Transcript Highlights:

• It requires FDOT to identify key maritime... Senator Arrington? Yes. Senator Davis? Senator Jones?
• It requires FDOT to identify key maritime It requires FDOT to identify key maritime components in the
• state's supply chain to strengthen and expand the state's maritime industrial base.

Summary: The Transportation Committee met with a quorum and first took up SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. Senator Harrell described the bill as creating a framework for vertiports and eVTOL operations, including DOT oversight, vertiport licensing, preemption of local design and operational regulation, and limited liability protections. An amendment was adopted that removed the bill’s sales tax exemptions and narrowed the sovereign immunity language so it would apply only to vertiports co-located at airports, aligning the bill more closely with the House companion. Supporters from eVTOL companies praised Florida’s leadership and the regulatory clarity, while the Florida Justice Association urged caution about extending immunity to unproven entities. The committee then reported the bill favorably. The committee next considered SB 260 on storage and cleanup of electric vehicles after crashes. An amendment narrowed the bill to EVs with visible battery or battery-compartment damage or saltwater submersion, clarified that the fee applies to storage rather than towing, and tied the proposal to existing fire marshal rules requiring damaged EVs to be stored away from structures. Insurance and rental-car industry representatives supported the narrowed approach but asked for more data reporting, clearer limits on cleanup language, and safeguards against overcharging or cost shifting. The bill was debated as a response to the space and safety burdens placed on tow operators, and it was reported favorably after amendment. The committee also approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizure/confiscation processing, allows disabled veterans to retain their DV plate alphanumeric designation, authorizes immediate issuance of DV plates by tax collectors, bans license plate covers/overlays that obscure plates, and routes online driver license/ID renewals to the customer’s county tax collector with service fees remitted accordingly. SB 1370 was reported favorably as well; it closes a loophole so drivers who never had a license can still be treated similarly to suspended-license offenders for habitual traffic offender purposes after repeated offenses. Finally, the committee considered SB 1220, FDOT’s transportation package, which included updates to trail prioritization, SunTrail materials and sponsorships, seaport and airport resilience planning, drone delivery and personnel delivery device provisions, LiDAR coordination, turnpike toll programming changes, and felony penalties for damaging autonomous vehicles. An amendment removed some provisions, including digital driver license authorization and the rapid rail transit compact, and added advanced air mobility corridor language and an FDOT study on alternative-fuel revenue impacts; after support from several stakeholders, the committee reported the bill favorably and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• security, and science and maritime security, and science and technology.<04:05:06.640><c> But</c><04
• It's about the CCP using economic pressure, maritime intimidation, and lawless behavior to expand its
• </c><05:18:28.958><c> intimidation,</c><05:18:29.840><c> and</c> pressure, maritime intimidation, and
• </c><05:20:04.320><c> These</c> their own maritime resources. These their own maritime resources.
• From his humble Leadership Academy.

Bills: HB8428 , HB8466 , HB5248 , HB6338 , HB7668 , HB8665 , HB7037 , HB6230 , HB6297 , HB1744 , HB3429 , HB2505 , HB6028 , HR428 , HB8107 , HB8340 , HB8467 , HB6916 , HB8463

Keywords: fraud prevention, improper payments, anti-fraud training, government oversight, federal program administration, grants management, internal controls, waste and abuse, Treasury Department, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Personnel Management, GAO fraud framework, OMB Circular A-123, Do Not Pay, data analytics, payment integrity, state and local governments, tribal governments, federal grants, program integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• the transfer of retirement benefits for Valerie Diorzia, an associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime
• An associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime to the Committee on Public Service; a petition of Adam

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Rules Committee reports. Members adopted resolutions recognizing the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and approved multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines for the Election Laws, Environment and Natural Resources, and Revenue committees. The House also concurred with Senate petitions and suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a number of new petitions to committees, including proposals on travel insurance, easements involving Eversource, early intervention services related to prenatal opioid exposure, retirement benefits, lottery revenue distribution, designating asparagus as the state vegetable, and a temporary emergency veterans assistance program. The chamber then advanced a series of local and individual bills, including measures on electronic scanning of identification, police age-limit waivers for named applicants in Boston and Haverhill, and a bill on contracting for digital replicas. These bills were read a second time and ordered to a third reading. Later, the House considered engrossed bills and passed several to be enacted, including a land conveyance in Wellesley, Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, changes to the Fall River police chief appointment process, a Seekonk charter amendment, and authorization for Billerica to set an age limit for police officer appointments. The House also passed to be engrossed bills on DCR Title IX compliance and additional Boston police age-waiver bills, and enacted the Wellesley land conveyance bill. Members adopted an order to meet again Thursday at 11 a.m. and a special adjournment in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, a former Quincy legislator, mayor, and clerk magistrate. The House then adjourned to meet Thursday next at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• the transfer of retirement benefits for Valerie Diorzia, an associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime
• An associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime, to the Committee on Public Service.

Transcript Highlights:

• such efficiency initiatives include the continuing integration of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime
• such efficiency initiatives include the continuing integration of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime
• The San Francisco Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime; the San Francisco Bay Region Network, which
• But there will come a time, like we did with Maritime and SLO, that if it has to be done, it has to be
• with the community colleges and the university colleges. there will come up time, like we did with maritime

Transcript Highlights:

• Surplus Lands Act for lands that are legally dedicated as parkland and restricted to recreational, maritime
• enforcement authority, modernizes outdated statutes, and brings conformity between state and federal maritime
• enforcement authority, modernizes outdated statutes, and brings conformity between state and federal maritime

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 13, 2026, and began by taking up a large consent calendar, moving a first group of bills to the floor consent calendar and a second group by due pass. The committee then heard and advanced a series of measures covering housing, public safety, health care, education, and local government issues. Among the bills discussed were AB 2641 on a sales tax exemption for pawnbroker redemptions, AB 2525 on a narrow Surplus Lands Act exemption for Mission Bay Park, AB 1732 and AB 2433 on student housing and the Affordable Homes Bonus Law, AB 2055 on boating safety and enforcement, AB 1579 on children’s crisis residential services, AB 2139 on a Surplus Lands Act amendment for an Inland Empire soccer project, AB 2041 on EMS reporting, AB 1973 on reproductive health scope for advanced practice clinicians, AB 1929 on health plan investment disclosures, AB 2700 on utility rates and wildfire victim compensation, AB 1809 on school job order contracting, SB 73 on election security, AB 2418 on commercial building permit timelines, AB 1970 on step therapy limits for serious mental illness and substance use treatment, AB 2361 on peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing liability, AB 1976 on bike and pedestrian project approvals, AB 2110 on tax increment financing for workforce housing, and AB 2146 on supportive housing documentation and vacancy rules. Testimony was generally supportive for the measures heard. Authors and sponsors emphasized consumer fairness, housing production, public safety, access to care, and administrative streamlining. Supporters included local governments, housing advocates, school districts, law enforcement groups, health care organizations, and affected individuals. AB 2700 drew especially extensive public testimony from wildfire survivors and local officials who urged stronger compensation for victims of PG&E-caused fires and relief from high utility costs. AB 2034 and AB 1790 were raised during public comment on bills not heard in committee, with several industry groups opposing AB 2034 and both supporters and opponents speaking on AB 1790’s Waters Edge issue. Most bills were reported out of committee on due pass motions, with several noted as amended or with members not voting on particular roll calls. The committee also read and approved a lengthy suspense calendar, then opened public comment on bills not presented that day before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the transfer of retirement benefits for Valerie Diorzia, an associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime
• An associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime to the Committee on Public Service; a petition of Adam

