Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is House Bill 718 by Representative Boriak, which provides a limitation of liability to
• a landowner who authorizes the free use of his private property for aeronautical activities at non-public
• It's once again to protect those private airstrip owners from liability if there's some... ...from liability
• And just to give you an example, we don't want the landowner to go ahead and do it himself.
• You decided to do this because of liability, obviously? Yes. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 718, which would limit liability for landowners who allow free use of private property for aeronautical activities at non-public airports. The author said the bill was modeled on Arkansas law and was intended to help private airstrips. After brief questions about fees and the effective date, the bill was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 134, dealing with material harmful to minors online, was then amended to clarify that interactive computer services may not deliver harmful material to minor accounts they created, while removing algorithm restrictions and cure language; it was reported as amended. House Bill 410, which would require notification before recording direct in-person conversations, drew substantial testimony. The author said the bill was aimed at privacy concerns raised by wearable AI devices and hidden recording tools, and the adopted amendments changed the measure from consent to notification and added exceptions for first responders, evidence preservation, civil or administrative proceedings, criminal matters, and recordings in one’s own residence. Supporters said the bill protected ordinary people from secret recordings, while opponents warned it could chill family-law recordings, citizen journalism, HOA disputes, and other legitimate uses. The bill was ultimately reported as amended. House Bill 318, which would reduce the presumption of paternity period from 300 days to 150 days, was heavily criticized by family-law practitioners and a law professor who said the current 300-day rule tracks gestation and that shortening it would shift burdens onto mothers; the author then voluntarily deferred the bill. A companion study resolution, HCR 19, directing the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the presumption of parentage, was reported favorably. The committee also heard House Bill 970 on competing custody orders. The author described cases where different courts issued conflicting custody rulings for the same child, but judges and attorneys raised concerns about the bill’s “earliest order controls” rule, its effect on out-of-state orders, protective orders, and the lack of a clear mechanism for judges to discover prior orders. After testimony from judges and committee discussion about possible fixes and a unified filing system, the bill was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 163, another private-airstrip liability bill, was reported favorably, and House Bill 170 and House Bill 194, both dealing with construction/design professional contracts and preemptive periods, were reported as amended or favorably after testimony that they would align design-professional rules with contractor rules and keep Louisiana projects under Louisiana law. House Bill 254, limiting acts of donation of motor vehicles to certain relatives and charities, was reported as amended after discussion about tax treatment and possible loopholes. Finally, the committee began House Bill 485, a proposed constitutional amendment declaring parental rights fundamental and subjecting government restrictions to strict scrutiny. Supporters argued it would protect parents’ authority over children’s upbringing, education, care, and control, while opponents said the language was overly broad and could complicate child welfare, public health, and school safety measures. The author said the amendment would not protect abuse or neglect and was meant to ensure government interference meets strict scrutiny, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The pension liabilities probably are the greatest issue.
• The pension liabilities probably are the greatest issue.
• washes down the river, clean that up, is to start moving in and taking those, working with the landowners
• A lot of these are second-home cabins in that area, and it would be up to the landowner to negotiate
• A lot of these are second home cabins in that area, and it would be up to the landowner to negotiate

Bills: SB190 , HB247 , HB8

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The Landowners' Compensation Program was developed to provide compensation to landowners affected by
• Recommendations for the program include a continuation of funding to ensure that landowners are fairly
• So this is on Item three, the landowners... **General Paxton**: Thank you. I'm sorry.
• Let the LBB talk about the Landowners' Compensation Program.
• If you have a vaccine, there's no liability. You don't have to test it.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee amendment expands liability immunity to include bystanders who rely on a valid medical
• So there were some concerns that members of both parties had regarding the liability piece.
• The committee amendment expands liability immunity to include bystanders who rely on a valid medical
• So there was some concerns that members of both parties had regarding the liability piece.
• The liability piece.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a large number of House bills, mostly on third-read consent or for floor strategy, covering education, health, water, land, energy, housing, taxation, and public safety. Topics included ESA administration funding, AI in schools and legal communications, towing and DUI changes, health facility licensing and nursing records, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction, superintendent pay and benefits, adoption disclosures in college health settings, anti-Semitism provisions, school safety firearms authorization, coerced abortion penalties, domestic violence testimony standards, border health and terrorism-related bills, and multiple water, land, and state trust land measures. Several members flagged concerns about unfunded mandates, local control, constitutional issues, and special legislation, while others supported bills as technical fixes, public safety measures, or ways to expand access and funding. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2575, HB 2906, HB 2040, HB 2136, HB 2665, HB 2904, HB 2957, HB 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2830, HB 2307, HB 2425, HB 2426, HB 2427, HB 2497, HB 2751, HB 2780, HB 2804, HB 2926, HB 4030, and HCR 2052, among others. Some bills were noted as unanimous or split votes, and several were described as party-line or having constitutional problems. The caucus also discussed committee amendments on multiple measures, including changes to water, land, health, and AI bills. The meeting ended with a series of remarks on the late Reverend Jesse Jackson and an “affordability award” presentation to Representatives Lorena Austin and Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2021, Senate Bill 2185 established Section 49.2127 limiting the liability—excuse me, limiting the
• However, the criteria leaves out the broad swath of landowners in the state that predominantly access
• We landowners are, I mean, we're just landowners for the most part, but it's our water too, and it provides
• And that's the landowners that lease the land to the Keith Schrader: water exporters.
• You can, Speaker: Chairman Perry, you have been so fair to landowners.

Bills: HB2018 , HB1633 , HB1689 , SB612 , SB3058

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> This is super fast because I noticed in the bill that large landowner is, um, defined I think is
• I'm not familiar with the landowner citation in this bill. >> Could you speak into the mic?
• >> 15214 is the definition of what large landowner is in this bill.
• </c> landowner citation in this bill. landowner citation in this bill.
• According to this, okay, for Red Hill, who would the responsible landowner be?

Bills: SB2093 , SB2095 , SB2046 , SB2096 , SB2127 , SB2155 , SB2243

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint Senate Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services hearing opened with SB 2093, which would require the fuel tank advisory committee to meet at least quarterly and provide funding. The Department of Health offered written testimony, and multiple supporters, including the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Sierra Club, and a public member of the advisory committee, said more frequent meetings were needed to keep Red Hill cleanup, water testing, and public engagement front and center. Senators asked about public participation and whether the bill should also require meetings outside business hours; testifiers urged at least one evening or weekend meeting to improve access. No vote was taken during the discussion shown. The committee then heard SB 2095, creating a PFAS working group within the Department of Health to study PFAS and related chemicals and report to the Legislature. DOH supported the concept but requested amendments and funding, while the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity deferred to DOH. The Board of Water Supply supported the measure and asked to be included in the working group. Members asked about the bill’s reference to “other residuals,” and DOH explained it could refer to remaining PFAS components in soil, water, or other media. The discussion emphasized the widespread and long-lasting nature of PFAS contamination. Next, the committee considered SB 2046 on underground storage tanks and Red Hill-related cleanup. DOH and the Board of Water Supply testified, and a long list of community and environmental groups supported the bill. Testifiers argued the Navy caused the problem and should be held accountable for cleanup, while one witness said the bill was necessary because the Navy had delayed meaningful remediation. Senators asked whether the bill’s “large landowner” language could include the state or counties under existing statutes; DOH said it would check and later explained that cleanup responsibility generally falls first on the responsible party, then on large landowners if no responsible party exists, with the Navy currently understood to own Red Hill. The hearing then moved to SB 2096 on wastewater management, which the Department of Land and Natural Resources supported, noting PFAS can harm marine resources, and DOH’s wastewater branch offered comments. SB 2127 on water pollution drew support from Agra Business Development Corporation and opposition from the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and others. The main debate centered on runoff, NPDES permitting, and whether the bill could unfairly affect agricultural and public entities; senators and witnesses discussed how heavy rainfall, cesspools, and mixed land uses complicate responsibility and compliance. The transcript ends with the committee still in discussion on SB 2127, with no final votes or actions shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank members in recent years some municipalities have adopted ordinances requiring private landowners
• It prohibits. municipalities from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that requires an ag landowner to
• Not one city has reimbursed landowners, farmers, or ranchers for that. overreach.
• And they are bullying the landowners, the farmers, the ranchers, all of us.
• To be able to save face with the landowners, you have to back off, because those landowners are developers

Bills: HB2013 , HB4163 , HB4810

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilities and eliminates liability from the utilities.
• What liability potentially?
• You're talking about legislation that would keep any liability off the public utility, but what liability
• And that means all landowners in the state.
• That wildfire mitigation plan couldn't limit their liability.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Liability, and you talked about property tax liability.
• Who has property tax liability?
• I can claim a child tax credit which buys down my liability. My tax liability brings it to zero.
• Amazon has no income tax liability.
• You didn't have to have income tax liability or direct property tax liability in order to get one of

Transcript Highlights:

• The Commission is a landowner and is requesting about $4 million over the next three fiscal years for
• Our understanding is that the commission is the landowner and the entity responsible for maintaining
• We're the landowners. We have liability and, you know, responsibility to do this. But...
• One of my questions is, what liability do we have if we didn't maintain Bolsa Chica as a wetlands?
• One of my questions is, what liability do we have if we didn't maintain Bolsa Chica as a wetlands?

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee heard the administration’s spending plan for Proposition 4’s climate smart agriculture and biodiversity chapters, along with related trailer bill language. CDFA outlined proposed funding for existing programs such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, Urban Agriculture, and invasive species work, plus new or phased-in programs including year-round and mobile farmers’ markets, tribal food sovereignty, and regional farm equipment sharing. The Department of Conservation described funding for the California Farmland Conservancy Program and Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program, while the Department of Finance and LAO discussed pending allocations and generally found the overall approach reasonable, though LAO suggested the Legislature may want more statutory guidance and reporting, especially for new programs. Members focused on implementation details, equity, and accountability. Questions covered how programs would serve vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, whether new solicitations would be reopened for previously oversubscribed grants, how outcomes are tracked, and how to structure guidance for new programs such as farm equipment sharing. The chair emphasized that the Legislature wants clearer direction on program design and noted that AB 2313 should guide implementation of the regional farm equipment sharing allocation. The committee also discussed the administration’s request to directly appropriate bond funds to departments and to exempt bond program guidelines from the Administrative Procedures Act; LAO supported the APA exemption with possible legislative guardrails for public notice and comment. The committee then heard on the farm-to-school proposal, with CDFA requesting $24.9 million General Fund for incubator grants, technical assistance, and network support. CDFA said the program has reached nearly half of California schoolchildren and has shown strong demand and positive evaluation results. LAO supported the core program but recommended rejecting the $3 million technical assistance component as too broad and suggested the Legislature consider using Proposition 98 for some of the funding. Members debated that point, with some expressing concern about using General Fund dollars for a new discretionary request during a tight budget year. The biodiversity and nature-based solutions chapter included funding for the Wildlife Conservation Board, state conservancies, and tribal nature-based solutions. WCB described major recent investments and proposed projects tied to 30 by 30, habitat restoration, tribal partnerships, and public access. Members raised concerns about long-term stewardship, the size of the WCB allocation, and whether the Legislature should receive more detail on how funds will be distributed. The committee also heard requests for Bolsa Chica wetlands maintenance and Rincon Island decommissioning funding from the State Lands Commission, with members questioning long-term liability, remediation costs, and the role of private oil operators. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with public comment from stakeholders largely supporting the APA exemption, farm-to-school funding, biodiversity investments, and related conservation programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, landowners with qualifying acreage within open areas can participate in the lottery.
• So this is kind of recognizing, look, these landowners pay taxes in their local communities.
• I didn't see the landowner in the bill as we were looking. I know you said it was in the regs.
• landowner tag and then utilize, if this bill were to pass, that license.
• So does other states have non-resident landowner permits for bear?

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• liability, and it's everyone.
• greenhouse gas. ...civil liability actions for climate change damages from greenhouse gas emissions,
• You are trying to solve a global issue through individual state liability regimes.
• Kevin Hayes with Louisiana Landowners Association, and T.
• I am a landowner in the watershed, a large landowner. We have about 2,000 acres.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, which was presented as a narrowly focused ban on climate-change damages lawsuits rather than a measure affecting emissions claims, pollution claims, or private property rights. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to stop speculative suits targeting energy producers, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and other businesses for global climate impacts, while preserving claims for actual legal violations under state or federal environmental and safety laws. After a substitute amendment was adopted to clarify and streamline the bill, the committee heard extensive support from oil and gas, chemical, business, port, and legal reform groups, along with a few opposition speakers who argued the bill could still be read to shield industry too broadly or weaken climate accountability. HB 804 was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 802, as amended, which creates a watershed conservation fund tied to the Amite River Basin. The author explained that the bill was narrowed from a statewide proposal to a basin-specific program to reduce flood risk and restore watershed areas using existing severance revenue from sand mining, modeled in part on coastal restoration funding. Supporters from the concrete industry, landowners, levee boards, and conservation groups described it as a practical, low-cost, non-government solution to help remediate old sand and gravel pits and improve flood control. With no opposition cards and no objections, HB 802 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HB 934, as substituted, which would allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer fawns under specific conditions, including disease monitoring, release only within the same management zone, and other handling requirements. The author said the bill was meant to prevent the euthanizing of orphaned fawns that could be rehabilitated and to create a lawful pathway for licensed care. A supporter described her experience rescuing an orphaned fawn that was later confiscated and killed, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the measure, warning it could effectively create a captive deer program, undermine wildlife conservation principles, and lead to dangerous or inhumane facilities. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 934, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative, that the private landowner could retain the mineral rights?
• Chair, let's assume, Representative, that a private landowner whose land has been damaged by wildfire
• So for the ongoing management and liability, and we've had many questions here about our state parks
• and our liabilities and how much money that costs.
• It's not possible to do that in partnership with private landowners now. Mr.

Bills: HB2 , SB193 , SB132 , SB35 , SB145

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• City support for robust vegetation management by electric utilities is respectful of landowners.
• Landowner, this has been good for landowners in the Panhandle.
• However, it opens those landowners up to significant liability in some cases. ...down the road, which
• So, Chairman, are you seeking to sort of limit the liability that the landowner would have?
• , who many times is just a small landowner.

Bills: HB45 , HB755 , HB 1232 , HB1555 , HB2460 , HB2702 , HB2973 , HB3120 , HB3225 , HB3314 , HB3356 , HB3371 , HB3634 , HB3638 , HB4247 , HB4283 , HB4290 , HB4302 , HB4503 , HB4511 , HB4565 , HB4581 , HB4627 , HB4632 , HB4660 , HB4668 , HB4960 , HB5042 , HB45

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And near Hatch, a watershed district only had like two landowners.
• So there wasn't enough landowners even made. Watershed District only had like two landowners.
• So there wasn't enough landowners to even make up a five-member board.
• So this would not be necessarily a tax credit against tax liability.
• It would be a credit, just a direct credit without tax liability.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 108, which amends the Watershed District Act to fix a problem created by last year’s changes: appointed watershed district boards could not legally levy taxes, even though several districts already had mill levies. The sponsor and staff explained the bill would preserve the existing tax authority by tying it to the soil and water district responsible for the watershed district. There was no public opposition, and the committee voted do pass on HB 108 as amended. The committee then heard House Bill 154, a tax credit bill intended to decouple New Mexico’s Advanced Energy Equipment Tax Credit from changing federal definitions and to add fusion machines and related components to the state definition. Supporters from economic development, industry, utilities, and education argued the bill would provide certainty, attract advanced manufacturing, and help New Mexico compete for investment without changing the credit’s caps or fiscal impact. Members questioned why hydrogen, geothermal, and small modular reactors were not included; staff said those technologies were not in the federal definition and that adding them now could create unintended consequences. The committee voted do pass on HB 154, with one member voting reluctantly yes. House Bill 291, the Taxation and Revenue Department’s annual tax code cleanup bill, was then presented and amended twice. The first amendment preserved New Mexico’s independent definition of qualified research for the tech jobs and R&D credit. The second removed a proposed expansion of the film tax credit to certain tribal expenditures after concerns about fiscal impact; members discussed possible future approaches for tribal film activity and the film partner loophole. The bill also makes technical and policy changes including rounding certain payments to the nearest nickel, waiving interest when tax deadlines are extended for good cause, removing small late-filing penalties in some cases, allowing delinquent taxpayers to renew permits under installment agreements, intercepting excess delinquent property tax auction proceeds for other state tax debts, clarifying tobacco tax treatment for larger vape cartridges, and tightening film credit rules. After public opposition from business groups and discussion from members, the committee voted do pass on HB 291 as twice amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• associated with the defined benefits. ...pay down the pension liability associated with the defined
• House Bill 1040 committed to paying the $1.9 billion liability by 2056.
• ADEC is the rate we need to charge the applicable employers to pay off the unfunded liability in 30 and
• This bill represents a balanced and well-considered effort to uphold the rights of our landowners while
• One was on the landowner side, one was on the industry side. And the notice is set up to.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 291 requires a condemner to pay certain landowner attorney fees if the condemner fails to
• Members, this bill attempts to make information equally available to the landowner and those with the
• Attorney's fees for landowners are the single largest stumbling block for property owners to overcome
• I want to thank the author for the support. bill and the protections that it offers landowners.
• So attorney's fees can be used, the award can be used, can be withdrawn, and the landowner can use it

Bills: SB38 , SB287 , SB291 , SB292 , SB508 , SB618 , SB901 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB1626 , SB1719 , SB1999 , SB1333 , SB 38

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Two of these supervisors must be landowners or operators of a farm.
• One of these supervisors must be a landowner or operator of a farm.
• One of these supervisors must be a landowner or operator of a farm.
• Namely, liability is the chief concern.
• The amended version shifts liability over to local jurisdictions, even though the...

Summary: The committee first heard Substitute House Bill 1128, which would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board within the Department of Labor and Industries to study child care workforce conditions and make recommendations on employment standards. Staff explained that the proposed second substitute narrows the board’s role from setting enforceable standards to making recommendations, with estimated ongoing costs for L&I staffing and smaller costs for board member stipends and possible DCYF support. Supporters, including child care providers, SEIU 925, and labor representatives, said the bill would help address understaffing, low wages, and retention problems; opponents, including child care industry groups and private schools, argued it duplicates existing work, adds bureaucracy, and creates unfunded costs. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would direct OSPI and ESDs to develop a technical assistance and training framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health supports. Staff said the bill aligns with the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and could largely be implemented with existing work and limited additional costs, though DOH would need some support. Testifiers from behavioral health and school counseling fields described severe youth mental health needs and urged passage, and OSPI said the work is doable with current resources. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2636, which would create a public education review advisory council to recommend K-12 policies and funding provisions for JLARC review; staff described JLARC, OSPI, and State Board costs, and no public testimony was offered. The committee next heard House Bill 1316, which would expand the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness program so additional university campuses can access funding. The sponsor said the program has strong retention outcomes, and student advocates testified that campuses such as UW Bothell need access to already appropriated funds for emergency aid, food pantries, and case management. Staff then briefed Substitute House Bill 2474, which would allow the Student Achievement Council Tuition Recovery Trust Fund to be used for refunds tied to broader consumer protection violations, with no expected fiscal impact; there was no testimony. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2365 on digital equity, which would expand the Broadband Office’s role, revise the digital equity forum, and rename the grant program; supporters emphasized rural access, affordability, and the loss of federal digital equity funding, while staff estimated significant Commerce staffing costs and some additional agency impacts. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2401, creating a Washington State Boys and Men Commission contingent on non-state funding, with staff outlining OFM startup and fundraising costs and an estimated operating budget if fully funded. Supporters said boys and men face mental health, education, and mentorship gaps and that the commission would improve coordination; the bill drew testimony from rural school leaders, nonprofit advocates, and community members. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language access, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines and a report on interpreter and translator shortages; staff said the office could absorb the work but other agency and local government impacts were uncertain. Substitute House Bill 2517, on permitting for high-capacity transit, would let regional transit authorities apply for permits earlier and streamline land-use processes; Sound Transit and the sponsor said it would speed delivery of major projects, while staff estimated Commerce technical-assistance costs and possible local government impacts. The last bill heard was Substitute House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug pricing program, which would bar manufacturers from restricting contract-pharmacy access and require reporting to DOH; supporters said it protects safety-net providers and patient services, while opponents warned of higher costs for employers, state health plans, and litigation burdens. No final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• related to installation and operation of portable cooling devices, and landlords are immune from liability
• It allows tenants to use portable cooling devices while addressing concerns about safety, liability,
• And if they do want to install a unit into a window, what is the liability for the housing provider if
• It could, I can see this resulting in a really unknown and large liability for landlords to know when
• Second, we appreciate the inclusion of liability-related language in the bill.

Bills: HB1974 , HB2265 , HB2452

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation, deed restriction, affordability covenant, property tax exemption, excise tax exemption, predevelopment

Transcript Highlights:

• Very simply, it revises a strict liability component of previously mined phosphate land so long as conditions
• completed the Department of Health survey at the time of the complaint, then they don't, the strict liability
• But there's nothing prohibiting a current landowner ...either way is what I'm trying to say. Okay.
• But there's nothing prohibiting a current landowner who's not in a transaction from going through these

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and took up a single bill, HB 167, dealing with former phosphate-mined land. Chair McClure explained that the bill revises a strict liability provision if the current property owner records the prior phosphate-mining use with the county or municipality and the Department of Health completes a survey. Members asked about whether the lands would be treated as hazardous or Brownfield properties, how the bill would affect disclosure and recorded notice, and whether it would apply to pending litigation. McClure said the bill is intended to create more public assessment data and that the language requires the conditions to be met at the time of litigation, though he was open to further clarifying language if needed. During debate, Ranking Member Gottlieb said he would support the bill because Florida is a buyer-beware state and the recording requirement plus the Department of Health study should provide purchasers with needed information. Representative Joseph also supported the bill, citing the transparency and recording provisions, while noting he still wanted clarification on pending litigation. In closing, McClure said the bill reflects a middle ground after prior discussions and noted that environmental assessments are typically part of transactions involving these properties. The committee then voted unanimously to report HB 167 favorably, with 21 ayes and no nays. The meeting adjourned after the bill passed and no further business remained.