Transcript Highlights:

• Before you is engrossed House Bill 2242, preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state
• , or JLARC, must conduct a review of this act by November 15th, 2032 to determine whether it has preserved
• It's about preserving access.
• It's about preserving affordability to preventive services and vaccines.
• The compact would reduce these barriers while preserving professional accountability.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several House bills and later took executive action on two others. The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2242, which would let the Department of Health issue immunization recommendations and tie preventive-service coverage to federal recommendations as of June 30, 2025, while preserving access to vaccines and other preventive services. Supporters, including the Governor’s office and the Insurance Commissioner, said the bill would protect access, affordability, and stable vaccine purchasing; opponents argued it politicizes vaccine policy and gives too much influence to state agencies and outside groups. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2152, allowing terminally ill patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to use medical cannabis under facility policies, with supporters emphasizing dignity, symptom relief, and safeguards, and House Bill 2088, joining the dietitian licensure compact, which supporters said would help military spouses, telehealth, and workforce shortages. House Bill 2110, on ambulance inter-facility specialty care transports, drew support from rural hospitals seeking more staffing flexibility and opposition from nurses and EMS personnel concerned about training, accountability, and patient safety. House Bill 2247, on veterinarian-client-patient relationships and telemedicine, drew support from the sponsor and some stakeholders as a workforce and access measure, but also criticism from the state veterinarian and others who said it could conflict with federal VCPR requirements and public health protections. House Bill 2340, expanding substance use disorder monitoring program eligibility to nursing assistants and stipend support, was presented as a way to help low-wage health workers stay in the workforce; there were no in-person testifiers against it. In executive session, the committee considered House Bill 2155, concerning the use of nursing titles, and House Bill 2531, aligning the ambulance transport fund quality assurance fee with federal regulations. Both bills received do-pass recommendations and were sent to the Rules Committee. For the public hearings, no final committee votes were taken on the other bills in this transcript, and testimony concluded on each measure after the committee heard from sponsors, agency officials, advocates, and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grocery store property tax exemption program to provide property tax exemptions to preserve existing
• By providing targeted tax incentives, the legislature can help preserve existing grocery stores and usher
• By providing targeted tax incentives, the legislature can help preserve existing grocery stores and usher
• It preserves the B&O tax exemption for insurers so that they're not double taxed on their premium income
• Preserving the tax reduction will ensure that tax policy is proportional to risk and allow for better

Summary: The committee heard briefings, sponsor presentations, and public testimony on several finance bills. HB 2038 would impose an additional B&O tax on businesses operating social media platforms beginning in 2027 and create a youth behavioral health account funded by the tax. The sponsor argued the bill would help address youth mental health harms linked to social media and support implementation of the Washington Thriving plan. Supporters in testimony, including youth advocates and some public health voices, said social media contributes to youth anxiety and addiction and that the revenue should be used for behavioral health services. Opponents, including technology and business groups, argued the tax unfairly singles out one sector, could be passed on to consumers, and may violate federal internet tax law. The hearing on HB 2038 was suspended and later reopened for public testimony; no vote was taken. HB 2297 would create tax incentives for grocery stores in underserved communities, including local B&O preferences, a sales tax exemption for security services, a 30-year property tax exemption program, a B&O tax credit, and a B&O exemption for certain locally owned or employee-owned stores. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to preserve and attract grocery stores in food deserts, especially after recent store closures, and to help communities with limited transportation and access to healthy food. County representatives supported the goal but raised concern about the bill’s sales tax exemption and its effect on local revenues. Public testimony was largely supportive, with advocates, local officials, grocers, and residents describing grocery stores as essential community infrastructure. No action was taken. HB 2382 would raise cigarette taxes by $2 per pack, restructure vapor and other tobacco product taxes, and dedicate portions of the revenue to a time-sensitive emergency system, tobacco enforcement, and the foundational public health services account. The sponsor said the bill would generate needed revenue, support cancer research funding, and strengthen public health and enforcement. Supporters said higher tobacco taxes reduce use and help cover long-term health costs, while some public health witnesses supported the revenue but suggested directing more funds to existing tobacco prevention accounts. Opponents from retail and industry groups argued the proposal is regressive, could increase illicit sales and cross-border purchasing, and would hurt small businesses and low-income consumers. The committee also heard HB 2487, a Department of Revenue request bill that would narrow the B&O exemption for insurers to clarify that it applies only to premium income subject to insurance premium tax, and apply the change retroactively to 2019. The sponsor and supporters said the bill closes a loophole created by a recent Supreme Court ruling and preserves tax equity, while insurers and business groups objected to the retroactive application, warning of higher premiums and unfair taxation. Finally, HB 2018 would increase the solid waste tax by 0.5% per year for five years and direct the new revenue to a local government solid waste assistance account for county and city waste management plans. County officials supported the bill as a way to stabilize funding for solid waste systems, and testimony emphasized rising disposal and infrastructure costs. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House of Representatives, and the preservation of our federal republic. ...in the U.S.
• House of Representatives and the preservation of our federal republic.
• This preserves the initiative process, which we use in the conservation and environmental community,
• These processes serve as a vital check that preserves the balance of power, was based.
• These processes serve as a vital check that preserves the balance of power between the government and