Summary: The House convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Committee on Rules reports and related procedural orders. Members adopted a resolution recognizing the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The House also adopted multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines, including for the Election Laws, Environment and Natural Resources, and Revenue committees, and concurred in Senate petitions after suspending Joint Rule 12 for several matters. The chamber then advanced a series of local and House bills. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered several bills to a third reading, including measures on electronic scanning of identifications, police age-limit waivers or civil service eligibility for named individuals in Boston and Haverhill, and a bill on the contracting of digital replicas. Later, the House passed to be engrossed bills including a Department of Conservation and Recreation Title IX compliance bill and additional police-related local bills, and passed to be enacted a land conveyance bill for Wellesley and other enacted measures such as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, a Fall River police chief appointment bill, a Seekonk charter amendment, and a Billerica police age-limit bill. The House also adopted an order for a joint convention with the Senate to receive the Governor’s communication on January 22, 2026. At the end of the session, members adopted an order to meet again Thursday at 11 a.m. and a special adjournment in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, former Quincy legislator, mayor, and clerk magistrate. The House then adjourned to meet Thursday next at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have one of the oldest maritime academies in Massachusetts, and a lot of those kids graduated, went

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-26 session on recognitions, definitions, and designations related to veterans. Chairs John Velis and Joseph McGonagle opened the hybrid hearing with housekeeping rules and noted the committee’s reporting deadlines. The hearing focused on several bills honoring veterans and military-related service, including H. 3825 to include reserve components in flag half-staff recognition for service members killed in action, S. 2499 to place a State House marker honoring three Medal of Honor recipients from the war on terror, S. 2498 to add Merchant Marine recognition at veterans cemeteries and the State House and create a Massachusetts merchant mariner medal, and H. 2500/S. 2500 to have Massachusetts fly the Honor and Remember flag for Gold Star families and fallen service members. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 3871 and S. 2467, which would update the Commonwealth’s definition of “veteran.” Testimony came from the Office of Veterans Services, veterans organizations, Public Health Service and NOAA representatives, National Guard and Reserve veterans, and Gold Star advocates. Witnesses argued the current state definition is inconsistent with federal law and excludes some service members who should be recognized, especially members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, reservists, and some National Guard members. Supporters said the bills would improve fairness, consistency, and access to benefits and services, while several speakers emphasized that service in uniform should be honored regardless of branch. Some testimony also urged a broader moral recognition of all who raised their right hand, while others focused on aligning state law with federal definitions and closing gaps in eligibility. Committee members asked questions about the practical and fiscal effects of broadening the definition, including how the proposed language would interact with existing federal standards and state benefit programs. Witnesses explained that the bills would remove the current 180-day and 90-day active-service calculations and instead recognize certain active service and six-year reserve or Guard commitments, though some members noted that this could create a broader state standard than the federal one. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the committee concluded after hearing from the final witness and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have remote panelists from Switch Maritime.
• We're joined by the CEO of Switch Maritime, Elias Van Sickle, and Seamus Nolan, the Director of Commercial
• I'm Seamus Nolan, Director of Commercial and Government Affairs at Switch Maritime.
• I'm co-founder and CEO at Switch Maritime.

Bills: SB6352

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, resources, funding, state law

Transcript Highlights:

• We have remote panelists from Switch Maritime.
• We’re joined by the CEO of Switch Maritime, Elias Van Sickle. Thanks for joining us.
• I’m Seamus Nolan, Director of Commercial and Government Affairs at Switch Maritime.
• I’m co-founder and CEO at Switch Maritime.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for a work session and public hearing on February 19, 2026. In the work session, Switch Maritime presented a proposal for hydrogen fuel cell ferries for Washington State, including a budget proviso directing the Joint Transportation Committee to study hydrogen propulsion and a lease model for future Washington State Ferries procurement. The company described its Sea Change vessel, said the design could be adapted for Washington routes such as San Juan Islands–Anacortes, and emphasized that hydrogen fueling could be delivered through a mobile supply chain without new charging infrastructure. Senators asked about vessel flexibility, size, hydrogen availability, and terminal compatibility. The committee also received an update from WSDOT on the new public-private partnership program authorized in 2025. Staff said the agency is developing a four-phase implementation process, including consultant selection, a steering committee, a program manual, stakeholder engagement, and candidate project identification, with a report due to the transportation committees on September 1, 2026 and program launch targeted for January 1, 2027. The presentation stressed that the program manual will provide flexibility within the statute and that legislative input is being sought on engagement and project timing. The public hearing was on Senate Bill 6352, an omnibus transportation resources bill that revises and expands provisions from last year’s ESSB 5801. Staff outlined sections covering a mobile driver’s license and ID card program, a reduced-fee ID card for older drivers, changes to alternative fuel and aviation taxes and fees, revised sales tax distributions for ferry and multimodal funding, transit and bicycle education grants, fish passage permitting, clean energy siting on WSDOT right-of-way, toll notice procedures, older driver safety outreach, traffic safety camera revenue sharing, and a delay to the tow-truck indigent impound reimbursement program. The prime sponsor highlighted two priorities: digital driver’s licenses and dedicated ferry funding. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included airlines and aviation groups backing mobile ID and repeal of the luxury aircraft tax, transit and bicycle safety advocates supporting grant flexibility and continued bike education funding, and ferry advocates supporting dedicated ferry revenue. Local governments, including Bellevue, Kenmore, and Tacoma, raised concerns about the traffic camera revenue change, saying the shift from net to gross revenue would reduce local safety funding and could discourage new camera programs. The Association of Washington Cities also warned about unintended consequences in the fish passage and traffic camera provisions. RV dealers sought a delay to the luxury vehicle tax, and peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo asked for clarification on documentation requirements. The committee took no final vote and announced it would consider executive action the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• It isn't just another maritime regulation.
• This is a risk that maritime transport.
• </c> maintaining strong maritime maintaining strong maritime infrastructure.<05:29:06.878><c> The</c>
• </c> committee, we heard many maritime committee, we heard many maritime professionals<05:29:15.760><
• :06.240><c> transport</c> ensures that domestic maritime transport ensures that domestic maritime transport

