Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:46:40.480><c> Um</c><00:46:40.880><c> and</c> uh eastern parts of our state.
• Um and uh eastern parts of our state.
• </c> these rural communities in Eastern these rural communities in Eastern Kentucky<00:46:58.880><c>
• Because God's Pantry serves 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky would obviously get more the
• Because God's Pantry serves 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky would obviously get more the

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee received a monthly report from the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and the A Development Board/Finance Corporation. Staff reviewed May activity, including county council visits, loan and grant approvals, farm safety funding, and support for beginning farmers, agricultural infrastructure, processing, and county/state projects. The committee also recognized an intern and thanked Tara Roberts for her service as she prepares to leave the agency. Members were reminded about a June 20 anniversary event marking 25 years of the office and related programs. A major topic was K-CARD, the Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Staff explained that the program is being expanded to provide more technical assistance for beginning farmers and farm families, including help with business plans and estate planning/farm transition discussions. Members asked how farmers would access the service and were told the extension office would be the front-line contact, with K-CARD providing the technical assistance and neutral-site consultations. The committee also discussed support for large food animal veterinarians. Staff said the incentive program has helped more than 33 veterinarians and is intended to support existing providers rather than quickly increase numbers; members raised concerns about the pipeline and selection process at Auburn University, and staff said discussions with the university were ongoing. The committee then heard from Community Farm Alliance on Kentucky Double Dollars, Fresh Rx for Moms, and farmers market support programs. CFA reported expansion to roadside stands, more retail onboarding, seven new counties, and estimated economic and farmgate impacts, emphasizing that state funding helps leverage federal and private dollars and stabilize local food access programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the May minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we need to develop substantially more transmission to accommodate wind and solar projects in eastern
• So clearly the transmission will be sited in eastern Washington.
• It doesn't really address the fact that we should have substantial representation from eastern Washington
• And, you know, even though I live on Western Washington, I serve in a caucus with a lot of Eastern Washington
• I serve in a caucus with a lot of Eastern Washington folks, and I hear the absolute pain and struggle

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met in executive session on three bills. For Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, staff explained it would create an abortion savings program funded by a new assessment on health carriers to support grants for abortion clinical care access. Representative Marshall offered amendments to limit grants to Washington residents, expand eligibility to IVF and fertility providers, prioritize medically underserved areas, and add a 2031 sunset; all were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then voted 18-10 to report the bill out with a do pass recommendation. For Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6260, staff briefed a striking amendment that would reduce savings in K-12 spending by changing local effort assistance and Running Start limits, prioritizing some transition-to-kindergarten funding, and eliminating inflation increases for National Board bonuses. Members debated a series of amendments on bus depreciation, charter school LEA payments, transition-to-kindergarten funding, and Running Start. Some amendments were adopted, including a bus depreciation change and a Running Start adjustment, while others were rejected. The committee then adopted the striker as amended and reported the bill out 17-12 with a due pass recommendation. For Substitute Senate Bill 6355, which would establish the Washington Electric Transmission Authority and related board and advisory structures, members considered amendments on rural land-use expertise, eastern Washington board representation, corridor review standards, tribal workgroup removal, and payments in lieu of taxes for transmission facilities. One amendment was withdrawn and the others were rejected except for a landowner/rural expertise amendment that passed. The committee then reported the bill out 18-11 with a due pass recommendation. At the end of the meeting, members exchanged closing remarks thanking staff and colleagues, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• A proud son of eastern North Carolina, AB was an Army veteran, a 50-year Mason, a lifelong outdoorsman
• </c><00:15:17.680><c> North</c><00:15:17.920><c> Carolina,</c> A proud son of eastern North Carolina,
• </c><00:15:57.360><c> North</c> unwavering advocacy for Eastern North unwavering advocacy for Eastern
• In my young life, I worked to bring freedom to Eastern Europe.
• I saw East freedom to Eastern Europe.

Bills: HCR58

Keywords: socialism, government control, dictatorship, individual liberty, freedom

Transcript Highlights:

• I grew up in a rural community in Eastern Washington, a little town in Othello, where access to services
• I attended Eastern Washington University, where I majored in health care administration...
• I attended Eastern Washington University, where I majored in health care administration, and while I
• At that time, Eastern Washington University was the only four-year public university in Washington without
• Elson Floyd hired me to help launch my career by starting the student health program at Eastern Washington

Bills: SB5899 , SB6292 , SB6094 , SB6182 , SB5947 , SJR8206 , SB5933 , SB6138 , SB5823 , SB6210 , SB5921 , SB6226 , SB6159 , SB5924 , SGA9291 , SGA9307

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: chiropractic, animal care, veterinary medicine, license endorsement, nonhuman animals, health care, financing, legislative committee, joint committee, policy management, pediatric care, transitional services, healthcare, licensing, children's health, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund

Transcript Highlights:

• in Eastern Kentucky and Western<00:12:32.200><c> Kentucky.
• </c><00:13:22.240><c> Kentucky</c> assistance for uh rural Eastern Kentucky assistance for uh rural Eastern
• I have ran four of our hospitals across Eastern Kentucky, five of our hospitals across Eastern Kentucky
• </c><01:36:31.520><c> I'm</c> Eastern Kentucky. I disagree. I'm Eastern Kentucky. I disagree.
• </c> So, we partner with EKCEP, Eastern So, we partner with EKCEP, Eastern Kentucky<01:46:24.080><c>

Summary: The committee opened its sixth and final interim meeting with roll call, quorum confirmation, approval of the prior minutes, and a brief change in agenda order to preserve quorum and accommodate presenters’ schedules. Members then moved through several proposed health-related items with limited discussion, and the chair noted the committee would reconvene in January for further conversation. The first substantive item was a proposal relating to utilization controls for non-opioid analgesics in Medicaid. Senator Gerald Neal and Tara Hyde of People Advocating Recovery argued that pain parity is needed so patients can access non-opioid options without prior authorization or step therapy barriers, especially in acute pain situations and for people in recovery. Senator Berg supported the concept and suggested expanding the approach to other prescriptions by allowing physicians to explain why step therapy is inappropriate at the time of prescribing; another member cautioned against unintended cost increases if non-opioid drugs are used as add-ons to opioids. The committee then heard a proposal on physician assistants from Senator Scott and Andrew Rutherford of the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants. They described a shift from a supervisory to a collaborative practice model, with practice scope set at the practice level, limited Schedule II prescribing authority under guardrails, and permission for PAs to perform driver’s license vision testing. Supporters said the changes would improve rural access, reduce administrative burden, and align Kentucky with neighboring states; a question from Representative Bratcher focused on experience requirements and how the proposal compares with nurse practitioner rules. No vote was taken. Finally, Representative Nancy Tate, Adia Wuchner, and Representative Jason Nemes introduced a 2026 proposal aimed at “protecting vulnerable people.” They described a broad package focused on abortion pill trafficking, marketing to minors, commercial surrogacy, assisted suicide, and organ procurement safeguards, arguing that current law leaves gaps and that additional criminal and civil penalties are needed. The presentation was informational only, with no action taken before the meeting ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eastern Kentucky, with the flooding disasters. Um, and Eric probably would.
• You talked a lot about tornadoes, and we recently did have one in Eastern Kentucky, and I know that's
• </c><01:15:00.400><c> Kentucky</c> Kentucky tornadoes in eastern Kentucky Kentucky tornadoes in eastern
• And as well, we were doing the disaster case management for the eastern Kentucky floods.
• I know that, like I said, when the flooding hit in Eastern Kentucky, and every time that it does hit,

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:

• that would go to the Defense Support Commission has been prioritized for anything related to the Eastern
• As you might know, there's a federal conversation occurring about drilling in the Eastern Gulf testing
• And so any grants related to protecting the Eastern Gulf testing range would have to be prioritized,
• The Goat to the Defense Board Commission has been prioritized for anything related to the Eastern Gulf
• As you might know, there's a federal conversation occurring about drilling in the Eastern Gulf testing

Bills: S0048

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard the Governor’s proposed FY 2026-27 budget for the TED silo and presentations from Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, the State Guard, State, Transportation, and Emergency Management. The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, including $18.3 billion for TED agencies, with major allocations for FDOT, Commerce, emergency management, tourism, military affairs, and state operations. Agency heads emphasized priorities such as housing and disaster recovery, workforce and rural infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, defense support, tourism marketing, aerospace and spaceport investment, election audits, historic preservation, road and bridge maintenance, aviation safety, and emergency preparedness systems. Members asked several questions about the use and effectiveness of funding. Visit Florida officials said the public-private match is essential and that they exceeded the required match last year. Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles discussed trooper pay, vehicle replacement, aviation support, and transparency tools such as vehicle camera systems, with senators praising the department’s recruitment efforts. Military Affairs and the State Guard described readiness, recruiting, facility construction, and support for domestic missions, including hurricane response and perimeter security at the Everglades detention site; questions focused on deployment tempo, staffing, and costs. The Department of State explained funding for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and said its arts grant changes were intended to standardize scoring rather than cut programs. Transportation highlighted a $15.4 billion total budget, major work program funding, safety initiatives, seaport and aviation investments, and the elimination of Florida Rail Enterprise funding due to reduced documentary stamp revenues. The committee also heard and passed CS/SB 48 by Senator Gates, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units on a voluntary basis, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs are allowed by right without separate hearings. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and several industry and business groups supported the bill, citing the need for long-term rental housing for workers. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• do, because what will happen is the county level, they start reporting, I mean, if they're in the Eastern
• So that way, if you're in the Eastern Time Zone and your individual county can look up your results,
• I do of central time zone turnout from early Eastern returns. I do.
• do, because what will happen is the county level, they start reporting, I mean, if they're in the Eastern
• So that way you, if you're in the Eastern Time Zone and your individual county can look up your results

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to hear a lengthy presentation from Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Florida election administration, with a focus on how elections are handled during natural disasters, election security, and preparations for the 2026 cycle. Byrd described Florida’s response to hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, saying the state works directly with county supervisors of elections to tailor executive orders to local conditions, add or relocate polling sites, extend deadlines, and help displaced voters and emergency workers cast ballots. Members from affected areas echoed that local supervisors had managed storm disruptions well and that turnout remained strong despite major damage. A large portion of the meeting covered election integrity and security. Byrd emphasized Florida’s use of paper ballots, pre-election logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, public canvassing, standardized voter-intent rules, and strict vote-by-mail request and signature-match requirements. He said the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security investigates complaints and refers matters to law enforcement, and that Florida has expanded access to the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship. Members asked about threats to election workers, staffing vacancies, cybersecurity, ballot design, vote-by-mail address changes, and how the state coordinates with county supervisors, emergency management, and other agencies. Several members raised questions about voter eligibility and returning citizens, and Byrd said the department provides free information to help people determine whether their rights have been restored, while noting that court and clerk reporting practices still create challenges. He also said the department is considering additional legislative proposals, including more safeguards tied to driver’s license and citizenship verification and a possible statewide 100% audit of races before certification. The meeting ended with the chair encouraging members to visit supervisors of elections offices and submit specific ideas for future elections legislation; no votes were taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recognizing the gentleman from the Eastern Shore.
• Recognizing the gentleman from the Eastern Shore.
• </c> gentleman from the Eastern Shore. gentleman from the Eastern Shore.
• </c> &gt;&gt; That's the gentleman from the Eastern &gt;&gt; That's the gentleman from the Eastern Shore
• Thank you, Madam from the Eastern Shore.

Transcript Highlights:

• He got a BA at Eastern New Mexico.
• He got a BA at Eastern New Mexico.
• He got a BA at Eastern New Mexico. Background here today. He was born and raised in Albuquerque.
• He got a B.A. at Eastern New Mexico University.
• He attended Eastern New Mexico University.

Transcript Highlights:

• many of you know, I grew up in Moses Lake, and so have grown up experiencing the harsh impacts in eastern
• Washington on air quality, on visibility, on just quality of life for eastern Washingtonians.
• many of you know, I grew up in Moses Lake, and so have grown up experiencing the harsh impacts in eastern
• Washington on air quality, on visibility, on just quality of life for eastern Washingtonians.
• You've got folks who don't want to insure Eastern Washington residents because they live in wildfire-prone

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2275, which would create a Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund and a new council to oversee utility wildfire mitigation, claims payments, and related administration. Staff explained that investor-owned utilities would be required to participate, consumer-owned utilities could opt in, and utilities would pay annual contributions and maintain approved wildfire mitigation plans to qualify for claims coverage. The prime sponsor, Rep. Christine Reeves, said the bill was intended to address wildfire liability, support prevention, and create a more comprehensive statewide approach to wildfire risk. Members asked about retroactivity to July 1, 2021, utility contribution limits, and whether the bill would lower rates or improve mitigation funding. Public testimony was split. Supporters included the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Department of Natural Resources, wildfire survivors, and several wildfire and insurance advocates, who emphasized the need for compensation, stable funding, prevention, and better resilience planning. Opponents included several utilities, utility associations, business groups, and public utility district representatives, who argued the bill would shift uncapped costs to ratepayers, lacked clear liability reform and solvency protections, and could be vulnerable to future fund sweeps. Some witnesses cited California’s wildfire fund as a model, while others said Washington needed a broader, more holistic solution focused on prevention and liability reform. No vote was taken on HB 2275; the public hearing was closed after testimony. The committee then moved to executive session on House Bill 2238, which directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy and adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring to the department’s duties. Four amendments were adopted: L-061, requiring consideration of regulatory cost metrics and periodic competitiveness reporting; L-062, directing the strategy to recommend legislative actions to make food more affordable and reduce food assistance need; L-060, adding people with lived experience of food insecurity and BIPOC small farmers to consultation requirements and focusing on root causes of hunger; and L-063, adding fuel and labor cost tracking to agricultural viability metrics. Amendment L-064, which would have required a consultant study on proposed agricultural labor legislation, failed on a 5-6 roll call vote. The committee then adopted the amended substitute and reported Substitute House Bill 2238 out of committee with a due pass recommendation by an 11-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jackson County, where you live and I live, we pay about 73% of the Eastern Jackson County, where you
• And imagine if I’m an Eastern Jackson County resident, I’m like, I don’t want to pay to house Kansas
• It really is those portions of eastern Jackson County who feel like I think...” that it includes that
• It really is those portions of eastern Jackson County who feel like I think, It is those portions of
• Eastern Jackson County who feel like they get a raw deal from their close affiliation with, and needing

Committees: House Local Government , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:46.800><c> Good</c> gentleman from the Eastern Shore.
• Good gentleman from the Eastern Shore. Good morning. morning. morning.
• Recognizing the other gentleman from the Eastern Shore. >> Yeah.
• Recognizing the gentleman from Eastern<00:21:08.640><c> Maryland.
• You're going to Eastern Maryland.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move on to Trish Hendren, Executive Director, Eastern Transportation Coalition.
• So that's what we've done on this group of Eastern 20 states. We've done 14. ...transportation.
• So that's what we've done on this group of Eastern 20 states.
• I talk about Virginia a lot because they are an eastern state.
• I talk about Virginia a lot because they are an eastern state.

Committee: House Transportation

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee first took up three highway memorial naming resolutions on its consent calendar: ACR 109, SCR 78, and SCR 90. The committee approved the consent calendar on an 11-0 vote, with the roll not held open. The chair also recognized committee science fellow AJ Mendeola for his service before adjourning the bill-hearing portion and moving to an informational hearing. The informational hearing focused on alternatives to the gas tax and how other states are responding to declining fuel-tax revenue. A first panel of researchers and policy experts described the erosion of gas-tax receipts due to inflation, improved fuel efficiency, and growth in electric vehicles, and compared options such as EV registration fees, kilowatt-hour charging fees, delivery fees, transportation network company fees, managed lanes, and road usage charges. Witnesses generally said road usage charges best preserve the user-pays principle, but they also emphasized that implementation costs, privacy concerns, and public understanding remain major obstacles. Committee members raised concerns about fairness for commuters, low-income drivers, and EV adoption, while some members argued a mileage-based system could amount to a new tax unless the gas tax is actually repealed. The second panel featured state officials from Hawaii, Utah, Oregon, and Virginia describing their programs. Hawaii said it launched its road usage charge program on July 1, 2025, using existing safety-check and registration systems, with EV owners initially choosing between a per-mile charge and a flat annual fee before mandatory EV participation begins in 2028 and a broader transition plan is due by 2026. Utah described its voluntary EV road usage charge program, annual flat fee option, quarterly reporting, privacy protections, and recent cost reductions as enrollment grows. Oregon began outlining its structural funding challenges and constitutional cost-responsibility framework, while the hearing overall underscored that states are experimenting with different approaches but have not settled on a single replacement for the gas tax.

Transcript Highlights:

• It follows on the eastern side, obviously the coast.
• It forms kind of the eastern boundary of the northern part of District 20.
• side to match the coastal eastern boundary.
• So this district just goes into Sumter, Lake, and eastern Orange County.
• The Tampa municipal lines extend from the eastern, literally the entire eastern side of the county all

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• is that the majority of our library facilities and services that we offer our customers are on the eastern
• is that the majority of our library facilities and services that we offer our customers are on the eastern
• is that the majority of our library facilities and services that we offer our customers are on the eastern
• is that the majority of our library facilities and services that we offer our customers are on the eastern

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Local Government held a public hearing on Senate Substitute No. 2 for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1023, sponsored by Senator Justin Brown. The bill would expand the existing authority for certain public library districts to ask voters for a sales tax, with provisions to reduce or eliminate property tax levies in some cases. Brown explained that the bill includes special carve-outs for St. Charles County, where any sales tax would be paired with a dollar-for-dollar property tax rollback over a three-year phase-out, and for Cass and Johnson counties, where the sales tax cap would be 0.33% and property tax levies would be eliminated. The bill also allows circuit courts to collect a civil case filing surcharge of up to $15 for law library maintenance. Supporters testified that the measure would give libraries more flexible and diversified funding options, similar to other local taxing entities. Library officials from Scenic Regional, St. Charles City-County, Marshall Public Library, and Kansas City Public Library said most library revenue still comes from property taxes and argued that the bill would let local voters decide whether to shift some or all funding to sales tax. They described needs such as expanding services, building new branches, renovating facilities, and protecting voter-approved taxes from uncertainty tied to county reclassification litigation. The Missouri Library Association said the bill serves as a safeguard amid broader discussions about property tax reform. There was no opposition testimony. Committee members raised questions about the fairness of shifting library funding to sales tax, especially for nonresidents who may not use the services, and about how the St. Charles amendment would work. Several members spoke in support of libraries and the bill, while one member criticized the tone of the sponsor’s response to questioning. At the close of the hearing, the chair announced the committee would executive the bill on Monday and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eastern New Mexico University is hosting an event this evening, as well as the New Mexico County's Black
• We have a bag of peanuts from Eastern New Mexico University.
• We have a great university there in Eastern New Mexico that we're very proud of. Our president, Mr.
• Think about Eastern New Mexico for your kids when it comes to education. Thank you. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• altered the historical authority granted to DSHS to designate certain surplus facilities and lands of Eastern
• altered the historical authority granted to DSHS to designate certain surplus facilities and lands of Eastern
• There are no other amendments. ...and lands of Eastern State Hospital in the creation of Interlake School
• together on this particular bill, and this amendment just cleans up some technical language around Eastern
• This amendment cleans up technical language around Eastern State.

Summary: The committee met to brief amendments and then took executive action on nine bills related to child care, DCYF oversight, and services for children and vulnerable populations. Before voting, members reviewed proposed substitutes and amendments for HB 1544, 2099, 2219, 2253, 2319, and 2350, with brief discussion on issues such as child welfare risk assessment tools, military family child care access, child care provider flexibility, licensing and monitoring requirements, and residential habilitation center terminology and notice requirements. The committee then reported HB 2099, HB 2185, HB 2219 as amended, HB 2253 as amended, HB 2317, HB 2318, HB 2319 as amended, and HB 2350 as amended out of committee with do pass recommendations. HB 2253 saw one amendment adopted to restore state monitoring and health/safety reviews at the Washington School for the Deaf, while other proposed amendments were withdrawn or rejected. HB 2319 was amended to correct technical language regarding Eastern State Hospital and Interlake School. HB 2350’s substitute changed notice procedures for residential habilitation center noncompliance to emphasize posted notices, email, preferred language, and plain-language summaries. HB 1544 drew the most debate. Amendments to add domestic violence, define “safe,” require an audit of missing safety-plan data, and prohibit use of an unvalidated risk tool to screen out referrals were considered; only the domestic-violence amendment was adopted, while the others failed. Members discussed concerns about the current DCYF risk assessment tool, cultural bias, and the need to improve validation, but also cautioned against narrowing the study too much. The committee ultimately reported the second substitute HB 1544 out with a do pass recommendation by a 9-0-2 vote, with two members voting no without recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are any of the board members from eastern Washington or east of the Cascades, or is it designated where
• the governor, not elected by the public, with no reserved seat for counties, especially those in eastern
• The cumulative impacts of facilities and transmission in eastern Washington is proving disastrous for
• The greater good is coming at the financial expense of overburdened and underserved communities in eastern
• the table when this bill was being developed, or is the time that maybe some of the members on the eastern

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held public hearings on several bills and took executive action on House Bill 2747. HB 2747 would change how Washington estimates future revenue in its four-year balanced budget outlooks by using the official revenue forecast instead of the current 4.5% growth assumption for the next two biennia. Staff described the bill as a technical change with indeterminate fiscal effects, and supporters said it would make budgeting more realistic and sustainable. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 26 ayes, 3 nays, and 2 excused. The committee also heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, which would create an abortion savings program funded by a new annual assessment on health carriers offering exchange plans. Staff said the bill would generate about $10 million in fiscal year 2027 and about $2.1 million annually thereafter, with most funds going to grants for abortion care providers and some administrative costs for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Department of Health. Supporters said it would stabilize access to abortion care and help low-income patients, while opponents argued it would force taxpayers and insurers to subsidize abortion and raised concerns about oversight, morality, and premium impacts. Substitute Senate Bill 6355, which would create a Washington Electric Transmission Authority to support new transmission projects and related tribal clean energy work, drew testimony from utilities, labor, clean energy advocates, counties, and landowners. Supporters said the state needs faster transmission buildout to improve reliability, support clean energy, and reduce congestion costs; opponents and county representatives raised concerns about eminent domain, loss of local tax revenue, board accountability, and the need for stronger landowner and county involvement. Staff estimated the bill would have a several-million-dollar general fund impact and noted possible indeterminate local revenue effects. The committee also received a briefing on engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6260, which would reduce funding or eligibility for several K-12 programs, including bus depreciation, Running Start, and transition to kindergarten; public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with school officials, educators, community college representatives, students, and rural districts warning of reduced opportunities and harm to small and low-income districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• where we had ribbon cuttings and openings of charging stations all across the state, from Colville in eastern
• Clearly, whoever wrote that hasn't been to eastern Washington, where you'll see about 10% of plates have
• I don't know if something has changed with how we treat the roads in eastern Washington, or if something's
• Counties across the state, particularly like you heard in eastern Washington, have a serious problem.
• This is no fault of our people here in Pend Oreille or in eastern Washington that these plates are falling

Bills: HB2111 , HB2495

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: Interstate 5 bridge, toll facility, bond retirement, transportation, state funding, vehicles, streetcar operation, public safety, urban regulation