Bills: HJR4209 , HB2260 , HB2259

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: redistricting, congressional representation, census, state law, legislative boundaries, ballot measures, petitioners, signature gatherers, voting rights, election integrity, initiative process, referendum, signature gathering, ballot measure, citizen actions, support demonstration, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After I left that organization, I sat on the Pike Place Market Preservation Development Authority for
• Homeowners make a stable, reasonable wealth generation, provides residential mobility, preserves a ..
• .wealth generation, provides residential mobility, preserves affordability, and can provide a really
• Many cities like New York and D.C. have accessed this model to preserve thousands of units of housing
• But the reason why MHC is so successful and we're so successful in being able to preserve those units

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard presentations on a range of housing finance, permitting, and affordability tools. Chattanooga described its affordable housing PILOT program, which uses a per-unit property tax abatement tied to the rent loss from providing affordable units, with a 15-year term and annual compliance monitoring. Committee members asked about the program’s structure, whether it had been used elsewhere, and who was participating; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would bring 278 units with 42 affordable units and that the model was attracting private market-rate developers. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary zoning approach, emphasizing that longer tax exemption periods and station-area zoning changes had helped spur development, with most current pipeline projects concentrated near light rail stations. The committee also heard from the Municipal Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce on tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and permit timelines. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, while proportional impact fee guidance is intended to help jurisdictions charge fees more closely aligned with actual project impacts. On permit timelines, Commerce presented its first annual report under recent law changes, using 2024 as a baseline year and noting that reported timelines were generally longer than statutory goals; members asked about outliers, paper versus electronic processing, and whether back-and-forth between applicants and staff was driving delays. Commerce said it would follow up with more data, including on CHIP funding and permit reform practices. Several local governments then shared permitting process improvements. Auburn reported relatively short review cycles and described its move to fully electronic permitting, internal performance standards, and a stock plan program that speeds review for repeated home designs. Bellevue described an AI permitting pilot with a local startup to help with pre-application questions, document triage, and plan review, aiming to reduce incomplete applications and revision cycles. Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would help homeowners split lots, finance, build, and manage ADUs, with the homeowner eventually buying out the partner and retaining ownership; committee members asked about rent setting, management fees, and default risk, and staff said they would follow up. The committee also heard brief overviews of community land trusts and limited equity cooperatives as permanent affordability models, with presenters urging continued state and local funding support and policy recognition for these approaches.