Transcript Highlights:

• team to develop a single comprehensive marketing strategy to promote the region's logistical reach, maritime
• team to develop a single comprehensive marketing strategy to promote the region's logistical reach, maritime
• breadth of interest in this project and the significance of it—we are on the program for the Rail and Maritime

Summary: The Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission met on May 14, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the July minutes. Leadership gave opening remarks welcoming new members and noting that the commission is now administratively housed with the Office of Multimodal Commerce, which is expected to provide staff support, resources, and help restart the commission’s strategic planning work. Commissioners said the next major agenda item will likely be consultant support and further work on the strategic plan. The commission then repealed a prior July resolution that had requested a Louisiana Ports Infrastructure and Development Fund and identified critical projects for international trade and economic development. Members said the resolution was well-intentioned but premature because the projects had not been fully vetted, LED had not been sufficiently involved, and there was no clear funding plan. The repeal passed by motion and vote, with commissioners emphasizing that the projects themselves remain supported and will be revisited in a more thorough format through the strategic plan. A major portion of the meeting focused on the collaborative marketing study for the five Lower Mississippi River ports. Joe Toomey and Ken Erickson of Polaris described a regional marketing strategy built from cargo analysis, stakeholder interviews, and port data, aimed at increasing trade, economic growth, foreign direct investment, infrastructure funding support, and long-term coordination. Commissioners and LED representatives said the effort shows stronger cooperation among the ports, will live at LED with a cooperative endeavor agreement, and is already being used in foreign investment outreach and as a possible template for other port regions. The commission also received an update from the navigation and safety task force. Steve Wall, the new NOBER president, said he would continue the work begun by the late Captain Toby Waddington, who was honored with a moment of silence. Commissioners reported that recommendations from the task force are being implemented, including air gap sensors, bridge-related planning, and bundled dredging projects in the current capital outlay process. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjourned after commissioners indicated they would meet again in the next quarter.

Transcript Highlights:

• Surplus Lands Act for lands that are legally dedicated as parkland and restricted to recreational, maritime
• enforcement authority, modernizes outdated statutes, and brings conformity between state and federal maritime
• enforcement authority, modernizes outdated statutes, and brings conformity between state and federal maritime

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• To support our maritime industrial base and protect a healthy pool of qualified crews to crew vessels
• , we need a we need fully funded maritime security program, tanker security program, the Jones Act, and
• Separate from that, for- under the Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration- What

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support

Keywords: Transcom, logistics, military readiness, air refueling, KC-135, KC-46, strategic infrastructure, geopolitical threats, Alaska

Summary: During this meeting, the committee hosted an extensive discussion on the operations and logistical challenges facing the U.S. Transportation Command (Transcom). General Reid provided testimony on key areas including the importance of maintaining robust logistical capabilities in contested environments, particularly in relation to geopolitical threats posed by adversarial nations. Various members emphasized the necessity for modernization of the air refueling fleet, addressing issues such as the readiness of the KC-135 and the procurement of the next-generation KC-46 aircraft, which has experienced delays and technical challenges. The dialogue further extended to the strategic importance of U.S. ports and transportation infrastructure, especially in regions like Alaska which play a crucial role in military logistics and power projection.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is mobility economy, which includes aerospace, maritime, and military defense.
• For example, we publish tsunami maritime response and mitigation strategies for key ports and marinas
• across Washington so that we can address the unique tsunami risk to our maritime communities and our
• maritime infrastructure, especially our ports and the economic infrastructure there.

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy and agriculture. An OFM economist said tariffs are raising prices, reducing output and jobs, and lowering state revenue, with the most affected sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about newer trade deals, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus some deflationary effects in fuel, and whether the net employment effect was negative; the witness said retaliation by other countries largely eliminates any tariff benefits and that updated analysis would be needed as tariff rates change. Washington Department of Agriculture staff then described how import tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while export retaliation has hurt key markets, especially China and, in some sectors, Canada. They said Washington agriculture is highly export-dependent, with major exports including wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine, and noted that some growers support tariffs on competing imports because they see them as leveling the playing field. Commerce officials followed with an overview of small business export assistance, financing, business recruitment, and industry-sector support, emphasizing the importance of federal STEP funding, foreign consulting networks, and state efforts to attract investment and help businesses adapt to tariff pressures. The committee then heard a series of emergency management updates. The Military Department described 2025 disaster response, including the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, wildfire activity, and concerns that FEMA is shifting more responsibility and cost to states and locals, with possible reductions or restructuring of preparedness, mitigation, and disaster grants. Members discussed the need for a funded state disaster assistance framework, mitigation priorities such as unreinforced masonry and tsunami shelters, and language-access support. A cybersecurity briefing followed, outlining the state’s advisory committee, grant program, and plans for a volunteer cyber incident response team, with concerns about the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the need to preserve state matching funds. Finally, emergency management staff reviewed disaster resilience and tsunami preparedness, saying federal support is becoming less reliable while state programs face budget pressure. They highlighted mitigation grants, outreach, and planning work, including tsunami vertical evacuation structures and coastal evacuation mapping, and said Washington’s tsunami program depends heavily on NOAA and FEMA funding. The session concluded with a detailed update on World Cup and counter-drone planning, including federal security grants, fan zones, base camps, and the need for authority to mitigate unmanned aerial systems; members asked how local jurisdictions would participate and what mitigation tools might be used. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is mobility economy, which includes aerospace, maritime, and military defense.
• For example, we publish tsunami maritime response and mitigation strategies for key ports and marinas
• across Washington so that we can address the unique tsunami risk to our maritime communities and our
• maritime infrastructure, especially our ports and the economic infrastructure there.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, I've got some other questions about maritime industry and the ship industry. for America
• Michael, one issue I've been focused on for a long time is the state of our maritime industry.
• have not increased the number of ships in our Navy which is really puts us at a disadvantage when maritime
• And do you think having a vibrant commercial maritime industry is going to us build Navy ships?

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Air Force modernization, fighter aircraft, autonomous systems, air superiority, national security, recapitalization

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on military procurement and modernization, with significant discussions surrounding the Air Force's capabilities and strategic needs. Key topics included the urgent need for recapitalization of the Air Force's fighter squadrons, as well as the importance of integrating new technologies like autonomous systems to bolster military effectiveness. Several senators raised concerns about the current resources available to the Air National Guard and the potential loss of skilled service members if recapitalization plans are not swiftly developed. There were also discussions on the importance of maintaining air superiority in light of evolving threats, particularly from adversaries like China.

Transcript Highlights:

• happened, where the primary beneficiary of the sales tax for marine use, a shipping company called Toad Maritime
• As I mentioned, Toad Maritime Alaska is the beneficiary of this preference, and they operate two ships
• Public documentation and testimony suggests that Toad Maritime Alaska is the beneficiary of the preference

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 6, 2025, established a quorum, approved the May 7, 2025 minutes, and welcomed new commissioner Scott Edwards. Staff also noted the September meeting was moved to September 22 at 10 a.m. to accommodate his schedule, with written comments due beforehand for the October meeting. JLARC staff then presented preliminary 2025 tax preference performance reviews covering nine tax preferences. For natural gas used as transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction goals because fewer vehicles and vessels converted to natural gas than anticipated; the auditor recommended continuing the utility and use tax exemptions, modifying reporting requirements, and continuing the marine-use exemption while considering a Department of Revenue work group’s recommendations. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preferences provide tax relief but that savings and beneficiary counts are shifting toward larger firms; the auditor recommended continuing the small-business rate with added objectives and metrics, and reviewing the higher rate for larger beneficiaries. For nonprofit low-income housing development, staff concluded the preference helps build homes for low-income households but that the current spending-based metric does not align well with the objective and reporting is inconsistent; the auditor recommended the legislature decide whether to continue it and, if so, consider a better metric and annual renewal. For multipurpose senior centers, staff said the preference meets its objective and recommended continuing it, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For disabled veteran adapted housing, staff said very few eligible veterans claim the remittance and recommended continuing it but modifying it, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to improve use. For trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, and agricultural crop protection products, staff recommended continuation, with some clarification or revised metrics where appropriate. For energy sales to a silicon smelter, staff said the preferences were unused because the facility was never built in Washington and recommended allowing them to expire. Commissioners asked several questions about the housing, senior center, and veteran-related preferences, focusing on reporting problems, the effect of grants and timing on housing metrics, and whether the veteran remittance is underused because federal grants already cover the tax. The commission also reviewed the public testimony questions to be used at the September meeting, where testimony on the preliminary reports will be heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• the primary beneficiary of the sales tax exemption for marine use, a shipping company called Toad Maritime
• As I mentioned, Toad Maritime Alaska is the beneficiary of this preference, and they operate two ships
• Public documentation and testimony suggests that Toad Maritime Alaska is the beneficiary of the preference

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 6, 2025, with five commissioners present and a quorum. The commission approved the May 7, 2025 meeting minutes and welcomed new commissioner Scott Edwards, who introduced himself. Staff also confirmed the September meeting date had been changed to September 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. to accommodate his schedule, and noted that testimony questions for the public hearing would be used at that meeting. JLARC staff then presented preliminary 2025 tax preference performance reviews covering nine preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but do not meet emissions-reduction goals, and recommended continuing the public utility tax and natural gas use tax exemptions while modifying reporting requirements; they also recommended continuing the marine-use LNG sales tax exemption and considering the Department of Revenue work group’s findings. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the small-beneficiary rate appears to support smaller firms, while the larger-beneficiary rate should be reviewed and both should have clearer objectives and metrics. For nonprofit low-income housing development, staff said the preference is helping produce housing but the current metric does not align well with the objective, data/reporting problems remain, and the legislature should decide whether to continue and possibly modify the exemption, including considering annual renewal. Staff also reviewed the multipurpose senior citizen centers exemption, concluding it meets its objective and recommending continuation, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For disabled veteran adapted housing, staff said the preference has very low uptake despite eligible veterans and recommended continuing it but modifying it in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve use. For trade convention attendance, staff said the preference aligns Washington with other states and recommended continuation. For agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, staff said the exemption reduces tax layering and recommended continuation, with clarification on whether it is exempt from expiration/performance-statement requirements. For agricultural crop protection products, staff said the preference met its revenue-growth metric and recommended extending it while considering better metrics or recategorizing it as tax relief. Finally, for energy sales to a silicon smelter, staff said the preferences were unused because the facility was never built and recommended allowing them to expire. The meeting ended with reminders about written testimony and the September public testimony session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item six is the agency's maritime infrastructure program.
• also appropriated $200 million in GR for trans. to the GR dedicated port access account fund for maritime
• request of 900 million dollars in general revenue to recapitalize that year dedicated account for more maritime
• billion in multimodal transportation pro- projects were funded through this body and that went toward maritime
• I own five kiddie academy child care centers in and around. Houston.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII