Transcript Highlights:

• In that time, we've improved service delivery to our 275 square miles of ambulance service area and approximately
• </c> efficient and sustainable service efficient and sustainable service throughout<00:08:27.039><c>
• </c><00:10:10.079><c> as</c> ambulance a special district Services as ambulance a special district Services
• </c><00:10:53.160><c> that</c> or uh life-saving EMS services that or uh life-saving EMS services that
• </c> Reservation programs to provide services as needed.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Mike Hoffman's category, which is Environmental Services, a judicial branch category two and three.
• Then we have Kevin Ripple, who does Health and Human Services.
• </c><00:38:57.160><c> the</c> has been protected by its remoteness the has been protected by its remoteness
• </c> that was that the number of service that was that the number of service calls<00:58:43.599><c> that
• </c><01:01:40.079><c> to</c> important quality of life services to important quality of life services

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• of course is first and foremost Services of course is first and foremost to<00:36:31.480><c> be</c><
• </c><00:42:50.920><c> animals</c> fraudulent or untrained service animals fraudulent or untrained service
• dogs weren't well thought service dogs weren't well thought through<00:43:35.119><c> when</c><00:43:
• I'm the bureau chief for public health protection within the Division of Public Health Services, and
• </c><02:31:14.080><c> to</c> that message is then sent remotely to that message is then sent remotely

Summary: The meeting covered two main items. First, the solid waste subcommittee reviewed draft language for HB 707, focusing on landfill siting and permitting standards. Members and the Department of Environmental Services discussed replacing repeated references to “aquifer” with “drinking water well,” clarifying that aquifer is a broad term, and considering whether a statutory definition was needed. They also debated the bill’s setback and time-of-travel provisions, including the 10^-5 standard, a 1,500-foot distance, and whether the bill should rely more on performance-based criteria than prescriptive distances. Another major topic was permit denial language tied to applicants with significant histories of repeated serious violations or landfill-related litigation; the department said it already has related authority in current rules, but noted some wording was still too vague and could be tightened. No vote was taken, and the chair closed the hearing with plans to continue work later. The second item was a work session on HB 424, which would direct the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food to create forms for businesses to request information about service animals and establish a study committee on fraudulent or untrained service animals. Several members said the problem raised by the bill was real but expressed concern that the legislature may be limited by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Others argued that a study committee would likely not produce a workable solution and might conflict with leadership’s direction to avoid unnecessary study committees. Members discussed whether the bill should be retained, amended, or instead replaced with a letter or resolution to the federal delegation. The committee appeared to lean toward ITL and possibly pursuing a letter to federal officials, but no final vote is reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, this tradition goes back over a century, counting remote Alaska villages earlier than the rest of
• the country, in part because the population in those remote villages decamps to hunting and fishing
• Postal Service, that's federal, you know, sort of a USPS-to-Census Bureau data flow.
• Postal Service, that's federal service. asterisk represents state data. So with U.S.
• Postal Service, that's federal, you know, sort of a USPS to Census Bureau data flow.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see that reflected in the numbers, as are victim services.
• One of the reasons for that is that the Department of Human Services pays them considerably more than
• General comments about our bill and my service this year as co-chair of the Judiciary Committee.
• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely: Kozlowski. Go ahead, please.
• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely: Kozlowski votes no. Moskvy votes no.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're working with HCA, DSHS, DOH, our behavioral health administrative service organizations, our
• The commitment to service—most of our programs are 10 years of a commitment to serve.
• And thank you to Commerce for your great presentation and also thank you for your service.
• agencies can enter into for energy services and equipment.
• services companies in Exco for public buildings.

Summary: The committee first received a Commerce overview of capital budget grant programs, including behavioral health facilities, Building for the Arts, Building Communities Fund, early learning facilities, library capital improvements, and youth recreational facilities. Commerce described program eligibility, match requirements, funding cycles, and project examples such as an early learning center in Spokane, a rural library in Stevens County, and a youth clubhouse in Prosser. Members asked about behavioral health capital projects, including how many facilities have been opened and how capital planning aligns with operating funding; Commerce said it could provide more data later and noted it focuses on capital while HCA, DSHS, and DOH handle operating requests. Members also raised concerns about nonprofit financial stability, project licensure, siting, and the burden of non-state match, while Commerce emphasized shovel-ready projects, community match, and efforts to reduce application burden. The committee then heard an update on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard from Commerce. Staff reviewed Washington’s building emissions laws, compliance tiers, exemptions, incentives, and district energy system decarbonization planning under House Bills 1543, 1976, and 1390. Commerce reported nearly 5,000 inquiries in 2025, a fellowship program that has helped more than 250 buildings in 16 counties, and review of nearly 30 district energy plans. The presentation highlighted that over half of Tier 1 buildings are already meeting targets, that Tier 2 incentive applications suggest the 30-cent-per-square-foot incentive often covers compliance costs, and that district decarbonization plans face common challenges such as aging infrastructure, grid readiness, workforce, and inconsistent cost reporting. Members asked what additional legislative action might help, and Commerce said it was still learning from the new rulemaking and implementation changes. Western Washington University and Corex then presented on WWU’s campus heating conversion project and a possible off-campus thermal energy partnership with the Port of Bellingham. WWU described its aging steam system, high emissions, maintenance costs, and the $51 million in Climate Commitment Account funding it has received to transition toward an electric hot-water system using technologies such as geo-exchange, heat recovery chillers, and air-source heat pumps. Corex explained its existing district energy system at the Port of Bellingham, which uses industrial waste heat and is operating at very high efficiency, and said it is exploring a heat transmission line to WWU and possibly sewer-heat recovery. Testimony from WSU and UW supported the broader decarbonization effort but raised concerns about the scale of costs, deferred maintenance, and the need for predictable state funding. A contractor witness urged the state to think bigger about public-private partnerships and other financing tools rather than forcing campuses to compete for limited funds. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2330, which would create a prioritization process for capital funding for state campus district energy system decarbonization projects. Staff said the bill would establish a Commerce committee to score and rank projects, issue a preliminary framework report by December 30 of this year, and provide biennial recommended project lists beginning in 2028, while also studying barriers to energy-as-a-service contracts and public-private partnerships. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to create a thoughtful, predictable process for deciding which projects to fund, emphasizing energy savings, emissions reductions, operating cost reductions, shovel-readiness, and the value of public-private partnerships. Testimony was mixed but generally supportive: WSU and UW backed the bill as a way to advance compliance and predictability, though WSU warned that compliance costs could be very large and that the university would likely seek state help if fines were imposed. A contractor witness supported the concept but argued the bill should help build a larger funding “pie” through partnerships and financing tools rather than simply dividing scarce resources. The committee then opened and heard testimony on House Bill 2338, which would authorize community-scaled weatherization projects. Commerce staff said the bill would allow weatherization funds and matching funds to be used for neighborhood-scale projects affecting multiple dwelling units, while still prioritizing low-income households; the fiscal note estimated about $273,000 in FY 2027 and about $237,000 per biennium ongoing for administration. Supporters from community action agencies and Spark Northwest said the bill would improve health, safety, affordability, and contractor participation by allowing weatherization to be done at a community scale, especially in mobile home parks and low-income neighborhoods. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gina Boots and Colleen Feller both from BrightWorks Service Cooperative. Ms.
• </c> liaison from Bright Works service liaison from Bright Works service Cooperative<00:47:26.640><c>
• We do have two remote testifiers, and so I'll have you two step aside.
• And then we do have one testifier remotely, so Ms.
• I’ll follow up with the testifier that was remote.

Bills: HF846 , HF1538 , HF1959

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, special education, apprenticeship, funding, grants, intermediate school districts, teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• A domestic worker is someone who provides services within a private home, whether that work is cleaning
• according to the way this bill is drafted, to allow for some exemptions in areas where fields might be remote
• put the infrastructure in to have these units being charged and available and accessible at these remote
• shall provide exemptions for communities and sport activities in which fields and facilities are remote

Transcript Highlights:

• of just locking them up more or less or doing things like that, we actually helped them get the services
• I don't know that there's any barriers, but in a lot of the services of which the state, county, local
• The only other question I had was Just like remote work is something we do now a lot in this state.
• So can someone who works for Oklahoma but doesn't live here as a remote work be impacted by this legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• physical location and coming in, and would allow us to both recruit more PAs and also offer more services
• They define medical services and they use the term diagnosis, which is not really consistent with how
• This one goes through the remote state privilege.
• So essentially, you become licensed in one state and then have remote state privilege in each other state

