Transcript Highlights:

• So is it your understanding that if there is authority for a claim against the mother outside of the
• While the sponsor of the bill may claim that this has nothing to do with abortion, I can't speak to what
• I can’t even imagine that a six-month-old fetus can be claimed to become a future lawyer or whatever
• Senate Bill 12 is a claim bill on behalf of L.P., a minor, who was stabbed 14 times by her mother when
• Senate Bill 12 is a claim bill on behalf of L.P.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 1272 on guardianship, which would limit a guardian’s ability to isolate an adult ward from family and require notice of major events such as a ward’s death or relocation to a more restrictive setting. Senator Jones and supportive speakers said the bill was intended to protect wards from abuse and isolation by bad actors, while still preserving good-faith guardianship. With no opposition testimony or debate, the committee voted 8-0 to report the bill favorably. The committee then considered CS for Senate Bill 1284, which would expand Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow civil claims for the death of an unborn child. An amendment was adopted to define “unborn child” as a member of the species Homo sapiens carried in the womb and to state that the act does not authorize claims against the mother or against health care providers acting within the lawful standard of care. The bill drew extensive debate and testimony. Supporters argued it would give parents parity and fuller damages, including economic losses and mental anguish, when negligence causes the death of an unborn child. Opponents, including the ACLU, medical professionals, and reproductive rights advocates, warned it could be used to target abortion care, increase malpractice exposure, worsen physician shortages, and create speculative damages. The committee approved the bill 6-4. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 1288 on parental rights, with a strike-all amendment that would strengthen parental control over minors’ medical decisions, surveys, and biofeedback devices, while adding exceptions for emergencies, court orders, certain legal statuses, and situations involving abuse or out-of-home placement. Supporters said the measure restores parents as primary decision-makers and protects children from inappropriate questioning or treatment without consent. Opponents argued it could block minors from confidential care for STIs, mental health, or abuse-related issues, and could chill school and medical screenings. The transcript ends during testimony and debate on this bill, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> you're a group like this who's claiming you're a group like this who's claiming to<00:54:02.040>
• He said trying to claim that somehow we can make this effort non-political just does not make sense,
• best process possible uh but to<00:57:18.000><c> try</c><00:57:18.200><c> and</c><00:57:18.400><c> claim
• that</c><00:57:18.960><c> somehow</c><00:57:19.440><c> we</c><00:57:19.559><c> can</c> to try and claim
• that somehow we can to try and claim that somehow we can make<00:57:20.079><c> this</c><00:57:20.359

Bills: HF550

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1577, child abuse, clarify willful false claims of. I make the usual motion.
• to be a Will that still be claimed to be a Will that still be shielded<00:44:18.160><c> until</c><00
• </c><00:45:09.640><c> about</c> feel like they can't make claims about feel like they can't make claims
• , they can make a can make a claim, they can make a report,<00:45:42.360><c> and</c><00:45:42.480><c>
• that they were falsely reported claiming that they were falsely reported upon.<00:48:42.240><c> I</c

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:21:08.880><c> Medicaid</c> we don't allow you to claim Medicaid we don't allow you to claim Medicaid
• </c><02:21:56.479><c> um</c> if someone were submitting a claim um if someone were submitting a claim
• </c><02:39:47.040><c> uh</c> imagine, a review of all 340B claims uh imagine, a review of all 340B claims
• So they do that as well and a claims.
• New London Hospital had a $2 million fraud claim.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• in place to look at some of the diet-related medical claims, diet-related pharmacy claims.
• ,</c> some of the diet related medical claims, some of the diet related medical claims, diet<00:27:15.840
• ><c> related</c><00:27:16.240><c> pharmacy</c><00:27:16.720><c> claims.
• </c><00:27:17.840><c> Uh</c><00:27:18.080><c> and</c> diet related pharmacy claims.
• Uh and diet related pharmacy claims.

Committee: Joint State Government

Transcript Highlights:

• These claims are exaggerated. The data are clear.
• Pharmacies cannot claim that a compounded drug is FDA approved, cannot make unsupported claims, and cannot
• And the claim is that your bill is not explicitly really...
• The claim is that your bill is not explicitly calling that out.
• Are you claiming that bill requires that? No. Only the sending, not the display.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on privacy, accessibility, labor, and public safety. AB 1798 by Assemblymember Wilson would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information, including direct-to-consumer test results, in underwriting. Supporters argued the bill would protect privacy and encourage genetic testing, while insurers opposed it as unnecessary and said genetic data should be treated like other predictive health information. The bill passed the committee on a 7-0 vote and was held open for absent members. AB 2190 by Assemblymember Wallace would create website accessibility standards based on WCAG guidelines and add affirmative defenses intended to reduce serial litigation while improving access for people with disabilities. Disability advocates supported the measure as a needed civil-rights update, while business groups warned it could increase liability and create unclear compliance obligations. The bill passed 9-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2721 by Assemblymember Carrillo would require hotels to post notice when they know or should know that U.S. Customs and Border Protection or ICE are using the premises, with supporters saying workers and guests deserve transparency and safety. Hotel and business groups opposed it, citing privacy, liability, and concerns about interfering with federal operations. The committee voted 6-2 to pass the bill to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2027 by Assemblymember Ward would restrict employers from using worker data to train AI systems that replace workers and limit sharing of worker data for automation; labor groups supported it and business and public-sector groups opposed it as too broad. The bill passed 7-2 to Appropriations, with the roll left open. The committee also heard AB 1837 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, which would extend and tighten privacy rules for transit agencies’ use of forward-facing cameras to enforce bus-lane violations; supporters said the cameras improve transit flow and safety, and the bill was presented with amendments, though no final vote is reflected in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• a consumer's entire digital twin, preventing companies from retaining detailed profiles under the claim
• a consumer's entire digital twin, preventing companies from retaining detailed profiles under the claim
• Part one deals with intersectionality of discrimination claims, and we feel that this bill would simply
• Thank you. discrimination claims and we feel that discrimination claims and we feel that this<01:11:10.000
• that they made and in some sort of claim that they made and so<01:18:44.719><c> uh</c><01:18:44.880>

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. HB 1957, relating to safe entryways, would create enforcement procedures in large cities to prevent personal property from blocking private doorways or entrances. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended moving the offense to the criminal code, adding clearer definitions to avoid vagueness, and including notice, inventory, storage, and property-disposition procedures to address constitutional concerns. No other testimony was offered and no questions were raised. HB 25003/HB 253, relating to fireworks, would expand civil asset forfeiture for certain fireworks offenses, revise the definition of aerial device, and clarify air-delivery offenses. The Attorney General supported the bill but suggested removing the 25-pound weight threshold to avoid unequal treatment of similar offenses. The Department of Law Enforcement also supported the measure, saying it would improve clarity for evolving fireworks investigations and prosecutions. The committee took no action during testimony. HB 2137, relating to artificial intelligence, would prohibit certain harmful uses of realistic AI-generated digital imitations, require disclosures, and create civil remedies and fines. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the bill, while the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women opposed it on First Amendment grounds. The Motion Picture Association, Recording Industry Association of America, and SAG-AFTRA also opposed the bill but said they preferred a different framework, the federal “No Fakes” model, and were willing to work with the committee on amendments. The Attorney General had suggested constitutional amendments, which the chair said would be considered later. The committee also heard HB 2198 on prediction markets, with the Honolulu prosecutor strongly supporting inclusion of prediction markets in the gambling definition because of concerns about speculative betting on events and national security-related outcomes. HB 1511 on consumer protection drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Insurance Division, with OCP proposing clearer disclosure for license and registration renewal solicitations. HB 1897 on condominium alternative dispute resolution received supportive comments from the Real Estate Commission and CI. HB 1642 on crypto kiosks drew strong support from OCP and AARP Hawaii for a ban on kiosks accepting U.S. currency, but opposition from Hill Ventures, which argued for regulation and guardrails instead of a ban. HB 1753 on social media account deletion received supportive comments from DCCA on clarifying deletion of unique identifiers and inferences. HB 1654 on anonymous complaints against public employees drew strong opposition from the Attorney General over implementation and due process concerns, while the Government Employees Association supported it as a way to screen baseless complaints; the committee then moved on to HB 1659 on collective bargaining, with testimony beginning as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, due to the insurance claims for this ordeal, our board insurance skyrocketed from $2,000 to
• Meanwhile, due to the insurance claims for this ordeal, our board insurance skyrocketed from $2,000 to
• We also note the contracting provisions still do not adequately address insurance claims, an area that
• , an area that address insurance claims, an area that generated<00:49:04.319><c> significant</c><00:49
• needs of claims handling for multi-unit<00:49:15.440><c> commercial</c><00:49:15.839><c> assets</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we have claims data for individuals who have a substance use disorder who's been in Medicaid.
• So, we have claims data for individuals who have a substance use disorder who's been in Medicaid.
• So, we have claims data for individuals who have a substance use disorder who's been in Medicaid.
• . in terms of unique claims for mental in terms of unique claims for mental health<01:14:35.360><c> prescriptions
• So, so I think that claims.

Summary: The committee met on January 23, 2026, to approve prior minutes and receive an update from the Department of Health and Human Services. The main presentation focused on “Project Compass,” an internal cross-department effort to prepare for changes to Medicaid and SNAP eligibility. Department staff said the goal is to maintain continuous coverage for eligible people, align policy, operations, communications, legal, finance, and eligibility work, and use the new integrated New HEIGHTS system to streamline implementation. They emphasized outreach to beneficiaries, providers, managed care organizations, and other partners, and said temporary manual workarounds had already been used to stay in compliance with fast-moving SNAP changes. Members questioned how the department would avoid repeating the costly outreach effort used in a prior Medicaid work-requirement rollout. Department officials said they are focusing on ex parte processes, sharing eligibility information across programs, and using community partners to reduce duplicate contacts and paperwork. They also said the department is monitoring the SNAP error rate closely, expects automation and a planned system contract amendment to help reduce it, and noted that current error rates are trending downward and remain below the national average. Questions were also raised about possible future SNAP restrictions on certain foods; the department said it can implement whatever the legislature directs, but that defining and administering such restrictions would be complex. The commissioner and CFO then outlined the department’s budget reduction plan. They said the department has begun implementing required “back of the budget” reductions for fiscal year 2026, using contract savings and not cutting existing services where possible. Examples included dental and home-visitation contracts, where spending was adjusted based on utilization and projected need. Officials said they had already written down a little over $15 million in prior-year encumbrances, but that this one-time source will not be available next year, making fiscal year 2027 more difficult. They also explained the difference between legally required back-of-budget cuts and lapse, and said staffing remains a major challenge because vacancies have increased and customer-facing service levels are strained. Dr. Jonathan Ballard then began an update on opioid overdose fatalities, presenting the latest medical examiner data and describing the long-term rise in deaths after fentanyl entered the illicit drug supply, with a peak in 2017 and a later increase in 2022. The transcript cuts off before his full presentation and any further committee action beyond discussion of the minutes and receipt of the department updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Curran: Just to clarify, my claim is not that the jurisdiction of Public Safety or the
• </c><00:42:02.560><c> is</c> Curran um just to clarify so my claim is Curran um just to clarify so my
• claim is not<00:42:03.599><c> that</c><00:42:04.599><c> the</c><00:42:04.839><c> jurisdiction</c><00
• </c><00:42:13.880><c> is</c><00:42:14.079><c> that</c><00:42:14.319><c> the</c> conceptually my claim
• is that the conceptually my claim is that the Minnesota<00:42:15.040><c> Department</c><00:42:15.440

Bills: HF414 , HF768 , HF359

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• A legitimate defamation claim is not blocked, and abusive claims of immunity are punished.
• A legitimate defamation claim is not blocked, and abusive claims of immunity are punished.
• A legitimate defamation claim is not blocked, and abusive claims of immunity are punished.
• A legitimate defamation claim is not blocked, and abusive claims of immunity are punished.
• and abusive claims claim is not blocked and abusive claims of<01:28:53.280><c> immunity</c><01:28:54.080

Transcript Highlights:

• Supporters claim this bill will raise significant revenue, but it's not true.
• Even though this bill claims it's only for millionaires, history shows these limited taxes expand, like
• Second, proponents claim it only affects a tiny fraction of wealthy individuals, but in reality it will
• based that on a five-year estimated impact of 9 to 20 claims.
• And the fiscal note within this bill says that claim cost assumptions are based on current values of

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This modifies definitions related to opioid settlements and release of opioid-related claims.
• This modifies definitions related to opioid settlements and release of opioid-related claims.
• Um moving to page R2 house claims.
• It provides an additional six months for the resubmission of a claim when a prior claim for the same
• when a prior the reubmission of a claim when a prior claim<00:39:59.200><c> for</c><00:39:59.359><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• But in order to receive it, it does require changes to DHS's systems in order to program those claims
• </c><00:20:30.480><c> correctly</c><00:20:31.120><c> and</c> to program those claims correctly and to
• program those claims correctly and then<00:20:31.840><c> receive</c><00:20:32.799><c> the</c><00:20:
• on these funds for services claims on these funds for services already already already performed.<01
• </c><01:39:07.119><c> that</c> MA prescription medications claims that MA prescription medications claims

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:23:56.080><c> this</c> Mr Speaker speaker Democrats claim this Mr Speaker speaker Democrats claim
• Even so, three and a half years later, claims hang in limbo.
• Even so, three and a half years later, claims hang in limbo.
• Even so, three and a half years later, claims hang in limbo.
• </c> Governor New wanted to wanted to claim Governor New wanted to wanted to claim that<03:16:44.720>

Transcript Highlights:

• A provider may claim a monthly payment for the full number of days in which a child is authorized if
• If a child is absent for 10 days or less in a calendar month, the provider may claim a full monthly payment
• If a child is absent for greater than 10 days, yet attends at least one day, the provider may claim a

Bills: HB2487

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact

Transcript Highlights:

• So we clarified that if you're just a nominal defendant and you're not actually asserting a claim, you're
• trustee is operating in bad faith, you're never going to get in trouble as a beneficiary for bringing a claim
• applicability of a no-contest clause shall not preclude any later filing and adjudication of other claim

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• and for providing engineering services, and that person is later found to be unlicensed and I file a claim
• , the maximum that I could get against my $50,000 is a... ...file a claim, the maximum that I could get
• Of course, a good portion of those relates to claims, but a good portion also can create jobs, can boost

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard and reported favorably several bills. CS/SB 800 would increase penalties for repeated unlicensed engineering practice and create an engineering student loan assistance program funded by licensure fees and fines; Senator Sharif asked about restitution for victims, and the sponsor said the bill does not create a reimbursement mechanism. CS/SB 576 would create a local government cybersecurity protection program administered by Florida Digital Service, with state purchasing support, grant access, and data-sharing requirements; local government and cybersecurity groups waived in support. CS/SB 1078 would establish transition procedures between gubernatorial administrations, including liaisons, briefing books, office space, IT access, and access to agency records under a signed confidentiality agreement. The committee also reported favorably CS/SB 314 on payment stablecoin issuers, CS/SB 530 updating lottery operations and security rules, CS/SB 1614 giving JAC/LAC-related audit findings more enforcement effect for local governments seeking state funds, SB 990 authorizing protective cell captive insurance companies, SB 1588 beginning implementation of the prior gold-and-silver legal tender law, CS/SB 1440 adding cybersecurity-related exemptions and reporting provisions for financial institutions, and CS/SB 1568 creating a stablecoin pilot program for DFS fee payments. Several bills had support testimony from state agencies and industry groups, and some included technical or guardrail amendments that were adopted without objection. The committee also received a budget overview highlighting major funding items, including more than $350 million for Florida Forever, $738 million for Everglades restoration, more than $500 million for water quality projects outside the Everglades, $60 million for Farmers Feeding Florida, and more than $250 million for citrus recovery. Members asked questions about school lunch funding, state park improvements, land acquisition, water quality funding, gaming enforcement offices, and staffing for PERC. After the bills and budget discussion, members recorded a few affirmative votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Help us claim our power, people power for the planet.
• The people, help us claim our power, people power for the planet.
• Attorney's District Office for the District of Arizona rather than the district where the individual claims

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then recognized several visiting groups at the Capitol, including OBGYNs and trainees for Women’s and Reproductive Health Day, environmental advocates for Environmental Day, Arizona Maha Coalition members, nurses for Arizona Nurses Day, aerospace industry representatives for Aerospace Day, and guests for International Mother Language Day and other district visitors. Several proclamations and recognitions were read, including International Mother Language Day, Arizona Aerospace Day, and a recognition of Israeli Supreme Court Justice Daphne Barak-Erez. The chamber also welcomed the Doctor of the Day and a newly appointed commissioner, and the President Pro Tem made temporary committee appointments. The main floor business was a Committee of the Whole on several SNAP-related bills. SB 1002, concerning SNAP/TANF public welfare verification, received a floor amendment from Senator Kavanagh and was advanced with a do pass recommendation. SB 1331, relating to SNAP military employment and training, also advanced do pass. SB 1333, relating to a SNAP error rate forensic audit, was amended by the Health and Human Services Committee and advanced do pass after Senator Gonzalez spoke in opposition, arguing the bill did not address the underlying federal error-rate problem and could increase state costs. SB 1334, concerning SNAP work requirement waivers and exemptions, advanced do pass despite Senator Gonzalez’s opposition, in which she argued the bill would restrict Arizona’s flexibility, especially in rural and tribal areas, and could harm older adults and people with disabilities. SB 1368, concerning SNAP purchase restrictions, was then taken up; Senator Gonzalez began speaking in opposition, but the transcript cuts off before the debate or final action on that bill is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• To claim the preference, a veteran must provide proof of a... ...be preferred for employment.
• To claim the preference, a veteran must provide proof of a qualifying discharge with official discharge
• you, an individual may provide a pre-discharge certification as proof of a qualifying discharge to claim

Summary: The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee met on January 16, 2026, and took executive action on four measures before moving to public hearings on two bills. The committee held Senate Bill 5842 for further discussion, then considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406, Senate Bill 5825, Senate Bill 5863, and Senate Bill 5840. SCR 8406 would reestablish the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health and was advanced unanimously to the Rules Committee. SB 5825, which authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, was amended with a technical change and then advanced. SB 5863, extending the moratorium on destruction of Lakeland Village records and addressing access to certain historical records, also advanced without opposition. SB 5840, which changes campaign finance expenditure reporting schedules, was amended to adjust the implementation date to January 1, 2028 and then advanced after the committee waived the amendment publishing rule due to the short session timeline. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5827, sponsored by Senator Gildon, which would allow veterans to use a pre-discharge certification to claim civil service preference before receiving a DD-214. Staff explained the bill and clarified that the underlying qualifying discharge categories would remain unchanged. Senator Gildon said the bill was prompted by a constituent who could not access preference points before leaving active duty, and the Veterans Legislative Coalition testified in strong support. The hearing record noted 40 people signed in in favor and two opposed. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5968, sponsored by Senator Krishna Dawson, which would codify and expand the governor’s executive order on permitting and licensing timelines, require agencies to publish processing deadlines, phase in coverage of all credentials by 2030, and authorize fee refunds if deadlines are missed. The sponsor and staff said the bill is intended to improve predictability, accountability, and customer service, while agency flexibility would remain through OIRA. Support testimony came from the governor’s office, cosmetology, labor, construction trades, ports, business, and the Department of Health, all emphasizing delays’ impacts on jobs, projects, and access to care. The Department of Health reported substantial recent reductions in licensing times and said it lacked authority to issue refunds without the bill. The hearing closed with 26 people signed in, including supporters and opponents.