Transcript Highlights:

• For the benefit of the public looking, this is the report she's looking for, right?
• Given limited resources, what is the appropriate state role?
• And then for everybody's benefit, this is just panel one.
• to burn down so there's an individual benefit to not having that risk.
• CWMP has a higher average benefit-cost ratio.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> limiting</c><00:52:54.160><c> the</c> uh, limited uh, license limiting the uh, limited uh, license
• We'd also like to make sure that everyone who is able to benefit from this program and benefit all of
• </c> who can benefit from it. who can benefit from it.
• </c> that there are a lot of other benefits that there are a lot of other benefits that<01:08:32.160>
• </c> benefit from this program. benefit from this program.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provisions apply like fraternal benefits provisions apply like fraternal benefits societies<00:33
• And also, if they're an those benefits.
• </c> benefit societies through that process. benefit societies through that process.
• </c><01:20:28.480><c> of</c> our tax free status for the benefit of our tax free status for the benefit
• So now you're saying we have<03:35:53.120><c> this</c><03:35:53.520><c> limited</c> have this limited

Summary: The subcommittee took up the pooled risk management program bill and reviewed a new amendment drafted with input from the Insurance Department and Legislative Services. Department witnesses explained that the proposal would move oversight of pooled risk management programs from the Secretary of State’s office to the Insurance Department, add a licensure requirement, preserve the programs’ non-insurer status, and exempt them from third-party administrator licensure. They also described a series of solvency tools in the draft, including financial reporting, risk-based capital standards, minimum capitalization, investment limits, commissioner examination and enforcement authority, rulemaking authority, merger and affiliate-transaction review, confidentiality protections, and a separability clause. A major theme of the discussion was that pooled risk management programs differ from commercial insurers because the risk remains with the member local governments rather than being backed by a state guarantee fund. Witnesses said the bill is designed to emphasize solvency over return of premium and to give the Insurance Department a regulatory “toolbox” to prevent insolvency, including a proposed $5 million excess or stop-loss coverage benchmark, optional accessible policies, and a requirement that boards vote on dividends or premium returns when capital exceeds 600% of risk-based capital. Members questioned how this approach differed from the original Secretary of State bill and whether assessments on towns would still be possible; the department responded that the new framework would allow more flexible oversight and alternatives to immediate court action. The committee also discussed why the statute should continue to say the programs are not insurers, with the department explaining that this preserves their autonomy and avoids applying unrelated insurance laws and premium taxes. Members asked about the department’s workload and were told the department believed it could absorb the new duties without additional funding. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Licensed vocational nurses may perform limited respiratory care tasks and services and clarifies...
• Licensed vocational nurses may perform limited respiratory care tasks and services and clarifies required
• And, of course, when post-acute access is limited, it creates a ripple effect throughout the entire system
• SB 1363 authorizes the board to issue licenses to partnerships and limited liability corporations and
• There are so many times when we hear $1 of investment here creates $5 in benefit, and a lot of it is

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> vehicles they continue to have limited vehicles they continue to have limited access<01:01:25.119
• Prior to 2019, this benefit was a federal rule.
• Prior to 2019, this benefit was a federal rule.
• They too have benefited from the CANIF funding.
• They too have benefited from the CANIF funding.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• If the $5.90 limit or the $10 limit is exceeded, then prorating or a reduction in levies occurs, with
• of the $5.90 limit.
• There are two maximum per-pupil limits in effect for calendar year 2026: a limit of $3,838 for school
• rather than the per-pupil limit.
• As far as the levy limit, out...

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several bills. HB 2675 would eliminate a number of state accounts and transfer remaining balances from two accounts to the general fund, while also changing how revenues in the Salary Insurance Contribution Increase Revolving Account are deposited; OFM testified in support and there was no public opposition. SHB 1903 would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce, funded by the general fund and Climate Commitment Act revenues; supporters said it would address Washington’s underfunded and uneven energy assistance system, while utilities and rural co-ops raised concerns about cost, reporting burdens, utility authority, and implementation details. SHB 2384 would require actuarial reviews for certain continuing care retirement communities with prepaid life care contracts; residents and consumer advocates supported the added transparency, while providers opposed the added review costs and said they already pay for actuarial work. SHB 1982 would expand the ability of tribal members to vacate convictions tied to treaty rights, add OPD representation and a tribal liaison position, and then an amendment was described that would remove the liaison position and eliminate the fiscal impact; the sponsor and OPD supported the bill, and testimony emphasized correcting past treaty-rights convictions. The committee also heard SHB 2389, a broad juvenile justice bill that would expand suspended disposition options, create midpoint review hearings, reduce some robbery ranges, and address juvenile rehabilitation capacity and transfers. Supporters argued it would reduce racial disparities, favor community-based rehabilitation when safe, and improve outcomes, while prosecutors, sheriffs, counties, judges, cities, victim advocates, and some tribal law enforcement warned it would weaken accountability for serious violent offenses, increase court and local government burdens, and shift costs without funding. Several witnesses and the bill sponsor discussed proposed amendments, including removing presumptions and the mid-sentence review. The committee then heard SHB 2439, which would raise tobacco and vapor product license fees, create a responsible vendor program, add manufacturer certification and enforcement provisions, restrict certain products and sales practices, and redirect tobacco tax revenue to public health, cancer research, and youth prevention accounts; public health and prevention groups supported it, while retailers and industry representatives opposed the fee increases and some of the new restrictions. Finally, HB 2681 would sharply increase cannabis license fees and index them to inflation; OFM supported the change as aligning fees with program costs, while cannabis businesses and associations opposed or sought changes to the fee structure and CPI indexing. The committee also heard a briefing on SHB 2215, which would require the Caseload Forecast Council to forecast SNAP and state food assistance caseloads in light of upcoming federal cost-sharing changes; no questions were raised at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• While well-intended, this restricts limits and limits the pool of qualified individuals.
• Lastly, we have limited authority.
• As a reminder, I'm going to keep a strict time limit as two limits, so we can move on through here tonight
• As a reminder, I'm going to keep a strict time limit as two limits, so we can move on through here tonight
• They don't even have benefits.

Bills: HB1455 , HB1777 , HB2101 , HB2136 , HB2609 , HB3142 , HB3552 , HB3846 , HB4155 , HB4514 , HB4879 , HB4995 , HB5014 , HB5139 , HB5228 , HB5436 , HCR40

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The medical expertise on cannabis certification oversight is extremely limited.
• There's no benefit to that; that makes it harder.
• There's a period of time and expectations and limitations to when and who it could be sold for.
• Sorry, do we have a time limit?
• Expansion of ATCs is limited.

Summary: The work session focused on HB 54, which would allow New Hampshire’s alternative treatment centers to operate for profit. Chair David Nagel opened by identifying the main concerns: whether members agreed with the bill conceptually, whether the proposal could be shaped to avoid a gubernatorial veto, and whether it could lead to “big cannabis” taking over. He also emphasized that the bill would not change the existing oversight structure, which remained under RSA 126-X. Representative Wendy Thomas said the governor’s objections in past sessions appeared to center on the state’s preference for a state-run model and broader policy concerns, but no one present knew the current governor’s position. Several speakers argued the bill was primarily about financing and access, not expanding the number of dispensaries. Matt Simon of Granite Leaf Cannabis said the current nonprofit structure makes it difficult to raise capital, pay down debt, and open additional access points, and that the bill would be a corporate restructuring rather than a change in day-to-day regulation. Brandon Pollock of TASCAL Wellness said medical cannabis programs in most other states are for-profit, and that New Hampshire’s nonprofit requirement has left ATCs burdened with high-interest debt and higher prices that push patients to Maine, Vermont, or the street market. He said converting to for-profit status could allow conventional financing, lower prices, and help keep patients in the regulated program. Members also discussed whether for-profit ownership would invite outside corporate control. Witnesses said the bill would not open the market to new operators, would not change advertising rules, and would include restrictions on ownership transfers for a period of time; “foreign corporation” was explained as an out-of-state entity. One speaker noted that the bill is similar to earlier versions that passed both chambers with strong support but never became law. No vote was taken during the work session; the discussion was informational and aimed at addressing concerns before the bill moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's very limited intervention for these juveniles on a pretrial basis.
• I'm not really seeing the benefit to CPL owners of the proposed usage of this $100.
• But because of Washington sentencing laws, the judge's options were limited.
• We have limited safe harbor. We have the open...
• We have limited safe harbor. We have the open... And visitation. We have limited safe harbor.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2456, which would create a juvenile firearm early intervention alternative for youth charged in juvenile court with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. Staff explained that the program would require prosecutor agreement, intensive community supervision, random suspicionless searches, therapy and mentoring services, periodic court review, and dismissal of the charge upon successful completion. The bill would also raise concealed pistol license fees by $100 each and dedicate the revenue to a new account funding the alternative. Representative Davis said the bill is intended to fill the gap between firearm possession charges and later juvenile sentencing, and to fund evidence-based services; one member questioned whether the fee increase functions more like a tax than a fee. The chair then paused testimony on HB 2456 to return to the other bill. The bulk of the hearing focused on House Bill 2389, which would expand suspended disposition alternatives, reduce some juvenile robbery sentencing ranges, add a midpoint review for certain youth committed to DCYF, and create new rules for juvenile rehabilitation capacity and emergency transfers. Supporters, including youth currently or formerly in juvenile facilities, defense advocates, restorative justice providers, and some judges, argued the bill would reduce overcrowding, improve rehabilitation, address racial disparities, and give judges more individualized options. Several testified that youth need treatment, family connection, and incentives for progress rather than long confinement, and that current sentencing practices are outdated and underuse suspended dispositions. Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, county officials, victim advocates, and some judges, argued the bill would shift costs and responsibility to counties, require resources that do not exist, and weaken accountability for serious offenses such as robbery, assault, and trafficking. They raised concerns about expanded appeals, added court workload, the need for more staffing and programming, and the impact on victims and public safety. DCYF said it supports reducing overcrowding but wants clearer emergency transfer authority for Green Hill; facility staff described improved conditions as population has fallen, but said overcrowding still creates safety and programming problems. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then after that, ...economic benefit to Upper Skagit.
• Basically, their changes include compact changes for Appendix F, which is the Limitations Appendix.
• It includes the extension of credit and higher wager limitations, similar to other tribes, increased
• I have a question on the high-limit tables.
• I can assure you that Upper Skagit will use these funds both to its members' direct benefit, but also

