Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, can you explain to me the difference between early release and being able to drive again
• Thank you for the question, but I need you to restate that because incarceration and driving are two
• Driving is a privilege in Oklahoma; you're not required to have a driver's license.
• That's a privilege that this body gave people to drive.
• But going to prison is a choice that you made by driving under the influence and causing great bodily

Bills: HB4104 , HB3722 , HB3787 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3310 , HB3404 , HB2964 , HB2398 , HB3024 , HB3499 , HB3278 , HB3279 , HB3645 , HB3649 , HB2293 , HB3260 , HB3176 , HB3177 , HB3114 , HB3172 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4248 , HB3720 , HB2210 , HB1322 , HB1937 , HB3301 , HB4107

Summary: The House convened, heard the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, recognized the Doctor of the Day, and held several special presentations, including the Bethany Youth Council and a centennial recognition for Ascension St. John. The chamber then took up a long series of bills on second and third reading, with members asking questions on hospice care, broadband, funeral director continuing education, economic development, court reporters, DUI-related GPS monitoring, banking discrimination, statutory interpretation, electronic filings, intoxicating hemp beverages, homemade food production, youth apprenticeships, domestic violence, school communications with minors, firearms definitions, and outdoor warning sirens. Among the measures considered, House Bill 3645 on hospice referrals for patients without next of kin or a durable power of attorney passed 16-0. House Bill 3649, allowing proceeds from certain state property sales to remain in the mental health real estate trust, passed 15-0. House Bill 2293 extending the Oklahoma Broadband Office sunset to 2030 passed 84-10. House Bill 3216 adding the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association to approved continuing education providers passed 94-0, and House Bill 3176 directing Commerce to pursue national lab and innovation opportunities passed 51-37 after extensive debate about its aspirational nature and cost. Other bills approved included HB 3177 on Corporation Commission court reporter pay and retention, HB 3114 removing DUI with great bodily harm from DOC GPS monitoring eligibility, HB 3172 restricting adverse banking actions by large financial institutions against lawful activity, HB 3322 on statutory interpretation, HB 3323 removing notarization requirements for electronic Service Oklahoma submissions, HB 4248 restricting certain intoxicating beverages to those 21 and older, HB 3720 expanding the Homemade Food Freedom Act, HB 2210 modernizing youth apprenticeships, HB 1322 creating a domestic violence offender registry, HB 1937 revising school communications with minors and receiving emergency passage, HB 3301 aligning state firearms definitions with federal law, and HB 4107 criminalizing hacking or unauthorized activation of outdoor warning sirens. Most bills passed with broad support, though some drew significant questioning over fiscal impact, public safety, and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you want to drive by, and when I presented this in committee, I said, just drive by and look at the
• For those of you that drive on Missouri Boulevard in the morning, you're coming into the Capitol.
• If you drive in, you're coming down towards Capitol Avenue, of course, Main Street.
• If you ever drive down there, you see a lot of our state employees that are crossing and going to work
• If you ever drive down there, you see a lot of our state employees that are crossing and going to work

Summary: The House met for prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal, which passed 121-2 for February 26 and by voice vote for February 27. Members then offered several points of personal privilege, including tributes to law enforcement officers killed and wounded in Christian County, expressions of support for the affected families and departments, and recognition of a local racquetball championship and visiting guests, including U.S. Representatives Mark Alford and Eric Burlison and a child’s birthday. The chamber then took up numerous bills on third reading. HB 2097/1905, an elementary agriculture education pilot program, passed 148-0. HB 2167, authorizing the Attorney General’s Office to employ post-certified investigators in-house, passed 97-50, but its emergency clause failed 88-58 after debate over whether a unique emergency existed. HB 2747/2047, the Clean Slate expungement bill, passed 140-7 despite concerns about a fiscal note and implementation costs. HB 2587, addressing unmanned aircraft threats around large public gatherings and critical infrastructure, passed 140-2 and its emergency clause was adopted 133-11 ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Kansas City. Other bills passed included HB 1977 on civil detention for mental health evaluation (137-9), HB 2593 on National Guard and veterans-related matters including cybersecurity and tuition assistance (144-2), HB 1948, a fatherhood bill aimed at helping fathers overcome barriers to involvement with their children (141-4), and HB 2473, which clarifies handling of interest in real estate broker escrow accounts (149-0). The House also moved several bills to perfection, including HB 1786 on Highway Patrol purchase authority, HB 2105 on landlord water and sewer billing transparency, HB 2397 on water district dissolution thresholds, HB 2108 on Jefferson City viaduct and land conveyance issues, HB 2818 to annex St. Joseph Memorial Airport into city limits, and HB 1980 expanding peer review protections to EMTs and paramedics. The day ended with announcements, including an elections committee meeting and a rescheduled freshman meet-and-greet with the Attorney General.

Transcript Highlights:

• during great harvest and yet they're required to have inspections every six months and, you know, drive
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or... Fine, I guess.
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or from one place to a location
• And so if we were to be reliant on EVs for some of these longer drives, also when we were without power
• I remember the days driving into Temecula, you couldn't see the mountains.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee first established quorum and then approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Indira Cameron Banks to the Civil Rights Council, Sonar Loma Lee to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and two University of California College of the Law, San Francisco Board of Directors appointees, along with reference of bills to two committees and floor acknowledgments. All of those items passed by voice or roll-call votes, mostly unanimously, with the Civil Rights Council appointment approved 3-2. The main portion of the meeting focused on the Air Resources Board appointments of Linda Hopkins and Patricia Lock Dawson. Both nominees emphasized climate action, public engagement, and balancing environmental protection with economic realities. Members questioned them extensively about cap-and-trade/cap-and-invest, leakage and job losses, agricultural impacts, warehouse and truck traffic burdens, emergency vehicle and wildfire evacuation needs, low-carbon fuel standards, gas appliance rules, hydrogen, nuclear energy, and the need for socioeconomic analysis and better communication with affected communities. Public commenters from labor, environmental, local government, and industry groups spoke in support of both nominees. The committee approved Hopkins 4-0 with one member not voting, and Lock Dawson 5-0, sending both nominations to the full Senate. The committee then heard Andrew Rakestraw’s appointment as chair of the Board of Environmental Safety/DTSC oversight board. He described his background in climate and regulatory negotiations and said he would focus on transparency, accountability, fiscal stability, and listening to both regulated entities and disproportionately burdened communities. Senators asked about DTSC reform, the Moss Landing battery fire, community engagement in places like Hinkley/Herupah Valley, fee-setting and the generation-and-handling fee, the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, the Exide cleanup, and the hazardous waste management plan. After supportive public testimony, the committee approved his appointment 3-0, with one member not voting, and sent it to the full Senate for confirmation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• during great harvest and yet they're required to have inspections every six months and, you know, drive
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or... Fine, I guess.
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or from one place to a location
• So if we were to be reliant on EVs for some of these longer drives, also when we were without power for
• I remember the days driving into Temecula; you couldn't see the mountains.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee first established quorum and then approved several Governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Indira Cameron Banks to the Civil Rights Council, Sonar Loma Lee to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and C. Don Clay and Joshua Pertula to the UC College of the Law, San Francisco Board of Directors. It also approved references to bills in two committees and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The main substantive hearing was on the appointments of Linda Hopkins and Patricia Locke Dawson to the Air Resources Board. Both nominees emphasized climate action, public engagement, and balancing environmental protection with economic impacts. Senators pressed them on cap-and-trade, leakage and job loss, agricultural costs, warehouse and truck traffic impacts, emergency vehicle and school bus electrification, hydrogen, nuclear energy, and the need for socioeconomic analysis and better communication with affected communities. Public commenters largely supported both nominees. The committee advanced Hopkins 4-0 and Lock Dawson 5-0 to the full Senate. The committee then heard Andrew Rakestra’s appointment as chair of the Board of Environmental Safety. He described his background in climate diplomacy and regulatory work and said he would focus on transparency, accountability, fiscal stability, and responsiveness to both regulated entities and disproportionately burdened communities. Senators questioned him about DTSC reform, community engagement in places like Moss Landing and the Exide cleanup, the hazardous waste management plan, fee-setting, and the Environmental Justice Advisory Council. After supportive public testimony, the committee approved his nomination to the Senate floor on a 3-0 vote, with two members not voting or abstaining. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• during great harvest and yet they're required to have inspections every six months and, you know, drive
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or... Fine, I guess.
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or from one place to a location
• And so if we were to be reliant on EVs for some of these longer drives, also when we were without power
• I remember the days driving into Temecula; you couldn't see the mountains.

Summary: The committee first established quorum and then approved several governor’s appointments and procedural items, including appointments to the Civil Rights Council, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, UC College of the Law, San Francisco Board of Directors, bill referrals, and floor acknowledgments. Most of these items passed unanimously, while the Civil Rights Council appointment of Indira Cameron Banks passed 3-2. The bulk of the meeting focused on confirmations to the California Air Resources Board. Supervisor Linda Hopkins and Mayor Patricia Locke Dawson, both nominated to CARB, described their backgrounds and emphasized balancing climate and air-quality goals with economic impacts, community engagement, and practical implementation. Senators raised concerns about cap-and-trade costs, leakage, warehouse and truck traffic impacts, agricultural burdens, emergency vehicle and fleet electrification challenges, natural gas appliance rules, hydrogen, nuclear energy, and the need for socioeconomic analysis. Both nominees said they favored open-door engagement, listening to affected communities, and using data and technology-neutral approaches. Public commenters largely supported both nominees, and the committee voted to advance Hopkins 4-0 and Locke Dawson 5-0 to the full Senate. The committee also heard the appointment of Andrew Rakestraw as chair of the Board of Environmental Safety. Rakestraw, who previously worked in U.S. climate and legal roles, said he would focus on transparency, accountability, fiscal stability, and community responsiveness at DTSC. Senators questioned him about DTSC reform, community engagement in places like the Hinkley/Herupah Valley and Exide cleanup areas, fee-setting and fiscal stability, the hazardous waste management plan, and coordination with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council. He said the board should go beyond brief public comment periods, engage communities directly, and ensure community concerns are reflected in outcomes. Supporters from environmental justice and waste-management groups testified in favor, no opposition was offered, and the committee moved his nomination forward to the Senate floor, with one member abstaining.

Transcript Highlights:

• times a year during great harvest and yet they're required to have inspections every six months and drive
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or... Fine, I guess.
• You can work with it and make it work because when you drive around town or from one place to a location
• And so if we were to be reliant on EVs for some of these longer drives, also when we were without power
• I remember the days driving into Temecula; you couldn't see the mountains.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't tell you who is driving that car. Thank you. I can't tell you who is driving that car.
• Have a safe drive. I have a chief story. We'll go back to 57, House Bill 57. House Bill 57.
• enough lab analysts, Madam Chair, in the state to be testing what they need to be testing and then driving
• , let's say, to Clovis for three and a half hours, and then driving back, and then they're not in the
• a state as vast as New Mexico, requiring a police officer or citizen from the rural communities to drive

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I know it was a long drive, and tell my wife that I was at work and you saw me.
• I know it was a long drive, and tell my wife that I was at work and you saw me, okay?
• We had two deaths, two vehicles driving downtown Globe... ...in the news, we had two deaths, two vehicles
• driving downtown Globe when the floodwaters came and swept them into the waterways.
• I want to thank all of you who took the time to drive up here today in the Phoenix traffic.

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• We drive for everything. Like, what you guys call a food desert is normal reality, so...
• This is not about creating more competition or trying to drive out the private market.
• We drive for everything. mile marker, if you will, on that, because I'm sure that your community and
• This is not about creating more competition or trying to drive out the private market.
• As I mentioned, I've got a bigger about creating more competition or trying to drive out the private

Bills: HB2313 , HB2451 , HB2298 , HB2566 , HB2517

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: grocery stores, public ownership, food accessibility, community services, economic development, tax increment financing, local government, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, municipal permitting, transit projects

Transcript Highlights:

• How much really focus do we drive that specificity? Because I get a lot of students myself.
• How much really focus to we drive that specifics? Because I get a lot of students myself.
• DigiPen is recognized as one of three driving forces behind the state's game industry sector.
• Every day I drive about three hours between work and school.
• Every day I drive about three hours between work and school.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing first from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, then from the Education Research and Data Center. The dual credit overview described Washington’s six dual credit programs, high participation rates, transferability, and recent efforts to improve transparency, pathways, and equity. Testimony emphasized both benefits and challenges, including access, funding, advising, and the need for clearer statewide coordination. ERDC outlined its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school-level factors and possible causal effects of dual credit participation. No votes were taken during the work session. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227 would direct WSAC to work with public higher education institutions to create formal data collection protocols for parenting students and convene a work group to recommend how to identify and support them. Senator Wilson and multiple student and advocacy witnesses supported the bill, citing the lack of consistent statewide data and the barriers parenting students face; WSAC testified that its research found significant food, housing, and child care insecurity among these students. SB 6235 would prohibit public colleges with athletics programs from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving athletics revenues or control. Senator Holy said the bill was intended to prevent loss of institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit flexibility and create competitive disadvantages. The committee also heard SB 6217, which would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to students in eligible non-degree credential programs beginning in 2027-28. Supporters from the community and technical college system, a community college president, and workforce representatives said the bill would help students access short-term training for family-wage jobs and address workforce shortages, especially in construction trades. Finally, SB 6209 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship eligibility for certain private four-year and career/vocational schools if they meet a gainful-employment standard. DigiPen, Evergreen Beauty College, Seattle Film Institute, and related students and administrators testified in support, arguing the bill would preserve access for low-income and nontraditional students in career-focused programs; some witnesses on the bill’s earlier panel also urged that certificate and two-year programs be included. The hearings were managed with shortened testimony times because of the large number of sign-ins, and no final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We all know PBMs drive up prices. Happy to answer questions. Thank you.
• We need a balanced, transparent approach that protects patients without quietly driving up health care
• With 5.2 million people covered by Taft-Hartley plans, we estimate 340B will drive up plan costs by $416
• has expanded far beyond the original intent so that the size and complexity of the 340B program is driving
• the ability of self-funded employers and purchasers to provide health care to their employees. 340B drives

Bills: HB2145 , HB1828 , HB2155 , HB2437

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, by way of background, no person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand
• I drive right now a 2003 Toyota Tacoma.
• on and used my spare key to lock it and walked away, any person who broke into my car could simply drive
• You don't choose to be struck by another car while driving.
• You don't choose to be struck by another car while driving.

Bills: SB5720 , SB5833 , SB5936 , SB5993 , SB5735

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: consumer debt, judgment, uniformity, legal standards, debt collection, pets, motor vehicles, animal welfare, public safety, legislation, human trafficking, prevention, remedies, victims, law enforcement, support services, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• this persistent issue that we continue to hear from our constituents about: the issue of, “I have to drive
• They should not drive major structural changes that this bill is calling for.
• And the fourth in that panel will be Harry Truett from the Lighthouse Driving Center. Great.
• My name is Harry Truitt, and I'm the owner of Lighthouse Driving Center, a 54-year-old small business
• My name is Harry Truitt, and I'm the owner of Lighthouse Driving Center, a 54-year-old small business

Bills: HB2091 , HB2105 , HB2218 , HB2107 , HB2137 , HB2243 , HB2264

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, immigrant worker protections, immigrant rights, worker protections, I-9 audit, Form I-9, employment eligibility verification, workplace raid, federal immigration inspection, employer notice, anti-retaliation, retaliation, Attorney General enforcement, private right of action, labor law, workplace rights

Transcript Highlights:

• there's not demand for the residential, for the commercial space, it doesn't get used; all it does is drive
• there's not demand for the residential, for the commercial space, it doesn't get used; all it does is drive
• use in every zone, just like you... ...for the commercial space, it doesn't get used; all it does is drive
• You know, at a moment when the legislature is focused on driving down costs and providing more homes,
• That drives displacement, long commutes, and deepening inequality.

