Transcript Highlights:

• So that is easier, that removes that type of barrier, if there's language issues?
• One is scheduled to expire in July 2028; two do not have an expiration date.
• It's scheduled to expire December 31, 2037.
• It expires in January 2027. Beneficiary savings are indeterminate but likely minimal.
• when the expiration date occurs in July 2027.

Summary: JLARC met on December 3, 2025, with a quorum present and approved the September 17 minutes. The committee first voted to suspend the 2026 lodging tax expenditure report for one year, citing the report’s self-reported nature, limited use, and the availability of State Auditor accountability audits; members also discussed introducing legislation to remove the biennial report from statute. JLARC then approved renaming its I-900 subcommittee to the “Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits,” while keeping the opening script that explains the committee’s work stems from Initiative 900. The committee then heard follow-up presentations on the Department of Health’s hospital oversight audit and the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s cannabis market study. JLARC staff reiterated that DOH was late on most hospital inspections, could not verify third-party inspection standards, did not review adverse event reports, and had limited public accessibility for hospital data. DOH presented a draft strategic management plan with goals to improve inspection timeliness, accreditation oversight, complaint access in preferred languages, adverse event analysis, and data reporting; it said it had improved on-time inspections from 28% to 49% and planned updates in 2026, but members pressed for firmer deadlines and expressed concern that language-access improvements could take too long. LCB staff said its current cannabis tracking system remains limited because it is self-reported, but the agency has improved processing and is seeking about $9 million over two biennia for a new traceability system; members asked about plant tagging, staffing, and whether the system would improve revenue and oversight. JLARC staff also briefed the committee on follow-up tools for tracking audit recommendations, including a new “resolved/not yet resolved” framework and improved web dashboards and landing pages. The committee then received the annual public records reporting summary, which showed 236 of more than 2,300 agencies reported, with about 484,000 requests received, 465,000 closed, and $127 million spent fulfilling requests; staff said they are working with OFM and others to simplify some reporting guidance for 2025. Finally, the committee adopted the proposed final report on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which found OPDP meets statutory responsibilities but should have its mandate updated and its performance measures better tied to outcomes. The meeting ended with the start of the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering several preferences including natural gas transportation fuel, travel agents and tour operators, nonprofit low-income housing development, multi-purpose senior centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, and several agricultural-related preferences; staff summarized whether each preference met its objective and noted where the Citizens Commission on Tax Preferences endorsed or commented on JLARC’s recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• When they remove that septic system, according to the ordinances, I believe all city ordinances, but
• Chairman, this removes that requirement. So there’s no owner-occupancy requirement in this.
• Also, just want to point out, as my time’s expiring, page 3, lines 7 through 9 talks about mandating
• I see my time's expired, so I will stand for questions. All right. Thank you, Mr. Alman.
• I see my time's expired, so I will stand for questions. All right. Thank you, Mr. Allman.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the early expiration of the B&O occupation surcharge.
• This amendment removes the necessity clause.
• I am sad that we removed the early adoption of the B&O tax surcharge. I'm sad that we removed that.
• I am removing from executive session on Monday Senate Bill 6114.
• I am removing from executive session on Monday, Senate Bill 6114.

