Transcript Highlights:

• Abuse claims since the statute of limitations was eliminated.
• potential benefits to counties like Thurston.
• This bill is not limited to negligence or personal injury claims.
• we face are typically barred by a three-year statute of limitations, not the statute of limitations
• we face are typically barred by a three-year statute of limitations, not the statute of limitations

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6239, which would require civil arbitration for tort claims against the state and its subdivisions before trial. Staff explained current tort-claim procedures and said the bill would apply arbitration to claims of any dollar amount, with a fiscal note pending. The sponsor said Washington’s liability exposure is unusually high and argued the bill would promote early resolution without limiting jury trials, damage caps, or attorney fees. Members asked who pays for arbitration and whether trial rights are preserved; staff said costs are generally split and the bill preserves a jury trial de novo. Testimony on SB 6239 was sharply divided. Counties, cities, school districts, risk pools, and some public-safety groups supported the bill, saying rising liability and insurance costs are straining budgets and threatening core services. Opponents included trial lawyers, legal aid groups, victim advocates, journalists, and survivors of abuse, who argued the bill would create barriers to justice, delay relief, increase costs for claimants, reduce transparency, and retraumatize survivors by forcing private arbitration before a public trial. Several witnesses said the bill was too broad because it would cover employment, contract, and other claims, not just torts involving abuse or negligence. After public testimony closed, the committee noted the large number of sign-ins, with far more in opposition than in support. The committee then took up Senate Bill 6074, which would reinstate parole for certain felony offenses committed on or after July 1, 2027, allow eligible incarcerated people to petition the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board after serving 60% of their sentence, and create a parole implementation work group. Supporters said it would recognize rehabilitation and improve reentry, while some witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s prospective-only application, the 60% threshold, and the need to address racial disparities and parole criteria more fully. The sponsor said the parole bill was paired with tort-liability reform because criminal justice reform advocates have said liability changes are needed to restore parole in Washington.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if we're going to have term limits, then let's do it right.
• you for, I'm not for term limits.
• All people are going to be talking about term limits.
• All people are going to be talking about term limits.
• Term Limits. Another is the attorney for U.S. Term Limits.

Summary: The North Dakota House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then received a gubernatorial veto message on Senate Bill 2261. The governor vetoed the bill creating a prison industries workforce development tax credit, citing dormant Commerce Clause concerns and arguing the tax credit would create an unfair market advantage and not meaningfully help Rough Rider Industries. The House agreed to place SB 2261 on the next day’s calendar for a possible veto override. The chamber also re-referred Senate Bill 2159 to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and appointed a conference committee for Senate Bill 2133 after the Senate refused to concur with House amendments. The House then took up a series of Senate amendments and final passage votes on several bills. It concurred in amendments and passed House Bill 1140 naming the Specialist John P. Fettig, Iraq Bridge; House Bill 1241 allowing funeral home vehicles to display flashing purple lights and clarifying emergency vehicle lamp rules; House Bill 1316 imposing additional penalties for repeated violations of temporary restricted licenses; House Bill 1127 expanding Department of Financial Institutions authority and data security provisions; House Bill 1564 on Indian child welfare; House Bill 1167 requiring AI disclosure statements in political communications; House Bill 1170 on state employee annual leave; House Bill 1447 regulating virtual currency kiosks; House Bill 1278 creating a cash management board for state treasury funds; House Bill 1024, the deficiency appropriation bill; House Bill 1205 on newborn safety devices; House Bill 1204 expanding false-information rules for political ads to text messages and telephone calls; House Bill 1001, the governor’s budget; House Bill 1206 increasing penalties for DUI offenses involving a minor; House Bill 1088 on insurance penalties and restitution; and House Bill 1515 on motor vehicle warranty work compensation. Most passed with strong margins, though HB 1170 and HB 1024 drew notable opposition, and HB 1447 and HB 1204 also had several nays. The most extended debate came on Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008, which proposed a constitutional amendment to change legislative term limits from the current structure to four four-year terms and repeal a constitutional restriction on proposing such changes. Supporters argued the measure would preserve institutional knowledge, allow voters to reconsider the 2022 term-limit decision, and let the public decide on the ballot. Opponents said the people had already spoken, the measure was confusing or unnecessary, and it could distract from other ballot issues. After reconsideration was granted, the House passed SCR 4008 by a vote of 53 yeas to 39 nays. The session ended with announcements, committee meeting notices, and adjournment until April 3, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony may be limited.
• We're talking about limited tax rates by reducing the hold harmless provisions.
• These policies are often sold as a benefit to taxpayers, and others today have...
• Short-term renting has benefits.
• We might have a very limited amount of...

Bills: HB329 , HB361 , HB546 , HB1547 , HB1745 , HB2786 , HB3235 , HB3370 , HB3575 , HJR83

Committee: House S/C on Property Tax Appraisals

Keywords: appraisal, property value, residential real estate, tax code, appraisal review board, property owners, property tax, homeowners, property owner rights, property appraisal, taxation, Texas Tax Code, real estate, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, market value, condemnation, tax appraisal, open-space land, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• States like Kentucky, Florida, and Texas have already implemented stricter limits on adjuster fees to
• This has led insurance companies to either limit policies.
• They're limiting new policies.
• This has led insurance companies to either limit policies.
• They're limiting new policies.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 597, a bill to strengthen consumer protections for disaster survivors who use public adjusters. The author and the Department of Insurance said the measure would cap public adjuster fees at 15% for claims tied to declared disasters, require clearer contracts, prohibit solicitation during emergency conditions, and allow consumers to rescind contracts that were solicited during prohibited periods. Insurance industry groups supported the bill, while public adjuster representatives opposed it as written but said they were willing to work on revisions. The committee approved the bill and re-referred it to Appropriations; the roll call was ultimately recorded as 16-0. The committee then held its fourth oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, with Commissioner Ricardo Lara giving an extensive update on wildfire-related market reforms and consumer protections. He said the recent Southern California wildfires had not derailed the strategy and described actions including advance claim payments, a one-year moratorium on residential non-renewals in affected areas, a new fraud strike team, smoke-damage claim guidance, additional living expense protections, and a consumer claims tracker. He reported more than $12.1 billion in claims paid, over 37,000 claims filed, and more than 7,000 survivors assisted directly. He also discussed related bills and reforms, including AB 597, SB 495, SB 547, SB 429, SB 616, AB 888, and AB 2026. Members questioned the commissioner about the Fair Plan’s growing exposure, the $1 billion assessment, rate increases, non-renewals, underinsurance, and whether the reforms would actually stabilize the market. Lara said the assessment was already approved, that policyholders would not be hit with one large bill because insurers have two years to recover costs, and that the department was pushing insurers to use catastrophe modeling and reinsurance tools in exchange for commitments to write more policies in wildfire-distressed areas. He said the department expects to see market stabilization by 2026, though he emphasized the timeline depends on insurer participation, implementation of the new regulations, and future disaster activity. Members generally expressed support for the goals of the strategy while pressing for clearer expectations for consumers and faster action on mitigation and market reform.

Transcript Highlights:

• They rely heavily on very limited anecdotes, but the data shows that only a statistically insignificant
• To be clear, they agreed to network contracts because it provides them a massive benefit, which is patients
• Providers are in the contracts because they benefit from them.
• We believe that investments of union members' defined benefit pension contributions by public pension
• would be allowed to claw back benefits received.

Summary: The Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee heard and advanced several bills covering workers’ compensation transparency, public pensions, prevailing wage, workplace harassment training, and employee benefits. AB 1048 would require disclosure of the contract justifying reduced workers’ compensation payments to medical providers; supporters said it would improve transparency without changing reimbursement rates, while opponents argued the problem was overstated and existing dispute remedies were sufficient. AB 1601 would give Sonoma County flexibility to target a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees rather than requiring an all-or-nothing COLA; county and union witnesses said retirees have gone without a COLA since 2008 and have lost purchasing power, and the bill passed unanimously. AB 1439 would commission a UC Berkeley study on labor standards in pension-funded real estate and infrastructure projects; labor groups supported it, while local governments, housing, and industry groups opposed it, and it passed on a 4-1 vote after one senator voted no in committee. The committee also heard AB 1697, which would delay implementation of a prior law restricting certain employment debt and pay-to-quit arrangements until 2027; the author said the delay would give employers, including professional sports leagues, time to adjust, while a financial services group sought a further delay to 2028. AB 1803 would require anti-hate speech content in existing workplace harassment training for employers with five or more employees; supporters cited rising antisemitic and other hate incidents and said the bill would help workers recognize and report hate, while opponents raised First Amendment concerns and argued existing harassment law already covers hostile conduct. AB 2120 would extend Los Angeles Unified’s selective certification hiring authority and allow retention of specialized employees in layoffs, and AB 2292 would bar providers from charging administrative fees for disability insurance and paid family leave certification forms; both drew support and were advanced without opposition testimony. AB 1198, the Fair Pay for Construction Workers Act, would require prevailing wage to be based on the time work is performed rather than the date a project is advertised for bid. Labor and contractor supporters said the current rule can lock in outdated wages and underpay workers on long projects and change orders, while cities, counties, and contractor groups warned it would create uncertainty, raise costs, and jeopardize projects funded by fixed grants or bonds. After testimony and questions, the committee voted to send all of the bills forward, with final recorded votes later showing unanimous or near-unanimous approval and several measures placed on call before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They rely heavily on very limited anecdotes, but the data shows that only a statistically insignificant
• To be clear, they agreed to network contracts because it provides them a massive benefit, which is patients
• Providers are in the contracts because they benefit from them.
• We believe that investments of union members' defined benefit pension contributions by public pension
• would be allowed to claw back benefits received.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• They're aware that the apprentice may be coming in with limited experience, might be very green, and
• We have a lot of programs there, but we're not limited just to the trades.
• For a few years, it was only available for a limited number of languages.
• And obviously, people have limited contracts, right? Limited salary levels.
• So the sky is the limit type is what we really like to say.

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee met to discuss how registered apprenticeships could help address workforce shortages in disability services, human services, and other high-need fields. Co-chairs and staff introduced the session as a practical overview of apprenticeship pathways, with a focus on how employers, intermediaries, and training providers can work together to build programs. The discussion emphasized that apprenticeships can be used not only in the trades, but also in health care, early childhood education, medical interpreting, and other occupations facing recruitment and retention problems. Amara Ramon of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards explained the structure of registered apprenticeships in Massachusetts, including employer-led on-the-job training, related technical instruction, wage progression, credentialing, and state support through templates, compliance oversight, and grants. Melissa Sebeli described her role as an intermediary at the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, saying intermediaries help employers design, register, and manage programs, recruit apprentices, and keep programs compliant. She said the model offers employers a pipeline of workers, retention benefits, tax credits, and flexibility to tailor training to local needs. Lisa Morris described a new apprenticeship for medical interpreters, built from an existing training program and employer demand for experience, with a pre-apprenticeship, 2,000 hours of work-based learning, and related technical instruction tied to certification requirements. Members and attendees asked about where apprentices come from, how employers recruit, how wages are set, and whether state agencies or workforce boards can serve as intermediaries. Speakers said recruitment can come from career centers, youth programs, incumbent workers, community colleges, job fairs, ESL centers, and community-based organizations. They also discussed accommodations and modified curricula for people with intellectual, developmental, and neurodiverse disabilities, citing Bridgewater State’s Excel program as an example. No votes were taken; the meeting concluded with encouragement for organizations to contact the presenters or Division of Apprenticeship Standards to explore apprenticeship options and with notice that materials and the recording would be posted online.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, let me ask a different question: is there any limit at all that you would assign to how much
• We're going to take this group and add an extra defined contribution benefit.
• There's limits to how much they can put in for the particular account.
• So our ag property owners, they benefit from the lower property tax that they pay, but they also get
• Are we now going to, are they going to invite us out there because it's to their benefit?

Bills: SB1180 , SB1215 , SB1270 , SB1290 , SB1292 , SB1294 , SB1430 , SCR1028

Committees: Senate Finance , Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Keywords: SB1270, Arizona retirement system, public safety personnel, defined contribution plan, correctional officers, corrections officers, retirement contributions, supplemental contributions, retention incentive, recruitment incentive, employer contribution, employee contribution, vesting, annuity account, public employee retirement, PSPRS, public safety retirement, correctional facility staff, prison guards, state pension

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> they limit career trajectory growth. they limit career trajectory growth.
• </c><00:10:41.519><c> yourself</c> but if you really can um limit yourself but if you really can um limit
• </c> because it is a transferable benefit because it is a transferable benefit that<00:36:44.000><c>
• </c><00:59:33.920><c> that</c> still cannot afford the benefits that still cannot afford the benefits
• </c> provide robust and varying benefit provide robust and varying benefit packages<01:15:45.360><c>

Bills: HF3889 , HF2567 , HF3878

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workforce development, grant program, employment, economic development, funding, employment contract, labor policy, employee rights, unconscionable provisions, public policy, legal enforcement, airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> operating thereby negating its benefits operating thereby negating its benefits including<00:14:
• , you know, the limitation on liability for those who reject from the fund.
• , you know, the limitation on liability for those who reject from the fund.
• The bill is really to the benefit of the customers.
• </c><00:46:15.920><c> to</c> renters it would negate its benefit to renters it would negate its benefit

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on HB 982 HD1, a wildfire-related measure aimed at creating a wildfire recovery fund and a financing structure to address future catastrophic wildfire liability. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, and the Public Utilities Commission submitted comments and were available for questions. Supporters included IBW Local 1260, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Clearway Energy Group, Hawaiian Electric, Par Hawaii, and others, while Charter Communications and the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed or raised concerns. Life of the Land supported the bill but urged changes to the definition of a catastrophic wildfire and noted concerns about prudency review language. IBW Local 1260 asked to restore language from the original draft, and Charter warned the bill could impair existing contract and indemnity rights unless amended. A major focus of the hearing was Hawaiian Electric’s position on the HD1 version. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the original bill but objected to the HD1 requirement for an additional $500 million shareholder contribution, arguing it was not feasible and could delay or prevent the fund from operating. The company said the bill would help protect customers and improve credit ratings by creating a dedicated revenue stream and a bankruptcy-remote financing structure, which it said would lower borrowing costs over time. Members questioned how the $1 billion securitization amount was chosen, whether credit rating agencies had indicated it was sufficient, and how the bill would work in bankruptcy; Hawaiian Electric said the amount was a balance among interests, not based on a specific agency directive, and that it would follow up on bankruptcy questions. Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about liability caps, the new claims process, and unclear language on damages above the fund’s limits. The Hawaii Association for Justice argued the bill limits victims’ remedies and gives too much authority to the new entity without clear guardrails. Committee members also pressed Hawaiian Electric on comparisons to California, the feasibility of the shareholder contribution, and whether alternative capital-raising or divestiture options had been considered. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; testimony and questioning continued with follow-up information requested from Hawaiian Electric and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• This will limit the pool of qualified candidates to serve in our state and local agencies. Why?
• limit the contracting ability for other services.
• And so an example of an... ...that limit the contracting ability for other services.
• I mean, is this something that's going to benefit the consumer in general?
• Yeah, the intent of this is to not limit access to care.

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:53.920><c> or</c> funding to set up a defined benefit or funding to set up a defined benefit
• for taking the benefit away.
• benefits if they remarry.
• for taking the benefit away.
• </c><00:57:16.240><c> for</c> slippery slope of expanding benefits for slippery slope of expanding benefits

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• allow developmentally disabled adults to enter the workforce without compromising their Medicaid benefits
• who are employed and enrolled in a Medicaid waiver program to have income of 550% of the federal benefit
• workers who told me that my only option to keep my Medicaid benefits was to work part-time.
• of in-home care. ...dollars per month in premiums and does not provide the benefit of in-home care.
• Next, we will take up Tab 4, SB 1594 on veteran benefit payments to minor clients by Senator Gates.

Bills: S1002 , S1016 , S1030 , S1594 , S1630

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The committee considered several bills affecting children, disability services, aging, recovery residences, and foster youth benefits. SB 1016 codified the working people with disabilities program for Medicaid waiver recipients, with amendments removing automatic enrollment and improving information sharing between agencies; advocates testified that the program helps people with developmental disabilities work while keeping needed care, though they raised implementation and training concerns. The bill was reported favorably. SB 1002, as amended, clarified that evidence of acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect in child welfare cases and allow court intervention and treatment requirements; it was also reported favorably. SB 1594 would preserve veterans’ benefits for foster youth for postsecondary education or aftercare rather than using them as reimbursement to the agency, and it passed favorably. SB 1630 modernized aging and long-term care statutes, expanded emergency service authority, updated oversight of area agencies on aging and guardianship, and permanently established the Florida Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence; after two amendments, it was reported favorably. SB 1030, on recovery residences/substance abuse services, was amended with a substitute that narrowed transfer definitions, sped licensure for existing providers adding levels of care, and limited credentialing entities’ access to resident records; members noted it remained a work in progress, but it was reported favorably. The committee also held confirmation hearings. Robert Astellos, nominated as Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, described efforts to reduce the pre-enrollment list, improve transparency and customer service, expand family involvement, and streamline agency processes; multiple advocacy groups appeared in support, and the committee recommended his confirmation. The committee then unanimously recommended confirmation of the appointees on tabs 7 through 10. The meeting concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• report makes something very clear: access to sport is deeply uneven, and so are the mental health benefits
• It ensures that mental health support is not limited just to clinical settings, but integrated into one
• So you don't have concerns that some districts will face harsher impacts due to limited resources and
• Current law limits eligibility for the California motion picture tax credit primarily to projects that
• The cuckoo gets all the benefit. Let's be clear.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on youth health, sports, and entertainment access. AB 1626 would require mental health training for youth sports coaches and create a model training for recreational and club coaches; supporters said coaches are often the first adults to notice mental health struggles, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Assembly Education Committee. AB 1884, as amended, would allow school districts that already use athletic drug-testing programs to add nicotine testing, with safeguards limiting disclosure and removing earlier punitive provisions; supporters framed it as a response to youth vaping, while opponents warned it could stigmatize students, discourage participation in extracurriculars, and burden schools. The bill passed 3-2 to the Assembly Education Committee, with some members still expressing reservations but supporting it after amendments. AB 2503 addressed heat guidelines for desert school athletics, seeking flexibility in wet-bulb temperature rules so practices and games would not be pushed so heavily into evening hours. The author and a desert athletic trainer argued current standards do not reflect local acclimatization and create scheduling burdens; the bill passed 5-0 to the Assembly Education Committee. AB 1954, the PAR Act, would require third-party golf reservation platforms to have written authorization from municipal golf course operators before listing or reselling tee times, aimed at stopping inflated resale of public golf reservations. Supporters from city and golf organizations said the bill would protect affordable access to public courses; it passed 5-0 to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. The committee also heard AB 2319, which would create a standalone California post-production tax credit to keep editorial, sound, visual effects, and finishing work in-state even when principal photography occurs elsewhere. Labor and industry witnesses said California is losing post-production jobs to other jurisdictions and urged the bill be amended to include stronger labor standards; the bill passed to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. Finally, AB 1720, the California Fans First Act, would cap resale prices for concert and live entertainment tickets at no more than 10% above face value, excluding sporting events and certain season-ticket arrangements. The author argued the bill would curb scalping and make live events more affordable for fans.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's one of the key benefits of doing it.
• </c> drafting is including but not limited drafting is including but not limited to. to. to.
• </c> there is includes but not limited to. there is includes but not limited to.
• </c><01:40:41.600><c> their</c> but this is rather to limit their but this is rather to limit their ability
• </c><03:26:45.920><c> of</c> offered uh is not having the benefit of offered uh is not having the benefit

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• With UCare closing, the limits this limited patients even further, limiting just three health plans for
• . benefits. benefits.
• ><c> further,</c> limits limited patients even further, limits limited patients even further, limiting
• </c><01:14:08.320><c> access</c> Uh contracting exists to limit access Uh contracting exists to limit
• </c> the administration of the EIDBI benefit. the administration of the EIDBI benefit.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• political or ideological beliefs as a condition of admission, employment, promotion, or access to benefits
• Will this bill limit that ability to have that freedom of having individuals who are going to be able
• Like, it does go to—like, they do benefit from it.
• </c><00:12:21.640><c> And</c><00:12:21.760><c> we</c> Like they do benefit from it.
• And we Like they do benefit from it.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, there's limits in the bill. So now there's, it's unlimited? No, there's limits in the bill.
• Well, there was a limit, but your amendment removed the limit. Is that correct?
• Can you show me where there's the limit? Can you show me where there's the limit?
• There used to be a $1 million limit. Now there's a $50,000 limit, but that's not for contributions.
• I believe that 50K limits only on the counties. I believe that 50K limits only on the counties.

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've hit a deer from Shelton city limits all...
• I've hit a deer from Shelton city limits all the way up to the Hood Canal Bridge.
• We got to see the benefits of that wildlife crossing. Yeah, no, it was great. It was amazing.
• The question is, do we want to bring the benefit here to Washington State?
• limit signs for maximum lawful speed restrictions to apply.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• them for Revenue purposes but benefits them for Revenue purposes but also<00:15:36.600><c> benefits<
• Why would we limit a big state expenditure with a solar farm?
• So you want to discount the climate benefits, you want to discount the health benefits, and just say,
• ><c> what</c><00:52:46.640><c> do</c> the health benefits and just say what do the health benefits and
• </c> you can see that we have uh benefits you can see that we have uh benefits that<00:59:09.280><c>

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy