Transcript Highlights:

• Anything that we do to support maternal health supports the nurturing and safety of our children as well
• support, home visiting, and social work.
• When we support maternal health, we also care for our children.
• Support for questions. Excellent. Well, thank you for that.
• Our Bree Report recommends these actions to support maternity care.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee met on July 30, 2026, to hear two main briefings. The first, from the Health Care Authority, focused on implementation of federal H.R. 1 Medicaid changes and Washington’s rural health transformation funding. HCA said the state is preparing for major eligibility changes, including the October 1 loss of Medicaid coverage for about 14,000 lawfully present non-citizens and January 1, 2027 work requirements, six-month renewals, and reduced retroactive coverage for roughly 600,000 Medicaid expansion adults. Officials described outreach efforts, new automated verification systems, a verification hub, and plans to use available data sources to reduce manual paperwork, while noting that about one-third of the affected population may still need manual processing. They also said H.R. 1 will limit state-directed payments over time, with an estimated long-term impact of up to $1.5 billion in hospital reimbursements. On rural health transformation, HCA said it is moving quickly to obligate its $181 million federal award through contracts and competitive grants for rural hospitals, workforce, behavioral health, technology, and tribal and community partners. Committee members asked about the impact on rural providers, community service as a work-requirement pathway, emergency Medicaid, tribal and federal reimbursement issues, and whether the state would submit comments on the federal work-requirement rule. HCA said it would file comments, that emergency Medicaid coverage for certain services remains available, and that it is working with tribes and other agencies to avoid erroneous terminations and to move eligible people into other coverage where possible. Members also raised concerns about the administrative burden on families and providers and the need for congressional attention on issues such as TRICARE reimbursement. The second briefing addressed maternal health and the Department of Health’s Maternal Mortality Review Panel report. DOH said maternal mortality in Washington increased for the first time in the report series, but most pregnancy-related deaths remain preventable. Nearly half were linked to behavioral health conditions, especially overdose deaths, with suicide, cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19 also significant causes; most deaths occurred postpartum rather than during delivery. The report found higher mortality rates among American Indian and Alaska Native, Black, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, multiracial, rural, and Medicaid-covered populations, and identified lack of access to care, financial hardship, housing instability, discrimination, bias, and systemic inequities as major contributors. DOH highlighted existing state actions such as one-year postpartum coverage, doula reimbursement, inpatient substance use treatment coverage for birthing people, and vaccine coverage requirements, and offered 12 legislative recommendations focused on affordable and high-quality care, basic needs and community supports, and equitable, culturally responsive services. Presenters from the Suquamish Tribe and Kitsap OBGYN described how the tribe acquired and stabilized a threatened OB-GYN practice to preserve regional access amid provider shortages and hospital service losses. They said rural obstetric care is difficult to sustain because of thin margins, workforce shortages, long travel distances, and higher-risk patients, and emphasized that tribal health systems can offer stronger reimbursement and integrated family-centered care. The Foundation for Healthcare Quality and the Bree Collaborative then outlined statewide maternity-care quality efforts, including work on perinatal behavioral health, care coordination, postpartum screening, doula support, and better-aligned payment models. They said Washington has strengths in innovation but still needs more OB-GYN capacity, better transitions of care, and more culturally responsive, trauma-informed maternal and Native health services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Green cards are for support.
• Green cards are for support.
• Randall Johnson, president, support, does not wish to speak.
• It should be the employer. It should be the union.
• Eric Sundstrom is in support, not present, not wishing to speak.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 1 with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 938 by Rep. Turner, which would overhaul pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulation by setting a flat administration fee, requiring dispensing fees and NADAC-based reimbursement, mandating rebate pass-through, giving the Department of Insurance access to PBM data, and creating a reverse-auction process for PBM procurement. Turner said the bill is intended to level the playing field for independent pharmacies, improve transparency, and reduce hidden PBM practices. The committee adopted amendment set 1444 without objection, and Turner said additional conceptual amendments were still being worked on. Supporters included independent pharmacies and the PBM Accountability Project; opponents included union plan representatives, benefits consultants, and PBM/insurance industry witnesses who warned of higher costs, ERISA preemption problems, and likely litigation. After extended questioning on cost, preemption, and vertical integration, the committee reported HB 938 with amendments. The committee then considered House Bill 870, also by Rep. Turner, dealing with formulary placement and cost-sharing for generic drugs and biosimilars and limiting certain utilization management practices. Amendment set 1540 was adopted, revising and tightening technical definitions. Turner and a representative of the Association for Accessible Medicines argued the bill would help lower-cost generics and biosimilars gain market share and reduce patient costs, citing examples such as insulin and Humira biosimilars. Opponents from Louisiana Blue said the bill would force coverage based on wholesale acquisition cost rather than net cost, would raise premiums for fully insured members, and would mandate coverage of drugs that are not always the lowest net-cost option. Rep. Jordan again raised ERISA and preemption concerns, and committee members discussed whether the bill would interfere with tiering and plan design. After closing comments and a motion by Rep. Glorioso, HB 870 was reported with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't meaningfully increase employment.
• This support continued to Based on a true cost of delivering comprehensive care, this support continued
• So SEIU is standing with CWDA and supporting a $230 million ask that was referenced earlier to support
• CSAC is supportive.
• These supports are not extras.

