Transcript Highlights:

• So do we have her ready online? Hello, good afternoon. Can you all hear me? We can hear you.
• And interestingly, online sales are also growing at double the pace of conventional grocery outlets.
• facility investment and manpower and labor investment, how much the final plant-based BSG protein price
• investment, including man-poil labor investment, how much by end this plant-based BSE protein, the price
• One is price. Almonds, unfortunately, are not the most...

Transcript Highlights:

• Shouldn't we be asking what that does to the price of goods?
• We talk about how expensive home prices are. The Miami Herald called me about this.
• We talk about how expensive home prices are. The Miami Herald called me about this.
• I said, well, today you guys wrote a story about how expensive home prices are.
• It’s the price we want to pay for goods and services.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other electronic resources include access to tens of thousands of online full-text magazine articles
• Other electronic resources include access to tens of thousands of online full-text magazine articles
• Other electronic resources include access to tens of thousands of online full-text magazine articles
• resources like journals, magazines, newspapers, and online books through library websites.
• </c> Libraries our City libraries our online Libraries our City libraries our online um um um resources

Bills: HF56 , HF780

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa online program now.
• There is a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa online program now.
• There is a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa online program now.
• There is a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa online program now.
• There have been two online meetings and a site visit.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 707, which would create a state income tax deduction for contributions to Hawaii 529 college savings accounts and conform state law to federal changes allowing 529 funds to be used for K-12 expenses. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the bill as written. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the measure but asked that ABLE accounts be included and that the program title be changed; the Department of Taxation indicated the title issue could be a problem because the bill’s expanded purpose may not fit the current program name. No vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 617, which would fund a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. UH Community Colleges supported the bill, and Maui nursing staff testified that faculty recruitment is challenging but manageable, clinical placements are available, and the campus already has a statewide RN-to-BSN pathway; they said the new program would create two tracks, including a four-year BSN option. Members also heard support from several organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, nursing groups, and health care associations. No action was taken. Next were several UH-related measures. HB 718 would fund faculty and staff positions at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; the dean and other supporters testified in favor. HB 1279 would create a medical education liaison position tied to Project ECHO; the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns about statewide concern and grant standards, while an individual witness supported the concept but suggested the bill should focus on liaison/support functions rather than program administration. HB 1169 would consolidate conference center revolving funds, and HB 1168 would authorize up to $800 million in UH revenue bonds; UH’s CFO said both were procedural/housekeeping measures and supported them. On HB 1168, members questioned debt service, possible uses, and whether deferred maintenance would be included; the CFO estimated annual debt service could be about $33 million to $41 million at current rates, said likely uses could include student housing and research facilities, and said deferred maintenance was not the current strategy. The CFO also explained that revenue bonds require both legislative authorization and a Board of Regents resolution approving the project and amount. Finally, the committee heard HB 548, which would authorize revenue bonds and appropriations to acquire the St. Francis School campus for UH Mānoa. UH supported the bill but noted the property is privately owned and not known to be for sale. A supporter described the site as a unique 11-acre parcel contiguous to the main campus and urged the committee to seize the opportunity for future generations. No vote or final action was taken on the bills in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were entities out there that you could actually purchase it online that you didn’t simply have
• Because it seems like a lot of what's gone awry is the fact that pricing has gotten out of control.
• It can be a different price. So we don't stipulate a price to the contractor.
• I think it is helping to make our children safer and to combat online child sexual exploitation.
• Some of the online services... Some of the online services have been fairly responsive.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Miller: Given the home price is about $350,000, most Floridians will have zero nonschool
• My concern is if you look at the data on the Representative Bartleman: median home prices, you're going
• It is Consumer Price Index and it captures a wide variety of metrics.
• The cost of most local government services have nothing to do with the price of my house.
• So that house didn't change but the price of it did.

Transcript Highlights:

• Online Alana, please go ahead. Hello, my name is Alana Chee.
• Anyone else online? Anyone in opposition online.
• We've seen what's happened in the very volatile market regarding the Price of oil.
• Anyone online? Anyone in the room in opposition? None online. Anything before we go to questions?

