Transcript Highlights:

• The College of Education, a little bit before we talk about the program, the College of Education and
• from teaching, nursing, education, policy, leadership, athletic, Teaching, nursing, education policy
• So it's a very comprehensive education and health college. We have over 6,000 students.
• On the slide, it is not really an acronym, but then let us do represent, educate, motivate, prepare,
• Department of Education as a comprehensive transition and post-secondary program.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on three Arkansas programs serving students and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. University of Arkansas representatives described the Empower Program, a non-degree, four-year inclusive postsecondary program for young adults with mild intellectual disabilities, and the Autism Support Program, which provides intensive academic, peer, and career coaching for degree-seeking students with autism. They explained the programs’ person-centered planning, residential and employment supports, fee structure of $5,000 per semester for each program, and scholarship/fundraising efforts to offset costs. Members asked about dorm arrangements, mentoring, individualized plans, and how students move in and out of support services, and the presenters emphasized independence, integrated campus life, and transition planning. Pulaski Technical College staff then presented the 3D program, a three-year transition program in culinary, baking, and hospitality for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They outlined integrated classes, internships, job placement outcomes, and data showing strong completion and employment retention rates. Questions focused on how success is measured, tuition and financial aid, and the challenge of securing community partners for practicum and employment sites. The presenters said the program uses rubrics that include technical and professional skills, charges $5,700 per semester, and is pursuing accreditation through the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council. The final presentation was from SLS Community, a Fayetteville nonprofit serving neurodivergent adults through residential supports, supported employment, and community initiatives. Leaders described their vision for a future mixed-use “live-work-play” development at Cato Springs, current residential and vocational services, and community events such as a 5K and a neurodiversity health care conference. Family members testified about the need for adult services, trained direct support professionals, and better reimbursement and behavioral health supports after age 21. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes, and members also announced upcoming autism-related events and requested future discussion on task force appointments and ABA-related issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, it comes back to education. I can tell you, I'm an educator as well.
• Do you know how much education a medical student receives in dementia?
• Well, it comes back to education. I can tell you, I'm an educator as well.
• Do you know how much education a medical student receives in dementia?
• It's accredited education training programs.

Bills: HB2190, HB2202, HB2233, HB2251, HB2252, HB2396, HB2437, HB2689, HB2796

Keywords: physician assistants, licensure compact, medical services, multistate practice, patient care access, healthcare workforce, military families, adverse actions, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, HB 2233, rural health transformation, rural health transformation program, AHCCCS, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, JLBC

Transcript Highlights:

• Missouri ranks fourth worst in the U.S. for early education, with those low ratings being for access
• Education Week assigned Missouri a C-minus in school finance.
• And so that's what we did in your committee on elementary and secondary education.
• So in committee, I think it was about a party-line vote coming out of the Education Committee.
• It is time for Missouri to join them and support our students' education. Thank you.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• under the bill can include things like carbon sequestration, air and water filtration, climate stabilization
• These workers are vital to the economic stability of our rural communities.
• As written, HB 2170 further jeopardizes their economic stability and overlooks DNR's own reports showing
• forests and continue to rely on them to support their families and critical public services like education
• due to regulatory encumbrances, the county has lost both timber revenue and the broader economic stability

Bills: HB2170, HB2544, HB2578

Keywords: natural climate solutions, ecosystem services, revenue generation, economic opportunities, environmental policy, water rights, adjudication, Columbia River, environmental impact, natural resources, tribal members, fish and wildlife, commission, indigenous rights, state regulation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , access to the Washington Physicians Health Program, or WPHP, as well as access to Heal Law, an education
• CAAs, access to the Washington Physicians Health Program or WP, as well as access to Heal Law, an education
• This legislation creates stability and a transparent framework for vaccine policy in our state.
• Senate Bill 5967 delivers that stability.
• Federal uncertainty surrounding preventive services mandates threatens coverage stability for older adults