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 6026, which would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act with populations of 30,000 or more to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones and bar local governments from requiring ground-floor commercial or retail as a condition of housing approval, with exemptions for certain sensitive areas and a carve-out for transit-oriented development station areas. The prime sponsor, Senator Alvarado, and supporters from the governor’s office, Commerce, housing advocates, developers, and major employers argued the bill would unlock underused land, reduce costs, and help address the state’s housing shortage. Opponents and local government representatives from small towns, counties, and cities said the bill could harm commercial corridors, small businesses, tax base stability, and local planning flexibility, and asked for narrower exemptions or additional carve-outs. No vote was taken on SB 6026 during the hearing. The committee then held executive action on Senate Bill 5937 and Senate Bill 5938. SB 5937, dealing with smart access systems and tenant privacy, was amended to clarify that keypad-only entry is not covered, require written privacy policies within five days of installation, and add operational purposes to allowable data collection; the committee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill with a due pass recommendation. SB 5938, which changes the foreclosure prevention fee and directs a Commerce study on a state homeowner assistance fund, was also amended to extend the study deadline and related expiration date; the committee adopted the amendment and moved the bill forward with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6018, which would expand and modernize the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage lending to borrowers, extending bond counsel selection cycles, removing advance notice requirements for bond issuance, and repealing an outdated housing finance plan/program. The sponsor and the commission said the bill would improve efficiency and create new financing tools for affordable housing, while banking groups said they supported the goal but wanted clearer limits to ensure the commission would not enter first-mortgage lending for homebuyers. The sponsor and commission said they would work on clarifying language. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6027 and Senate Bill 6028. SB 6027 would expand the use of local housing sales taxes and the Affordable Housing for All account to support operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, and preservation of existing affordable housing, update REET exemption timing, and align the definition of emergency housing with the Growth Management Act; local governments, housing providers, and advocates strongly supported the bill as a way to preserve existing housing amid rising costs and federal funding uncertainty. SB 6028 would create a revolving loan fund administered by the Housing Finance Commission to finance mixed-income affordable homeownership projects with long-term affordability covenants; the sponsor said it would help builders who have entitled sites but face high capital costs, and the hearing began with staff briefing and sponsor testimony, with questions from members starting as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• IIDs in the vehicle or any conditions placed on that person's driving.
• subject matter experts with regard to toxicology, chemical testing, and prosecution for impaired driving
• I really appreciate you making the drive.
• I really appreciate you making the drive.
• If there's anything that's proposed to be changed in here that's going to drive a fiscal note, please

Summary: The committee began with introductions and then heard Senate Bill 5865, which would repeal statutory garnishment answer forms and require use of Washington Pattern Forms Committee forms instead. Staff, the prime sponsor, and judges’ association witnesses said the bill is a technical fix that would make garnishment calculations more accurate and efficient without changing substantive law. A collectors’ association witness said the current statutory form can be used if needed until new forms are available and raised concerns about the timeliness of pattern form updates, but was open to working on language. The public hearing on SB 5865 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 5880, which would allow blood and breath toxicology results to be admissible if tested by an ISO/IEC 17025-certified or accredited forensic lab. The sponsor and supporters, including the Seattle city attorney and traffic safety experts, described severe backlogs at the state toxicology lab, with some DUI blood results taking many months or longer and cases expiring before charges can be filed. Counties, prosecutors, sheriffs, and defense representatives generally agreed the backlog is a serious problem, but several warned the bill could shift costs to local governments, create uneven access to private testing, and raise due process concerns unless discovery cooperation is required. The committee then closed the hearing on SB 5880. Senate Bill 5912 would reinstate the indigent defense task force to study Washington’s public defense system and report recommendations by 2028. Supporters from counties, cities, public defense offices, and tribal interests said the statewide shortage of defense attorneys and rising costs are straining local budgets and delaying access to counsel, especially in rural and eastern Washington. Some witnesses urged the bill be amended to add more stakeholder representation, including clients and practitioners, and cautioned that the task force should not delay immediate action on funding and caseload standards. The hearing on SB 5912 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5837, a broad update to guardianship, conservatorship, and protective arrangement procedures. The bill would lower the minimum age for a proposed guardian from 21 to 18, expand notice options, clarify appointment of counsel, and streamline service and hearing procedures. Testimony was largely supportive, especially from kinship caregivers, legal aid, and estate-law practitioners who said the bill would reduce costly publication requirements and improve access to justice, though some witnesses requested amendments on notice, waiver language, emergency procedures, and counsel provisions. The committee reported 40 pro and 70 con sign-ins on the bill, then moved on. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 5855, which would prohibit law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing facial coverings during public interactions except in limited circumstances such as undercover work, SWAT operations, or health and safety needs. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to increase transparency, accountability, and trust, especially for immigrant and marginalized communities, while opponents argued it could endanger officers, conflict with federal authority, and is tied to ongoing litigation over similar California legislation. Testimony was sharply divided, with some witnesses emphasizing public fear and trauma from masked officers and others arguing the bill would make officers more vulnerable and create constitutional problems. The hearing continued with additional public testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Requirement five: development of the per child per month, or PCPM, which drives the fiscal outcome.
• Per child per month, or PCPM, which drives the fiscal outcome.
• Tier 3 of this model is based on child months, which drives the payments to the CBCs.
• We're going to have to engage with them and find out exactly what's driving those costs at the provider
• We're going to have to engage with them and find out exactly what's driving those costs at the provider

Bills: S0042 , S0578 , S0624 , S7018

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimers, dementia, related dementias, brain health, early detection, caregiver support, elderly affairs, Department of Elderly Affairs, Department of Health, public health outreach, memory loss

Transcript Highlights:

• , knowing that for other cities in the area, Spokane Valley next door, certainly people could just drive
• Its proximity to our headquarters, just a three-hour drive away, means that we can ship our parts out
• that they're in Moses Lake, they're close to all the amenities they have there, as well as able to drive
• So in conclusion, we've all seen from the first and now the second space races how competition drives
• Both are attracting high-wage jobs, driving new commercial investment, and showing what a coordinated

Summary: The committee first heard a work session on cryptocurrency kiosks from the Department of Financial Institutions and Spokane City Councilmember Paul Dillon. DFI described crypto kiosks as licensed money transmission terminals that allow cash purchases of virtual currency, and said the main concern is fraud: scammers often pressure victims, especially older adults, to deposit cash into kiosks and send it to wallets controlled by organized crime. DFI cited a sharp increase in kiosk volume, nationwide fraud complaints and losses, and said Washington currently has licensing and disclosure rules but lacks transaction and fee limits. The department said it is seeking stronger disclosures, a $1,000 daily transaction limit, and a fee cap. Spokane described its unanimous ordinance banning new kiosks and removing existing ones after local scam reports, and members asked about how the machines work, whether the fraud is in the hardware or the transaction, and whether stronger warnings or screening could help. The committee then reviewed home equity sharing agreements, or CHISAs, based on a report by Mariana Amaram and testimony from DFI and industry representatives. The report found that CHISAs provide homeowners a lump sum in exchange for a share of future home value or appreciation, with no monthly payments, but that consumers often struggle to understand the products and settlement calculations. The report said the market has grown quickly in Washington, that costs can be hard to predict, and that early uncapped contracts could produce very high settlement amounts, especially during periods of rising home prices. DFI said it views these products as mortgage loans and is moving forward with rulemaking, including counseling and clearer disclosures, while industry witnesses said the products are equity-based rather than debt-based and asked for tailored regulation. Members discussed the need for better consumer education, clearer payoff schedules, and whether the products should be treated as mortgages or a separate category. The final panel focused on Washington’s space economy, with presentations from Amazon Leo, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Space Northwest, and Green River College. Speakers highlighted major in-state investments in satellite manufacturing, launch systems, and workforce training, including Amazon Leo’s Redmond and Kirkland facilities, Blue Origin’s Kent headquarters, and Stoke Space’s Kent manufacturing and Moses Lake test site. Space Northwest presented data showing the sector’s growing economic footprint, high-wage jobs, and regional clusters in Kent and Redmond, and urged more workforce programs, incentives, infrastructure support, and a state space commission. The companies emphasized local hiring, apprenticeship and certification programs, and the role of Washington’s aerospace supply chain in supporting the broader space industry. No votes were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce, around policy, and/or around the financing, we need to create efficiencies in order to drive
• well as new contracts that prioritize underrepresented developers and small businesses in order to drive
• It drives the industry.
• through the low-income housing tax credit, has automatically created networks in communities that drive
• Because in construction, broadly, the incentive to drive down costs for purposes of getting bids awarded

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Civic Commons on the Starter Home Production Plan, developed under the Covenant Home Ownership Act to address Washington’s shortage of starter homes for low- and moderate-income buyers. Speakers said housing prices have far outpaced incomes, and argued that incremental fixes have not worked. They described a statewide, systems-based plan centered on smaller, standardized homes, off-site construction, pre-approved plans, new financing tools, a developer network, and a temporary cross-sector crisis task force to coordinate implementation. Committee members asked about the role of silos, target income ranges, geographic applicability, and pre-approved plans; Civic Commons said the effort is intended to support households roughly from 60% to 120% of area median income and to work across urban and rural contexts. The Department of Labor and Industries then reported progress on factory-built housing regulation. L&I said it has prioritized residential plan reviews, reducing turnaround times from months to about two days, and has created a new plans examiner supervisor position. The department also said it is formalizing third-party review and inspection rules, building a customer-tracking database, and reviewing national standards from the Modular Building Institute for possible alignment with state code. Committee members and L&I discussed the value of standardized plans and the need to balance speed with code compliance and safety. The Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council testified that it supports efforts to reduce permitting delays but warned against weakening safety standards or labor protections. Labor representatives said off-site fabrication can help housing delivery only if it preserves worker safety, fair wages, apprenticeship opportunities, and compliance with labor laws. They raised concerns about wage theft, misclassification, and underground-economy risks in residential construction, and suggested stronger front-end contractor licensing and training. Committee members responded that the state needs both housing production and good jobs, and that apprenticeship and workforce development remain important. The committee also heard from several cities about local housing code changes. Olympia described an affordable housing emergency ordinance that prioritizes affordable projects in the permitting queue, while noting that staff capacity and cross-department communication are critical. Walla Walla, an early adopter of middle housing, said it eliminated single-family zoning, expanded ADUs and MFTE, and has seen more duplexes, ADUs, and smaller-lot development, though it still faces neighborhood opposition and infrastructure-related barriers. Des Moines described adopting middle housing and ADU ordinances just before the deadline, after a lengthy process involving density, parking, and staffing challenges. Poulsbo said it proactively adopted multiple housing code changes, including duplexes on corner lots, unit lot subdivisions, a manufactured home overlay, and six shared pre-approved ADU plans with neighboring jurisdictions; it also highlighted a senior housing project using city land and public funding. Across the city testimony, speakers emphasized that zoning changes help but are only one part of the housing puzzle, and several urged more support for local staff, standardized plans, and broader reforms to permitting and infrastructure requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• oppose SB 404 unless it is amended because with gas at $5 a gallon, our jobbers can no longer afford to drive
• to us and will need to drive to the mega shredders.
• to us and will need to drive to the mega shredders.
• I mean, if we are going to drive a market towards ceramics, that's concerning for me if we don't know
• But it is important that we don't just drive consumers to products that we don't know are safe or not

Summary: The committee heard SB 404 on metal shredding facilities, SB 601 on water quality protections after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, SB 682 on phasing out PFOS in certain consumer products, and later SB 646 on prenatal vitamins and toxic metal contamination. SB 561 had been pulled from the hearing. In each of the measures, the authors and supporters emphasized environmental and public health protections, while opponents raised concerns about overregulation, implementation, and unintended economic impacts. The committee also spent time on the policy details of each bill, including how smaller operators would be treated under SB 404, how “nexus waters” would be defined under SB 601, and whether alternatives and testing standards were adequate under SB 682 and SB 646. For SB 404, Senator Caballero said the bill would create a permitting and enforcement framework for metal shredding facilities, with operational standards for fire prevention, stormwater, and releases of shredder residue, while supporters argued it would bring needed certainty to a critical recycling industry. Opponents, including small recyclers and community/environmental advocates, said the bill was either too broad or not strong enough, with some warning it would burden smaller facilities and others arguing it would fail to protect overburdened communities. The committee approved SB 404 on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, with recorded support from the chair and some members and opposition from others. SB 601 sought to restore state-level protections for waters that lost federal Clean Water Act coverage after Sackett, using a “nexus waters” framework and revised enforcement provisions after amendments removed the private right of action. Supporters said California needed to preserve protections for seasonal streams and wetlands and avoid backsliding, while opponents from business, agriculture, water districts, and local governments argued the definition remained too broad and could create uncertainty, costs, and unintended consequences. The committee also approved SB 601 on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, again with split votes. SB 682, which the committee also advanced, would phase out intentionally added PFOS in six product categories, including cleaning products, cookware, dental floss, ski wax, food packaging, and juvenile products, with an amendment delaying cookware implementation until 2030. Supporters framed it as a source-control measure to reduce PFAS contamination and lower long-term water treatment costs, while manufacturers and cookware interests argued the bill was overbroad, lacked workable testing standards, and could push consumers and businesses toward uncertain alternatives. The committee chair recommended an aye vote, and the measure passed to Appropriations. SB 646 was then introduced on prenatal vitamins, with supporters saying it would require testing and disclosure of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, while the opposition said disclosure must be handled carefully so as not to confuse consumers or undermine confidence in prenatal supplements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our staging site at Barnett Stadium had to be relocated due to a credible threat of a drive-by shooting
• We had a credible threat of a drive-by shooting.
• First, they drop the blood suspect off at Tarrant County, then they drive back to Addison to draft the
• them to the jail in northern Tarrant County, book them in, type up a DWI blood search warrant, and drive
• We spend at least an extra 30 minutes driving because we currently cannot execute blood warrants outside

Bills: SB127 , SB456 , SB482 , SB659 , SB739 , SB816 , SB1234 , SB1666 , SB1886 , SB1980 , SB2580 , SB2611 , SB2693 , SB2776

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: child abuse, reporting obligation, statute of limitations, negligence, legal professionals, human organs, criminal penalties, physician license, medical ethics, illegal trade, smuggling, human trafficking, felony offenses, law enforcement, authorized peace officer, peace officer definition, tracking equipment, communications access, electronic surveillance, cell phone records

Summary: The committee heard and laid out a series of criminal justice bills, with public and invited testimony on restitution, juvenile justice, child abuse reporting, public-safety protections, organ trafficking, property fraud, disaster-response worker protections, fentanyl exposure, emergency data disclosure, insurance-fraud investigations, blood warrant execution, human smuggling, and TJJD advocacy access. Several measures drew support from prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement, utility companies, and victims who described real-world harms and delays in current law; opposition or caution came from civil-rights and advocacy groups on bills involving expanded criminal liability, data disclosure, and juvenile-facility access. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with the committee later voting out SB 127 favorably and placing it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1666 would streamline restitution payments for parole or mandatory supervision cases by requiring TDCJ to include victim information when forwarding payments, shortening the period before unclaimed funds go to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, and clarifying confidentiality and contact procedures; county clerks supported it as an efficiency measure. SB 2776 would let TJJD disclose certain information, with written consent, to support the Credible Messengers Program, and SB 127 would extend limitations periods for failure-to-report child abuse and concealment offenses, with testimony emphasizing delayed discovery of abuse and the need for accountability. SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting or interfering with peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers, and SB 456 would raise penalties for organ purchasing/trafficking and create a more specific criminal framework for the offense; both drew strong support from law enforcement and victims. The committee also heard SB 2611 on real property theft and deed fraud, which would create separate offenses for real property theft and fraud, add a ten-year limitations period, require criminal judgments to be filed in county property records, and expand restitution and title-clearing remedies. Witnesses described forged deeds, stolen church and family properties, and long, costly efforts to restore title; county clerks and prosecutors said the bill would help victims and streamline civil remedies. SB 482 would increase penalties for offenses against utility workers during declared disasters or evacuation orders, prompted by reports of threats and assaults during Hurricane Beryl; utility representatives said the bill is needed to keep mutual-aid crews coming to Texas. SB 1234 would add fentanyl to the endangerment statute for vulnerable people, while SB 816 would allow providers to disclose electronic data in immediate life-threatening situations; both drew support from prosecutors and criticism from civil-rights advocates concerned about overbreadth and liability protections.