Bills: SB106 , SB171 , SB179 , SB106 , SB171 , SB179

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Keywords: graduate scholarship, higher education funding, New Mexico, appropriation, financial aid, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, Northern New Mexico State School, SB179, Senate Bill 179, UNM, University of New Mexico, medical Spanish, Spanish-language curriculum, health sciences, health professions education, language access, bilingual healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• These have been thoroughly reviewed by the designer and by FPNC, and we’ve determined that the pricing
• They can't hear you online. Gotcha.
• I mean, that would be recommended because you might be able to get a better price, right?
• going, because if we're going to continue the program in some form or fashion, we might get a better price
• going, because if we're going to continue the program in some form of fashion, we might get a better price

Summary: The committee first received a fiscal status statement and five-year baseline budget update from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members were told there were no changes to the baseline, but several current-year items now require appropriations, including Hurricane Katrina closeout costs under GOSEP, projected Department of Corrections shortfalls for offender medical care and overtime, and a reduction in the minimum foundation program tied to February 1 student counts. After questions about how the five-year percentages and inflation assumptions were calculated, the committee adopted the fiscal status statement. The committee then approved several Facility Planning and Control items, including adding eight higher education deferred maintenance projects to the approved list under Act 751, a $412,993 change order for LSU’s Jesse Coates Building project, a report of four other change orders for informational purposes, and combining two Hornbeck water projects into a single expanded water plant and distribution project. It also approved a two-year extension of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Banner ERP consulting agreement and approved Water Sector Commission recommendations for an additional $5.5 million for the Tencel Water District Association, which included a $100,000 local commitment. A major portion of the meeting focused on a proposed tax increment financing package for a 1,000-room headquarters hotel adjacent to the New Orleans Convention Center. Witnesses described the project as a $550 million private investment supported by state and local tax dedications, with projected benefits including more convention business and improved competitiveness. Members raised concerns about the 45-year term, the use of a 1% state tax dedication, possible cannibalization of existing hotel revenue, and the return on the public incentive. After extensive questioning, the committee deferred the proposal to the next month for further review and requested additional projections. Finally, the committee reviewed contract extensions for Louisiana Economic Development’s marketing vendors and a Department of Education amendment for the Odyssey platform used in the Louisiana Gator program. The education officials explained the contract is based on a per-student amount of $143.50 and that the current amendment is needed to avoid a lapse when the existing term ends June 30. Members discussed whether an RFP should be started for future years to seek a better price, and the department said it would be able to provide academic outcome data after the current testing cycle. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is engrossed second substitute Senate Bill 5981, which relates to the 340B drug pricing program.
• include certain information regarding its costs and the filing fees in its annual prescription drug price
• carrier on the exchange market based solely on actuarial value and cost-sharing parameters, premium price
• carrier on the exchange market based solely on actuarial value and cost sharing parameters, premium price
• didn't pass, but it was trying to make sure that there were protections for people who were getting online

Bills: SB5877

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: anesthesiology, medical personnel, surcharges, licensing, healthcare regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is engrossed second substitute Senate Bill 5981, which relates to the 340B drug pricing program.
• include certain information regarding its costs and the filing fees in its annual prescription drug price
• carrier on the exchange market based solely on actuarial value and cost-sharing parameters, premium price
• carrier on the exchange market based solely on actuarial value and cost sharing parameters, premium price
• didn't pass it, but it was trying to make sure that there were protections for people who were getting online

Summary: The Health Care and Wellness Committee heard executive action on seven bills, with discussion focused on prior authorization, the 340B drug pricing program, biosimilars, HIV drug coverage, exchange certification criteria, and hearing/speech board authority. Members also considered several amendments, including a date change to prior authorization reporting in SB 5395, a large striking amendment and multiple policy amendments on SB 5981, and market-criteria amendments on SB 6210. Testimony and debate centered on transparency, administrative costs, rural access, patient care spending, market stability, and the balance between state authority and federal law. SB 5395 on prior authorization received Amendment 247, which moved the carrier reporting deadline to the Office of Insurance Commissioner from January 1, 2027 to October 1, 2026, and was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. SB 5981 on 340B drug pricing adopted a striking amendment creating reporting and fee structures, but rejected amendments that would have removed filing fees, required 90% of revenues to go to direct patient care, limited additional contract pharmacies to rural or underserved areas, or delayed the bill’s effective date; the bill then passed out of committee 11-7. Supporters emphasized transparency and safety-net funding, while opponents raised concerns about federal preemption, litigation, costs, and administrative burden. SB 5594 on biosimilar substitution, SB 5877 on certified anesthesiology assistants and the physician health program, and SB 6183 on coverage of FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without utilization management all advanced with broad support and due pass recommendations. SB 6210 on health benefit exchange market factor criteria adopted a striking amendment but rejected amendments that would have limited updates to every two years, narrowly defined “meaningfully different,” or changed implementation timelines; it also passed 11-7. SB 6226 on the Board of Speech and Hearing adopted Amendment 313 to expand standards-of-care authority for hearing aid fitting and dispensing, then passed 17-1 after debate about patient safety, tele-audiology, and access to care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hovis, Irwin, Jones, Phelps, Price, Seitz, Taylor, Violet, West, and Williams. All right.
• Price. Seitz? Phelps? Aye. Price? Aye. Seitz? Taylor? Aye. Violet? Aye. West? Present.
• Price. Seitz. Taylor. Violet. Aye. West. Aye. Williams. And back up to Bosley.
• I did it online. Great. Is that okay? Yep. Make sure your mic's turned on.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyone online? None for either. Senator Townsend. Thank you. Madam Chair, thank you.
• Anyone online in support? ...raise their hand to indicate support if so. We see two.
• None, anyone online? Anyone want to raise their hands to indicate opposition?
• When funding systems are opaque, survivors pay the price.
• Anyone online? Anyone wants to raise their hand to indicate opposition, please do so.

Bills: SB238 , HJR1 , SM21 , SM22

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 238, which would rename the governor’s residence advisory commission as a governor’s residence management committee and clarify its duties, membership, and authority over furnishings, maintenance, inventories, and hospitality functions at the governor’s residence. Senator Worth and Secretary Designate Anna Silva said the change was needed to remove ambiguity during the transition to a new administration and to improve transparency around the residence, the General Services Department fund, and the separate Mansion Foundation fundraising role. Several senators questioned whether the bill concentrated too much authority in the governor and whether it could enable a large renovation project without sufficient legislative oversight; supporters said major renovations would still require legislative appropriations. The committee ultimately advanced the Senate Rules Committee substitute for SB 238 on a 5-2 vote. The committee then approved House Joint Resolution 1, which would create bipartisan nominating commissions to vet and recommend university and special school regents to the governor, rather than leaving appointments entirely to the governor’s discretion. Senator Steinborn said the resolution would improve qualifications and reduce conflicts of interest, including by changing the student regent selection process. After brief discussion about party-affiliation restrictions, the resolution received a due pass with no objection. Two memorials followed. Senate Memorial 21, presented by Senator Stephanics for Senator Bergman, calls for a Department of Health study of overdose prevention tools, including overdose prevention centers and other harm-reduction strategies, in response to New Mexico’s high and rising overdose death rates. Supporters cited rural access challenges and the need to explore all available tools; one senator asked for more accurate county and demographic data in the memorial’s background. The committee gave SM 21 a due pass. Senate Memorial 22, presented by Senator Charlie and the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group to map how domestic-violence funding flows through CYFD and related agencies, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, and provider input. Witnesses said funding streams are fragmented and sometimes unclear, and senators discussed whether the work should remain within CYFD or be overseen elsewhere. The committee also gave SM 22 a due pass. The chair then announced that the committee would hear SB 264 and SB 261 at its next meeting and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they match the price and terms, they get the right to buy. It isn't theoretical.
• Assemblymember David Tangipa [member_23826]: ...equal offer other than the price.
• That makes it very challenging for them to not sell a park to a resident group at a reduced price.
• The median home price in California is now over 10 times the median household income.
• I think, as we did with solar, moving to more online permitting makes a lot of sense.

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related bills, beginning with SB 1003, which would create pro-housing enhanced infrastructure financing districts to help local governments fund infrastructure needed for housing developments. The author and supporters argued that infrastructure costs often prevent projects from penciling out, while the chair expressed support and said the bill would be taken up later when quorum was available. SB 1014 followed, proposing new disclosure requirements for local jurisdictions to provide good-faith estimates of on-site and off-site improvements within 30 days of application, with supporters saying it would reduce late surprises and opposition from several cities citing implementation concerns with the 30-day timelines. The committee then took up SB 802, a Sacramento-region bill requiring a joint powers authority to coordinate housing and homelessness services. Senator Ashby and former Mayor Darrell Steinberg argued that Sacramento’s fragmented system has failed for years and that a JPA would improve accountability, coordination, and use of state funds. The bill drew broad support from local officials, service providers, business groups, and advocates, while some county and city representatives registered opposition or neutral concerns about state-mandated local governance. Several committee members said they were persuaded by the need for regional coordination, though some raised concerns about local control; the chair noted the bill would be moved when quorum allowed. The committee also heard SB 1092 and SB 1093, both focused on mobile home park residents after disasters or park sales. SB 1092 would give residents a right of first opportunity to match a sale offer for a park, with supporters saying it protects vulnerable seniors and preserves affordable housing, while park owners and their representatives argued it would devalue property and raise constitutional and financing concerns. SB 1093 would require more transparent communication, access to property, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after a disaster; supporters cited the long uncertainty faced by Palisades residents, while opponents warned about liability, safety, and burdensome review requirements. Members split along similar lines, with some emphasizing property rights and market impacts and others stressing the need to protect residents and preserve scarce affordable housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they match the price and terms, they get the right to buy. It isn't theoretical.
• And so I think those are important. ...equal offer other than the price.
• That makes it very challenging for them to not sell a park to a resident group at a reduced price.
• The median home price in California is now over 10 times the median household income.
• I think, as we did with solar, moving to more online permitting makes a lot of sense.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• If that bid price is acceptable, we can turn that CM into the general contractor.
• </c><00:08:31.759><c> is</c> maximum bid price if that bid price is maximum bid price if that bid price
• Seino: We still have to make sure that they give us a price, a maximum guaranteed price, that we can
• My testimony starts on page 17 of your packet; that's online.
• My testimony starts on page 17 of your packet; that's online.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 422, relating to school impact fees. The Education Committee recommended passage with amendments, and Ways and Means concurred. The amendments would repeal the construction fee component of the school impact fee while retaining the land impact fee and in-lieu fee requirements, remove related statutory language, exempt certain developments from school impact fees, raise the unit threshold for satisfying the land component to 100 units, require the School Facilities Authority to adopt rules and policies, and require a report to the Legislature on the effect of repealing the construction portion of the fee. The measure was also given a sunset date of June 30, 2029, with the committee report to note that the changes are intended to test the efficiency and efficacy of the fee structure and could be made permanent if the report supports that outcome. The committees adopted the recommendation, with one senator initially voting no and then changing to yes after the amendments were explained. The meeting also included a separate hearing on House Bill 1155, concerning procurement for Department of Transportation projects and construction manager/general contractor procurement. DOT testified that it supported the concept but wanted to narrow the bill, saying the current language was too broad and that the goal was to allow more innovative procurement while preserving selection safeguards. The State Procurement Office said it supported the bill’s language but was willing to work with DOT on alternative wording. Several construction-related organizations, including subcontractors, iron workers, elevator constructors, and building trades representatives, opposed the bill, arguing that exemptions from the procurement code would weaken protections such as retainage, equality, and prompt payment and could invite favoritism or corruption. In response to those concerns, the chair proposed amendments limiting the exemption to DOT, narrowing the qualifying contracts, adding a two-year sunset, requiring a report after the first year, and clarifying that project management could not be procured under the section. The amended recommendation passed, though several members voted with reservations. A separate item, House Bill 476, was briefly called up at the end of the agenda, with a recommendation to pass with amendments to increase a rate from 7.25% to 8%, but discussion was not completed in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• relate to the accommodations intermediaries local lodging tax provisions that would subject the full price
• to downgrade to a cheaper version of their own software, steering those customers back to a higher priced
• Paul, and I represent online travel agents and have for a long time, and this is now my 16th year of
• Paul, and I represent<00:42:41.320><c> online</c> represent online represent online travel<00:42:43.120
• think we can viably be a local taxpayer in 130 different jurisdictions at different rates for an online

Transcript Highlights:

• Kiosk owners are in competition with online people.
• This bill does not address the online situation.
• I heard debate about there's a lot of other fraud online. Absolutely.
• A lot of other fraud online. Absolutely. This doesn't address all the rest of that fraud.
• and to get that same price.

Transcript Highlights:

• 47.720><c> credit</c> Why you see, if you ever get a credit card application, they may be looking online
• </c> paper uh via email or or other online paper uh via email or or other online website<00:19:27.120
• <c> that</c><00:25:22.200><c> much</c><00:25:22.440><c> more</c><00:25:22.640><c> than</c> and the price
• tag on that much more than and the price tag on that much more than they<00:25:22.919><c> are</c><00
• </c> be will be online be will be online 3.24<00:37:32.280><c> um</c><00:37:33.280><c> after</c><00:37

Bills: HF2601 , HF2607 , HF2027 , HF2608

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we have Suzanne Dale Stee-S-D online and then can we have Andrea Chartalk online on deck?
• Can we have Suzanne Dale Stee-S-D online and then can we have Andrea Chartalk online on deck?
• their costs are increasing, and yet they cannot, especially restaurants, cannot really raise the prices

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 6289, which would direct the Department of Commerce to develop a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan by June 30, 2027, with updates every five years. Senator Kaufman said the bill is intended to create a more intentional, coordinated, data-driven statewide strategy to support businesses of all sizes and sectors. Supporters from the Washington Economic Development Association and the Department of Commerce said the plan is needed to align regional and local efforts, improve competitiveness, and address challenges such as capital access, infrastructure gaps, tariffs, and AI-related disruption. Both Commerce and WEDA supported moving the update cycle from two years to five years, and Commerce said the change would save money and help reduce the fiscal impact. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6149, which would expand the definition of a rural county for public facilities funding and related programs to include counties with population density of 100 or more people per square mile if they have no city larger than 45,000 people. Senator Wilson said the bill is meant to preserve rural eligibility for counties like Cowlitz as cities grow, so they do not lose access to grants and loans that support economic development. Members raised questions about how the new definition would affect counties and whether it would better capture rural areas within larger counties, but no testimony opposed the bill. In executive session, the committee considered three bills. For Senate Bill 5420, concerning access to state benefits and opportunities for veterans, the committee adopted a striking amendment that broadened some eligibility language, including changing a reference from physical to medical discharge and updating employment preference provisions, then advanced the bill by a 12-0 vote with one excused. For Senate Bill 5649, creating a Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program, members began debate on amendments that would add WSDOT scoring criteria favoring Washington-made or Washington-grown goods and limit grants and loans to projects not already eligible for Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board funding. The committee also reviewed several amendments to the AI companion chatbot bill, including narrowing educational and gaming exclusions, adding protections around age inference and manipulative engagement techniques, and limiting data collection; one amendment was withdrawn before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we’ve covered everybody online and in the room for storm water.
• Uh, on online, Eve, do we have anyone online? Okay. Uh, on online, Eve, do we have any one online?
• Uh on online Eve, do we have any Okay. Uh on online Eve, do we have any one<02:54:48.800><c> online?
• Um well, so what one online? Alrighty.
• We have online... let me find the sheet there. Well, welcome.

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee