Transcript Highlights:

• And that those Olympics that was there. And that those Olympics that was there.
• Video game to a cellular network. Video game to a cellular network.
• Two, apply to a video game 2025. Two, apply to a video game 2025.
• or or an afternoon baseball game games or or an afternoon baseball game games or or an afternoon baseball
• , college uh uh high school ball games, college uh uh high school ball games, college ball games, you

Transcript Highlights:

• and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
• Then the bill includes broad CEQA exemptions for the Olympic Games.
• and Paralympic Games.
• There are also many Dodgers fans who tonight are going to see an incredible game. It's one-to-one.
• If I hadn't gotten up to speak, would the Giants win the game? I don't know.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor session focused largely on concurrence votes on Senate amendments and a few budget-related motions. Early procedural actions included a failed motion to send AB 1207 to the inactive file, approval of motions to take up Senate amendments without reference to file, and recesses for dinner and committee meetings. The chamber also heard several guest introductions and brief ceremonial remarks, including birthday acknowledgments and recognition of interns and visitors. Members then considered and passed a series of measures on topics including armory property transfers (SB 855), data center electricity impacts (SB 57), carbon capture pipeline transport (SB 614), health budget trailer bills (AB 144 and AB 149), and a Black Caucus higher-education bill allowing institutions to consider descendants of enslaved people in admissions (AB 7). The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments on bills covering community college nursing programs (AB 1400), public health, signage for the Los Angeles Convention Center, gambling, social media warning labels for children, housing plan-check timelines, small business disaster recovery, wildfire mental health services, antitrust enforcement, foster care kinship placements, housing stability, AI cybersecurity, emergency services, and school nutrition standards. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew dissenting votes or brief debate over policy details. The most extended debate came on SB 274, which would limit retention of automated license plate reader data to 60 days unless tied to an investigation. Supporters argued it was needed to protect privacy and prevent misuse of sensitive location data, while opponents said it would hinder law enforcement and crime-solving. The transcript cuts off during that debate, so no final vote is shown for SB 274 in the provided text. Earlier and later votes recorded in the session showed broad support for many bills, with several measures passing unanimously and others receiving modest no votes, and some urgency measures being sent immediately to the Governor or the Senate after concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• my daughter and explain to her why she can no longer play Roblox the way she used to, why certain games
• Through social media, gaming platforms, and apps designed to look harmless.
• So as we prepare for the World Cup and the Olympics to come to the United States, law enforcement and
• We have seen it over and over again when there are big games in our state. Human trafficking rises.
• These perpetrators are in the gaming system.

Transcript Highlights:

• really hard to make the team or in the hopes maybe of getting a scholarship or even going to the Olympics
• And for a lot of students, competition just means winning a game or winning a season.
• It's about whether they can go to the Olympics, like I've heard other people say.
• And at that elite level, there's a filtering effect where it's a zero-sum game.
• They actually are personally liable so that they have some skin in the game to ensure that they actually

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Education approved the minutes from February 18 and March 4, 2026, then took up several bills. HCR 2003, the “Protect Girls in Sports in Arizona Act,” drew extensive testimony. Supporters, including Superintendent Tom Horne, argued it would protect fairness, safety, and privacy in girls’ sports and locker rooms by requiring teams to be designated male, female, or co-ed and by limiting access to sex-designated private spaces. Opponents, including ACLU and transgender advocates, said the measure was discriminatory, would function as a bathroom ban, and could force schools to police students’ bodies and identities. The committee voted 4-3 to give HCR 2003 a due pass recommendation. The committee then advanced HB 2020, which lowers certain student threats or disruptions at educational institutions from a Class 6 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor, and HB 2032, which changes the statewide testing window so assessments begin later in the spring and scores are returned later, with supporters saying it would better reflect a full year of instruction. HB 2033, allowing school districts or charter schools to choose paper-and-pencil administration of statewide assessments by governing board vote, also received support from educators who said it would reduce technology barriers for younger students. HB 2318, as amended, would impose term limits on school district governing board members after eight consecutive years; school board groups opposed it as harmful to rural districts, but the committee adopted an amendment and gave the bill a due pass recommendation. The committee also approved HB 2378, which changes eligibility rules for School Facilities Oversight Board members who are architects or engineers so their businesses may not include school construction. HB 2313, which prohibits teacher strikes or organized work stoppages and ties funding penalties to districts or charters that violate the ban, advanced despite testimony that it duplicates existing law and could chill educators’ speech and worsen staffing shortages. Finally, HB 2249, a major expansion of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, passed after heated testimony. Supporters said it would prevent schools from socially transitioning minors without written parental consent and stop staff from encouraging children to hide information from parents; opponents warned it was vague, punitive, and would expose teachers and schools to massive liability and litigation. The committee adopted amendments on HB 2318 and HB 2249 and reported all of the listed bills out with due pass recommendations, with recorded split votes on several measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mary's is currently riding a 61-game league winning streak. St.
• Mary's is currently riding a 61-game league winning streak, dating back to 2013, the ninth longest in
• In the championship game against Bakersfield Christian, wide receiver Ion Huarda finished with 171 yards
• My favorite image from this Olympics is someone who put up a sign.
• Just because you make a shell game, I don't know. Immigrants' health care.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through privileges of the floor to recognize several guests, including the St. Mary’s High School football team from Stockton for winning the 2025 state championship, Black-owned businesses honored by the California Legislative Black Caucus and California Black Chamber of Commerce, and students and guests visiting the Capitol. The Rules Committee reported Senate Resolution 77 to third reading, and the Senate approved the journals and proceeded to the daily file. The chamber then confirmed Tyler Sadwith as Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs at the Department of Health Care Services by a 33-0 vote. The main floor action was on Senate Resolution 77, which condemned racist and dehumanizing imagery shared by President Donald Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Numerous senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, framing the post as racist, dangerous, and part of a broader pattern of dehumanization; one Republican senator objected to the resolution’s language and process but said racism should be condemned. SR 77 was adopted on a 28-0 vote. The Senate then took up SB 106, a budget bill to create a one-time $90 million grant program to support family planning providers after federal cuts under H.R. 1 reduced reimbursements to Planned Parenthood and similar clinics. Supporters said the measure would preserve access to reproductive and preventive health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents criticized the bill for secrecy, no-bid contracting, and prioritizing abortion-related services over other budget needs such as rural hospitals and developmental disability services. After debate, the Assembly amendments were concurred in by a 26-9 vote. At the end of the session, the Senate moved to adjournment in memory, with Senator Choi offering a remembrance for Mitzi Ortiz, the city manager of Aliso Viejo, who died on December 22, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• A number of those are Olympic cities, I'll note as well.
• that BART had its biggest day of ridership ever due to people using it to get to and from a Giants game
• . ...and they do want to go to the concerts, and they do want to go to the Olympic venues.
• have had complaints in the southern part of Orange County about someone wanting to go to a Padres game
• And it had been full for three days because she looked three days before the game and couldn't get a

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, with testimony focused on transportation safety, enforcement, privacy, curb management, rail service, and high-speed rail. SB 953 by Senator Nilo would require two DMV points to be applied in misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter cases even if the criminal case is dismissed through diversion; supporters, including a victim’s mother and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the bill would prevent serious fatal crashes from disappearing from driving records, while no opposition was presented. SB 1292 by Senator Richardson would authorize selected cities to use stationary cameras or sensors to enforce curb and loading-zone rules, with human review of citations and a pilot-style, optional local framework; supporters argued it would improve safety, turnover, and compliance, while privacy concerns were noted but softened by amendments, and the bill drew neutral or conditional support from some groups. The committee also heard SB 1228 by Senator Rubio, which would create a permanent compliance path for a small number of existing redevelopment-era outdoor advertising displays. Supporters said the bill would preserve local revenue and avoid penalties for legally established signs, while the California State Outdoor Advertising Association opposed it over federal highway beautification compliance and fairness concerns. SB 1013 by Senator Cervantes would tighten safeguards for automated license plate reader systems by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, limits on data retention, and restrictions on hot lists and queries; privacy advocates supported the bill as a response to documented misuse, while sheriffs and narcotics officers opposed it as an unnecessary restriction on a valuable law-enforcement tool. The committee voted to move SB 1013, but the roll call was 4-1 and the bill remained on call. Other measures discussed included SB 1218 by Senator Arreguín, which would block vehicle registration renewal for owners with unpaid illegal dumping fines, using a process similar to unpaid parking citations; Oakland officials and several local government and waste-management groups supported it as an accountability tool, and the bill passed committee on an 8-0 vote and remained on call. SB 1136 by Senator Blakespear would require rail agencies to better coordinate service, fares, and trip planning for large events and intercity/regional rail connections; supporters said it could boost ridership and make rail more useful for major venues, and it also passed 8-0 and remained on call. The committee also advanced the chair’s SB 1425, which would create a permitting program for new encroachments along the high-speed rail right-of-way; supporters said it would help protect the project and manage utilities and other uses, while some utilities and the City of Burbank raised concerns, and the bill passed 8-1 and remained on call. Finally, SB 1411 by Senator Stern would expand high-speed rail authority to pursue public-private partnerships and early works, remove a project cap, and support bookend investments; it drew broad support from transit, labor, and rail groups, with some local agencies noting amended concerns, and the discussion continued as the hearing moved toward the final bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• really hard to make the team or in the hopes maybe of getting a scholarship or even going to the Olympics
• And for a lot of students, competition just means winning a game or winning a season.
• It's about whether they can go to the Olympics, like I've heard other people say.
• And at that elite level, there's a filtering effect where it's a zero-sum game.
• They actually are personally liable, so that they have some skin in the game to ensure that they actually

Bills: HB2020 , HB2032 , HB2033 , HB2249 , HB2313 , HB2318 , HB2378 , HCR2003

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Keywords: interference, disruption, educational institutions, public order, conduct rules, statewide assessment, student testing, academic standards, third grade reading, reading retention, promotion and retention, school accountability, assessment window, testing window, test scores, school report cards, nontest data, graduation rates, dropout rates, education data privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Williams, the Pipeline President and Operations Manager for Olympic.
• Olympic conducts these inspections more frequently; we inspect them biweekly.
• Most jet fuel for most of the airports in the region run through Olympic Pipeline.
• We believe that the Olympic pipeline can't continue, resilience.
• We rely almost entirely on Olympic Pipeline for the fuel that comes into SEA.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Williams, the Pipeline President and Operations Manager for Olympic.
• Olympic conducts these inspections more frequently; we inspect them biweekly.
• Then call the Olympic Pipeline Control Center.
• Most jet fuel for most of the airports in the region runs through Olympic Pipeline.
• We believe that the Olympic pipeline can't continue, resilience.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on January 20, 2006, for two work sessions focused first on aircraft fuel pipeline resiliency and then on flooding impacts to the state highway system. On the fuel topic, BP and Olympic Pipeline described the pipeline system serving Washington and Oregon, its regulatory oversight, inspection and leak-detection programs, and the November 11 Mile Post 78 release near Everett. Witnesses said the leak was initially too small for the system to detect, was found by a farm worker, and led to shutdowns, excavation, soil removal, and repairs while the site later faced flooding that complicated access but did not stop both lines from remaining operational. Committee members questioned why the leak was not detected sooner, how much fuel was released, and what safeguards exist for future environmental protection. BP also described emergency response and recovery efforts, including trucked fuel deliveries to Sea-Tac and coordination with refineries and Canadian partners. The Port of Seattle and Alaska Airlines explained the airport response, including expanded truck offloading capacity, fire and police support, communication with airlines and other airports, reduced fuel use, and the impact on flights. Tim Zenk of Earth Finance argued that Washington’s fuel system lacks redundancy and that regional renewable fuels production and storage, including sustainable aviation fuel, could improve resilience; he suggested a regional goal of producing at least 33% of fuels locally. The committee then heard from WSDOT on the December flooding and storm damage. Emergency manager John Hemel and Olympic Regional Administrator Steve Rourke described statewide emergency operations, use of WebEOC tracking, and efforts to secure FEMA and FHWA funding. They said the state EOC was activated for 10 days, four regional EOCs were activated, and more than 100 sites were impacted. WSDOT reported roughly 50 emergency work sites, about 16 emergency contracts, and a preliminary damage estimate of $40 million to $50 million. They reviewed major repairs on US 2, I-90, SR 12, SR 410, SR 542, and US 101, noting that some roads reopened quickly with temporary fixes while others would require later permanent work and environmental permitting. Members asked about the 30-working-day emergency contracting authority, federal reimbursement, and whether emergency response contracting methods could be used to speed ordinary projects. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have also seen him raise money for Special Olympics, coordinate police and fire games.
• I have also seen him raise money for Special Olympics, coordinate police and fire games.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy considered a long agenda of bills covering education, health, criminal justice, aging services, labor, and commemorative measures. Among the measures reported favorably were CS/SB 1062 creating Florida Speech and Debate Week and the Florida Debate Initiative; CS/SB 196 and CS/SB 864 establishing and protecting a Uterine Fibroid Research Database; CS/SB 432, as amended, adding restrictions on xylazine and nitrous oxide sales; CS/SB 1630 modernizing aging and disability services and guardianship oversight; SB 1112 on labor pool placement fees and registration; CS/SB 524 revising FDLE and medical examiner provisions; CS/SB 530 updating lottery operations; CS/SB 646 narrowing drug paraphernalia testing equipment exemptions to fentanyl, analogs, and xylazine; SB 676 strengthening animal cruelty penalties and the animal abuser database; CS/SB 1180 creating a recall process for community development district board members; CS/SB 800 increasing penalties for unlicensed engineering practice; CS/SB 1404 creating a memory care specialty license for assisted living facilities; SB 1072 creating an anti-Semitism task force; and CS/SB 1684 and CS/SB 1686 establishing and exempting records for a Parkinson’s Disease Registry. The committee also took up several high-profile commemorative bills. CS/SB 194, designating October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, drew extensive public testimony both for and against, with supporters emphasizing civic engagement and free speech and opponents criticizing Kirk’s rhetoric and the appropriateness of a state honor. The bill was reported favorably after a recorded vote. SB 174, designating Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue in Miami-Dade County, also drew significant opposition testimony on similar grounds and was reported favorably. A late-file amendment to a related remembrance measure was withdrawn after discussion. Other bills, including the speech and debate, fibroid research, aging services, labor pool, animal cruelty, engineering, memory care, anti-Semitism, and Parkinson’s registry measures, were generally supported by agency, advocacy, or stakeholder testimony and advanced without major opposition. Several bills were amended before passage, including substitute or delete-all amendments on SB 432, SB 524, SB 646, SB 676, SB 1180, SB 800, and SB 1404. The committee repeatedly adopted amendments by voice vote and then reported the bills favorably by recorded roll call. The meeting ended with members requesting to be recorded on specific bills, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Academy Award, and Carmelita Jeter, three-time Olympic
• Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Academy Award, and Carmelita Jeter, a three-time Olympic
• I personally participated in one of these health plans with my business, and it was a game changer for
• I would really encourage...” “...a game changer for recruitment and retention in my business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then his older brother Trevor explained, that's in his new video game.
• If only, like Gavin's virtual game, life gave human beings five hearts, five opportunities. opportunities
• facilitating implementation of a new data system at the DMV and authorizing efforts related to the Olympics
• student mental health, streamlining career technical education, after-school programs, and the Special Olympics

Transcript Highlights:

• this industry as well as supporting industries such as visual effects, post-production, and video gaming
• It reminds me a lot of the conversation we have around the Olympics, because when cities host the Olympics
• It's the 84 Olympics.
• You know, you can go to Ireland now and be on a game show.
• it, because Ireland's giving them. so much money that they fly Americans to Ireland to be on a U.S. game

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm representing Special Olympics Florida.
• What sports do you participate in at the Special Olympics?
• I'm representing Special Olympics, Florida.
• What sports do you participate in at the Special Olympics?
• I have also been a coach with Special Olympics for over 15 years.

Bills: S0556 , S0794 , S1600

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered three bills and a confirmation. On SB 1600, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment and a technical amendment that shifted the bill from creating an accreditation process to requiring the Office of Insurance Regulation, DCF, and community-based care lead agencies to study liability insurance coverage and availability in the child welfare sector and report findings to the legislature by January 1, 2027; the bill also included enforcement provisions for failure to provide requested information. Support was noted from child and family advocacy groups, and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard CS for SB 556, which would allow students with disabilities to satisfy a physical education graduation requirement through participation in Special Olympics, if included in the student’s IEP, and would clarify that two years of marching band participation can satisfy both PE and fine arts credit. Special Olympics Florida, families, and other supporters testified in favor, emphasizing flexibility, access, and recognition of rigorous activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 794, which requires background screening for employees of residential facilities and day training programs serving people with developmental disabilities and directs a review of waiver support coordination, including quality, consistency, access, competencies, recruitment and retention, caseloads, and geographic gaps in services. An amendment to conform to the House version was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. Members then questioned Secretary Taylor Hatch regarding her confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Senators raised concerns about child welfare system performance, parent notification and rights, CBC funding formulas, managing entities, opioid settlement spending, peer support expansion, and technology/interoperability improvements. Hatch described DCF’s recent data and initiatives, including reductions in out-of-home care entries, youth advisory efforts, missing children recovery operations, expanded behavioral health capacity, and technology upgrades for benefits processing. Public comment included support from family and provider organizations and concerns from a former foster care worker about medical misdiagnosis cases. The committee voted to recommend Hatch’s confirmation favorably, with Chair Grall voting no, and adjourned after allowing Senator Sharief to be recorded as voting in favor of SB 1600.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because it's not about winning every game.
• Because it's not about winning every game.
• And this is where Dad FaceTimes Mom when we're working late and I'm not at your baseball game.
• And this is where Dad FaceTimes Mom when we're working late and I'm not at your baseball game.
• Olympic volleyball coaches for over 10 years, I couldn't do this without you.

Summary: The House convened for opening-day proceedings with prayers in English and Spanish, the Pledge of Allegiance, and musical performances, then recorded attendance and welcomed the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jason Jameson. The Speaker introduced numerous guests and dignitaries, including statewide officials, university presidents, former lawmakers, and family members, and delivered remarks about Arizona’s history, the importance of civility, and the role of state government in protecting residents from federal overreach. Coaches Kenny Dillingham and Tommy Lloyd also addressed the chamber, speaking about leadership, talent development, and the ways sports can unite and inspire Arizona communities. The House then took up organizational business. Members adopted proposed changes to Rule 9 and then adopted the amended rules for the 57th Legislature, Second Regular Session. The chamber also agreed to read bills by number and short title only, declared an emergency for that purpose, and announced the creation of two new standing committees: Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, chaired by Representative Justin Wilmeth, and Rural Economic Development, chaired by Representative Teresa Martinez. A House Organizational Committee was appointed to notify the Senate that the House was organized and ready for business and to inform the Governor that the Legislature was ready to receive her message. The remainder of the session was largely devoted to points of personal privilege, with members introducing family, constituents, local officials, educators, veterans, business leaders, and advocacy groups. Several members highlighted issues they intend to work on this session, including affordability, water security, deed fraud, education, health care, rural development, and veterans’ issues. The House later recessed to accommodate the joint organizational proceedings with the Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Olympic athletes, military personnel, and other people who just want to die on the side of a mountain
• They have played in the state tournament or the state championship game for six consecutive years.

Bills: HB3880 , HB3263 , HB2970 , HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940 , HB4117 , HB3428 , HB4275 , HB3257 , HB3901 , HB4298 , HB4260 , HB2981 , HB3695 , HB2960 , HB3967 , HB3968 , HB4339 , HB4341 , HB4342 , HB2940 , HB4295 , HB4196 , HB3134 , HB1016

Summary: The House convened, the clerk called the roll, and the chamber proceeded with the day’s order of business. Chaplain Ronnie Wilson delivered the invocation, using a personal story about hiking the Manitou Incline to reflect on perseverance and the idea of being “not far from the kingdom of God” from Mark 12. The House then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. After floor reassignment notices, Representative Cantrell introduced the Long Grove, Oklahoma state championship fast-pitch softball team, noting their back-to-back titles, six straight state tournament appearances, and strong academic and team traditions. Several announcements followed, including committee meeting notices, a birthday acknowledgment for the presiding speaker, and a reminder about the Farm City Festival lunch on the second floor. No bills were debated or voted on in the portion provided. The only formal action at the end of the session was a motion by the floor leader to adjourn, and the House adjourned until Monday, February 16th at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The World Cup this summer and, of course, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028 are coming, and we're
• Festival programming, including legacy projects that will hopefully be coming together around the Olympics
• , nonprofit arts and culture, labor, philanthropy, government, economic and business development, gaming
• , academia, some of the economic and business development, gaming, academia, some of the highlights of
• These span, animation, VFX, games, post-production, virtual production, and live entertainment, each

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on the Arts

Transcript Highlights:

• I was watching a football game, so I didn't have time to prepare trivia. That's right. Go Hawks.
• I was watching a football game, so I didn't have time to prepare trivia. That's right. Go Hawks.
• use our very expensive rapid transit to move people around during things like, I don't know, playoff games
• has served Washington RVing customers for decades and operates in a small rural community in the Olympic

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three transportation-related bills. HB 2467, sponsored by Rep. Timmons, would clarify how fifth-wheel RVs are measured for length purposes by measuring from the king pin to the rear-most point, allowing fifth wheels up to 46 feet under that method without increasing the current roadway length limits. The staff report said the bill has no fiscal impact for most agencies and a small indeterminate impact for Labor and Industries; the proposed substitute makes technical clarifications. The sponsor and several RV dealers, the Association of Washington Business, and the RV Industry Association testified in support, saying the bill would improve clarity, preserve safety, and help Washington dealers compete with neighboring states. No one testified in opposition during the hearing. The committee briefly suspended HB 2467 to hear HB 2495, sponsored by Rep. Thomas, which would give the City of Seattle authority to immediately remove vehicles blocking streetcar tracks or otherwise jeopardizing streetcar operations without waiting for police to first cite the vehicle. Staff said the bill applies only to Seattle, includes an emergency clause, and has no fiscal impact because impound fees are expected to offset costs. Rep. Thomas and Seattle Streetcar Program Manager Alison Redenz supported the bill, describing frequent track blockages and delays to service, especially after hours, and saying the change would speed restoration of transit operations. The committee then heard public testimony on HB 2552, which would authorize WSDOT and Sound Transit to use multiple award task order contracting (MATOC) for transportation construction projects. Staff explained that MATOC would let agencies prequalify contractors and then compete task orders among them, with required award and protest processes. Rep. Zahn said the bill would give agencies another tool to streamline delivery while preserving competition and including WMBE firms. Sound Transit supported the bill as a faster, more flexible procurement method that could broaden opportunities for smaller firms, while the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association opposed it, arguing the approach is not well tested in Washington, could reduce competition, and should be reviewed by the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board. After testimony, the committee closed the public hearing on HB 2552 and adjourned after caucusing.

Transcript Highlights:

• management plan for the various game species in Washington to guide in management of wildlife.
• In our frontier county, deer and elk are not just game animals.
• Deer and elk are not just game animals.
• Wolves are very prominent in Republic, and all wild game and personal livestock are at risk.
• I live on the North Olympic Peninsula and am a forest, salmon, and orca advocate. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2619, which would create a joint legislative task force to review and recommend ways to reduce regulatory burdens in agriculture, and on House Joint Memorial 4009, which asks Congress to ensure federal wildfire response agencies remain capable of protecting communities, natural resources, and firefighter safety. On HB 2619, the prime sponsor and supporters from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, cattle, wheat, potato, onion, and dairy interests said the bill responds to farm stress and suicide concerns by examining regulatory overload; WSDA supported the concept but noted a fiscal note, and members discussed whether the task force scope and cost could be reduced before policy cutoff. On HJM 4009, staff and the sponsor described the memorial as a request for stronger federal wildfire capacity and coordination, with testimony from tribes, counties, forest landowners, conservation groups, and public employees emphasizing wildfire risk, smoke impacts, and the importance of federal-state cooperation; the committee also repeatedly tied the memorial to support for state wildfire funding under 1168 and heard broad support for restoring that funding. The committee then took up House Bill 2221, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and begin predator mitigation when certain population declines occur, while also requiring annual reporting and white-tailed deer surveys. The sponsor argued the bill addresses rapidly declining deer and elk herds, predator pressure, food security, and rural economies in northeast Washington. Supporters included some local residents, ranchers, sheriffs, county officials, and the Colville Tribes, who said predators, livestock conflicts, and reduced hunting opportunity are harming communities and that the state should act more aggressively. Opponents included WDFW staff, Washington Wildlife First, the Sierra Club, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and other conservation voices, who said the bill is not scientifically supported, would be costly, and wrongly blames predators rather than habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions; several said predator control would have limited value and could undermine wolf recovery. Some agricultural and sportsmen groups supported the bill in principle but asked for amendments, especially to remove or revise the in-state wolf translocation provision. No final votes or executive action were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a recent announcement that preliminary Olympic soccer games are coming to St. Louis.
• There was a recent announcement that preliminary Olympic soccer games are coming to St. Louis.
• There was a recent announcement that preliminary Olympic soccer games are coming to St. Louis.
• That is the gaming admission fee. That's gaming. That is split. By gaming, you mean boats?
• Louis basketball game. Some of them were at the KC Chiefs game. So they're getting out.

Committee: House Budget