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Summary: The Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing met with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 1797, a public accounting bill. The committee adopted a substitute that was described as clarification language to mirror the Senate version, then voted the House Committee Substitute do pass by unanimous roll call. The committee also considered House Bill 2974, adopted Amendment 0.01H adding clarifying scope-of-practice language, rolled the amendment into a committee substitute, and then voted the House Committee Substitute do pass unanimously. The committee then heard testimony on House Bill 1623, which would add massage therapists and chiropractors to the list of health care professionals subject to emergency disciplinary action through the Administrative Hearing Commission. The sponsor said the bill is intended to protect patients and give licensing boards faster authority to act against bad actors in vulnerable settings. Supporters included a trial lawyer who described sexual assault cases involving massage parlors and a lobbyist for the Missouri Chiropractic Physicians Association, who said quicker action would improve public safety and professional integrity. No opposition was presented. Next, the committee heard House Bill 309, which would provide clarity for nonprofit pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients in emergency situations, inspired by access problems after the St. Louis tornadoes. The sponsor and an RX Outreach representative said the bill would help pharmacies transfer or dispense needed medications during emergencies without reducing oversight, and they discussed limits on quantities and controlled substances. Members asked why the bill was limited to nonprofit pharmacies and whether it applied outside Missouri; the witnesses said they were open to amendments and clarified the bill was aimed at Missouri emergencies. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3129, the Physician Assistant Compact. The sponsor said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, by allowing reciprocal practice across participating states without changing Missouri scope-of-practice law. A PA testified in support, saying it would help retain and recruit PAs and improve flexibility near state borders. The Missouri State Medical Association opposed the bill, arguing it could affect scope of practice, give compact commission rules too much authority, and weaken Missouri’s regulatory control; the Division of Professional Registration supported it, saying it fits rural health transformation goals and that compact participants would still have to follow Missouri scope laws. A nonprofit workforce group also testified in support. No votes were taken on the hearing bills before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• everyone, for attending, for those taking the time to come in person, and also for all those joining us remotely
• Chair, Paul Mark, here in person, as well as Senator Brownsberger and Senator Fernandes joining us remotely
• our cities and towns to provide the services that their residents need the most.
• I joined MassDOT after four years of service in the Biden White House, where I advised the President
• She's joining remotely. Thank you.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 4987, the administration’s transportation bond bill centered on Chapter 90 roadway funding and related capital programs. Administration officials described the bill as a roughly $5.5 billion package that would continue $300 million per year for Chapter 90 over four years, with part of the funding distributed by the traditional formula and an additional $100 million based solely on road miles to better support rural and smaller communities. They also highlighted authorizations for municipal pavement work, Shared Streets and Spaces grants, accelerated bridge and pavement repairs, MBTA rail modernization and reliability, housing-related transportation improvements, and a new DCR-focused PRISM program for parkways and related infrastructure. Officials emphasized that the bill is financed through the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and Fair Share revenues, and said it would help municipalities plan more predictably, speed project delivery, and support housing, safety, and climate goals. Committee members and witnesses discussed the bill’s broader scope beyond traditional Chapter 90, especially the $200 million for transportation projects that support housing development and the $200 million for MBTA modernization and rail reliability. Members asked about the rationale for a four-year authorization amid fiscal uncertainty, federal funding volatility, and the status of commuter rail electrification. Administration officials responded that the capital authorization is backed by dedicated transportation revenues rather than the operating budget, and said multi-year certainty helps cities and towns make better long-term repair decisions. They also said the MBTA’s rail modernization funds would support locomotive procurements, including battery-electric and Tier 4 diesel locomotives, as part of a longer-term regional rail and electrification strategy. Municipal officials and regional advocates strongly supported the bill. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, along with town and city officials from Sherborn, Conway, and Yarmouth, said the increased Chapter 90 funding and road-mile-based distribution are especially important for small and rural communities with limited local revenue capacity, and that multi-year funding would let them bundle projects, bid at better prices, and address backlogs more proactively. A Better City and MAPC also supported the bill but urged the committee to treat it like a traditional bond bill by adding policy provisions and considering new transportation revenue tools, such as TNC fee changes, road pricing, parking taxes, and other mechanisms. The committee took no vote during the hearing and adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are holding this hearing in person as well as remotely, hybrid, and we are hearing three performance
• Information on how to register for in-person or remote testimony is on the Legislature's website.
• Each month, the number of certified officers changes as veterans retire or otherwise leave service and
• And if they are in the room or are they remote? Sabrina Roach with Digital Equity.
• The primary grantees would then reimburse the subgrantees providing the digital navigation services.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard three State Auditor’s Office performance audits: implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, Washington’s digital equity planning, and the Department of Commerce’s Digital Navigator Program. In the law enforcement training audit, the State Auditor found the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training content but had not developed all required topics, lacked a systematic project management approach, and had weak tools to ensure participation and compliance. Auditors said most officers had not completed the required 40 hours, patrol tactics training was a major bottleneck, and the Commission’s reporting did not clearly show statewide compliance. The Commission said it generally agreed with the recommendations and had begun implementing some changes. Committee members raised concerns about staffing, liability, incentives, and whether the law had enough enforcement “teeth.” In the digital equity audit, auditors said Washington lacked a comprehensive, unified statewide plan, a designated leader, and reliable funding for digital equity efforts. They said existing plans were fragmented, with the NTIA-approved plan the most complete but no longer fully funded after federal changes. The State Auditor recommended the legislature establish oversight authority and require a lead organization to coordinate and evaluate statewide digital equity efforts and develop a unified plan. The Department of Commerce and Office of Equity agreed with the need for clearer leadership and coordination, and a public witness described ongoing coalition and local planning work. Committee members asked about best practices from other states and whether the auditor could provide additional research on coordination models. In the Digital Navigator Program audit, the State Auditor concluded Commerce did not consistently follow core grant-management practices, including competitive award processes, vetting of grantees, clear contracts, performance monitoring, and reimbursement controls. Auditors said Commerce expanded grants without a new competition, lacked adequate documentation and reporting, and paid out millions without sufficient support; they also cited management decisions that overrode staff concerns. Commerce said it had already begun major contract-management reforms, created a new contracts and compliance structure, and was working on risk assessments, documentation standards, and staff training. Members pressed Commerce on accountability, possible recoupment of improper payments, ethics issues, and whether the agency had clear performance metrics for the program. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• :42.080><c> remote</c><02:36:42.479><c> testimony</c><02:36:43.040><c> was</c> support was uh the remote
• </c><03:45:31.199><c> Uh</c> services. They paid for the services. Uh services.
• They paid for the services.
• And as a administrative services.
• For your time and your service is do.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The third area is the feasibility and validity of using remote testing for progress monitoring.
• Virtual School students to remote test on PM1 and PM2 under state law, because again those two tests
• And so the study did look at the data for students testing remotely versus those not testing remotely
• The data for students testing remotely versus those not testing remotely showed some meaningful differences
• I think we learned a lot, actually, during the pandemic when folks transitioned to devices remotely.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K through 12 Education received a Department of Education presentation from Deputy Commissioner Juan Copa on Florida’s K-12 assessment system, including FAST progress monitoring, end-of-course exams, science, writing, alternate assessments, English language acquisition testing, and VPK progress monitoring. Copa reported year-over-year gains in ELA and mathematics, noted that end-of-course and science results also improved, and explained how assessment data are used for school grades, third-grade promotion, graduation requirements, and other accountability measures. He also reviewed the independent study required by SB 1048, which recommended keeping PM3 as the primary accountability measure, proceeding cautiously on further test-length reductions and remote testing expansion, and using PM1/PM2 only as supplemental evidence in limited cases. Committee members focused on whether the new system is improving student outcomes enough, what supports teachers and schools need to use the data effectively, and how Florida compares nationally. Chancellor Dr. Burns said the department is emphasizing implementation of the new standards, high-quality instructional materials, coaching, professional learning, collaboration, and school improvement support, and also pointed to resiliency education standards and mental health supports. Copa said Florida’s latest NAEP results remain mixed but still generally outperform the nation in some grades, while members pressed for more information on best practices, other states’ approaches, and how districts are using the data. Several members requested follow-up information, including the independent review report, breakdowns of PM1/PM2/PM3 results by grade and subgroup, details on VPK outcomes by provider type and full-day versus half-day programs, and data on use of the CLT versus SAT/ACT for graduation concordant scores. The committee also discussed third-grade retention outcomes, computer-based testing, district assessment calendars, and whether some districts still administer additional local testing. No votes were taken on legislation, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Davis moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's something that is a very effective economic development tool in our service area.
• So it's something that is a very effective economic development tool in our service area.
• essential services are adversely affected.
• essential services are adversely affected.
• The person who committed the offense shall be made to give restitution and do community service.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• Bingham County has warrant service officer. Caribou has warrant service officer.
• service officer model.
• Now, I appreciate that that's a Forest Service decision, but the Forest Service has their own planning
• Our intent is to work with the Forest Service to get these leases moved into Forest Service hands under
• So, Wildlife Services—I worked with Todd Graham for over 20 years—and Wildlife Services did everything

