Transcript Highlights:

• </c> typical Bill topics will be solid waste typical Bill topics will be solid waste which<00:48:52.760
• </c> I serve as director of the waste I serve as director of the waste division<04:14:35.279><c> Craig
• um</c><04:15:38.479><c> and</c> hazardous waste and solid waste um and hazardous waste and solid waste
• The specific waste types include the Epping bulky waste facility, the Cornhill Road facility in Boston
• types include the eping specific waste types include the eping bulky<04:38:19.639><c> waste</c><04:38

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held an introductory orientation for members, many of whom were new or newly assigned to the committee. Leadership emphasized that the committee is intended to operate in a nonpartisan, collaborative way, and members introduced themselves and described their backgrounds in farming, gardening, food service, environmental work, water and waste issues, veterinary work, and related fields. Several members noted personal ties to homesteading, livestock, orcharding, food security, landfill concerns, and animal welfare, while others said they were eager to learn the committee’s work. The chair then reviewed committee procedures and expectations. Members were told the committee would generally meet on Tuesdays, with hearings starting around 10 a.m. and often running until about 4:30 p.m., and that absences, substitutes for executive sessions, and email communications would be handled through House rules and the committee’s email system. The chair also covered decorum rules for live-streamed meetings, including professional dress, limiting food and drink at the table, and giving full attention to witnesses. Members were reminded that legislative emails are subject to public records laws and that the committee may soon transition to a new email domain. The chair also explained logistics such as bill folders, committee room storage, and emergency procedures for evacuation or shelter-in-place. No bills were debated or voted on in this meeting, but the chair noted that the committee already had roughly two dozen bills pending, including animal welfare, landfill, policy, and cat-and-dog related measures. Members were told to expect a broad mix of topics beyond agriculture, including solid waste and animal-related legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, there's lots of interest now in state and county programs with fraud and abuse and waste.
• I don't put waste in the same category as fraud and abuse as a lot of people do.
• I think sometimes waste is unintentional, but fraud and abuse are.
• And I think if we look at it differently, we can really hone in on what is called waste.
• And then, of course, climate impacts, that's another big area, and infectious diseases, supporting the

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair and membership appointments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 Senate holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by 4-0 votes. The committee then heard confirmation testimony from Hernando Garzon, M.D., nominated as Chief Medical Officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Senators asked about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, local flexibility in statewide standards, ambulance patient offload regulations, stakeholder engagement, disaster response, rural access, and alternatives to transporting 9-1-1 callers to emergency departments. Garzon emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local EMS agencies, collaboration with hospitals and providers, and the use of community paramedicine, telehealth, and pre-positioned resources in disasters. Public commenters and members supported his confirmation, and the committee approved the appointment 4-0 for referral to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. She described her tribal background, prior state, county, tribal, and nonprofit experience, and her focus on serving communities facing health disparities. Senators questioned her about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, balances equity work amid political opposition to DEI language, and tailors technical assistance to rural and tribal communities. Weldon pointed to work on tribal consultation, behavioral health, youth mental health, the California Reducing Disparities Project, gender-affirming care, reproductive health, housing and climate-related supports, and community advisory boards. Numerous public witnesses, including tribal and health equity advocates, spoke in strong support, and the committee approved her appointment 4-0 for the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, there's lots of interest now in state and county programs with fraud and abuse and waste.
• And I kind of, you know, I don't put waste in the same category as fraud and abuse as a lot of people
• I think sometimes waste is unintentional, but fraud and abuse are.
• And I think if we look at it differently, we can really hone in on what is called waste.
• And then, of course, climate impacts, that's another big area, and infectious diseases, supporting the

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established quorum and approved several routine items on the agenda, including governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee noted that some 2026 committee changes would take effect February 1, 2026, and that new committees would depend on adoption of a Senate resolution. The committee then heard from Dr. Hernando Garson, nominated as chief medical officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. He described his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, and EMS leadership, and members questioned him about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, statewide standards versus local flexibility, ambulance patient offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and emergency response coordination. Dr. Garson emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local agencies, collaboration with hospitals and EMS stakeholders, and the need for safer alternatives to routine ambulance transport such as community paramedicine, telehealth, and nurse triage. He also discussed disaster preparedness for vulnerable and rural communities and the use of regional and state assets, including ambulance strike teams, during fires and floods. The committee approved his appointment 4-0. The final item was Stephanie Weldon’s nomination as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. Weldon, who identified as Yurok-Tolowa and Karuk, spoke about her tribal, county, nonprofit, and state experience, her role as the first Native American woman in the position, and her commitment to health equity, rural communities, and culturally responsive public health work. Senators asked about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, addresses behavioral health, tribal consultation, youth mental health, and how it responds to political pressure around DEI language; Weldon said the office focuses on community-driven, data-informed work and transparency. Public commenters strongly supported her confirmation, citing her leadership on the California Reducing Disparities Project and related equity efforts. The committee approved her appointment 4-0, sending it to the full Senate for confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• very sincere in wanting to ensure that we are adhering to best practices, especially when it comes to waste
• So do you... ...to best practices, especially when it comes to waste management.
• How do we know when we're looking at infectious diseases, okay?
• Yeah, so do you—how much, I mean, what is your infectious disease rates? Do you know?
• I don't know what infectious disease rates are, and I don't have the numbers with me to tell you how

Bills: SB2122, SB330, SB2071, SB2169, SB2069, SB2095, SB2157

Keywords: poultry, agriculture, out-of-state processing, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, regulation, food safety, elk population, wildlife management, Oklahoma State University, veterinary medicine, ecosystem health, habitat assessment, milk, dairy, dairy farm, milk products, Grade A milk, pasteurization, raw milk, milk inspection

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2122, which would give the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry more flexibility to allow out-of-state poultry processing when in-state processing is unavailable. Supporters said the bill would help poultry producers who face short processing windows and lack sufficient in-state capacity, while opponents raised questions about food safety and environmental standards. The bill passed 13-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 330, as amended, to help the Oklahoma State Veterinary School Committee study and support the state’s growing elk herd in western Oklahoma. An amendment updated dates and removed a fiscal section, and the bill passed 11-2. Senate Bill 271 followed, updating dairy regulation authority from milk from cows and goats to milk from all hoofed mammals and increasing the milk production fee from one cent to two cents per hundredweight. The Department of Agriculture said the change was needed to preserve Grade A status, maintain interstate milk shipping, and cover program costs without subsidizing the dairy program from poultry fees. After extensive debate over fees, federal pressure, raw milk safety, and state sovereignty, the bill passed 8-7. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 2169, which creates a framework for managing invasive woody species and cedar removal on state lands to improve forage, reduce wildfire risk, conserve water, and increase school land revenues; it passed 12-1. Senate Bill 269, addressing baiting in migratory bird hunting and related penalties for guides, also passed 12-1. Senate Bill 2095, setting fees and fines for hunting guides and outfitters, passed 12-1 after questions about misdemeanor versus felony penalties. Finally, Senate Bill 2157, creating a Southeast Scenic Rivers framework, passed 8-5 after testimony that it would protect water resources and avoid federal scenic river designation, while critics argued it could expand government and affect property and agricultural rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• Primarily, this bill wastes taxpayer money. It duplicates federal law.
• Federal law already... ...implementing infectious disease control measures.
• During infectious disease outbreaks, measures such as vaccination and masking can dramatically reduce
• Organizations must be able to mandate appropriate risk-reduction strategies for infectious diseases to
• The highest incidence of any infectious disease in the state of Arizona repeatedly year after year are

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills and public testimony, beginning with introductions and then taking up several health and human services measures. A major focus was SB 1120 and SB 1121, which address radiation protection in cardiac catheterization and other ionizing-radiation procedure rooms. SB 1120 would require health care facilities to equip at least 50% of procedure rooms with radiation protection systems by July 1, 2027, while SB 1121 would prohibit requiring lead aprons in rooms with such systems and instead require real-time dosimeters for staff who opt out of lead aprons. Physicians, nurses, and a hospital executive testified that enhanced radiation protection systems can dramatically reduce occupational exposure, lower cancer and orthopedic risks, and help with workforce recruitment and retention; a hospital alliance remained neutral pending further stakeholder discussions. Both bills were amended and passed out of committee on 7-0 votes, and SB 1118, which appropriates state funds for a rural hospital grant program to install radiation protection systems, also passed 7-0. The committee also approved SB 1001, which appropriates $1 million to the Department of Economic Security for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, after testimony from blind and low-vision Arizonans and advocates describing long waitlists, the need for independent living training, and the program’s role in preventing unnecessary dependence. SB 1072, a major funding bill for home- and community-based services and room-and-board rate increases for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, drew testimony from providers about severe staffing shortages, overtime, turnover, and underfunding; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1125, requiring DCS to pursue MOUs with tribes and improve tribal communication and access to licensing and enforcement information, also passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then considered SB 1123, which removes a board-certification requirement so trained forensic pathologists can supervise autopsy training for residents and fellows; Maricopa County supported it as a workforce and training fix, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1052, allowing mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy in assisted living facilities under physician order and DHS rules, generated mixed testimony: supporters argued it could improve health and independence for residents, while opponents raised concerns about off-label treatment in nonmedical settings. The bill passed 5-2. SB 1112, which reduces the number of acquaintance witnesses required in court-ordered treatment proceedings from two to one and allows the court to waive the witness requirement under certain conditions, drew strong testimony from families and mental health advocates on both sides; it passed 5-2. The committee also began hearing SB 1113, which would allow certain service of process in court-ordered evaluation and treatment cases by evaluation-agency employees or other court-authorized persons, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Bills: SB1636, SB1772, SB1221, SB1932, SB1687, SB1213, SB843, SB1410, SB1317, SB1338, SB1976, SB1314, SB1191, SB1613, SB1246, SB1439, SB1930, HR1044

Keywords: cold case, unsolved homicide, violent crime, case file review, law enforcement, police records, victim family, immediate family member, designated person, forensic testing, witness reinterview, investigative leads, cold case unit, unsolved murder, public safety, Title 21, Oklahoma statutes, motor vehicle safety, headlamps, headlights

Bills: SB1636, SB1772, SB1221, SB1932, SB1687, SB1213, SB843, SB1410, SB1317, SB1338, SB1976, SB1314, SB1191, SB1613, SB1246, SB1439, SB1930, HR1044

Keywords: cold case, unsolved homicide, violent crime, case file review, law enforcement, police records, victim family, immediate family member, designated person, forensic testing, witness reinterview, investigative leads, cold case unit, unsolved murder, public safety, Title 21, Oklahoma statutes, motor vehicle safety, headlamps, headlights

Summary: The House convened, the roll was called, and the chamber proceeded with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The main legislative item taken up was House Resolution 1044, which recognizes April 2026 as National Donate Life Month. Representative Crosswhite Hader presented the resolution and shared a personal story about her son-in-law’s liver transplant and the importance of organ donation. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent without objection. The House also received several introductions and recognitions. Students from Junior Leadership Lawton-Fort Sill, visitors from Altus Air Force Base for Airspace Day, a guest in the gallery, and 17 reconstructive surgeons visiting from Ukraine through OU Health Sciences Center were welcomed. Representative Roberts introduced the nurse of the day, Denny Wilson Loeber, an OU Health trauma burn nurse and coordinator, and highlighted her work in burn care education and outreach. The chamber presented a special citation honoring the Adair High School 2A2 state champion football team, recognizing its undefeated season, district dominance, and championship win over Vian. Members also made announcements about Autism Day, School Library Month, and School Librarian Day. No contested votes were recorded, and the House adjourned until Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Bills: SB44, SB546, SB1213, SB1256, SB1287, SB1443, SB1644, SB1653, SB1716, SB1209, SB1826, SB1919, SB1930, SB1976, SB2028, SB2067, SB2072, SB2117, SB710, SB1477, SB1405

Keywords: sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, SB1213, earned credits, inmate credits, good time, sentence reduction, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, corrections policy, inmate classification, class levels, rehabilitation credits, achievement credits, vocational training, educational credits

Bills: SB44, SB546, SB1213, SB1256, SB1287, SB1443, SB1644, SB1653, SB1716, SB1209, SB1826, SB1919, SB1930, SB1976, SB2028, SB2067, SB2072, SB2117, SB710, SB1477, SB1405

Keywords: sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, SB1213, earned credits, inmate credits, good time, sentence reduction, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, corrections policy, inmate classification, class levels, rehabilitation credits, achievement credits, vocational training, educational credits

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the daily prayer and pledges, introduced the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several student and guest groups to the gallery. The chamber also laid over a few agenda items before moving through a long general order calendar of bills, most of them explained briefly by their authors and then advanced without objection to final passage. Measures passed included SB 44 on extending sales tax exemption treatment to contractors working for certain exempt entities; SB 546 on biometric data and controlled dangerous substance-related changes; SB 1213 on Department of Corrections inmate credit levels; SB 1256 requiring ignition interlock devices for repeat DUI bond situations; SB 1287 on abstractor licensing eligibility; SB 1443 on anesthetist physical status modifiers with an amendment excluding Medicaid plans; SB 1644 adding a reportable disease; SB 1653 joining the occupational therapy licensure compact; SB 1716 updating security breach notification rules and limiting class actions; SB 1826 removing a sunset from the local development and enterprise zone incentive leverage act; SB 1919 increasing the Tourism Development Act cap; SB 1930 on produced water handling and compensation; SB 1976 creating a tiered surety plan for small producers and then being adopted as an emergency; SB 2028 on raw milk advertising and labeling, also passed as an emergency; SB 2067 on financial institutions helping protect vulnerable adults from scams; SB 2072 on deed fraud and title theft; SB 2117 on contaminated grain authority and emergency treatment; SB 710 on teacher pathway pilot flexibility; SB 1477 restricting concurrent enrollment to traditional high school students and passed as an emergency; and SB 1405 reauthorizing the wildlife diversity income tax checkoff. The only bill to draw notable floor debate was SB 1209, which was reconsidered after initially failing, sent back to general order, and then passed 26-18. Supporters said it would reduce delays in eviction proceedings by excluding Sundays and holidays from summons timing, while opponents argued it would mainly help tenants who are already behind and burden small landlords. Senator Pugh later noted a personal-interest abstention on that vote. Several other bills passed with recorded votes ranging from narrow to unanimous, and some were designated emergency measures after final passage. The Senate concluded with announcements about upcoming events, including a reception, a visit from the Christian Employer Association, and the Bible reading marathon, and then adjourned until Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• state and federally funded pilot program showed promising results by removing manure and composting waste
• The bill establishes enforceable standards for agricultural waste management near impaired waterways
• Central Texas, with this bill giving us a chance to help them with some options in how they handle waste
• Getting dairy waste out of the watershed was the number one primary thing in the In the 2000s, that worked

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we're looking at this bill as a way to look at waste, fraud, and abuse, I would say that we need
• So there will be more money in the kitty to spend so that we can waste more of the people. ...money in
• the kitty to spend so that we can waste more of the people's hard-earned dollars on nonsense.
• As we have seen up here time and again, we are very, very, very good at wasting our own time.
• I spoke to the points on how we don't have a choice when it comes to infectious diseases.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> yesterday of infectious waste. yesterday of infectious waste.
• 00:43:11.200><c> would</c><00:43:11.760><c> work</c> infectious waste and so we would work infectious
• This would not be samples, for instance, of us taking samples of various types of infectious waste because
• This would not be samples, for instance, of us taking samples of various types of infectious waste because
• </c> potential generators of the infectious potential generators of the infectious waste<00:44:58.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 5323 by King, relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee.
• This bill establishes the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee. Move passage.
• HB number 5323 by King relating to the creation of the Texas energy waste advisory committee.
• This bill establishes the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee. Move passage.
• HB 5057 promotes transparency in municipal solid waste contracting. I move passage.

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• of unlawful shipments of infectious waste.
• This bill, House File 4017, is a study of unlawful shipment of infectious or pathological waste.
• </c><00:11:18.200><c> or</c> of unlawful shipment of infectious or of unlawful shipment of infectious
• The medical waste is a red bin.
• or pathological waste to solid waste management facilities, an assessment of the costs associated with

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the Scott and Dakota County Regional Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Facility.
• This makes it easier for residents of a broad area to recycle and dispose of hazardous household waste
• It will manage household hazardous waste, such as paints, pesticides, and auto fluids, and include a
• Both Dakota and Scott counties have their own household hazardous waste facilities.
• Waste managed has increased from 830,000 pounds to four point three million pounds.

Bills: HF474, HF218, HF210, HF441, HF691, HF720, HF1068, HF1314, HF1465, HF1860, HF2046, HF1389, HF2404, HF2854, HF2985, HF3128, HF3103, HF778, HF3125

Keywords: HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice, Statuary Hall, United States Capitol, statue replacement, capital investment, general fund appropriation, Minnesota State Capitol, Minnesota State Historical Society, public art, commemorative statue, National Statuary Hall Collection, commissioner of administration, cultural heritage, monument, Washington D.C., HF218, Minnesota, Department of Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Both Dakota and Scott counties have their own household hazardous waste facilities.
• Waste managed has increased from 830,000 pounds to 4.3 million pounds.
• Waste managed has increased from 830,000 pounds to 4.3 million pounds.
• </c> have their own household hazardous waste have their own household hazardous waste facilities.<00
• Waste managed has increased from cars.

Bills: HF474, HF218, HF210, HF441, HF691, HF720, HF1068, HF1314, HF1465, HF1860, HF2046, HF1389, HF2404, HF2854, HF2985, HF3128, HF3103, HF778, HF3125

Keywords: HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice, Statuary Hall, United States Capitol, statue replacement, capital investment, general fund appropriation, Minnesota State Capitol, Minnesota State Historical Society, public art, commemorative statue, National Statuary Hall Collection, commissioner of administration, cultural heritage, monument, Washington D.C., HF218, Minnesota, Department of Public Safety

Bills: HB2296, HB2301, HB2212, HB2515, HB2436, HB2496, HB2605

Keywords: distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, sustainability, energy policy, extended producer responsibility, paint waste management, environmental regulations, recycling, microplastics, pollution, environmental protection, washing machines, water quality, energy facilities, large energy use, regulation, state oversight, infrastructure, oil tanker

Summary: The committee met to executive a series of bills related to transportation, environmental regulation, energy, and utility policy. Staff briefed House Bill 2436 on escort tug horsepower requirements for oil tankers, House Bill 2605 on exemptions for low-asbestos commercial aggregates, asphalt, and concrete, House Bill 2301 on expanding the paint stewardship program to additional paint products, House Bill 2496 on tribal government-to-government consultation during energy facility siting reviews, House Bill 2296 on meter-mounted devices and portable solar generation devices, House Bill 2212 on microfiber filtration requirements for washing machines, and House Bill 2515 on rules and fees for emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers and cryptocurrency facilities. Several proposed substitutes were also explained, including changes to paint collection convenience standards, tribal consultation procedures, meter-device utility authority, delayed microfiber enforcement, and revisions to data-center reporting, fees, and utility tariff provisions. The committee took public discussion on the measures before voting. Supporters of the tug, paint stewardship, tribal consultation, and aggregate bills emphasized safety, recycling, affordability, and improved government-to-government relations. The meter-mounted device bill drew debate over utility cost recovery and local government authority; amendments to require customer-paid costs and restore local prohibitions were offered but both failed. The microfiber bill was not acted on at this meeting. The large energy use facility bill prompted substantial debate over fees, grid reliability, water use, labor protections, and the impact on data center development; members split between concerns about taxation and infrastructure impacts versus the need for safeguards and transparency. Final actions were taken on the remaining bills. Proposed Substitute House Bill 2296 passed out of committee on a 14-7 vote. Substitute House Bill 2301 passed 19-1. Substitute House Bill 2515 passed 11-10. House Bill 2436 passed unanimously, 21-0. Substitute House Bill 2496 passed 15-6. House Bill 2605 also passed unanimously, 21-0. The committee adjourned after reporting those bills out with due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• for placement in a new state account that is created in the amendment for the same purposes as the waste
• for placement in a new state account that is created in the amendment for the same purposes as the waste
• collect unredeemed deposits and have them go towards Working Families Tax Credit or the use of the waste
• for placement in a new state account that is created in the amendment for the same purposes as the waste
• for placement in a new state account that is created in the amendment for the same purposes as the waste

Bills: HB2565, HB1607, HB2254, HB2385, HB2531, HB2543

Keywords: investment, gifts, grants, University of Washington, funding, higher education, recycling, waste reduction, environmental policy, sustainability, municipal regulations, HB 2254, Washington, Health Care Authority, partnership access line, psychiatric consultation line, first approach skills training, behavioral health, mental health, assessment

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee heard House Bill 2565, which would require the University of Washington to place gifts and endowment funds with the Washington State Investment Board instead of managing them through UW’s own investment office. Staff and the prime sponsor argued the state board could achieve higher returns at lower fees, while UW testified in opposition, saying its investment company is self-sustaining, transparent, and manages funds with different legal and liquidity constraints. No questions were raised during the hearing, and the bill was not advanced at that point. The committee then took up amendments and executive action on several bills. For Third Substitute House Bill 1607 on beverage container recycling and waste reduction, members debated and rejected amendments that would have changed redemption-site locations, redirected unredeemed deposits to the Working Families Tax Credit and litter programs, added accountability requirements for grants, or created a supplemental SNAP benefit. The committee adopted only a technical amendment and then approved the bill on a 17-13 vote. For Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1622 on public employers bargaining over artificial intelligence use, the committee adopted one amendment refining the AI definition and rejected amendments that would have narrowed bargaining triggers further; the bill then passed 19-11. The committee also advanced House Bill 2254 on the Partnership Access Line assessment, House Bill 2385 extending timelines for the Medicaid Access Program after federal changes, House Bill 2531 adjusting a quality assurance fee for ground transportation/ambulance reimbursement, and House Bill 2543 allowing county clerks to raise fees to cover required court-related changes. Each of those bills was reported out with a do pass recommendation after brief discussion and recorded roll-call votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• loophole allows platforms to be named in lawsuits even when driver classification isn't at issue, wasting

Bills: HB2010, HB2192, HB2199, HB2279, HB2310, HB2459, HB2501, HB2555, HB2690, HB2693

Keywords: digital goods, advertising, ownership, license, consumer protection, refund policies, streaming services, minors, content creators, online platforms, compensation, trust accounts, child protection, video content, privacy, employment, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, landlord tenant laws, tenant rights

Transcript Highlights:

• a critical role in safeguard safeguarding our taxpayer dollars by detecting and preventing fraud, waste
• Of any state's expenditures in Health and Human Services annually are lost due to fraud, waste, and abuse

Bills: HB 26, HB 140, HB 141, HB 142, HB 215

Keywords: Medicaid, nutrition support, maternal health, chronic conditions, pilot program, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, child abuse investigations, child neglect, child exploitation, advisory committee, Family and Protective Services Council, council abolition, foster care, due process, investigative procedures, child welfare, parental rights, family preservation services