Transcript Highlights:

• retirement system, to revise a provision regarding the re-employment of retired members.
• So with that, I just say that I would encourage support and passage of this.
• With that, I urge your support. Is there further debate? Is there further debate?
• There's reasons why we want to support it.
• I urge your support. The debate is closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We further support our employers and employees in this legislation through I-9 audit verification enforcement
• I rise today in support of this bill.
• I rise today to support Amendment 2.
• So you were supported then? He's supportive now. And I'm grateful for that support.
• support our immigrant communities.

Summary: The House first handled several routine matters, including adoption of a birthday resolution honoring Caroline San Martino Moran and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition involving the City of Waltham and the Veterans Memorial Rink. It also advanced two local bills: one authorizing DCAMM to release a sewer line easement in West Roxbury, and another relative to the town administrator of Carlisle. Both bills were amended by Ways and Means and ordered to third reading or engrossed as amended. The chamber also passed a memorial-marker bill for fallen law enforcement officers in Milton and Canton. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 5305, the “Protect Act,” which was presented as a measure to limit state and local involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement, restrict ICE access in courthouses and other sensitive locations, strengthen notice and language-access protections for detainees and workers, and expedite U and T visa certifications. Supporters, including members of the Black and Latino Caucus and other legislators, argued the bill would protect due process, encourage victims and witnesses to come forward, preserve public trust, and keep local police focused on criminal matters. They cited courthouse arrests, fear in immigrant communities, and the need for clearer boundaries between state and federal authority. Several amendments were offered and voted on during consideration of H.5305. An amendment to strike Section 4 was rejected, as were amendments seeking to alter the courthouse enforcement provisions and to recognize immigration judge warrants. Other amendments were adopted, including one clarifying sheriff-related provisions, one expanding language around release dates, one adding protections related to school settings, and one expediting U visa certification for family members aging out. A roll call was taken on the bill and on multiple amendments, with the House ultimately adopting the amendments described and continuing consideration of the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:23.559><c> uh</c> management uh system support uh management uh system support uh maintenance
• </c> means for inured workers employers means for inured workers employers attorneys<00:19:57.000><c>
• </c><00:20:10.039><c> the</c> environment uh the system supports the environment uh the system supports
• </c> need to track the continuous employment need to track the continuous employment of<00:39:01.839>
• </c><05:45:25.280><c> so</c> no longer um going to be supported so no longer um going to be supported

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> technical assistance we do not support technical assistance we do not support or<01:09:06.600><c
• That deals with employment.
• </c> five test if they were not employable five test if they were not employable the<01:38:34.480><c>
• </c> there's a lot of crossover employment there's a lot of crossover employment wise<01:47:47.760><c
• <02:24:05.319><c> and</c> employment and employment and lure<02:24:07.399><c> and</c><02:24:07.600><c

Summary: The House Education Committee held its organizational meeting for the new term, with members introducing themselves and describing their backgrounds in teaching, school boards, special education, administration, law, and related fields. Chair Glenn Cordelli outlined the committee’s goals and procedures, emphasizing civility, professionalism, and respectful treatment of witnesses and members. He also noted that the committee has been split into two this year because of the large volume of bills, and said the committee had already sent three bills to the other education committee, with 36 bills currently assigned and more expected. The chair reviewed committee rules and logistics: hearings should start on time, members should minimize cell phone use and avoid searching during testimony, and questioning of witnesses is limited to one question at a time unless the chair allows a follow-up. Members were told to use the title “Representative,” to sign up on pink cards to testify, and to submit written testimony to the clerk. He also explained that hearings are for listening rather than debating, while executive sessions are where debate and motions occur. Possible motions include ought to pass, inexpedient to legislate, and retain in committee for further work, including subcommittees. Additional procedures covered scheduling, with the committee expected to meet Wednesday and Thursday the following week because of a holiday, and regular meetings generally planned for Monday and Wednesday. The chair also discussed the consent calendar, reports from majority and minority positions, and the expectation that members who testify on a bill should not then question other witnesses on that same bill. No legislation was voted on at this meeting; it was a procedural and orientation session for the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would Association of Counties testifying in support of House Bill 2451.
• We strongly support this bill. We realize this is not the perfect solution.
• We fully support the efforts to ensure title security.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of House Bill 2298.
• So that's why I'm testifying in support of House Bill 2566.

Bills: HB2313 , HB2451 , HB2298 , HB2566 , HB2517

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: grocery stores, public ownership, food accessibility, community services, economic development, tax increment financing, local government, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, municipal permitting, transit projects

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:59.640><c> for</c> uh with my full full-hearted support for uh with my full full-hearted support
• ,<00:19:31.320><c> Representative</c><00:19:32.120><c> Emily</c> employment, Representative Emily employment
• House Bill 694, Representative Hall, an act relating to an income tax credit for qualified employers.
• </c><00:34:39.120><c> House</c> credit for qualified employers.
• House credit for qualified employers.

Transcript Highlights:

• On slide seven, just as a reminder, there's been basically no change to the U.S. employment forecast
• Slide nine delves into employment by changes by sector over the last year, which the best data we had
• Slide 10 gives you a little bit more employment data by sector in New Mexico On slide 11, we highlight
• Of course, withholding is the amount that employers withhold from employee paychecks based on wages and
• The executive funds the income support division for caseworkers at a much higher level.

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> employment soon thereafter. employment soon thereafter.
• We have to be careful their employment.
• Very much in support of the bill.
• ><00:55:59.040><c> amendment</c> offer support for that amendment offer support for that amendment suggestion
• Do you support some comment from you? Do you support this? this? this?

