Transcript Highlights:

• Section 2 creates a definition for peace officer.
• So then Section 5 deals with State Police and Peace Officers.
• are included in that definition of peace officer.
• One is that definition of peace officer, making clear that any state or local officer can still be asked
• One is that definition of peace officer, making clear that any state or local officer can still be asked

Bills: SB264 , SB261 , SB264 , SB261

Committees: Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms

Transcript Highlights:

• and its officer.
• The SHPO laws are the ones that the State Historic Preservation Office uses.
• I can get that to you from the State Historic Preservation Office staff.
• With defamation, with an office as powerful as she says that her office is, and she says it often, I
• office in the state, using some of this in the judicial system.

Bills: HB2167 , HB2168 , HB2169 , HB2171 , HB2790 , HB2905 , HCM2005

Committees: House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs , House House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference

Keywords: attorney general, nuisance action, consumer fraud, damages, civil penalty, public nuisance, nuisance abatement, abatement action, injunction, superior court, county attorney, city attorney, board of supervisors, obscenity, obscene materials, adult materials, pornography, schools, parks, residential district

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:09.840><c> as</c> but support local election offices as but support local election offices
• </c><00:08:27.520><c> as</c> County and City elections offices as County and City elections offices as
• </c> our chief information security officer our chief information security officer uh<00:20:51.440><c
• um in in of the things uh our office um in in 5305<01:03:38.359><c> our</c><01:03:38.599><c> office<
• </c><01:14:38.480><c> and</c> many electeds uh leave the office and many electeds uh leave the office

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• And so let's take the treasurer's office.
• So I don't want to suggest at all that the AG's office is...
• I don't want to suggest at all that the AG's office is like OMES.
• I think the point the treasurer's office is making is ...them.
• So the treasurer's office ...is the expertise.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. Senate Bill 419, as amended to update the effective date to 2026, would allow the state treasurer and the Department of Wildlife Conservation/Wildlife Conservation Commission to employ or appoint attorneys. Supporters said the treasurer’s office handles highly specialized financial matters and needs in-house expertise and faster legal advice; questions focused on possible conflicts with the Attorney General, fiscal impact, and why Wildlife was included. After discussion, the bill was reported due pass by a 7-2 vote. Senate Bill 835, also amended to a 2026 effective date, would require qualifying licensing boards and commissions to submit proposed non-rulemaking actions with anti-competitive implications for review by the Secretary of State. The author said the bill responds to antitrust concerns raised by the North Carolina dental board case and is intended to provide state supervision before boards take potentially anti-competitive action. Members questioned whether existing court remedies and Attorney General oversight were sufficient, and whether a single official should have that authority. The bill passed due pass 8-2. Senate Bill 1618 would require courts to conduct pretrial risk assessments early in criminal cases, with the assessments used as one factor in bail decisions but not as the sole basis for granting or denying bail. The author said the bill is modeled on federal practice and is meant to help judges make fact-based decisions and reduce jail overcrowding, especially in Oklahoma County. Members asked about who validates the assessments, county implementation, and costs; the author said counties could choose their own approach and that the fiscal impact would not be significant. The bill was reported due pass 6-4. The committee also considered Senate Bill 262, which was heavily amended and had both the title and enacting clause struck while members continued working on it. The bill concerns moving certain inmates convicted of nonviolent financial crimes out of county jails and into appropriate intake/transport processes, with the author emphasizing the goal of reducing jail overcrowding and inviting further collaboration on the language. Members raised concerns about fairness and possible unequal application based on community ties, and the bill was reported due pass 8-1 despite being acknowledged as a work in progress.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst's Office, and the CSU Chancellor's Office here
• So we have Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst Office, and the CSU Chancellor's Office here
• Natalie Gonzalez with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• We're from the Chancellor's Office.
• Jennifer Pichella, Legislative Analyst's Office.

Transcript Highlights:

• But as we have Fallen Officer Week, I'd like to honor an officer that has stood in the gap that runs
• It is absolutely our honor to have you in our office.
• That don't currently have either a security officer or a school resource officer in their building.
• or school resource officer right now.
• very reason we're in the doctor's office.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 123-0. Members then used points of personal privilege to recognize National Police Week, honor fallen officers, and offer extended tributes to departing colleagues and a departing representative, followed by numerous introductions of special guests, interns, students, and visiting groups from schools and universities. The chamber then received Senate messages and committee reports before taking up House Bill 1839, 2921, and 3015 together. The sponsor described the measure as a technical correction to online age-verification language related to pornography, and members noted the bill had already passed the House and Senate overwhelmingly. The House concurred in Senate Amendment 1 by a vote of 104-30, then adopted the conference/TAFP motion and finally passed the package 112-25. Members next considered House Bill 2596 in conference committee. The sponsor explained the bill as a small-business health plan measure that also included a negotiated amendment expanding private insurance coverage for contraception from a six-month to a 12-month supply, while removing Senate-added blood pressure cuff language and adding a severability clause. After debate about the process and policy, the House adopted the conference report 120-26 and then third-read and passed the bill 119-27. The final major item was Senate Bill 905, creating the Missouri Ranger training program to allow school districts, if they choose, to place specially trained personnel with narrow law-enforcement powers in schools. Debate focused heavily on school safety, local control, funding, training, and whether armed personnel in schools would help or harm students. Supporters argued it would provide an optional, low-cost safety tool, especially for districts without school resource officers; opponents argued it would escalate fear, resemble a prison environment, and fail to address mental health and other root causes. The House moved the previous question, adopted the amendment, and continued debate on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked with the governor's office. We worked with the Senate.
• So say, for instance, somebody files a complaint against an officer—a law enforcement officer—for use
• Does TCOLE collect the name of the officer?
• And there were hundreds of officers on scene that day. All of them were...
• But this already exists for 26,000 officers.

Bills: HB17 , HB16 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB 15 , SB 18 , HB17 , HB16 , SB10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB15 , SB18

Transcript Highlights:

• It wasn't questioned. were handled by the Attorney General's office.
• Attorney General's office. I don't know how many they are.
• are... officers who report to that head.
• The local elected official will send it to our office.
• And then they just send it along to our office.

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB9 , SB42 , SB15 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SCR1

Transcript Highlights:

• University Chancellor's Office.
• The Chancellor's office.
• at the CSU Chancellor's Office.
• Sorry, to the Chancellor's office.
• the CSU Chancellor's Office.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Director of the Office of Statewide Programs with the Administrative Office of the Courts. >>
• Office of the Courts.
• </c> the Administrative Office of the Courts. the Administrative Office of the Courts.
• </c> Administrative Office of the Courts. Administrative Office of the Courts.
• But the CDW office didn't necessarily provide programming within the office.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, and court facility projects. AOC leaders said they do not anticipate problems balancing the outgoing biennium or fiscal year 2026, and explained that the budget changes were driven by the need to reduce costs while preserving required constitutional, court-rule, and statutory services. They also said the new filing fee increases authorized by HB 504 took effect that day and are expected to generate up to $5 million, while the reorganization is projected to save about $3 million in general fund dollars. The bulk of the presentation focused on a major reorganization of the Office of Statewide Programs, which includes specialty courts, family and juvenile services, and pretrial services. AOC said the plan eliminates 170 positions and creates 109 new ones, mainly by reducing middle-management layers, expanding regional service delivery, and cross-training staff. Officials said 110 employees had already been offered or accepted placements, 24 had chosen voluntary separation, and the final number of employees leaving remains fluid until the process concludes around August 1. They emphasized that specialty court programs were not eliminated, but state-funded treatment court contracts and behavioral health liaison positions were removed, with treatment costs shifted to Medicaid or participants where appropriate. Members asked about the process, staffing impacts, specialty court participation, juvenile services, and how AOC will monitor the changes. AOC said the reorganization was developed by leadership, HR, and legal staff under direction of the Chief Justice and approved by the Supreme Court, and that it is intended to improve efficiency and frontline support rather than reduce services. They said specialty court participant levels are being watched closely, that CDW services will continue to use outside providers for programming, and that the agency will keep judges and stakeholders informed as the new structure goes into effect. No votes were taken, and the committee did not approve minutes because a quorum was not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we do have concerns about this, and there are several offices slated to close—field offices slated
• the Social Security Administration is not the MassAbility office.
• exist and then figure out how to help them get to that office, yes, which SSI offices exist.
• DPPC oversight officers carry an average caseload of about 76 and climbing.
• DPPC oversight officers carry an average caseload of about 76 and climbing.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The hearing was an informational and oversight session of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, with chairs and members hearing agency updates from several commissioners. The Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition described its maternal and child health work, including home visiting, early intervention, WIC, newborn hearing screening, and cross-agency efforts on prenatal substance exposure, respite care, children’s vision, and maternal health initiatives. DPH emphasized that federal grant cuts, layoffs, and the loss of data systems such as PRAMS would weaken services and planning, and members asked about Title V funding and the impact of federal uncertainty. The Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing highlighted communication access services, interpreter and CART referrals, emergency after-hours support, family navigation, and independent living services. Commissioners and members discussed the shortage of ASL interpreters and the need to expand training pipelines, including partnerships with colleges and possible ASL programming for younger students. The Department of Developmental Services reported serving nearly 50,000 people and focused on youth and adult services, transition-age supports, autism services, self-direction, respite, and new high-acuity residential models. Members asked about respite availability, self-direction outcomes, and workforce shortages; DDS said it was expanding clinical capacity and provider rates while monitoring possible federal Medicaid, SNAP, and immigration-related impacts. The Commission for the Blind described services for about 28,000 legally blind residents, most of whom are older adults, including social rehabilitation, orientation and mobility training, children’s services, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 supports. The commissioner discussed a UMass-based effort to build the workforce pipeline for blindness services and said the agency was watching federal restructuring but had not yet seen direct cuts. MassAbility’s leadership then warned about major federal changes affecting Social Security disability determinations, including staff restructuring, office closures, and a new overpayment repayment policy, and said the agency was preparing for possible increases in claims and uncertainty around reallotment dollars that help fund services. The Disabled Persons Protection Commission closed the hearing with an update on its abuse investigations and protective services for adults with disabilities. DPPC reported rising hotline calls and investigations, a growing caseload, its sexual assault response team, the abuser registry, and a new interagency protective services integration system funded by ARPA dollars through 2027. The agency also flagged new federal rules that could affect funding eligibility and said it may need statutory changes to comply. Members asked about funding, reporting pathways, and how complaints reach DPPC, and the commissioner said the agency uses both mandated reporting and proactive outreach to identify and respond to abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the culture of our office, Mr. Chairman. the culture of our office, Mr. Chairman.
• Our office, Mr.
• Our office,<00:13:28.480><c> Mr.
• Chairman, is loan to us, our offices<00:13:30.639><c> in</c><00:13:30.800><c> Louisville,</c> offices
• </c> your office. your office.

Committee: Joint Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation relative to financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges was filed in the office
• of the clerk Friday, January 23rd, at 10:45 a.m. ...was filed in the office of the clerk Friday, January
• bill authorizing Anthony Morales to take the civil service examination for the position of police officer
• Authorizing the town of Monterey to continue the employment of Police Officer Jennifer O.
• Officers for Alex J. Rodriguez, House No. 4391.

Transcript Highlights:

• across our public health offices.
• The State Personnel Office comp and class study that was conducted missed our office.
• Chair, we're now to the Office of Insurance.
• We're now moving on to the Office of Superintendent of Insurance, agency code 440, so... ...to the Office
• So I'm glad, you know, this is the office that's ahead of it, or keeping with the renewable energy office

Bills: HB1

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• So we got police officers out there. They're doing their great job.
• If you see something on a motorcycle, the officer can make reason.
• It's a go-fish for the officers. $100. And it's a go-fish for the officers. $100 plus cost.
• Officer, I got, I see this going down the road.
• So basically that insulates the officer from making a mistake.

