Transcript Highlights:

• by Senator McMath, Title 23, First Responders, to expand the definition to include public works employees
• , and to define public works employees.
• resolution by Representative Chasson to urge and request public school governing authorities and employees
• House Bill by Representative DeWitt, Title 33, City of Alexandria fire police departments, employees
• within the department, powers, duties of employees, creation of a new position, provides for oversight

Bills: HR42 , HR43 , HR44 , HR45 , HCR22 , HCR23 , HCR24 , HCR25 , HCR26 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR29 , HCR30 , HB894 , HB983 , HB984 , HR39 , HR40 , HR41 , HCR19 , HCR20 , HCR21 , HB2 , HB3 , HB15 , HB441 , HB976 , HB977 , HB978 , HB979 , HB980 , HB981 , HB982 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB521 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB670 , HB672 , HB797 , HB854 , HB952 , HB207 , HB300 , HB331 , HB428 , HB464 , HB587 , HB618 , HB629 , HB801 , HB853 , HB891 , HB474 , HB487 , HB503 , HB606 , HB633 , HB707 , HB720 , HB728 , HB733 , HB846 , HB852 , HB856 , HB868 , HB875 , HB112 , HB657 , HB221 , HB149 , HB901 , HB148 , HB354

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer by Father Josh Johnson, and heard several personal privileges recognizing guests and special observances, including Plaquemines Parish Day, TRIO Day visitors from Southern University, the creation of an Italian-American Legislative Caucus tied to St. Joseph’s Day, and a pro-life gala. Members also welcomed Colonel Joseph Masekia back to Louisiana after 30 years of military service. Senate messages reported concurrence in HCR 13, adoption and transmittal of SCR 13 on World Down Syndrome Day, and passage of numerous Senate bills, which were read by title and laid over. The chamber then handled a series of House resolutions and committee reports, including resolutions honoring individuals and events, and committee reports from Criminal Justice, Education, Health and Welfare, House and Governmental Affairs, Insurance, and Natural Resources. Several resolutions were adopted without objection, including measures for Plaquemines Parish Day, the Italian-American Legislative Caucus, and commendations for local honorees. The House also received and referred a number of new House bills, including the capital outlay budget, bond authorization, retirement, municipal, civil law, commerce, appropriations, transportation, and tax-related measures. The House took up and passed multiple bills on the floor, often after technical amendments. These included HB 207 on the Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board, HB 300 raising the appraisal threshold for state bank residential loans, HB 428 creating an LSU College World Series champions prestige plate, HB 464 on utility damage reporting, HB 587 creating a PANS/PANDAS specialty plate, HB 618 on Louisiana Economic Development fees, HB 629 for a Crew of Athena plate, HB 801 creating a classic black prestige plate, HB 853 on misleading solicitations by non-government entities, HB 891 consolidating conservation-related prestige plates, HB 112 clarifying child relocation distance measurement, HB 657 naming highways in honor of local figures, and HB 354 naming a bridge for Caleb Easterling. Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with HB 801 passing 93-1. The House also adopted amendments and recommitted several bills to Appropriations, and the day ended with announcements of upcoming committee meetings and adjournment until Monday at 2:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2005, and I thought it was time that we did something to improve that situation and support our DOT employees
• My name is Katie Durkin with Washington Federation of State Employees.
• Washington Federation of State Employees is extremely, extremely supportive of Senate Bill 6170 for many
• Honda's 32 authorized dealerships and their 2,000 employees prove that every day.
• There's nothing. 32 authorized dealerships and their 2,000 employees prove that every day.

Summary: The committee heard briefings and public testimony on three transportation bills. Substitute Senate Bill 6170 would raise WSDOT monetary thresholds for doing repairs in-house and for contracting work intended to support small, veteran-, minority-, and women-owned businesses, increasing the regular repair limit from $60,000 to $100,000, the emergency repair limit from $100,000 to $160,000 with annual inflation adjustment, and the contracting threshold from $100,000 to $160,000. The sponsor and WSDOT supported the bill as an efficiency measure; the fiscal note indicated no fiscal impact. Washington Federation of State Employees also supported it, saying the higher limits would let highway maintenance crews do more work in-house while preserving the existing work split with contractors. Substitute Senate Bill 6225 would authorize new and expanded transportation general obligation bonds, including $1.1 billion for highway projects in the Move Ahead Washington account, $400 million for listed highway projects with cost increases, and a $500 million increase to the SR 520 bond authorization, while also ending issuance of certain older unissued bond authorizations after June 30, 2026. Committee members asked about debt service, bond capacity, and how the money would be allocated; staff said the projects would be handled through the budget process and that the bill was intended to provide flexibility. Labor and business groups supported the bill as a way to fund preservation and maintenance and provide predictability, while Transportation Choices Coalition said any bonding should be limited and paired with broader transportation funding reforms and protection for multimodal programs. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6354 would allow certain qualifying U.S.-based battery electric vehicle manufacturers that have Washington service facilities and no prior franchise agreements to own and operate dealer licenses and sell directly, while also raising the dealer documentary service fee from $200 to $250 until the end of 2026 and directing part of the increase to an EV rebate program and the multimodal transportation account. Rivian and Lucid supported the bill as a compromise that would expand EV access and direct-sale options; Climate Solutions and the Port of Seattle also supported it, citing emissions reduction and affordability goals. Washington State Auto Dealers Association supported the compromise, saying it strengthens franchise protections while allowing limited direct sales. Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation opposed the bill, arguing it creates special treatment and weakens the franchise system, and some urged added consumer protections, service requirements, or bonding. The committee took no final action and closed the public hearings after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency reports the final consolidation of Department of Health and Welfare employees will require
• pay for increased health insurance costs for those additional 58 Department of Health and Welfare employees
• The agency requested enhancement number four for temporary employee restoration in the amount of $1,109,800
• ongoing for personnel costs to hire additional temporary seasonal employees within their wildlife and
• ; $200,000 one time for wolf... ...for temporary employees; $200,000 one time for wolf depredation response

Summary: The committee met to review the general fund update and several budget-setting items, with staff explaining how to track the latest “green sheet” online and how JFAC actions were affecting the FY 2026 and FY 2027 bottom lines. Members also discussed whether work group progress should be summarized more broadly, but leadership emphasized that work groups were intended to remain independent and that members should consult analysts directly rather than have a running public summary of each group’s internal deliberations. The committee then acted on a series of agency budgets. It approved the Idaho State Tax Commission enhancement package after revising it to remove the chief operating officer personnel item and adopted language limiting use of $550,000 for fast tax collection vendor payments, with any unused amount reverting to the general fund. It also approved supplemental and enhancement requests for the Office of Information Technology Services, including Chinden campus furnishings, E-Core grant staffing and funding, enterprise security/firewall upgrades, the IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, and a one-time cash transfer language item to cover transition-year health insurance costs. The Military Division’s request for $120,000 for Office of Emergency Management indirect cost recovery was approved, but an alternate motion to also add $190,800 for the state education assistance program failed, and the original motion was later held in committee. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets were both advanced with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund needs, OITS hardware, and replacement laptops. The Department of Fish and Game budget was also advanced, with approval of a large package of dedicated and federal funds for fishery habitat projects, Good Neighbor Authority work, hatchery and laboratory inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and replacement items, along with reappropriation authority for prior-year funds. The committee then took up the Department of Health and Welfare Division of Public Health Services, where competing motions focused on the Idaho Home Visiting Program, immunization assessment fund restoration, laboratory testing, HIV and hepatitis prevention, suicide prevention, and moving the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development. Both the substitute motion and the original motion failed after split votes in the House and Senate committees, leaving that budget held for later action. Finally, the committee considered new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer to require monthly reconciliation of cash balances between Luma and TARS from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, with a report due by the fall interim JFAC meeting and documentation retained for audit. Members discussed the need for accurate cash reconciliation and the resources available to the Controller’s office, but no final action was taken before adjournment. The chair announced upcoming budget-setting meetings and reminded members to complete work group motions by the end of the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was it an employee of a public body?
• last piece: you also need to show that you suffered childhood sexual abuse in relation to a public employee
• to do with maybe someone who was employed, you said, involving a public body or a public body's employee
• Employees are...
• The employee could have been fired; the employee could have had no priors, and then they will become

Bills: HB97 , HB280 , HB183 , HB151 , HB202

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: Shaken Baby Syndrome, abusive head trauma, child safety, training and education, healthcare funding, youth internships, workforce development, education, grant funding, employment, drinking water, water quality, environment, public health, water filtration, private well testing, federal funding, childhood sexual abuse, time limitations, civil actions

Transcript Highlights:

• Fruit and Vegetable Inspector CEC, which provided $390,800 in ongoing funding for a 5% change in employee
• As a result, these employees are not included in the CEC and benefit calculations for regular FTP, regular
• This enhancement is intended to provide salary increases in step with the other state employees.
• Fruit and Vegetable Inspector CEC, which provided 390,800 in ongoing funding for a 5% change in employee
• In keeping with the rest of the CEC recommendations for state employees, this request was not recommended

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the State Liquor Division. For Agriculture, legislative staff reviewed the agency’s structure, staffing, dedicated funds, and FY 2026–2027 budget requests, including pay adjustments, replacement items, IT hardware, a reappropriation for the Resilient Food Systems Grant, and two major one-time requests: a deficiency warrant for exotic pest response and a supplemental appropriation for quagga mussel treatment. Director Chanel Tewalt emphasized the history and urgency of Idaho’s invasive species program, described the state’s rapid response to quagga mussels, and explained how the program uses inspections, stations, chemicals, and other tools to reduce risk. Members asked about grant timing, vehicle replacement, signage costs, research into alternative treatments, chemical costs, possible use of sturgeon, and whether budget cuts would affect inspection stations; the director said some station openings or hours could be delayed or reduced, but priority would be given to border crossings and higher-risk locations. The committee then reviewed the State Liquor Division budget. Staff outlined the division’s dedicated-fund operations, personnel levels, statutory distributions, and FY 2027 requests for inflation, replacement items, and IT/security equipment, all recommended by the governor. Director Andrew Arulenandum said his priorities were safety, legal exposure, and operational continuity, citing a store shelving collapse and warehouse safety needs as reasons for some requests. Members asked about a policy proposal to restrict bulk lottery ticket purchases by out-of-state syndicates, the division’s pricing and markup structure, and whether Idaho might move away from a state-run liquor model. The director and his staff said the lottery restriction would not have a fiscal impact, that the markup is standardized, and that while the division remains open to efficiency ideas, the current control-state structure is intended to support revenue and temperance. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would return the next day to take action on FY 2027 maintenance budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way I explain it to our employees, a solid foundation is like a home.
• equally as important, a culture that everything we do is for the taxpayer, tax preparer, and our employee
• If it doesn't benefit one of those three, taxpayer, tax preparer, or employee.
• better, and drive employee engagement.
• Our attrition rate, or annualized employee turnover, has gone from over 30% down to about 15%.

Committee: House A&B Finance Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• We reached out to about 300 state employees and received 127 responses.
• In addition, a 2021-23 budget request for two additional employees was only partially met.
• Funding was provided for an employee to support local government, but funding was not provided for one
• Funding was provided for an employee to support local government, but funding was not provided for one
• It carries out its responsibilities by conducting education and outreach to employers and employees,