Bills: HB0130 , HB0095 , HB0096 , HB0097 , SF0101 , SF0106 , SF0067 , SF0123

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I appreciate everyone supporting the bill, and let's get that committee together and get them
• supports a third-party program where they come to your school during school hours and remove students
• Madam Chair, members, HB 2192, video content minors employment compensation, establishes financial and
• Additionally, an employer who owns the seized vehicle shall pay a civil penalty equal to the amount of
• I want to turn this in, and thank you everybody for your love and support. All right, thank you.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long minority calendar covering a wide range of bills, with sponsors giving brief descriptions and members frequently raising concerns about constitutionality, cost, federal preemption, and policy impacts. Topics included medical intervention and vaccination/mask prohibitions, state treasurer investment rules, vacant state positions reporting, shooting range closure limits, congressional term limits, audit penalties, cellphone use while driving, procurement restrictions tied to China, air ambulance regulation, hospital immigration-status reporting, SNAP purchase restrictions, school assessment changes, school contract transparency, religious excusals from school, student contact information, fitness reporting, and several property tax, water, and agriculture measures. Members also discussed bills on AI-generated sexual material consent verification, DEI liability, hate-crime sentencing, commercial driver forfeiture tied to immigration status, speed-limiting devices for repeat speeding offenses, PFAS firefighting foam, name changes for sex offenders, abortion-inducing drugs, prisoner transition services, sexual extortion penalties, solar radiation management bans, and cultivated-cell food labeling and sales bans. Several bills drew explicit opposition or requests to pull them from consent, especially those affecting abortion access, immigration-related hospital reporting, school testing, religious release programs, DEI policies, and cultivated-cell foods. Members noted that some measures appeared duplicative, overly broad, or likely unconstitutional, and in multiple cases referenced prior vetoes or prior-year versions of the same bills. Supportive comments were also made on selected bills, including the PFAS foam prohibition, the assistive technology study committee, the digital goods consumer protection bill, and the prisoner transition services extension. The caucus also considered water and infrastructure measures, including brackish groundwater funding and studies, water augmentation authority bonds, Pima County water rates, groundwater transport rules, and HOA drought watering limits. Toward the end, members reviewed election-related memorials and resolutions, including a proposal to limit voting centers, a memorial urging withdrawal from the United Nations, and another urging defunding the IMF; all three were noted as being on consent and were pulled for further discussion. The meeting closed with announcements, including a note about a local missing-person concern and a caucus recognition program called the Affordable Arizona Award.

Transcript Highlights:

• support local jobs in the end.
• </c><00:14:19.000><c> um</c> Republican Governors have supported um Republican Governors have supported
• I'm here today to offer my enthusiastic support for HF 1277.
• </c><00:26:14.760><c> for</c><00:26:15.000><c> HF</c> enthusiastic support for HF enthusiastic support
• </c> 10 to 20 sustained uh employment 10 to 20 sustained uh employment positions<00:30:04.559><c> they're

Transcript Highlights:

• The County Veterans Service Officers or CVSOs support, CalVet supports the work of these county employees
• We greatly appreciate your support.
• We support a legal, well-regulated marketplace.
• Last, we must expand retail access to support licenses.
• I want to thank the chair for her ongoing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I rise in support of HB 1478.
• Uh, I rise in support of HB 1478.
• Uh, I rise in support of HB 1478.
• </c> support of HB78. Uh, 7 HB 1478. support of HB78. Uh, 7 HB 1478.
• </c> as amended and ask for your support. as amended and ask for your support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Retention is affected if employers, particularly large employers, decide to cover GLP-1s in their health
• For employers with 200 to 999 employees, smaller employers, only...
• Sometimes we see that peers offer even more support—better support—than, dare I say, clinicians and people
• Does that mean how we are supporting our providers?
• The amount of support has been pretty overwhelming, honestly.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I ask for your support.
• So please vote yes on this amendment to support our firefighters.
• I rise today in support of House Bill 1239.
• Like him, I too rise in support of House Bill 2146.
• Support our small businesses, support our local broadcasters, and vote no on House Bill 2558.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, some employers deduct credit card processing fees from employee tips, meaning workers are
• Credit card fees are a cost of doing business, and employers should not be passing that cost onto their
• We do support the intent, and upon talking to the sponsor, others, we understand the technological reasons
• This money leaves our state's economy and could better be used to support benefits or business growth
• the new section that you're adding, which then reinforces your presentation, which says that an employer

Transcript Highlights:

• The duties will include developing recruitment strategies, administrative and curricular support for
• The employees in those positions were eligible for severance and a special re-employment consideration
• we're doing is we're freeing up these resources to create a new position called a VES, or a veteran employment
• If they should take employment with the state somewhere else, then that severance amount would be reduced
• if they find employment first, or do they get that severance regardless?

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee first reviewed several personnel actions. It approved the Arkansas State Police request to swap three corporal positions for three lieutenant positions to supervise increased trooper staffing along the I-40 corridor, with no net increase in positions and an estimated cost of $89,000 from general revenue. It also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for three project/program administrator pool positions to support the new College of Veterinary Medicine, and approved the Department of Commerce Economic Development Commission’s request for an extra help position tied to Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act work. One item was pulled from consideration. The committee then received a report on a reduction in force at the Department of Veterans Affairs that eliminated six positions. Senator Petty asked for reassurance that veterans’ services would not be harmed, and VA Secretary Colonel Rob Ader explained that the action was part of a broader restructuring rather than a simple cut, intended to realign the agency, free resources, and expand services such as a new continuum-of-care program, veteran employment support, and stronger coordination with employers as veterans transition out of service. He said the agency also expected to save money. Members also questioned VA officials about the impact on county and district veteran service officers and about severance and retirement implications for affected employees. VA officials said the county VSO program remains in place, with efforts underway to improve training, supervision, and consistency across counties, including reporting to county judges. They also explained that severance is based on years of service, is not recouped if an employee later takes another state job, and that retirement eligibility and early-retirement penalties would still apply under existing rules. The committee took no further action after the reports and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand in support of it today.
• With that, I ask for your favorable support.
• With that, I ask for your favorable support.
• I strongly support physicians and evidence-based medicine, and in closing, I ask that you support this
• I encourage your support for this amendment, and I appreciate all those who have supported so far during

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions before taking up a special order calendar of bills. Early measures included a claims bill for relief to L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which passed 34-0 after substitution from the House version, and a claims bill for the estate of Mark Legata, which passed 35-0 after the amount was reduced in the substitute. The chamber then approved CS for CS for SB 42 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, requiring investigators to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse; the sponsor described it as a fix for cases where medical evidence is overlooked, and it passed 34-0. A bill on autism education for teachers was also substituted with the House version, amended to replace the Senate language, and passed 35-0 after supportive remarks from members. The Senate next passed a land-use bill, SB 218, adjusting hurricane-related development restrictions so they continue in storm-damaged counties but expire in unaffected counties in 2026, with debate focused on local control and recovery needs; it passed 36-0. The chamber then approved several other measures with little or no opposition: a probate bill modernizing curators of estates (36-0), a Blue Ribbon Projects bill creating a framework for large planned developments with conservation set-asides, which drew extensive debate over local control, growth management, and the bill’s breadth before being temporarily postponed, a state lotteries update (36-0), a diploma requirements bill allowing Special Olympics participation to substitute for PE and clarifying marching band credit (36-0), and a naturopathic medicine licensure/regulation bill that reestablishes a licensing framework and board, which passed 33-3. The Justice Administrative Commission bill was amended to broaden membership to include a judge or senior judge and passed 37-0. The Senate also passed a public records exemption for certain local administrators and their families (31-5), a clinical laboratory personnel bill easing staffing requirements by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards (37-0), a dry needling bill clarifying occupational therapists may perform the practice (37-0), a financial disclosures bill revising gift/honoraria reporting and restoring a percentage-based reporting option via amendment (36-0), and a child welfare bill expanding when parental drug abuse can be treated as harm or neglect and allowing earlier court intervention and services (37-0). Later, the chamber took up a bill on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would prevent enforcement of foreign or religious law over the Constitution, create a due-process process for domestic terrorist designations, and bar public funds from supporting terrorism. Senators raised questions about the lack of a time limit on conduct used for designation and whether conviction is required; an amendment was then offered to remove specific references to Sharia law and the bill’s findings, with the sponsor of the amendment arguing the language stigmatized Muslim constituents and singled out Islam. The transcript cuts off during that amendment debate, so no final action on the bill is shown in the provided text.