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6346, the proposed “millionaires’ income tax” package. Staff reviewed the bill and a long list of amendments affecting the new income tax, related business tax changes, and several exemptions and implementation provisions. The committee adopted amendments to exempt diapers from sales tax, allow certain tribal income treatment clarifications, create an advisory group to help implement the tax, move up the repeal date for some business tax changes, and require the measure to go to the voters; several other amendments on federal conformity, agricultural income, pass-through entities, and the marriage threshold were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then adopted the striking amendment as amended and advanced the bill on a 9-6 do pass vote, with supporters arguing it would fund education, health care, child care, and tax relief, and opponents warning about competitiveness, capital flight, and the state’s spending growth. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6097, which would add federally recognized Indian tribes as eligible entities for county Conservation Futures Program funding. Staff said the bill would not change the tax levy structure and would have no state revenue impact, while tribal witnesses said it would improve voluntary conservation partnerships for habitat, farmland, and open space. Members asked about the bill’s scope, and staff confirmed it applies only to federally recognized tribes. House Finance also heard Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform measure that would consolidate the state school levy, expand senior and disability property tax exemptions, raise income thresholds, and simplify the application process with a standard deduction. The prime sponsor and county assessors supported the bill as a way to help seniors, disabled persons, and disabled veterans stay in their homes and reduce administrative burden, while several testifiers opposed it as a tax shift that would raise costs for others and potentially strain local revenues. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6113, an administrative and technical tax cleanup bill related to last year’s tax changes; the Department of Revenue supported it and noted a possible clarifying amendment, while nonprofits, schools, libraries, health care groups, workforce training providers, and trade associations asked for additional exemptions for live presentations and related educational activities. The chair announced that Senate Bill 6097 would be added to Monday’s executive session, Senate Bill 6114 was removed, and amendments for Monday’s bills were due by 5 p.m. that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then during the period September 2022 through August 2023, which was subsequent to the expiration of
• And then related to that, there was untimely removal of IT access privileges, so they are not always
• So when employees would separate employment, they weren't removed right away from the IT network.
• the contract, the city account was paid a total of $45,000 in change. expiration of the contract.
• So when employees would separate employment, they weren't removed right away from the IT network.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee heard the Auditor General’s operational audit of the City of Mexico Beach, which identified nine findings. The audit cited significant turnover in key management positions, late filing of required annual financial reports, weaknesses in competitive procurement and purchase approval controls, a duplicate payment on stormwater repairs that was later largely refunded, issues with the city accountant’s contract and IRS classification, IT access control problems, and the lack of fraud-reporting policies. Committee members asked about corrective action, and the Auditor General said a follow-up audit is required by statute within 18 months, with no enforcement authority beyond reporting progress back to the committee. Mayor Rich Wolf and city staff responded that the city had experienced major turnover and was rebuilding its finance and administrative team. He said the city had hired a city administrator, financial director, city clerk, and accounting firm, and was working to create policies, procedures, forms, and review processes to address the findings. Members discussed whether the turnover and hurricane-related workload contributed to the problems, and city officials said some of the larger purchases were storm-related and tied to FEMA or emergency work. The committee then received a staff update on enforcement for local governments that have not filed required financial reports. Staff said 400 entities had been notified, and as of the meeting two counties, 33 municipalities, and 48 special districts still owed reports or audits. The committee adopted a motion to proceed under section 11.42, Florida Statutes, including possible withholding of state funds for municipalities and enforcement actions for special districts, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if new information warranted it. Finally, the committee unanimously directed the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required 2024-2025 audit of the Department of the Lottery, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance issues and OPPAGA developing operational recommendations. Members also briefly discussed whether the committee had reviewed transportation surtaxes and expressed interest in improving the timeliness and transparency of the audit and enforcement process before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the task force, require at least one co-chair to be authorized to practice law in Washington, and remove
• And I just have a question regarding the change which removes the liability for officers when they're
• I really do want to thank you for... staff and we are removed from the task force.
• The changes to the APA are expiring June 30, 2026.
• expiring June 30th, 2026.

Bills: SB5865 , SB5880 , SB5912 , SB5855 , SB6011 , SB6009 , SB5868 , SB5974

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: garnishment, debt, form standardization, financial protection, legal processes, toxicology testing, laboratories, accreditation, public health, standards, indigent defense, task force, criminal justice, legal aid, public defense, face coverings, law enforcement, public safety, civil liberties, court security

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:12.600><c> because</c><00:06:13.200><c> of</c> expired because of expired because of the<00:06
• However, the pass-through entity provision expired at the end of 2025, Expired at the end of 2025, which
• </c><00:14:52.839><c> until</c> realize the PTE tax had expired until realize the PTE tax had expired
• </c> expired, and I go, "What? expired, and I go, "What?
• It's expired.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the early expiration of the B&O occupation surcharge.
• This amendment removes the necessity clause.
• I am sad that we removed the early adoption of the B&O tax surcharge. I'm sad that we removed that.
• I am removing from executive session on Monday, Senate Bill 6114.
• I am removing from executive session on Monday, Senate Bill 6114.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• AUTHORITY BECAUSE THE RULE EXCEEDS THE GRANT OF THE RULEMAKING AUTHORITY BY PROCREATING A RULE EXPIRATION
• I THINK IF A SUNSET PROVISION IN A RULE WERE TO EXPIRE THEN THAT RULE MAY VERY WELL BE OBJECTIONABLE
• THE RULES ONLY NEED TO BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE EXPIRATION DATES OF THE RULES.
• EXAMPLE MANY AREAS CAN PROVIDE UP TO 43% REMOVAL OF TOTAL NITROGEN.
• TODAY YOU CANNOT REPEAL A RULE, IT MERELY EXPIRES AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not expire immediately upon death.
• The bill removes the statutory forms for the first and second answer to a writ for continuing lien on
• The bill removes the statutory forms for the first and second answer to a writ for continuing lien on
• In addition to removing the form from the statute, it means the court form in the future will be able
• or donate any car seat that is expired or subject to a safety recall.

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• of the person's name, or removal of the person's picture?
• Is removal the same as relocate in your bill?
• Ma'am, your time's expired.
• It shouldn't be that the removal or relocation...
• The time has expired. Thank you. Please vote now on this.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and voted on a series of bills covering child abuse reporting, firearms products liability, crime victim records, guardianship eligibility, historic monuments, animal welfare, juvenile justice, and restrictions on sex reassignment care for minors. HB 373, on the statute of limitations for violations involving required child abuse reports, passed unanimously. HB 1551, as amended, clarified that a firearm is not defective merely because it lacks optional safety features and preserved design-defect claims and nonretroactivity; after substantial testimony and debate, it passed 13-5. CS/HB 1113, expanding public-records protections for crime victims and briefly exempting law enforcement victims, passed unanimously. CS/HB 737, allowing courts more discretion in appointing guardians with prior felony convictions and adding a narrow exception for certain older convictions, also passed unanimously as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• expires.
• Whatever the expiration expires.
• They all expire when a contract expires. >> Absolutely.
• 51.920><c> expires.
• </c> expire when a contract expires. expire when a contract expires. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Summary: The committee on Education met on March 19 and moved through several bills under time pressure, hearing mostly brief testimony. SB 2024 SD2 and SB 896 SD2, both concerning public-private partnerships for charter school facilities, drew support from the Department of Education, the Charter School Commission, White Kids Can, and Hawaii Technology Academy. DOE said any P3 model should apply only to charter schools on private land and not affect public schools on DOE land. Supporters argued the approach could speed construction, reduce costs, and keep public money in public assets, while UPW and HGA raised concerns about privatization. In response, SFA said the intent was to mirror the existing conversion charter school model, with public ownership of assets and unionized staff, and noted some regions have waited years for schools. SB 2613 SD1 on TMK transfers was heard next. DOE said the bill had originally been supported as part of the governor’s package but was amended to require DOE to convey lands for 13 libraries on DOE property, which DOE said would create “donut holes” in campuses and was unnecessary because existing agreements already govern library use. The State Public Library System supported the bill, saying it has long coexisted with DOE but needs clearer separation and more reliable control over its sites. The Attorney General’s office said the library system currently lacks express statutory authority to own real property and flagged implementation issues because some of the affected parcels are not currently owned by DOE. Committee members questioned both sides about current agreements, communication, and how the bill would change operations. SB 494 SD2, concerning charter school audits, received comments from the Charter School Commission, which said the bill was redundant because charter schools already undergo annual audits during the term of their contracts. The Office of the Auditor was also present. SB 2391 SD2, relating to automatic pay increases for teachers, drew strong opposition from the Office of Collective Bargaining, which said step movement and longevity increases are negotiated in each contract and do not automatically carry over when a contract expires; it warned the bill could affect upcoming negotiations with HSTA. HSTA and several other supporters argued the bill would standardize annual step movement, improve retention, and reflect existing contract language. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; The gentle time is expired. &gt;&gt; The gentle time is expired.
• All time for debate has expired.
• </c> Interior to reissue regulations removing Interior to reissue regulations removing the<02:43:58.880
• </c> recovered species and should be removed recovered species and should be removed from<02:45:24.240
• </c> Instead, my colleagues want to remove Instead, my colleagues want to remove endangered<02:49:27.760

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill removes the statutory forms for the first and second answer to a writ for continuing lien on
• In addition to removing the form from the statute, it means the court form in the future will be able
• This bill removes responsibility of updating a garnishment court form from the legislature and places
• In addition to removing the form from the statute, it means the court form in the future will be able
• organization may not distribute or donate any car seat that is expired or subject to a safety recall

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. On SB 5906, the SAFE Act, staff and Sen. Hansen described protections limiting immigration enforcement access to non-public areas in schools, early learning settings, higher education, health care facilities, adult family homes, and ballot-processing areas, and restricting collection of immigration-status information. Supporters said the bill would clarify and strengthen existing Keep Washington Working policies, while some witnesses requested amendments to better define health care facilities, clarify adult family home and election-related provisions, and keep Section 6 on ballot security. Some members questioned the factual basis for reported ICE activity near schools and daycares and the distinction between judicial and administrative warrants. The committee also heard SB 5886 on personality rights and forged digital likenesses. Staff explained that the bill would add digitally created or modified likenesses to the Personality Rights Act, raise civil penalties, and allow recovery of actual and non-economic damages in forged-digital-likeness cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to address AI deepfakes and identity misuse while preserving satire and fair use; student and advocacy witnesses supported the measure as a way to protect students and victims of digital impersonation. The committee then heard SB 5169, which expands child hearsay and closed-circuit testimony rules to older children and additional offenses. Prosecutors and forensic interviewers supported the bill as necessary in trafficking and child abuse cases, while defense advocates opposed it as an overbroad expansion that could raise confrontation-clause issues and create legal challenges. Additional hearings included SB 5865, which would move garnishment form updates from statute to the Washington Pattern Forms Committee; judges supported it as a way to fix a wage-withholding calculation error and allow future updates without legislation. SB 5912 would reinstate the Indigent Defense Task Force to study statewide public defense delivery and recommend sustainable reforms; counties, the Office of Public Defense, and defense groups supported it. SB 6009 would make permanent the current process for direct review of administrative decisions by the Court of Appeals and retain land-use transfer provisions; a Court of Appeals judge supported the bill. SB 6087 would extend limited liability for donations of children’s items to religious organizations and add strollers and car seats, with support from Zero Waste Washington. The committee did not take final votes on these bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho, was appointed to the Idaho Judicial Council to serve a term commencing January 7, 2006, and expiring
• Idaho, was appointed to the Idaho Judicial Council to serve a term commencing January 7, 2006, and expiring
• appointed to the Commission of Pardons and Parole to serve a term commencing March 18, 2006, and expiring
• by the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, an act relating to the Attorney General, to remove
• There was some language that was added in and removed, but again, the intent remains the same.

Transcript Highlights:

• confirmation to the Environmental Advisory Council, gubernatorial nominee Jay Stone, for a term to expire
• meaning I design water treatment, and PFAS is an emerging contaminant that's important for us to remove
• </c> for us to remove. for us to remove.
• Gubernatorial nominee Nicholas Ta, for a term to expire June 30th, 2028.
• Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council for term to expire June 30, 2028.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committee heard multiple gubernatorial confirmation nominations, beginning with GM509 for Jay Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and other supporters praised Stone’s more than 30 years of engineering experience and said he would help balance environmental protection with economic development. Stone said he wanted to contribute to environmental health and sustainability, and identified sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water as key concerns. The committee then moved to GM531 and GM532, nominations of Judson Leair and Nicholas Ta to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported both nominees. Leair emphasized his farming background and said pesticide policy should be more comprehensive, selective, and threshold-based rather than relying on broad-spectrum use; Ta said he would focus on integrated pest management, label compliance, education, and using the least amount of pesticide necessary, including non-chemical alternatives such as exclusion and behavior changes. The committee next considered GM533, Janet Ashman’s nomination to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported her, citing her experience, responsiveness, and prior service. Ashman said she wanted to help make pesticide regulations more understandable and stressed targeted pest control, scouting, and more precise products. Members asked about the complexity of pesticide regulations and the shift away from broad-based pesticide use; Ashman explained that regulations are complicated for both farmers and homeowners and that newer, more targeted products are needed as pests develop resistance. The committee then heard GM57 for Don Hegger Nordl to the Environmental Advisory Council. Supporters said she has environmental planning experience and knowledge of Chapter 343 and related rules. Nordl said she could bring state, county, and federal experience to the council and identified the need for more volunteers and broader professional representation as the council’s biggest challenge. Finally, the committee took up GM697, Dean Matsukawa’s nomination as deputy director of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and several other testifiers strongly supported him, highlighting his 30 years with the department, his family farming background, and his understanding of farmers’ needs, especially access to capital and biosecurity challenges. Testifiers said he is calm, logical, experienced, and already familiar with the department’s work. Matsukawa was described as a reluctant nominee who was sought out for the role. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on the nominations during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:08.159><c> Josh</c><00:29:08.440><c> Radcliff</c> expiring August 1st, 2028.
• Josh Radcliff expiring August 1st, 2028.
• </c><00:29:19.159><c> Joe</c><00:29:19.320><c> Schifflin</c> expiring August 1st, 2028.
• Joe Schifflin expiring August 1st, 2028.
• </c> Control Commission for a term expiring Control Commission for a term expiring July<01:14:51.760>

Transcript Highlights:

• Under 2089, the requirement that financial institutions be located in 10 or more states is removed so
• that happens to result in an amount of revenue that is approximately equal to the amount that was removed
• when the excess levy expires.
• when the excess levy expires.
• Removing these types of facilities from the tax rolls as they would be under current law.

Bills: HB1960 , HB2194 , HB2089

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: HB1960, renewable energy, clean energy, solar, wind, battery storage, energy storage, excise tax, property tax exemption, local investment, county revenue sharing, local taxing districts, school districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, model ordinance, siting, permitting, tribal consultation, tribal capacity grants

Transcript Highlights:

• So finally, the Senate removing the telecommunications... ...the committee.
• around subcommittees, and for that we removed any subcommittee.
• So that was just removing the language because it's going to be basically different places. Okay.
• Okay, so 29, filing home rule expiration, it's a textual language for the staff.
• Vote expires at the final day of the immediate biennial session following the local approval vote.

Summary: The conference committee on legislative rules, led by House Chair Michael Moran and Senate Chair Senator Creem, reviewed the many differences between House and Senate versions of the rules and reported that the branches had agreed on 24 of 52 disputed items. Members said they were moving closer to a final compromise, with several provisions already settled and others still being negotiated offline. The discussion emphasized transparency, committee administration, and ways to move bills through the process earlier in the session. Items agreed to included committee name changes such as adding fisheries to Agriculture and changing elder affairs to aging and independent, adopting House language on joint rules, making committee reports and bill/resolution materials available electronically and online, allowing public access to summaries, and several technical or administrative updates. The committee also agreed on rules for executive sessions, temporary employees, committee travel, favorable/unfavorable reporting, joint petitions, home rule expiration, and special commission meetings. Some provisions were tabled for further discussion, including Mason’s Rules, notice and posting timelines, hearing scheduling, in-person hearings, bill reporting deadlines, and several other administrative topics. A few issues remained unresolved, especially who should draft bill summaries, how to handle notice periods for hearings and postings, and how to structure committee votes and reporting deadlines. The committee also discussed Rule 35, agreeing in principle to a public hearing and broader public comment on rules review, which members said would improve transparency. At the end of the meeting, members praised the work of the committee and staff, said there was “light at the end of the tunnel,” and adjourned after a motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the reason of that amendment, the bill actually had the state flower, but I removed the state
• So, we were removing the state flower and giving Aaliyah the option or the discretion to create the symbol
• but I removed the state flower<00:10:46.959><c> and</c><00:10:47.279><c> allow</c><00:10:47.680><c>
• So, we were removing<00:10:52.320><c> the</c><00:10:52.480><c> state</c><00:10:52.720><c> flower</c><
• 00:10:53.200><c> and</c><00:10:53.440><c> giving</c> removing the state flower and giving removing the

Bills: HB66 , HB79 , HB95 , HB145 , HB66 , HB79 , HB95 , HB145

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Usually the identifying information is removed, but I think there probably is.
• This is a three-year pilot set to expire in July.
• It removes its expiration date and also removes the minimum of six total participating counties.
• It removes its expiration date and also removes the minimum of six total participating counties.
• Removing the expiration date would just make it an ongoing program.

Bills: SB5957 , SB5977

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: homeless youth, youth homelessness, runaway youth, young adult homelessness, housing instability, family reunification, family stability, youth services, homelessness prevention, protective services, Department of Commerce, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, advisory committee, lived experience, data sharing, outcome measures, interagency coordination, service providers, at-risk youth