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on September 17, 2025, welcomed new members, and initially lacked a quorum until Representative Berg arrived. The committee adopted the July 15/16 meeting minutes and discussed a proposed 2026 meeting schedule, including possible changes to address the heavy July workload from tax exemption reviews. Staff then presented the annual lodging tax expenditures report, which showed 213 municipalities received distributions in 2024, 91% reporting compliance, about $114 million awarded for more than 1,700 activities, and over 115 million attendees reported. Several members questioned the self-reported nature of the data and whether the report had enough value; the executive committee indicated it may recommend removing the lodging tax reporting requirement from statute because it is not a compliance tool and consumes significant staff time. The committee next heard the preliminary performance audit of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection. Staff said OPDP generally meets its statutory responsibilities and is well regarded by users, but its statute should be updated to match its current capacity and focus. The audit found OPDP’s work is largely centered on state agencies, with limited public outreach and some overlap with other entities on broadband and privacy education. Two recommendations were presented: review and update OPDP’s statutory duties, including broadband reporting and public outreach, and develop performance measures that better assess long-term privacy outcomes rather than just outputs. Committee members asked about FERPA and other federal privacy laws, and OPDP staff said they can provide broader privacy training and would be willing to offer more specific training if requested. The committee adopted the final report on Washington State recreational boating programs without opposition. Staff reported that boating-related revenues in 2021–23 totaled $108 million, with 53% directed to general government and transportation accounts and 47% to boating programs or projects; no recommendations were made. Members asked about boater education outcomes and agency overlap, and staff and agency representatives said education appears to have reduced fatalities and that the six involved agencies have distinct roles coordinated through a quarterly work group. Finally, staff presented planned study questions for upcoming reviews of L&I’s enforcement of farm worker labor laws, DNR’s Eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation, and seven 2026 tax preference performance reviews. Members raised scope questions about the farm worker study and whether it should be framed around agricultural workers, and staff said they would follow the legislative mandate and could consider any future clarification. For the DNR review, staff said they are tracking DNR’s ongoing harvest calculation and will assess whether its data and methods align with best practices, while noting that future wildfire or other disturbances are outside the study’s scope. The tax preference review discussion covered the seven preferences to be studied in 2026, including data centers, Main Street credits, equitable access to credit, private airplane sales, landfill gas equipment, adaptive equipment for disabled veterans, and a real estate excise tax exemption for supported living transfers; members asked about equity, environmental impacts, and how staff would evaluate eligibility and savings. The meeting adjourned before noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• ..Additionally, HB244 protects the integrity of the classroom by prohibiting teachers and school employees
• This bill would prohibit employees of public schools and public institutions of higher education from
• Let's also zoom out some of the employees covered under this bill.
• The employees covered under this bill are employees of the state, which could lead to a situation where
• again, I just want to speak in support of this bill, as it protects the rights of teachers, school employees

Bills: SB211 , HB96 , SB215 , SB257 , SB13 , SB13

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And we provide administrative support to the Office of Injured Employees.
• Medicaid, ERS and TRS, and plans for university employees. church employees, and city and county employees
• The unit investigates insurance fraud, such as agent, employee, or health claim fraud.
• So employees of we are also employees of Fair They have separate governing committee and board of directors

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh and plus employees to the state.
• That has been a total failure unless you're a state employee.
• </c><01:59:57.920><c> uh</c> additional uh covered employee uh additional uh covered employee uh covered
• Do you think that our more employees.
• </c><02:17:33.200><c> have</c> quarter of those employees have quarter of those employees have children

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Um there's been a lot of back employees.
• Um, it also wraps in the higher-up employees just for that organization of surveys.
• ><c> for</c><00:44:12.720><c> that</c> higher-up employees just for that higher-up employees just for
• those next tier up employee those next tier up into<00:50:28.560><c> just</c><00:50:28.840><c> the</
• Again, people who have employees of a town have a financial interest in the budget.

Summary: The committee of conference first took up House Bill 158 on public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained that its amendment replaced the original bill with a requirement that the Secretary of State review absentee ballot data after each general election and report findings to the committees of jurisdiction, focusing on unusual patterns such as multiple ballots sent to the same address. After a brief caucus, the House agreed to the Senate position, and members voted individually to concur. The committee then discussed House Bill 281, which concerns making the electronic voter checklist available in a sortable format. The main dispute was whether the public list should include the mailing address where an absentee ballot was sent if it differs from the voter’s registered address. The Senate argued that including mailing addresses could expose where voters actually live or are away from home and could create safety concerns, while the House argued the information could help candidates reach voters and was not primarily a fraud measure. The parties also discussed a related nursing home verification provision and record-retention/public-records questions. After caucusing, the House agreed to the Senate’s position with the added nursing home signing language, and the committee closed the bill on consent. House Bill 340, concerning electioneering by public employees, was then taken up with a Senate amendment that narrowed the definition of electioneering by tying it to existing statutory language, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty option alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Senators and representatives debated whether the penalties should be mandatory or discretionary and how the language would apply to certain categories of public employees. After further clarification and caucus, the House accepted the Senate’s amended replace-all language, and the committee closed HB 340. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 1062, authorizing the Secretary of State to conduct random audits of citizenship qualifications of registered voters. The Senate explained that its changes removed the need for a permanent audit power by allowing records to be checked against databases and by requiring identification for registration going forward, which is why it added a sunset clause. The House member objected to the sunset and wanted the authority to continue indefinitely, and discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then with the OPRs, we were paying an additional percentage on top of the employee contribution.
• So we were paying about twice of what the employee was putting in to help catch those programs up.
• So your question is a bit misleading in the fact that we did do pay raises for every state employee in
• If you're asking aspirationally, if we could pay state employees more, then yes, of course, but we do
• who are a vital part of our schools. support employees who are a vital part of our schools.