Committees: House Transportation , House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Transcript Highlights:

• At the WIC office, or I'm at the CalFresh office, being able to...
• Arambula and his office.
• Food Insecurity Officer.
• We will provide very soon... to your office a more specific fiscal estimate.
• Angela Short, Legislative Analyst's Office.

Transcript Highlights:

• And apologize if you said this, but what is the fiscal note for the Attorney General's office?
• This just clarifies that if the AG's office decision is appealed in court, the AG's office should be
• This just clarifies that if the AG's office decision is appealed in court, the AG's office should be
• That is more than the Attorney General's office spent on its own staff during that same time.
• We continue to spend more and more money on the Attorney General's office.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on March 2, 2026, and worked through two large groups of bills, hearing staff briefings, caucusing, and then voting each measure out to the Rules Committee. In the first group, the committee advanced bills on state accounts (HB 2675, with an amendment creating an adult day service facilities account), immigrant worker protections (2SHB 2105, after adopting a striker and Amendment 8 while rejecting amendments that would have changed enforcement and private rights of action), voting rights compliance (E3SHB 1710, with all proposed amendments rejected), AI content provenance and notices (E2SHB 1170, with Amendment 19 adopted to exempt state/local/tribal governments and certain video-game and technical uses), public official protections (2SHB 233, with a technical amendment adopted), WOTEC civil service coverage (HB 2249), JLARC work plan changes (HB 2120), LEOFF Plan 1 termination/restatement (E2SHB 2034, with several amendments adopted including creation of a pension surplus holding account and study directives, while proposals to redirect funds to the Climate Commitment Act or provide a lump-sum payment were rejected or withdrawn), supplemental retirement bargaining (HB 1069, with a striker adopted), port employee retirement exclusions (EHB 2179, with a striker adopted), local government revenue flexibility (ESHB 2442, with Amendment 72 adopted to remove a county public utility tax and other amendments rejected), wildfire mitigation funding (SHB 2089), and timberland REET changes (HB 1983). The committee also noted that it would not take action on some items in the packet, including SHB 1833. In the second group, the committee advanced bills on local housing tax remittance programs (ESHB 1717), renewable energy tax incentives and grants (E3SHB 1960, with a striking amendment adopted that adjusted rates, timing, and related provisions), nonprofit fundraising hall property tax relief (HB 2431), food bank sales tax relief (SB 6006), local tax increment financing (E2SHB 2451), temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health entities (SB 6297), school and child care-related sales tax exemptions (SSB 6351, with a substitute adopted and the competing amendment made out of order), behavioral health work group extension and leadership council creation (2SHB 2429), Working Connections Child Care changes (SB 6353, with Amendment 43 adopted), language access guidelines for state agencies (SHB 2475), unpaid wage recovery (2SHB 2479), firearms background check fee authority (HB 2521, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), public employee information sharing (HB 2091, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), and Office of Independent Investigations jurisdiction changes (ESHB 2508, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided). Throughout the meeting, members and staff discussed fiscal notes, implementation costs, and whether amendments would increase or reduce state impacts, with several amendments aimed at narrowing scope, delaying implementation, or shifting enforcement and funding responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> believe off duty the that um officers believe off duty the that um officers should<00:52:45.280>
• </c> office uh more participation. Thank you. office uh more participation. Thank you.
• </c><01:47:29.440><c> Incidental</c> enforcement officers. Incidental enforcement officers.
• </c><01:52:36.639><c> And</c> officer in my police department. And officer in my police department.
• They’re officers of federal law.

Bills: HF3433 , HF3402 , HF3412 , HF3405 , HF3404

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I know I can speak for Chelan County Sheriff's Office specifically.
• I'm the Special Operations Bureau Chief at Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.
• We have two officers in the valley. Covington's got a couple officers.
• Sheriff's office has drone operators that are great for a short time.
• I'm the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit Commander.

Summary: The committee heard six bills on January 27, 2026. Senate Bill 6084 would clarify the prohibition on voting more than once in an election, in response to a court ruling that interpreted “election” narrowly; the sponsor and Secretary of State’s office said the bill is meant to ensure a person votes only once in Washington or in one state and another on the same election date. Testimony was brief and supportive, and the hearing was closed with many people signed in pro and con but not testifying. Senate Bill 6044 would recognize Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas as a legislatively recognized day, and Senate Bill 5950 would add several non-legal holidays, including Sikh, Baha’i, Jewish, and Buddhist observances. Sponsors and supporters described the bills as a way to acknowledge minority faith traditions, promote inclusion, and help communities feel seen; testimony came from Jewish, Sikh, multi-faith, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Buddhist representatives. The committee recorded substantial support for both measures, with no opposition testimony, and closed both hearings. Senate Bill 6046 would establish the Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol within the Military Department to better coordinate volunteer aviation support for disasters, search and rescue, cybersecurity, and other missions. The sponsor, Military Department, Civil Air Patrol, and veterans’ representatives said it would improve command and control and help the state use Civil Air Patrol more efficiently at no added cost. Senate Bill 5763 would create a grant program for local law enforcement aviation support units and expand wildfire-related aviation support to sheriff’s offices; sheriffs and police chiefs strongly supported it as a way to sustain helicopter-based search and rescue and disaster response, while DNR raised concerns about wildfire aviation standards, liability, and possible bill drafting issues. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5784, which would require agencies to collect and report more detailed demographic data under updated federal standards; the sponsor said better disaggregation is needed for accountability and to identify disparities, and the Office of Equity supported the policy while noting fiscal and privacy concerns and the need for possible amendments. The meeting ended after the final hearing, with no votes taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prohibits former permanent employees of the Office of the Governor and Office of the Lieutenant Governor
• </c><00:01:19.600><c> of</c> the office of the governor and office of the office of the governor and
• </c><00:03:16.480><c> and</c> and lieutenant governor's offices and and lieutenant governor's offices
• </c> is employed as a school resource officer is employed as a school resource officer or<00:04:32.960
• </c> resource officers or investigators. resource officers or investigators.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Senate Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several measures. SB 2245 would tighten revolving-door restrictions for state employees by barring new employees from acting on matters they worked on before state service and imposing a 12-month post-employment restriction for certain former Governor and Lieutenant Governor staff; the Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters supported it, and the committee later passed it as is. SB 99 would allow certain retirees to return to work as school resource officers or investigators without losing retirement benefits; the Attorney General supported the investigator portion, ERS and other agencies offered comments and suggested amendments, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including changes from the Attorney General, ERS, and the Department of Law Enforcement, plus a far-future effective date. SB 2304, which would expand identity theft law to cover AI/deepfake or materially deceptive media impersonation, drew opposition from the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor over prosecution burdens and First Amendment concerns, while some prosecutors and others supported it; the committee deferred the bill. SB 2115, dealing with collective bargaining impasse procedures for repricing public employee classes, drew opposition from human resources officials who said arbitrators lack the technical expertise needed, while unions and HGA supported the measure; the committee deferred decision-making to a later hearing. The committee also heard SB 1036, a net neutrality bill that would bar broadband providers from blocking, prioritizing, or zero-rating traffic. Supporters argued Hawaii needs stronger consumer protections, while the Hawaii Broadband Office said it saw no current problem in Hawaii and warned the bill could affect federal BEAD funding unless exempted; the committee deferred the measure. SB 1163 would prohibit the sale of geolocation and browser data and data collected through microphone-based background apps; Consumer Protection supported the intent but urged a broader privacy framework, and the Honolulu Prosecutor sought an exemption for lawful law-enforcement investigations, which the committee later accepted along with Hawaiian Telecom’s proposed amendments before passing the bill with amendments. SB 2076 would update publicity-rights law to address AI/deepfake uses of a person’s likeness; testimony supported the goal and amendments from the Recording Industry Association of America, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including replacing references to AI/deepfake with “digital replica.” After hearing testimony, the committee recessed briefly to obtain quorum and then reconvened for decision-making. It adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 2245 as is, passed SB 99 with amendments, deferred SB 2304, deferred SB 2115 to a later hearing, deferred SB 1036, passed SB 1163 with amendments, and passed SB 2076 with amendments. The meeting then adjourned.