Transcript Highlights:

• We found out it was for sale, so we got our money together and bought it to preserve it.
• This was one of the fields they would use, so we really need to preserve it and ensure it's utilized.
• Valencia on archive preservation, storytelling collection, and educational opportunities.
• Preserving the land for la gente. I'm sorry, Madam Chair.
• The National Park Service is focused primarily On preservation, interpretation, and enjoyment.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, members, I've had the honor of preserving life for 31 years as an EMT.
• This bill changes comfort care to life-preserving care for any baby that is born, like what I provided
• If you look at the bill, it says it changes care for the infant who is born alive to preserve the life
• If there's an abortion and a baby is born alive, it should be incumbent on us to try to preserve the
• Comfort care is not preserving the life, and it's incumbent on us, if a baby is born alive, to change

Transcript Highlights:

• This act would strengthen the night sky preservation efforts. It would help. Increase tourism.
• Mexico Night Sky Protection Act Was originally passed to regulate outdoor night lighting and to preserve
• believe one of our members sent the committee an email about an AMA statement on the necessity to preserve
• I urge this committee to vote to pass Senate Bill 34 to help preserve New Mexico's dark skies into the
• It preserves all the values just listed, and as John Holtzman was pointing out, existing lights don't

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• We would simply like you to preserve this bill, make sure that the intent of Congress is executed to
• </c><01:00:35.000><c> Medicaid</c> uh the intent to preserve Medicaid uh the intent to preserve Medicaid
• On Zoom, Alliance for Fertility Preservation, Joyce Riki, not present, in support.
• I was fortunate enough to undergo fertility preservation treatments earlier this month.
• </c> undergo fertility preservation undergo fertility preservation treatments<01:03:21.640><c> earlier

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered HB 553 on biomarker testing coverage, HB 556 on colorectal cancer screening access, and later HB 712 on 340B drug pricing. For HB 553, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, patient advocates Natalie Heyman and Susan Hirano, a surgical oncologist, and the American Lung Association strongly supported the bill, arguing that biomarker testing should be covered when ordered by a doctor and guided by current evidence. DHS and several insurers offered comments and requested amendments, with DHS saying it appreciated the intent but wanted changes. The committees then voted to pass HB 553 with amendments, including a House draft and a defective date of July 1, 3000; both the House Health and Human Services and Homelessness committees adopted the recommendation unanimously. For HB 556, testimony focused on closing gaps in colorectal cancer screening, especially for uninsured and underinsured patients who can get stool-based screening but then cannot access follow-up colonoscopies. Community Clinic of Maui, ACS CAN, and the American Cancer Society supported the bill, with ACS CAN urging a program similar to the breast and cervical cancer control program and offering amendments. DHS requested that the program and appropriation not conflict with executive budget priorities, and the committees noted technical amendments, a defective date, a blank appropriation amount, and corrections changing Medicare references to Medicaid. HB 556 was also passed with amendments by both committees. The hearing then moved to HB 712 on 340B drug pricing and contract pharmacies. The Department of Health and the Attorney General’s office expressed concern that the bill would require the state to regulate private commercial activity and said the department lacked the expertise and resources to implement it as written, suggesting it might belong in a different statutory section. In contrast, PhRMA opposed the bill, while Hawaii Pacific Health and Hawaii Island Community Health Center supported it, saying 340B savings are important for hospital services and patient access to low-cost medications, especially where manufacturers have restricted shipments to contract pharmacies. No vote on HB 712 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts where it's being preserved.
• Massachusetts where it's being preserved.
• Massachusetts where it's being preserved.
• H4351 is not just about policy, it's about preservation and progress. It ensures.
• Just about policy, it's about preservation and progress.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to open meeting law, municipal meetings, town meetings, and remote participation. Senator Rausch supported S. 2205 and S. 2206, and House companion H. 3382, saying they would make remote participation in public bodies permanent and streamline open meeting law and public records complaint processes to reduce burdens on local officials. Committee members and the senator discussed concerns about complaints being weaponized, the role of the Attorney General, and whether public testimony should be presumed allowed unless a chair limits it with justification. The senator said the bills do not change public records fees and are meant to improve process and transparency. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 3342 and S. 2197, which would modernize municipal meetings, town meetings, and local elections by allowing permanent remote or hybrid participation. Supporters included Wayland officials, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, MAPC, MACC, and others, who argued that hybrid and remote options increase participation, help parents, caregivers, people with disabilities, and residents with travel or work constraints, and have worked well during the pandemic-era extensions. Municipal officials emphasized that a mandate would be costly and difficult for smaller communities because of staffing, technology, room design, cybersecurity, and uneven internet access, especially in western Massachusetts. Committee members asked about equal access, funding, and whether local discretion should remain; the chair said the committee wants a permanent solution beyond emergency rules but must balance access with local capacity. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3328, which would allow remote participation to count toward quorum for statewide appointed bodies such as commissions on women and LGBTQ issues. Supporters argued this would improve regional equity and make it easier for people outside Greater Boston to serve, while committee members noted it is a separate issue from municipal meetings and may be easier to address than broader local-government changes. Another bill, H. 4351, was supported by Rep. Brandy Fluker Reed, who described it as creating an Office of Freedmen Affairs to address longstanding racial wealth disparities affecting descendants of enslaved Americans. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3299 from Common Cause and MASSPIRG in favor of guaranteed hybrid access for public meetings with public participation components, with advocates saying it would improve transparency, accessibility, and civic engagement.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1579 preserves accountability of the providers and protection of the youth.
• At the same time, the bill preserves accountability. The Department In statewide access.
• At the same time, the bill preserves accountability.
• At the same time, the bill preserves an easy opt-out for parents who don't need assistance.
• At the same time, the bill preserves an easy opt-out for parents who don't need assistance.

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is about preserving what's in Chapter 121A.
• It's about preserving girls' sports for females.
• :08.440><c> preserving</c><00:18:09.440><c> girl</c><00:18:09.919><c> sports</c> 121a it's about preserving
• This bill is about preserving what's in Chapter 121A.
• It's about preserving girls' sports for females.

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• for the same length of time that ballots are preserved.
• </c><00:33:14.559><c> So</c> of time that ballots are preserved.
• So of time that ballots are preserved.
• </c><00:33:48.720><c> And</c> preserved from that prior election.
• And preserved from that prior election.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Landlord will have no obligation to preserve the personal property upon removal.
• Landlord have no obligation to preserve the personal property upon removal.
• </c><00:13:08.480><c> the</c> will have no obligation to preserve the will have no obligation to preserve
• Landlord have no<00:13:52.560><c> obligation</c><00:13:52.959><c> to</c><00:13:53.120><c> preserve</c
• to preserve the personal property<00:13:54.160><c> upon</c><00:13:54.560><c> removal.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we think about whether that's preserving physical artifacts, capturing stories, written or oral,
• and other ways that we preserve and share history.
• </c><00:02:42.959><c> physical</c> uh whether that's uh preserving physical uh whether that's uh preserving
• </c><00:02:49.040><c> we</c> or oral um and other ways that we or oral um and other ways that we preserve
• and share history uh I did preserve and share history uh I did mention<00:02:52.159><c> there</c><00

Bills: HF1234 , HF1956 , HF1025 , HF1172 , HF791

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: payment transparency, public contracts, contractor rights, government accountability, construction payments, municipal finance, liquor store, audit requirements, state auditor, local government, historic flag, state flag, display standards, ceremonial, Minnesota Statutes, Ursa Minor, state symbol, Minnesota state laws, constellation, official state designation

Transcript Highlights:

• This is from Public Law 88-577, the 1964 Wilderness Preservation System Act, section five, State and
• :28.720><c> the</c><00:01:28.880><c> 1964</c><00:01:30.119><c> Wilderness</c><00:01:31.119><c> preservation
• </c> 577 the 1964 Wilderness preservation 577 the 1964 Wilderness preservation system system system act
• And we're working, the DNR is working with the State Historic Preservation Office to continue to preserve
• </c> with um the state historic preservation with um the state historic preservation office<00:49:29.400

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• preservation.
• preservation.
• </c> the there's a pavement preservation the there's a pavement preservation manual<01:47:23.920><c>
• How how are we going to preservation.
• </c> preservation?" Well, we're struggling. preservation?" Well, we're struggling.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• compliance attestation with the Department of Insurance or the Division of Insurance, and would preserve
• a patient's right to utilize health plans and health savings accounts. ...of insurance and would preserve
• Tarr, preserving the opportunity for cost savings and innovation. The Senator from Essex.
• Cronin, preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses. Senator Cronin.
• President, and through you to the members, I rise today in support of Amendment 64, preserving access

Summary: The Senate first considered several amendments to a primary care/health care bill. Amendment 1, on artificial intelligence in health care and mental health services, was withdrawn by unanimous consent. Amendment 37, which would have required a rate band for outpatient primary care reimbursement, was debated and then defeated on a roll call, 5-33. Amendment 39, on direct primary care arrangements and deductible credits, was also defeated 5-33. The chamber then took up and passed the conference report for An Act Relative to Teachers Preparation and Student Literacy (H. 5511), with senators emphasizing the need for evidence-based literacy instruction, universal screening, dyslexia screening, teacher training, and implementation funding; the bill was enacted and sent to the Governor after a 39-0 roll call. The Senate then returned to Amendment 60 on the primary care bill, which would have created a “safety valve” allowing alternative payment systems to be proposed to the Health Policy Commission. After debate over whether the bill already allowed flexibility, the amendment was defeated 5-33. Amendment 50, requiring stronger health equity reporting, was adopted. Amendment 66, a technical fix setting commercial payment rates for community health centers at the MassHealth PPS rate, was adopted. Amendment 24, excluding pharmaceutical spending from the primary care spending baseline and target, was adopted. Amendment 45, a study on expanding the role of allied health professionals, was withdrawn. Amendment 48, a group purchasing cooperative pilot, and amendments 53, 61, and 63 were also withdrawn. The Senate adopted Amendment 64, which prohibits prior authorization from delaying FDA-approved medications for serious mental illness, and rejected Amendment 68 on reporting private equity investment in primary and specialty care, as well as Amendments 71 and 72 on scope of practice and ownership disclosure. Amendment 62, a technical change modernizing the definition of primary care and clarifying the care team, was adopted. Amendment 21, the Senate Ways and Means amendment, was then adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading, and the Senate passed An Act relative to primary care for you (S. 3116) to be engrossed on a 35-4 roll call. The Senate then adjourned to a later date, with memorial references at adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• working on legislation that directly does address these access and financial stability issues while preserving
• actively working on legislation that directly does address these access and financial stability while preserving
• It preserves the... Continued oversight of the denturist profession.
• It preserves the ability of denturists to work independently as licensed professionals.
• It preserves denturists' ability to practice legally in the state of Idaho, as was mentioned.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first approved the March 4 and March 5, 2026 minutes, then heard House Bill 935, which would consolidate the Board of Denturity into the Board of Dentistry as part of occupational licensing reform. Senator Lakey said the merger would save money, address the denturist board’s negative cash balance, and preserve separate scopes of practice while giving denturists a seat on the combined board. Supporters from the Idaho State Dental Association and DOPL emphasized public safety, efficiency, and lower fees, while denturists and their representatives argued the change would create a conflict of interest because dentists and denturists compete for the same patients and dentists could influence education, licensing, and scope-of-practice decisions. After debate, the committee voted 4-3 to send HB 935 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 913, which would begin implementing federal Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and use a three-month look-back period before the January 1, 2027 effective date. Representative Van de Woude said the bill would help the state prepare budgets and give enrollees time to meet requirements such as work, job training, school, or community service. Testimony split between supporters, who framed the bill as encouraging responsibility and independence, and opponents, who warned that the added administrative burden could increase errors, costs, and confusion, especially while the department is already handling managed care and other Medicaid changes. Hospital, child advocacy, and other opponents urged a one-month look-back instead of three, while the sponsor defended the three-month period as better for long-term compliance and smoother implementation. The committee rejected a substitute motion to send HB 913 to the 14th order for possible amendments, then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The final vote on the motion passed after discussion, and the committee adjourned after completing its business for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• vetoed because there was a belief that you and your colleagues did not put adequate funding into preservation
• That means the preservation of local roads funded in part by transportation benefit district fees.
• Our city uses the TBD fee for pavement preservation and maintenance, as there's limited funding for these
• Therefore, the proposed bill is a more equitable way for cities to better preserve and maintain our streets
• the designer, and by aligning enforcement with contractual design responsibility, the amendment preserves

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several transportation bills. ESSB 6262 would raise the maximum vehicle weight subject to transportation benefit district vehicle fees from 6,000 to 9,000 pounds for vehicles subject to gross weight license fees; the sponsor and city representatives said it would close a loophole, make fees more equitable, and help fund road maintenance, while the fiscal note was described as indeterminate. SB 5824 would clarify how fifth-wheel travel trailers are measured, aligning Washington with other states and supporting RV dealers; the bill drew support from the RV industry. SB 6110 would exclude certain faster electric vehicles from the e-bike definition and create a Department of Licensing work group to recommend a framework for electric motorcycles; testimony generally supported the effort but urged clearer e-motorcycle definitions and earlier work-group action, with some concern about youth safety and local enforcement. SB 5833 would allow a person to leave a vehicle running for up to 30 minutes to heat or cool a pet inside, with locking and brake requirements; the sponsor and a sheriffs’ association witness discussed balancing pet safety with auto-theft concerns, and the committee heard no fiscal impact. The committee also heard ESSB 6066, which would establish crash prevention zones in areas with unusually high serious-injury or fatal-crash rates, initially for a specific stretch of U.S. 395 and later more broadly beginning in 2029. The bill would allow local governments and WSDOT to designate zones, conduct engineering and traffic studies, increase enforcement, use speed cameras in the zones, and dedicate related revenues to safety improvements; supporters from Pasco and county risk pools backed the approach, while the sponsor asked for broader geographic coverage. ESSB 6311 would require continuous, accessible pedestrian passage during construction near hospitals, parks, and school routes, with temporary routes, safety plans, inspections, and enforcement tools such as stop-work orders and penalties; the sponsor said it was modeled on local practices and aimed at protecting pedestrians during construction, and contractors and transportation advocates supported it with a requested amendment clarifying design responsibility in design-bid-build projects. No votes were taken; the chair closed each public hearing and adjourned the meeting after testimony.

Bills: SR185 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2272 , HB2273 , HB2335 , HB1656 , HB2207 , HB2289 , HB1854 , HB2581 , HB20 , HB2296 , HB1707 , HB2297 , HB1890 , HB2241 , HB2474 , HB1688 , HB2546 , HB1574 , HB1546 , HB2218 , HB1163 , HB1514 , HB1749 , HB2385 , HB1576 , HB1974 , HB2022 , HB1973 , HB2005 , HB1894 , HB1515 , HB1718 , HB1591 , HB2475 , HB1721 , HB1864 , HB1946 , HB1920

Keywords: Department of Education, capital improvement program, performance audit, infrastructure, transparency, state bonds, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, bond authorization, state debt limit, constitutional debt limit, Article VII Section 13, Hawaii bonds, state borrowing, public finance, capital improvement projects, supplemental appropriations, judiciary appropriations, refunding bonds, reimbursable bonds