Bills: SB1177 , HB3705 , SB1942 , SB2026 , SB1533 , SB1327 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2159

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, received an invocation focused on grief and remembrance, and heard several special presentations recognizing a brave child, visiting groups, and multiple student-athlete teams and school groups in the galleries. The chamber also introduced the Doctor of the Day and Nurse of the Day. The main business was consideration of the Joint Committee report on Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriations bill, presented by Chairman Caldwell-Trey. Most of the floor time was spent on extended questions about the budget’s major features. Caldwell-Trey explained the bill as a largely flat or modestly increased budget that includes a $200 million transfer to a new sovereign wealth fund, $225 million in set-asides, a $12.5 million “dream accounts” program for newborns, and funding tied to teacher pay, education, workforce, public safety, agriculture, and health agencies. Members questioned the use of one-time funds for recurring expenses, the reduction in state contributions to the OPRS pension system, Medicaid assumptions, emergency management funding, veterans’ services, child care, school counselors, and the lack of funding for some requested items such as National Board Certified Teacher stipends and veterans’ facility maintenance. Caldwell-Trey defended the budget as transparent, early, and designed to preserve cash reserves while supporting core services. No final vote on the appropriations report is reflected in the transcript excerpt. The House also heard explanations that the limits bills would be run later in committee, and that the budget negotiations were still ongoing with the Senate and governor on some related items. The session ended with the queue closed after the budget questioning, and the transcript cuts off during additional remarks from Representative Timmons.

Transcript Highlights:

• raises or political subdivision employees needing raises.
• They say, okay, I didn't get a pay raise this year, but my city employees did.
• With regards to city employee raises, yes.
• I also had a question in regards to employees for the City of Dallas.
• We've got a little over 800 employees.

Bills: HB26 , HB73 , SB 14 , HB46

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I've spoken to— so if they're going to become a part-time employee here and a part-time employee there
• a full-time employee night they're a full-time employee coming<01:21:29.239><c> over</c><01:21:29.440
• or employees of the school district.
• /c><01:51:06.239><c> school</c> employees or employees of the school employees or employees of the school
• </c><03:17:46.080><c> and</c> all disputes by students employees and all disputes by students employees

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 362, which would grant the Department of Education rulemaking authority related to educator licensure and testing requirements, including passing scores on professional education assessments. Representative Ladd said the bill is intended to preserve New Hampshire’s standards for classroom teachers and CTE instructors, while allowing DOE flexibility through rulemaking. He emphasized maintaining high standards, including for career and technical education, and said he was open to DOE clarifying the language further. Committee members raised concerns that the bill, as written, could remove language recognizing industry-recognized credentials for CTE instructors. Department of Education Director Steven Appy said DOE had drafted an amendment to clarify that the requirement applies to an initial New Hampshire license, to exempt CTE teachers from content exams, and to preserve current administrative practice allowing basic academic skills testing and industry-recognized credentials as substitutes. The committee discussed the distinction between basic academic skills tests and content assessments, and Appy said the amendment was meant to avoid conflating those requirements. The chair said the committee would take up executive session on HB 362 and related bills later. The committee then took up House Bill 90, which narrows and defines the rules for part-time teachers, especially in concurrent enrollment settings. Representative Ladd explained that the bill is meant to allow qualified college faculty or adjuncts from the University System or Community College System to teach high school concurrent-enrollment courses when local schools lack a teacher with the needed master’s-level credentials, particularly in math and STEM subjects. He said the bill is intended to expand student access to college-level coursework, save money, and preserve standards, while still requiring background checks and adherence to ethics and conduct rules. Members began asking questions about how the bill would work in practice, including certification and endorsement issues, but the hearing was not concluded in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Tulalip tribes continue to invest in employee training, responsible gaming education, self-exclusion
• So this includes all employees. Please... A higher level of training.
• So this includes all employees with supervisory responsibilities in the gaming sector, compliance, guest
• So it really is designed to assist employees in better understanding the signs that a guest may be experiencing
• problems because of their gambling and what steps to take if the employee is concerned.

Summary: A joint hearing of the Senate Business, Trade and Economic Development Committee and the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee reviewed tentative tribal-state compact amendments involving the Tulalip Tribes and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Washington State Gambling Commission staff explained the compact approval process under IGRA and said the commission and ex officio legislators would take public comment and vote at an August 28 special meeting on whether to forward the agreements to the governor or send them back for further negotiation. The amendments would not take effect until published in the Federal Register. Tulalip Chairman Hazen Chappell testified in support of the Tulalip restated compact, describing tribal gaming as a governmental enterprise that funds health care, education, housing, elder services, public safety, natural resources, and other services. He said the tribe has employed more than 3,000 people, contributed over $113 million to charities and community programs since 1993, and continues to emphasize responsible gaming and regulatory cooperation. Commission staff said the Tulalip restatement consolidates 12 prior amendments, updates appendices and definitions, adds new appendices, removes some older provisions, and includes higher wager limits, jackpot sharing, and an option to increase player terminal allocations. Cowlitz Chairman William Ayala and Ilani Casino President Kara Fox LaRose presented the tribe’s sixth compact amendment. They highlighted the tribe’s history, community investments, education and elder programs, language revitalization, public safety support, and more than $35 million in foundation contributions since 2017. The proposed Cowlitz amendment would raise wager limits up to $1,000, create a special higher-limit player process with due diligence and responsible gaming safeguards, enhance signage and marketing requirements, allow temporary gaming areas, and adjust TLS ticket pricing when the state lottery raises ticket prices. Committee members asked about self-exclusion and credit practices; Cowlitz officials said hundreds of people have used the self-exclusion program and that higher-limit play is tied to front money or a $100,000 minimum credit line. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• What that is, there's approximately $32 million for retired employees that will be paid to them out of
• And then in the HP239, which is Representative Collins's bill, this is the bill that gives the employee
• ><00:10:10.160><c> that</c><00:10:10.399><c> gives</c><00:10:10.560><c> the</c><00:10:10.800><c> employee
• </c> this is the bill that gives the employee this is the bill that gives the employee raise,<00:10:11.680

Bills: SB342 , SB342 , SB159

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: land bank, land bank authority, local land bank authority, Alabama Land Bank Authority, tax delinquent property, tax sale, tax lien, redemption period, quiet title, blight remediation, vacant property, foreclosure, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, intergovernmental agreement, county government, municipal government, redevelopment, brownfields, floodplain management

Transcript Highlights:

• You have 50 or more employees, which would capture, as Representative Church mentioned, Blue Cross or
• Regence or whatever, and then the smaller providers under 50 employees.
• said that page three, in 56-256, talks about the two categories of provider: those with 50 or more employees
• , which would capture Blue Cross or Regence, and the smaller providers under 50 employees.
• Representative Hostetler said that the smaller providers are under 50 employees.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I was going to say 340. 340 permanent full-time employees. Please.
• Permanent full-time employees. You're a pretty big agency.
• We maintain offices that are open to the public, and we want to ensure the safety of CRD employees and
• We've had over a dozen incidents since July of 2024 of individuals making threats to our CRD employees
• CRD employees, and that's created a lot of concern internally.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of our employees are local and have deep roots in the community as well.
• And I appreciate, sir, you've mentioned your employees.
• A total headcount of employees in the neighborhood of 100 in Washington.
• We're right in the Five Corners, and we have 101 employees. We're a single-point dealership.
• We're right in the Five Corners, and we have 101 employees. Okay. Rep. Rammel. Thank you, Mr.

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:

• We'll take up Tab 6, CS for SB 92, on employee protections by Senator Gates.
• This bill provides that when a public employee does file a complaint because he or she does see firsthand
• And if the Commission finds that an employee has... ...suffered retaliation because he or she blew the
• These protections assure that public employees can report ethics violations they personally observe and
• Protections for those who file ethics complaints who are public employees are something that the Commission

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections