in Europe.
• It was one of the most powerful experiences in his life.
• Contrasting my experience in the military with my experience in the private sector, the private sector
• Experience was an incredible meritocracy.
• Senator, I've had many friends stationed in Hawaii, and though the experience has been good, I think

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• That's my experience, but I'd be happy to answer any questions.
• With your permission, ...supply, gas stations, convenience stores, and truck stops.
• So it just applies to gas stations, It doesn't apply to grocery stores.
• So it just applies to gas stations. It doesn't apply to grocery stores.
• And so it's been my experience that most contingency fees are plus expenses.

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Another component of the complete agriculture education experience is classroom instruction.
• Supervised agricultural experience is a component that is not new to our program.
• for another company in a placement experience.
• I feel like a lot of this is targeted towards gas stations.
• I feel like a lot of this is targeted towards gas stations, um, gas stations, smoke shops, but I encourage

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture heard a presentation from Florida FFA state officers Gabby Howell and Macy Jordan, who described FFA and agricultural education as a three-part model of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development. They highlighted FFA membership growth, Florida’s more than 60,000 members, industry certifications, and state funding that allows all agriculture education students to participate at no cost. Members praised the students and the organization’s role in developing future agricultural leaders. The committee then took up SB 438, which would regulate hemp and hemp extract products, including THC-infused beverages, by adding testing, labeling, retail location, age, and event restrictions, along with penalties and $2 million for testing equipment. Senator Burton said the bill is intended to address public safety, prevent products with illegal THC levels from reaching consumers, and respond to the governor’s prior veto concerns, especially store location and regulation. An amendment clarifying final batch testing was adopted without objection. Testimony was mixed. Supporters, including beverage distributors, law enforcement, and some hemp beverage businesses, backed regulation and said the bill would improve safety and clarity, though some asked for changes to avoid treating specialty beverage retailers like liquor stores. Opponents and some hemp industry representatives argued the bill was too restrictive, would hurt small businesses, and could push products into the black market; they also objected to THC limits, event restrictions, and the proposed regulatory structure. After debate, the committee voted 6-0 to report CS for SB 438 favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• By then, I had found a policeman stationed at ACC, and I told him the story.
• EV charging stations across the country are being deliberately damaged or vandalized.
• These stations deliver high-voltage electricity.
• But fuel pumps, motor fuel pumps, and EV charging stations are in parity in the law.
• Twenty percent of our EV infrastructure, our charging stations, have seen this type of crime.

Bills: HB316 , HB353 , HB 1160 , HB1414 , HB1422 , HB1443 , HB1713 , HB1789 , HB1902 , HB2073 , HB2666 , HB2695 , HB316

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: motor fuel, criminal offense, metering device, organized crime, Texas Penal Code, trespassing, school safety, day-care centers, education, trespass, public safety, utility employees, criminal penalties, assault, harassment, public duties, safety, law enforcement, driving offenses, license regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Sugar Ridge pump station, again, in Lafourche, construction is complete.
• Take note also where that CRIM station is located to the south. That is our CRIM Station 190.
• Look again at that CRIM Station 190.
• So we're going to look again real quick at that CRIM station.
• So we're going to look again real quick at that crim station.

Summary: The board met at the State Capitol and approved the agenda and prior minutes after brief motions and no public comment. Executive Director Michael Hare then gave a CPRA implementation update, describing a large portfolio of active projects and highlighting several that are under construction, nearing bid, or recently awarded, including Port Fourchon shoreline protection, Caernarvon marsh creation, Schooner Bayou saltwater barrier rehabilitation, Cain Bayou marsh creation, West Shore river reintroduction work, Morganza to the Gulf, Raccoon Island restoration, Chenier-O-Tig ridge restoration, Bayou Pigeon and Dismal Swamp boat launches, Grand Bayou marsh creation, Highway 1 terracing, and several National Coastal Resilience Fund projects. He also noted the annual plan public meetings had concluded, with comments accepted through February 17, 2026, and answered board questions about the Rockefeller shoreline project, saying CPRA and the Corps were working through geotechnical and environmental issues and trying to move it forward. The board then received a joint presentation from CPRA and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the White Lake Conservation Area and Management Plan. Speakers described White Lake as a 72,000-acre property in Vermilion Parish with major freshwater marsh, wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing opportunities, and aging infrastructure that currently operates on limited self-generated revenue. The plan, finalized in October 2025, focuses on habitat protection, maintaining wildlife, supporting revenue generation, expanding controlled public access, and strengthening partnerships. Proposed priorities include GIWW shoreline protection, Unit 2/Caddo levee stabilization, and north shoreline protection, with about $30 million secured for engineering and design and total costs estimated around $120 million to $130 million. Officials also discussed a possible lodge revitalization funded only with private dollars, broader landscape-level habitat management, conservation incentives for private landowners, and potential land acquisition for additional public access. Board members and agency leaders emphasized the importance of White Lake to waterfowl habitat and public recreation, and one member urged similar management attention for Sabine, Lacassine, and Cameron Prairie refuges. The final major presentation covered CPRA’s marsh creation design guidelines. Staff explained that marsh creation remains a major share of the coastal master plan and current project pipeline, and reviewed how projects are built using dredged sediment, containment dikes, and pipeline systems. They said the 2017 design guidelines were intended to standardize minimum design and construction practices, but are now being updated to reflect lessons learned, current survey standards, geotechnical practices, construction methods, and issues such as oil and gas infrastructure and land rights coordination. Board members asked about reducing unnecessary geotechnical costs, improving land-rights timing, considering unconfined marsh creation where appropriate, and accounting for why marsh areas are failing in the first place. Staff said they would consider those suggestions as part of the guideline update and then moved into a follow-up presentation on safety, access, and logistics for marine construction in the coastal zone.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stations.
• It is especially devastating to the native stations and to the stations in greater Minnesota.
• Stations.
• </c> stations that are operating at 1.5 FTE. stations that are operating at 1.5 FTE.
• And each station at a large commercial station, that might be one FTE. FTE.

Bills: SF856 , HF4482 , HF3672 , HF1234 , HF4591 , HF3554 , HF936

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, HF4482, Minnesota Historical Society, state historic sites, historic site management, historic preservation, county historical society, local historical society, municipality, county government, admission fees, grants-in-aid, site operations, site maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand the process, knowing gas stations and so forth.
• Seeing none. stations and so forth U is are is the stations and so forth U is are is the state<00:04:
• </c> just ask ourselves what are the stations just ask ourselves what are the stations that<00:16:10.360
• As such, $175 a year may not be a deal breaker for those station owners.
• </c><01:49:18.960><c> uh</c> Vehicles I have 22 years experience uh Vehicles I have 22 years experience

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• After three years, we received orders for our next duty station overseas.
• Now that we have been stationed back at JBLM again, I need to reapply for state certification in order
• continue to occur for me every two to three years as the military sends our family to different duty stations
• Also, knowing that my license would be transferable to the state of our next duty station Knowing that
• my license would be transferable to the state of our next duty station may also allow me to begin a

Bills: HB2088

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: nutritional health, dietetic professionals, licensure compact, interstate practice, healthcare regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• So local governments began experimenting. ...and sewer.
• station has to be built to benefit his new property.
• They might, I don't want to get in trouble here, but this is real-life experience.
• And so the answer is yes, they can pay for a new police station or a new fire station.”
• “Yes, they can pay for a new police station or a new fire station.

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee met for its first meeting of the 2026 session and took up impact fees, with an opening overview from Eric Poole of the Florida Association of Counties. Poole explained that impact fees are one-time charges on new development used only for new infrastructure capacity, not existing deficiencies or maintenance, and must satisfy the dual rational nexus test. He traced their history in Florida and described how comprehensive plans, concurrency, and later mobility fees relate to local infrastructure funding. He argued that impact fees are restricted, tied to capital improvements, and are one tool for paying for growth. Panelists representing counties, cities, builders, and community developers largely agreed that growth creates real infrastructure costs but differed on how those costs should be allocated. County and city representatives said impact fees are a necessary, targeted way to fund roads, water, sewer, fire, schools, and parks without spreading costs across all taxpayers. They pointed to long periods without fee updates, rising construction costs, and examples of large increases justified by studies. Builder and developer representatives argued that fees are often unpredictable, can be doubled or tripled, and contribute to housing affordability problems; they also said the system can be inconsistent across jurisdictions and may encourage sprawl. Several witnesses emphasized that fees must be transparent, proportional, and tied to actual benefits, and some suggested a statewide framework or mobility-fee model with more consistency and peer review. Members asked about how long local governments can hold fee revenue, whether fees can generate profit, what they can be spent on, and whether they can pay for police stations, fire stations, or other public safety facilities. Witnesses said the funds must be used for capital projects and cannot be used for salaries or unrelated purchases, and that refunds may be required if money is not spent within the local ordinance’s timeframe. The discussion also covered examples of local fee increases, the use of impact fees versus direct construction or “pipelining” of infrastructure, and concerns about level-of-service changes and extraordinary-circumstance increases. No votes were taken; the meeting ended after the panel discussion and member questions, with the chair noting the conversation would continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• You cannot zone below this on any area near the transit stations.
• First, you have a main incoming station.
• We've done zero design work so far to identify how many stations.
• What we're focused on now is market..." "...identify how many stations.
• Certainly more stations means slower trains.

Committees: Joint Transportation , Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The committee first heard from WSDOT on capital program estimating, risk management, and cash flow. WSDOT explained the differences between design-bid-build and design-build delivery, how estimates are built from base cost, risk, inflation, and unknowns, and how risk reviews scale up by project size. Staff said design-bid-build estimates are generally accurate within about 1% across the program, while design-build projects have much wider uncertainty and are better communicated as ranges; WSDOT cited a P85 budget approach for legislative funding and a lower P45 management target. Members asked about the large cost growth on the I-5 Columbia River Bridge project and about value engineering; WSDOT said the project is unusually complex and that cost containment is limited by project requirements and policy mandates. Troy Swing also discussed the idea of a risk pool, saying it would not reduce overall program risk and would still require appropriation, while emphasizing the need for more realistic early budgeting and cash flow assumptions. The committee then received the final presentation in the WSDOT Project Delivery and Innovative Practices study from HKA Global. The consultant said WSDOT already uses a robust estimating process, but recommended improving transparency by presenting budget authorizations as ranges or estimate classes, better tracking award growth and cost growth over time, and monitoring market conditions and letting schedules to improve competition. The report also discussed surety bonding, recommending that the legislature consider restoring authority for reduced bonding on select large design-build projects or allowing phased or alternative securities, and reviewed indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting, including job order contracts and multiple-award task order contracts. The consultant said these tools could help with smaller work packages and competition, but current Washington law is restrictive and would need changes for broader use. Next, the committee heard a follow-up report on transit-oriented development policy from the Urban Institute. The consultant said Washington’s HB 1491 is nationally notable, but warned that housing construction has slowed sharply, especially in the Puget Sound, due to high construction costs, financing costs, and other market pressures. The report recommended filling the infrastructure-funding gap created by reduced impact fees, revisiting MFTE affordability requirements so they better match local market conditions, considering minimum rather than averaged density requirements near transit, expanding public land and public development options, and creating a state system to track TOD outcomes such as affordability, gentrification, and transit access. Members questioned the study’s developer interviews, the role of rent stabilization, property tax assumptions, and parking needs; the consultant said only five private developers were interviewed and offered to provide the question framework and additional follow-up materials. Finally, the committee began a study on regulating emissions from ocean-going vessels at berth. Staff and consultants explained how shore power lets ships plug into the electrical grid and shut off auxiliary diesel engines, reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, reactive organic compounds, and greenhouse gases near ports. The presentation reviewed California’s at-berth regulation, which Washington could only mirror if it acts under federal preemption limits, and outlined the study’s phases on vessel traffic, emissions reductions, implementation costs, and competitiveness impacts. No votes were taken during the meeting.