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee opened its 2026 session with a work session focused on the committee’s priorities of access, quality, and affordability. Health Care Authority staff Michelle Needham and Ross Florey reviewed the Health Care Cost Transparency Board’s work, noting Washington’s uninsured rate has fallen from 15% in 2010 to 5%, but health care spending growth remains above the benchmark. They said 2023 spending grew 6.2% versus a 3.2% target, with prescription drugs, hospital outpatient care, professional services, and non-claims spending driving growth. They highlighted ongoing work on market transparency, hospital spending, primary care, and federal policy changes that could reduce coverage and increase uncompensated care. Dr. Drew Oliva of the Washington Health Alliance added quality and safety data, saying many measures remain below top national performance, primary care attachment is weak, hospital pricing varies widely, and behavioral health data are limited. He urged stronger primary care investment, more transparency, and better patient safety oversight. Committee members then introduced themselves and staff before moving to public hearings. The committee first heard Senate Bill 5877, a technical fix expanding the physician health program surcharge to certified anesthesiologist assistants so they can participate in the Washington Physicians Health Program and related educational resources. The bill sponsor and witnesses from the Washington Medical Commission, the Washington Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and the Washington Physicians Health Program all supported the measure, describing it as a consistency and access fix for a newly licensed profession. The bill drew 12 pro, 2 con, and 0 other sign-ins. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5967, which would preserve access to preventive services by allowing the Department of Health to issue immunization recommendations based on multiple expert sources and by freezing state insurance coverage protections for preventive services and vaccines as of mid-2025, with OIC rulemaking authority to keep coverage at least as favorable. The sponsor, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham, and Governor’s office staff said the bill is intended to protect existing coverage, not create new vaccine mandates, and to keep recommendations grounded in science amid federal uncertainty. Supporters included Dr. Helen Chu, Dr. Beth Harvey, Dr. Maria Huang, Dr. J. Miller, and Dr. Matt LaGalbo, who emphasized vaccine safety, rising vaccine-preventable diseases, and the importance of no-cost preventive care. Opponents, including Bob Runnels and Natalie Chavez, argued the bill politicizes vaccines, reduces transparency, and expands state authority without adequate fiscal detail. The hearing continued with additional testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides that if the State Board of Education deems property to be surplus, it can be used
• Removing their voice from such a significant decision, one that affects not just education but their
• I ask you to consider what it truly means to support our educators. Please vote no today.
• But moving an educational institution out of a community and placing something that does not replace
• One, the stadium, also one of our Jewish educational centers.

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have seen a dip in the last couple of weeks, but then again it got stabilized.
• So while we kind of think that the crude oil prices might have stabilized at the moment, depending on
• You get those imports in a competitive manner to help with the price stability in California.
• You get those imports in a competitive manner to help with the price stability in California.
• It's been a very good educational session. So, as I mentioned, I'm Matt Patel.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing on managing the transportation fuels transition, fuel pricing, and supply reliability. Chair Allen opened by discussing prior legislation, including SB 1322 and special session measures, that expanded reporting to the California Energy Commission (CEC) and gave the state tools to study gasoline costs, refinery margins, inventories, and potential supply disruptions. He framed the hearing around refinery closures, rising imports, global conflict affecting crude markets, and the need to balance affordability, reliability, and the state’s long-term clean-fuels transition. CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda, CDTFA Chief Deputy Director Gentian Droboniku, and DPMO Director Ty Miller presented data showing California’s growing dependence on imported crude and refined products, declining in-state refining capacity, and stable-to-tight inventories that are being supported by higher imports. They said the new transparency laws have improved understanding of the market and pointed to the proposed Gateway Pipeline, marine imports, and distribution constraints as important supply issues. CDTFA and DPMO emphasized that retail margins, especially for branded gasoline, have widened significantly, with large price gaps between branded stations and hypermarts/unbranded stations, and that some of the recent price increases were tied to the Iran conflict while earlier spikes were more consistent with localized market behavior and possible price gouging. DPMO also said it is investigating high-priced branded stations, monitoring algorithmic pricing under AB 325, and continuing to analyze diesel spot-market transparency. The CEC and CARB also discussed the Transportation Fuels Transition Plan and the SB 237 assessment, describing them as efforts to plan for a managed decline in fossil fuel demand while protecting workers, communities, and consumers. They said California’s climate goals remain centered on an 85% greenhouse gas reduction by 2045, with continued use of liquid fuels expected but with lower-carbon alternatives, more efficient vehicles, and alternative fuels playing a larger role. Committee members focused heavily on workforce impacts, the need for concrete transition planning, and whether the agencies could provide a clearer picture of what California’s fuel system will look like under the state’s long-term goals. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• A covered entity means a primary or secondary education institution, a child care provider, or a medical
• So it’s a covered entity means primary, secondary, educational institution, a child care provider, a
• Parents have a natural right to direct the upbringing and education of their children.
• Parents have a natural right to direct the upbringing and education of their children.
• I'm not an educator.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee first approved the gubernatorial reappointment of Brian Marks to the Sex Offender Management Board and agreed to print RS 33773. The committee then heard House Bill 822, which would require covered entities such as schools, child care providers, and medical or mental health providers to notify parents within 72 hours if a minor requests assistance with social transition, and would restrict aiding or abetting such efforts without parental consent. The bill sponsor argued it was intended to protect parental rights and ensure parents are informed about serious matters involving their children; committee members raised questions about the bill’s definitions, the use of mandamus, and the scope of penalties and enforcement. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including parents and policy advocates, said the bill would stop schools and providers from concealing gender-related information from parents and would reinforce family authority. Opponents, including physicians, nurses, Planned Parenthood, and other advocates, argued the bill was vague, would chill medical and school counseling, could endanger vulnerable youth, and might force disclosures in situations where safety is a concern. Several opponents emphasized that trusted adults can be critical for youth who do not feel safe at home, while supporters said parental involvement should be the default and that safety concerns can be handled through existing reporting channels. After the sponsor closed, committee members debated the measure. Supporters said parents are the primary authority in a child’s life and that the bill corrects secrecy in schools and health care; opponents said the language is overly broad and lacks clear exceptions. The committee voted to send House Bill 822 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, with one senator recorded as opposed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Rachel Strife, Arizona Mad Moms, Mad Moms Services and Education Fund, also with Association for
• These illnesses are treatable with antipsychotic medications and mood stabilizers.
• These illnesses are treatable with antipsychotic medications and mood stabilizers.
• the outdated language in A.R.S. 36-415, we're not reducing transparency or eliminating important educational
• PASSRS is a membership organization that champions the senior placement industry through education, advocacy

Bills: SB1113, SB1115, SB1122, SB1123, SB1125, SB1165, SB1188, SB1193, SB1243, SB1318, SB1477

Keywords: mental health, involuntary evaluation, service of process, court-ordered treatment, evaluation agencies, AHCCCS, remote work, state agency, employment, public health, healthcare, behavioral health, prior authorization, American Indian health program, medicaid, medical examiner, death investigation, body disposal, autopsy, veteran burial

Transcript Highlights:

• My family were farmers, bus drivers, educators, school secretaries, coal miners, and, most importantly
• North Star of my life, had few resources to make that dream a reality, they believed fiercely in education
• I believed, based on my own experience, that if education is a pathway to opportunity, access to basic
• My first role in public health was in Snohomish County, working as an HIV/AIDS educator and doing prevention
• My responsibility is to support and stabilize this workforce and create the conditions where people can

Bills: SB5899, SB6292, SB6094, SB6182, SB5947, SJR8206, SB5933, SB6138, SB5823, SB6210, SB5921, SB6226, SB6159, SB5924, SGA9291, SGA9307

Keywords: chiropractic, animal care, veterinary medicine, license endorsement, nonhuman animals, health care, financing, legislative committee, joint committee, policy management, pediatric care, transitional services, healthcare, licensing, children's health, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund

Transcript Highlights:

• or to buy a house or to get their store or to buy a house or to get their kids<00:14:16.480><c> educated
• , but that even when they kids educated, but that even when they were<00:14:19.440><c> dealing</c><00
• I want to say a huge thank you to all of the people who came to help educate us today about the issue
• I want to say a huge thank you to all of the people who came to help educate us today about the issue
• that we've see comes it it stability that we've see comes it it sounds<01:03:39.200><c> like</c><01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> them pay for their education. them pay for their education.
• </c> that adequate education. that adequate education.
• Um home educated my my educator.
• a home educator and when a home educated a home educator a<00:48:52.080><c> parent</c><00:48:53.320>
• Education. Education.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jalen Woodard with the Alameda County Office of Education in support.
• And it does so across employment, housing, education, and public accommodations.
• In a moment of crisis, families need support and stability, not added insecurity.
• This bill is also about stability for California families.
• ...about stability for California families.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on transparency, public health, labor enforcement, health privacy, high-speed rail oversight, and antitrust policy. AB 1544, by Assemblymember Crowell, would strengthen transparency and access to courthouses; the author said it was aimed at protecting press and public access, and the bill was pulled pending quorum. AB 1604, by Assemblymember Stephanie, would ban BPA and other bisphenols in thermal receipt paper by 2027-2028; supporters from Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Californians Against Waste, and a broad coalition argued receipts are a major source of toxic exposure and recycling contamination, while the author said she would continue working with opposition. AB 1859, by Assemblymember Jackson, would let Joint Labor Management Committees visit public works sites to help identify wage and safety violations; labor groups supported it as a low-cost enforcement tool amid a large wage-theft backlog, while contractors and local government groups opposed it as creating private enforcement, liability, and safety concerns. The committee later took up AB 1930, by Assemblymember Burr and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and Equality California, which would require notice to the Attorney General before certain entities respond to subpoenas or inquiries involving legally protected reproductive or gender-affirming care; supporters framed it as a patient privacy and anti-intimidation measure, while opponents said it would shield providers from scrutiny and interfere with lawful investigations. The bill was approved on a 6-2 vote and placed on call. The consent calendar, including several unrelated bills, was also approved. The committee also heard AB 1584, by Assemblymember Jackson, which would create an Office of Civil Rights within the California Air Resources Board to provide training, language access, and compliance oversight. Supporters said CARB needs a stronger legal framework and dedicated office to enforce civil rights commitments, while an opponent argued CARB already has a civil rights office and should expand existing structures instead of creating a new one. The bill was moved to Appropriations after a roll call vote. AB 1608, by Assemblymember Wilson, would expand the powers and staffing tools of the High-Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General, including public reporting requirements and authority over classifications and purchasing; supporters said stronger independent oversight is needed for the costly project, while opponents criticized the project itself and raised concerns about confidentiality and who should receive reports. The bill was also passed to Appropriations after extended discussion. Finally, AB 1776, by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, would revise California antitrust law to address single-firm conduct under the Cartwright Act. Supporters, including small business and labor advocates, argued dominant firms can harm competition and that the bill would protect small businesses and workers; opponents from business, biotech, retail, housing, and other sectors warned it would create legal uncertainty, expand litigation, and chill investment. The transcript ended during that bill’s testimony and debate, before a final vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason for the Senate's offer is that on any given day of the week, the Department of Education cannot
• offer reflects feedback that we've received from parents, private schools, school districts, home education
• Secondly, that the Education Stabilization Fund is expanded to minimize disruptions for school districts
• It requires the Department of Education to cross-check scholarship applicants against the latest enrollment

Summary: The conference committee met to discuss the Senate’s second budget offer and its first offer on SB 7030. The chair said the budget proviso and back-of-bill offers were continuing to close out remaining issues, and explained the Senate’s approach to the new academic accelerated option supplement in the FEFP as restoring about 80% of prior weighted FTE funding for acceleration options other than dual enrollment, citing existing statutory requirements and the different cost structure of dual enrollment. Senator Gates then presented the Senate’s modified SB 7030 offer, saying the bill was intended to address problems tracking roughly 23,000 students moving among public schools, private schools, and homeschooling, and to better ensure funding follows students correctly. He said the offer would preserve key parts of SB 7030 while making changes such as extending the fall application window, delaying some spring-term documentation, modifying background screening requirements, and allowing the commissioner to extend deadlines in extenuating circumstances. The offer also kept the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program as a separate FEFP categorical, expanded the Education Stabilization Fund, created fall and spring application windows, required enrollment cross-checks and student IDs, changed scholarship payments to monthly with front-loaded options, and required scholarship funding organizations to return funds tied to Auditor General FTE audit findings. A public commenter, a longtime teacher from Daytona Beach, urged that the financial literacy course be taught at a later grade level, such as 11th or 12th grade, and suggested a system of diverse guest speakers in classrooms to encourage more students from underrepresented groups to consider business ownership. No questions were raised from the committee after the Senate offer, and no vote was taken. The vice chair said the House would take the offer back for review, and the chair announced there would likely be one more meeting with a one-hour notice before the meeting adjourned by motion without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have folks who are from the DD community who are able to access higher education.
• This is about public transit across the state and helping students access higher education and easing
• This is a, I think none of us want to stand in the way of folks getting their education.
• None of us want to stand in the way of folks getting their education.
• Access to transit means access to education, which means greater access to economic mobility.

Summary: The Transportation Committee held public hearings on House Bill 2550 and House Bill 2645, then moved to executive session on three other bills. HB 2550 would require certain community and technical college students enrolled in degree- or certificate-seeking programs to be allowed to ride transit for free as a condition of transit support grant eligibility. Staff said the current program already requires zero-fare access for riders 18 and under, and the bill would expand that requirement to CTC students. Testimony from the sponsor, students, and transit advocates supported the goal of reducing barriers to education, while the Washington State Transit Association raised implementation concerns, including how eligibility would be verified and the potential loss of fare revenue and added administrative costs. The fiscal note discussion estimated local impacts of roughly $10 million to $12 million per year for affected transit agencies. HB 2645 concerned the emergency replacement of the closed Fairfax Bridge on State Route 165. The bill and proposed substitute would declare an emergency and give WSDOT expanded authority to expedite bridge replacement by waiving or suspending certain state requirements. The sponsor and many local residents, business owners, recreation advocates, and emergency responders testified that the bridge closure has cut off communities, limited access to Mount Rainier and public lands, and significantly increased emergency response times. WSDOT testified that it is already moving forward with planning and design for a replacement bridge, but said much of the timeline is driven by federal requirements such as NEPA, historic preservation, and endangered species review. No vote was taken on HB 2550 or HB 2645 in the transcript. In executive session, the committee adopted a proposed substitute for HB 2109, which allows certain towed vehicles with debris on them to be covered instead of cleaned before transport, and passed it out of committee 27-0. The committee also adopted an amendment to HB 2134, which updates regional transportation planning requirements related to greenhouse gas and vehicle miles traveled reductions, and passed the bill out 16-12. Finally, the committee adopted two amendments to HB 2323 creating the Blue Envelope Program for traffic stops involving neurodiverse individuals, then passed the bill out of committee 28-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• officers providing security for the games, as it is their responsibility to evaluate the training, education
• , and experience of law enforcement officers. ...responsibility to evaluate the training, education,
• addresses inequities and strengthens overall emergency care systems while supporting the long-term stability
• destination, including sobering centers, detox centers, behavioral health crisis centers, psychiatric stabilization
• units, freestanding psych hospitals, or designated hospitals, or designated... ...psychiatric stabilization

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes state agencies, higher education institutions, and public schools.
• Increased housing supply is essential to stabilizing rents and improving access to safe, decent housing
• we can see it's only 1, that 1 means a lot to K-12 employees, to state employees, and to higher education
• I did want to let the committee know that last summer, the Federal Funds Stabilization Committee took
• the interim, and I know it was the interim chair's request at the beginning of tax and revenue stabilization

Bills: SB240

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2524 seeks to create stability and professionalize the private security workforce.
• House Bill 2524 seeks to create stability and professionalize the private security workforce, which is
• today because House Bill 2524 is a critical step towards improving safety, professionalism, and stability
• in the state of Washington providing security services to every public, commercial, nonprofit, educational
• in the state of Washington providing security services to evastery a public commercial nonprofit educational

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on three bills. HB 2524 would create a State Security Guards Industry Standards Board within L&I to set minimum standards for security guard pay, leave, benefits, and training, funded in part by a $25 transfer from security licensing fees. The bill’s sponsor and labor supporters said it would professionalize the industry, improve safety, and address high turnover and inadequate training. Security workers described unsafe conditions, retaliation, and being expected to handle crises without enough support. Opponents from business and security companies argued the bill duplicates existing licensing and training rules, would raise costs, and gives too much authority to an unelected board; L&I said it had administrative concerns about timing and fee handling. The hearing on HB 2524 was then closed. HB 2513 would change plumbing license suspension rules by keeping the current three-infractions-in-three-years standard for residential work, while creating a five-infractions-in-five-years standard for non-residential plumbing violations. The sponsor and supporters from mechanical contractors and labor said repeat violators undermine safety and fair competition, and that the bill gives L&I a stronger enforcement tool against bad actors in commercial work. Several plumbing contractor groups opposed the bill as written, focusing on a new subsection they said was vague and could create an undefined corrective process or overly broad discretion for L&I; they asked that the subsection be removed or the bill be delayed for more stakeholder work. L&I requested an effective date of January 1, 2027 to allow time for rulemaking. HB 2611 would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours starting January 1, 2028, and would also change paid sick leave accrual from one hour per 40 hours worked to one hour per 32 hours worked. The sponsor and labor supporters said a shorter workweek would improve work-life balance, reduce burnout and turnover, and could increase productivity, citing examples from San Juan County and other places. Business, hospitality, grocery, construction, agriculture, and janitorial representatives opposed the bill, saying it would raise labor costs, reduce hours and flexibility, complicate scheduling, and hurt industries with thin margins or seasonal demands. The committee heard no votes or final action on HB 2611 before closing the hearing and ending business for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• the cash operations of Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, these same types of cash flows would provide stability
• We need to have stability within our government that holds preference to benefiting all citizens of Washington
• We, the current generation of Washingtonians, desire to be able to pass down this stability and security
• For the record, I'm Julie Salvi, representing the Washington Education Association and lending our voice
• Educators have reviewed public banking policies and have seen the value that these systems can bring

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is sound tax policy that has been vetted through the interim process and would help to stabilize
• Let's move on to Senate Bill 112. 112, higher education housing facility property tax.
• Chair, also in the Constitution, it lists that property used for educational purposes is certainly exempt
• The remainder is appropriated to state agencies, judicial, and higher education projects.
• Those also include higher education institutions, which in these charts would be spread based on the