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from University of Idaho representatives on the university’s land-grant mission and its role in federalism, followed by detailed overviews of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Speakers described the Morrill, Hatch, and Smith-Lever Acts, the university’s history, and examples of research, extension, and workforce training in agriculture, engineering, law, forestry, fire science, and youth programs such as 4-H. They highlighted facilities and programs including research stations, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, the deep soil ecotron, the Wildland Fire Center, the experimental forest, and the policy analysis group, while also noting the impact of federal and state funding delays and cuts on staffing and research capacity. Committee members asked about several current issues, including quagga mussels, screw worm, chronic wasting disease, and the effects of funding cuts. University officials said they were not actively researching some of those wildlife and livestock disease issues but were willing to help if capacity and funding allowed. They also said budget reductions had caused real losses, including layoffs and reduced programs, and that federal grant delays had disrupted research timelines. The committee also raised questions about conflicts of interest and university employees’ outside work; the university said it has annual conflict-of-interest and conflict-of-commitment training and review procedures. The committee then heard from Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse and the Idaho Sheriffs Association on the federal 287(g) immigration partnership program. Hulse argued that participation should remain voluntary and locally controlled, describing the different 287(g) models, the training and liability concerns, and the distinction between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. He said Idaho agencies already cooperate with ICE in other ways and that mandatory participation could create staffing, legal, and community-trust problems. Members asked about costs, liability, detention standards, and whether deputies lose local control under task force arrangements; Hulse said the answer depends on the specific model and operation, and he emphasized the need for local discretion. Later, the committee took testimony on the long-running bighorn sheep and domestic sheep conflict affecting western Idaho grazing allotments. Idaho Wool Growers representatives and affected ranchers described the history of state legislation, federal litigation, and the closure of grazing areas after bighorn sheep transplants, which they said cut livestock operations in half and caused major financial and personal hardship. They argued that the state and federal agencies had not lived up to assurances that permittees would be held harmless, and they urged continued attention to the issue. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those online, if you are remote, please use the raise hand feature if you have questions or wish
• And then for those here you're remote.
• We'll go remote folks this time first.
• We'll go remote folks this time first.
• And then whether the preference is to be remote, fully remote, or hybrid like it was today, or all in

Transcript Highlights:

• So things like Azure got AI services AI foundry OpenAI chatgpt for our advice or managed by U.S. persons
• Our data is hosted in the private tenant so we block external AI services.
• I services you can only use AI tools that we've authorized for years.
• We also have a policy constraint that says employees shall not use AI engine services to provide any
• The federal government actually did do a student loan repayment after 10 years in public service.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have four to testify, all remote.
• where the need is greatest at a community level to improve outcomes and more efficiently deliver services
• which means drastically ramping up the scale of weatherization and innovating new ways to improve service
• Hundreds of thousands of Washington families are in urgent need of the services.
• Hundreds of thousands of Washington families are in urgent need of the services that the Weatherization

Bills: SB6269 , SB6223 , SB5982 , SB6050 , SB5965 , SB5975 , SB6010 , SB5984 , SB6076 , SB5652

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: motor fuel, fuel quality act, RCW 19.112, alternative fuel, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol blend, alcohol fuel, diesel fuel, nonhazardous motor fuel, biofuels, clean fuels, transportation fuels, Washington fuel standards, fuel labeling, fuel blending, petroleum products, natural gas vehicles, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas

Transcript Highlights:

• We have four to testify, all remote.
• where the need is greatest at a community level to improve outcomes and more efficiently deliver services
• which means drastically ramping up the scale of weatherization and innovating new ways to improve service
• Hundreds of thousands of Washington families are in urgent need of the services.
• Hundreds of thousands of Washington families are in urgent need of the services that the Weatherization

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee first held a public hearing on SB 6269, which updates the Motor Fuel Quality Act to broaden the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous fuels and electricity and remove the separate alternative fuel definition. Staff and the Department of Agriculture said the change would let WSDA inspect and test hydrogen and other newer fuels; Commerce and Douglas County PUD supported the bill as needed for hydrogen fueling infrastructure. The bill drew no opposition testimony, and the hearing closed with the chair noting broad support. The committee then heard SB 6223, which would authorize community-scale weatherization projects under the low-income weatherization program. Supporters from community action, Spark Northwest, Commerce, and Washington Conservation Action said the bill would let the state weatherize multiple homes at once, improve health and safety, reduce energy burdens, and help meet climate and grid goals more quickly. Staff said the bill has a fiscal note for rulemaking and administration. The hearing ended with strong support and no opposition testimony. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and passed SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 5965, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652 to the Rules Committee or Ways and Means, depending on the bill. Amendments were adopted on SB 5965 to adjust carryout bag provisions, while amendments on SB 6010 were not adopted. SB 5982 would update CETA-related utility definitions and reporting, SB 6050 addresses distributed energy resources and utility rules, SB 5965 revises carryout bag requirements, SB 6010 concerns EFSEC tribal consultation, SB 5984 regulates AI companion chatbots, SB 6076 streamlines procurement for certain clean energy projects, and SB 5652 concerns environmental and health mitigation in large port districts. The committee also noted it would not take action that day on SB 5975 and SB 5466.