Summary: The joint House and Senate committee meeting heard public presentations on tentative tribal gaming compact amendments for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Staff from the Washington State Gambling Commission explained the compacting process, the role of ex officio legislative members, and that both amendments would next go to a Gambling Commission hearing on January 8, 2026, where commissioners and ex officio members would vote on whether to forward them to the governor or send them back for further negotiation. Port Gamble S'Klallam Chairwoman Amber Caldera described the tribe’s history, lands, and how gaming revenue supports government services such as health care, housing, education, language and culture, natural resources, and community investment. Commission negotiator Johnny Bray summarized the proposed compact changes for Port Gamble as updates to Appendix F, including higher credit and wager limits, more gaming stations and player terminals, language for a second facility, and adoption of Appendix G for electronic table games. Members asked about pre-screening for high-limit tables and the tribe’s handling of problem gambling and self-exclusion, and tribal counsel said internal minimum control standards were still being developed. A question was also raised about funding for green crab removal, but the tribe said it would follow up with more details. Upper Skagit Indian Tribe attorney David Hawkins gave a historical overview of the tribe, its gaming operations, and how gaming revenue supports member programs such as nutrition assistance, education, and down payment aid, as well as local charitable contributions and emergency housing. He said the tribe is seeking the amendment to add electronic table games after removing traditional table games before COVID, in order to remain competitive. Committee questions focused on air quality and smoking areas, and Hawkins said the tribe maintains a non-smoking floor with separate smoking rooms and supports smoking cessation efforts. Chair Kauffman closed by thanking both tribes for their contributions to tribal members and the broader community, including education, housing, culture, health care, and natural resource protection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The patient was unable to navigate the insurance system and needed counseling regarding benefits.
• I’m an older adult on Social Security disability income benefits.
• We had very limited paid time off and holidays.
• Right now, many frail, low-income seniors in Massachusetts face limited options.
• We've seen the benefits firsthand.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several aging-related bills, with most speakers focusing on housing stability, home-based services, and care transitions. Representative Badger and a commissioner testified in support of H4039, which would create a universal breakfast and lunch program at senior centers funded through a new Senior Breakfast and Lunch Fund, arguing it would reduce food insecurity and social isolation among older adults. Representative Lipper-Garabedian and multiple providers then supported H780/S495, the hospital-to-home partnership program, describing how embedded aging-services liaisons help older patients transition safely from hospitals to home, reduce readmissions, and avoid nursing facility placement; witnesses from Mystic Valley Elder Services and Mass Aging Access cited pilot results, including hundreds of patients served and examples of substantial cost savings and successful discharge planning. The committee also took testimony on S478, which would require continuing care retirement communities to disclose entrance-fee refund policies more clearly at enrollment. Senator Lovely and LeadingAge Massachusetts said the bill would improve transparency for residents and families, while a consumer witness said her family experienced delays and confusion in getting a refund after her mother left a CCRC. Members noted the issue is also being examined by a special commission on CCRCs. A large portion of the hearing focused on S475, a statewide bridge subsidy program for older adults facing housing instability. Advocates from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Western Massachusetts, Somerville, Northampton, East Hampton, Old Colony Elder Services, and Somerville’s Office of Housing Stability described rising senior homelessness, long waitlists for subsidized housing, and cases where short-term rental assistance kept older adults housed while they waited for permanent housing. Somerville witnesses said the pilot program helped nine households remain housed and that some participants have since moved into permanent housing. Members asked about wait times, program design, and how to prioritize applicants; witnesses emphasized flexibility, emergency risk, and the need for a statewide expansion. The hearing also included testimony on S465, an ALS bill that would expand home care access regardless of age and bar the use of quality-adjusted life-year metrics in coverage decisions, with the sponsor and ALS Association arguing the measure would reduce discriminatory treatment and better center patient care. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will have zero benefit financially to the general fund.
• What is the benefit of that, or what will happen now?
• , the system-wide benefits, that these contributions can make.
• So that we can actually start to see the benefits, the system-wide benefits that these contributions
• You went way beyond 30 seconds, but I didn't tell you there was a limit.

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss budget issues related to vacant positions across several natural resources and environmental departments, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance explained the administration’s proposal to eliminate about 6,000 vacant positions statewide, including roughly 293 positions in the departments before the committee, as a way to capture salary savings and reduce flexible funding tied up in vacancies. The LAO recommended retaining special-funded positions, while noting that eliminating General Fund positions would reduce savings. Finance argued that vacancy levels have remained steady statewide, that departments need flexibility to manage operations and hard-to-fill jobs, and that some vacant positions can be reclassified to higher-priority work. Members raised concerns that many of the proposed eliminations would affect core public-safety, permitting, and environmental-protection functions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cuts would affect permitting, environmental protection, and law enforcement, while State Parks said its proposed ranger reductions were chosen from historically vacant, hard-to-fill positions and would still leave many vacancies to fill through the academy. The Coastal Commission said its positions supported sea-level rise planning under SB 272. The Department of Pesticide Regulation and DTSC said the reductions would affect multiple program areas, though Finance said the special funds involved were not in structural deficit and the cuts could help avoid future fee increases. The State Water Resources Control Board said its proposed reductions were spread across programs, with public-health functions protected as much as possible. The committee then heard an overview from the State Water Resources Control Board on its responsibilities for water quality, water rights, drinking water, and funding for water infrastructure. Chair Joaquin Esquivel described ongoing work on the Bay-Delta Plan update, the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreements, and the need to actively administer water rights. Members also discussed the board’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, which narrowed federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The board requested $2.6 million and 12 permanent positions to address resulting permitting and enforcement gaps; the LAO said the request met its high bar for new proposals and was supported by the board’s data and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• That statutory limit on that fund is 15% of the general fund appropriation, which equates to about $938
• So almost halfway through the biennium, we're in great shape on the limits that we have available.
• Their rule is a 60-day limit.
• Because I do think there was a weight limit on that bridge last time I was across it.
• I know it's one of the benefits of bringing some of these management, these, these, One of the benefits

Summary: The Budget Section met with a quorum, approved the December 10, 2025 minutes, and received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. OMB reported the state was about $2 million ahead of forecast biennium-to-date, with an estimated ending general fund balance of about $397.5 million. Joe Morset also reviewed balances in major funds, oil tax revenues, interest income, federal grant reporting, fiscal irregularities, the voluntary separation incentive program, vacancy savings, and the FTE pool. Members asked about the higher-than-forecast interest income, the effective oil tax rate and stripper-well production, the impact of temporary pay adjustments and vacancy savings, and whether the voluntary separation program could reduce institutional knowledge or shift duties to remaining staff. The committee then approved four Emergency Commission requests: $5.26 million for DPI to support an AI-enabled tutoring platform, $105,000 from the general fund contingency for Corrections GPS monitoring, about $1.963 million for HHS SPACES eligibility system upgrades tied to Medicaid work requirements, and about $1.2 million for SNAP eligibility IT improvements. Legislative Council reported remaining interim spending authority after those approvals, and NDIT gave an update on digital accessibility compliance efforts, saying the state has made substantial progress on websites and PDFs but that applications will take longer to remediate. NDIT also reported on the Infinite Campus student information system rollout, noting data migration remains the biggest challenge and that a supplemental vendor is being brought in to help get districts ready for summer go-live. Greg Hoffman then gave a brief update on NDIT’s operational fund, saying cash remains negative in PeopleSoft but accounts receivable keeps the fund functioning within federal limits. The Supreme Court reported on its new and vacant FTE funding pool, saying it has filled 7 of 10 new positions and has realized some vacancy savings, and Legislative Council provided a similar report for the legislative branch along with a reminder that budget action reports are available online. The Department of Transportation presented its Flexible Transportation Fund, explaining the fund’s allocation formulas and ranking process, and sought Budget Section approval for two projects over the $10 million threshold: a Medora city streets and sidewalk project and a Cass County bridge replacement. Members questioned whether funding Medora streets could set a precedent for city street reconstruction and whether the bridge application process fully reflects statewide needs. DOT said the projects were scored competitively and that the bridge list does not capture all deficiencies statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:52.560><c> manager</c> the single pharmacy benefit manager the single pharmacy benefit manager
• We don't know what the future limited.
• ,</c><01:19:15.880><c> and</c> they're stretched to their limits, and they're stretched to their limits
• </c><01:19:19.520><c> for</c> and cuts, reduced benefits for and cuts, reduced benefits for households
• We've always operated on really limited budgets.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• There's only a limited supply of housing.
• I am a resident of Lost Creek and live within the Lost Creek Limited District.
• The limited districts are allowed to continue to exist and provide those services.
• What's the benefit there, other than further regulation, further fees, taxation, etc.?
• Well, it sounds like it may only benefit... ...benefit the developer.

Bills: HB22 , SB250 , SB375 , SB536 , SB845 , SB1633 , SB1944 , SB1957 , SB2081 , SB2137 , SB2262 , SB2299 , SB2419 , SB2452 , SB2522 , SB2549 , SB2594 , SB2605 , SB2631 , SB2639 , SB2675 , SB3029 , SJR60 , HB22 , HB1392 , HB2525

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• It explicitly prohibits quantity limits on home care nursing services and clarifies how these services
• It explicitly prohibits<00:08:00.800><c> quantity</c><00:08:01.200><c> limits</c><00:08:01.600><c> on
• that treat ICU arbitrary visit limits that treat ICU level<00:08:30.880><c> care</c><00:08:31.640><c
• </c><00:15:40.160><c> plans</c><00:15:40.880><c> should</c><00:15:41.240><c> not</c> coverage benefit
• What happened was they changed their benefit plans for this coverage, but when you change that benefit

Summary: Senators and House members held a press event in support of HF 4188, a bill addressing commercial insurance coverage for home care nursing for medically complex children who also receive medical assistance. Speakers said the issue arose after Medica and HealthPartners began imposing caps on coverage that had been provided for years under Minnesota law, and argued that the change would shift costs to Medicaid and taxpayers, create budget pressure, and force families to reduce other needed services. They emphasized that home care nursing is distinct from short-term home health visits and said the bill would prohibit quantity limits and clarify that insurers must continue covering authorized nursing care. Parents and family members described the impact on children who depend on continuous skilled nursing to remain safely at home, including one family whose child Nash has spent extensive time hospitalized and another speaker who said her niece Isabel’s care showed how many nurses, aides, and hospice workers are involved in these cases. Testimony stressed that the coverage caps could lead to more hospitalizations, ICU stays, and trauma for children and families, while costing more overall than home care. Several lawmakers, including Sen. Matt Klein and Rep. Robert Bierman, said the statute’s original intent was clear in 2010 and that the plans’ reinterpretation and the Commerce Department’s response should be corrected. Lawmakers said the Commerce and Consumer Protection Conference Committee has completed its work but is being kept open for the remaining days of session in hopes of resolving the issue this year. In response to questions, supporters said the bill is intended as a clarification rather than a new mandate, that it would simply bar caps on already-authorized home care nursing, and that they believe there is support to move it through the House and Senate before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the EIDBI benefit is to provide early intervention for children and youth under 21 years
• It also identified a potential limit to DHS's current authority to withhold or reduce payments on the
• It's a little bit more limited. So you could only hold for 60 days, for example.
• It's a little bit more limited.
• That temporary period between the 60 days does limit that process.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also include biomass, including but not limited to forest and agricultural residues, thinnings
• We didn't want to set an arbitrary limit.
• This allows a very specific fund, the Law Enforcement Survivors Review Benefit Board.
• Keep it pretty limited. Yes, sir. Keep it limited.
• Would that effectively limit your exposure as well, or do you agree with those two thoughts or no?

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Committee on Appropriations met on April 7, 2026, with a quorum present. After housekeeping and announcements, the committee noted several bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 603, HB 619, HB 763, HB 810, HB 222, HB 490, and HB 981. The committee also recognized a visiting Jack and Jill group before taking up legislation. The committee reported favorably HB 82 on DWI penalties, HB 670 on wood pellet manufacturing, HB 672 on brick manufacturing, HB 773 on state procurement preferences for prison enterprises and nonprofits serving blind, disabled, and veteran workers, HB 145 on extraordinary medical and dental expenses for injured police and firefighters, HB 430 on health insurance coverage for families of Lafayette Parish officers killed in the line of duty, HB 143 on the per diem for housing state inmates in parish jails, HB 874 on adding credentials to LA Wallet, HB 160 on penalties for domestic violence strangulation offenses, HB 445 on moving the STEM Advisory Council to Louisiana Works, and HB 781 on fleet vehicle registration. HB 82, HB 670, and HB 773 were amended before passage; HB 430 also received amendments narrowing coverage terms and age limits. Most of the discussion centered on fiscal impact and policy scope. Members questioned whether several bills created new costs or unfunded mandates, and sponsors repeatedly emphasized zero or already-budgeted fiscal notes. HB 773 drew the most debate, with members raising concerns about competition, preferential treatment, and the shift from a 15% cap to fair market value; the sponsor said the bill was intended to give blind, disabled, and veteran-serving nonprofits a fair chance to compete. HB 145 prompted questions from the Louisiana Municipal Association about exposure and whether the benefit should already be covered by workers’ compensation, while HB 430 was narrowed to Lafayette Parish after concerns about statewide costs. The meeting ended with all remaining bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each primary witness will be limited to two minutes. I do have a timer.
• Each primary witness will be limited to two minutes.
• There is a limited resource. There is a current balance.
• It limits, sorry, it limits the adjudicated safe yield to be no more than the DWR, or I'm sorry, it limits
• One of the things about adjudications is that there is no statute of limitations.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to water, wildlife, wildfire preparedness, and local governance. AB 362, by Assembly Member Ramos, would add tribal water uses as a protected beneficial use and strengthen tribal consultation in water planning; tribal witnesses strongly supported it as a long-overdue correction, while water agencies, farm groups, and business groups opposed or opposed unless amended, citing concerns about CEQA, regulatory uncertainty, and Bay-Delta plan deadlines. After discussion about ongoing stakeholder meetings and the need to keep tribes at the table, the bill passed on a vote of 9-1-1 and was sent to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. AB 1089, by Assembly Member Carrillo, would expand local permitting authority under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act to include commercial and industrial projects. The author and the City of Adelanto argued it would reduce delays and support housing and economic development, while conservation groups opposed, saying it was premature and would weaken protections before the current system had been tested. The committee raised questions about Fish and Wildlife’s discretion, but the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1024, also by Carrillo, would require a regional plan to address escalating black bear conflicts in the San Gabriel Valley; Sierra Madre officials described a sharp rise in bear intrusions and supported the measure, and it passed unanimously to Appropriations. AB 846, by Assembly Member Connolly, would streamline permitting for local wildfire preparedness and vegetation management in local responsibility areas by creating a faster review process and better mapping coordination. Supporters from cities, fire chiefs, counties, and agriculture said it would reduce delays while preserving environmental review, and there was no opposition; it passed unanimously to Natural Resources. AB 263, by Assembly Member Rogers, would extend emergency minimum-flow regulations for the Scott and Shasta Rivers for up to five years or until permanent rules are adopted. Supporters, including the Yurok Tribe and conservation groups, said the measure protects salmon, tribal subsistence, and the fishing economy while permanent regulations are developed; opponents argued it bypassed normal administrative and CEQA processes and would harm farmers and water rights holders. The bill passed 9-2-1 to Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 1044, which would create a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency for undistricted lands in the Tule Subbasin after other agencies broke away, with the county saying it needed the structure to comply with SGMA and manage overdrafted groundwater. The bill passed unanimously to Local Government. The transcript ends as Assembly Member Caloza begins presenting AB 1426, which would establish the Diablo Range Conservation Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...concentrated in only a few parts of the state to benefit from all of the investments California
• Tighten up who will have more limitation to access to the patient record? Correct. Correct.
• This limited access to providers further exacerbates existing health care disparities.
• Because we were the first, the limits were narrow.
• If approved, however, the bill should at least be limited to handicapped drivers.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then took up a series of bills on business, professions, health, cannabis, and consumer protection. AB 72, creating an electric vehicle economic opportunity zone in Riverside County, drew questions about whether the state should target one region over others, but supporters argued it would help bring EV manufacturing and related jobs to the Inland Empire. The bill passed on a 8-1 vote to Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. AB 685, which would create the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Fund to support technical assistance and capital infusion programs, drew broad support from small business networks and chambers, but some groups raised concerns that the June amendments could affect eligibility and that the funding should be clearly supplemental rather than replacing existing support. The author said discussions were ongoing, and the bill passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 173, a resolution, on a 7-0 vote, and AB 1760, a Dental Practice Act cleanup bill sponsored by the Dental Board, on a 10-0 vote. AB 1637, which would limit changes to physician-authored medical records and make unauthorized alterations a misdemeanor, was supported by physicians and labor groups who said it would protect patient safety and professional accountability; it passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. AB 1785, allowing online sales of pseudoephedrine products with existing age and quantity safeguards, passed 10-0. AB 1973, expanding the ability of advanced practice clinicians to perform procedural abortions within their training, drew strong support from reproductive health providers and strong opposition from anti-abortion witnesses who raised safety concerns; after questions about training and oversight, it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. The committee then considered AB 2025, requiring disclosure when rental listings use digitally altered or AI-staged images. Supporters said it would prevent renters from being misled, while the California Apartment Association said it was working with the author on implementation; the bill passed 8-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection. AB 2697, allowing drive-through cannabis sales with local approval and security requirements, was supported by cannabis businesses and operators as a way to improve access and compete with the illicit market, while narcotics officers opposed it over ID verification and public safety concerns; it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. Finally, AB 2249, responding to a state audit on cannabis packaging attractive to children by defining prohibited imagery and creating a public rubric and pre-review process, received support from the cannabis operators association and the state auditor’s office, while small independent farmers raised concerns that some categorical bans could sweep too broadly. The transcript cuts off during that bill’s opposition testimony, and no final action on AB 2249 is shown in the excerpt.