Transcript Highlights:

• We also provide expertise to WSDOT and to other agencies and to the public on drones.
• DOT agency, any grants going into the state of Washington.
• emissions programs, which are collectively making great progress toward eliminating lead in aviation
• Collectively making great progress toward eliminating lead in aviation fuel by 2030.
• We would encourage you to follow his lead.

Bills: SB5989 , SB5898 , SB6240 , SB6244 , SB6231 , SB6228 , SB6220

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: aircraft fuel tax, tax revenue distribution, aviation funding, transportation, state revenue, aeronautics, taxation, aircraft fuel, state funding, aviation fuel, hazardous substance tax, air quality, noise mitigation, environmental impact, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing, data center

Transcript Highlights:

• So it leads us to an estimated commercial properties covered of only about 5%.
• From underwriting to agency brokerage and working with agents and broker producers and account execs,
• But this leads me then to my question: where we have these civic buildings, whether they be schools or
• So we are not an executive branch agency. We are not a legislative agency either.
• And as of 2022, I am our lead for the long-term evaluation of Initiative 502, which is what we'll be

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Summary: The committee held a work session on earthquake insurance and later on Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) cannabis and I-502 research. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that earthquake coverage is usually excluded from standard property policies, is expensive, and often carries very high deductibles. Staff also described admitted versus surplus line insurers, and introduced parametric insurance and captive insurance as specialized risk-transfer tools mainly used by commercial and sophisticated buyers. OIC data showed about 226,000 admitted earthquake policies in 2023, with most personal policies concentrated in the Puget Sound and Vancouver areas and commercial endorsements more broadly distributed. A second panel, including insurance and banking representatives, focused on potential catastrophic earthquake exposure for commercial buildings and collateralized loans. They argued that many commercial properties may lack earthquake coverage, leaving banks and the broader economy exposed if owners default or surrender damaged properties after a major quake. They discussed the Nisqually earthquake, the Cascadia subduction zone, building age, soil and slope conditions, retrofit standards, pollution remediation, and the need for property resilience assessments and inventories of vulnerable buildings. Members asked about consumer impacts, affordability, education, and whether legislation like prior work on unreinforced masonry buildings could help reduce risk; the Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is costly and that affordability is a major concern. Committee members also discussed inventories and risk assessment efforts, including state geologist work on school buildings and whether similar approaches could be extended to nearby private structures. The presenters said banks likely have good inventories of their collateral but may not know which properties are most vulnerable to earthquake damage. The discussion ended with a request for follow-up information on consumer education and disaster planning resources. WSIPP then presented its long-running evaluation of Initiative 502 and cannabis legalization. Staff explained WSIPP’s nonpartisan role and its legislatively directed 20-year study, with final benefit-cost work due in 2032. The presentation summarized prior findings that cannabis misdemeanor convictions dropped sharply after legalization, though racial disproportionalities persisted at lower absolute levels. WSIPP also reported that shorter drive times to cannabis retailers were associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving local drivers, higher THC-positive rates among blood-tested crash drivers, and higher cannabis use disorder diagnoses and co-occurring substance use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. For high school students, nearby retail access was associated with more reported use, more unexcused absences, and a lower likelihood of graduating on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, WSIPP said retailer openings were associated with higher cannabis use disorder diagnoses, hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, while emphasizing that the analyses show associations rather than direct causation and that results are specific to Medicaid enrollees.

Transcript Highlights:

• the funded ratios for those programs have significantly improved, and so that's played a role in leading
• of this study and making a recommendation is to make sure that we have reasonable assumptions that lead
• It would be before the next CPP meeting. does lead to higher prices.
• “However, different agencies use different assumptions for different purposes.
• It includes full reprints of the responses from the various agencies that we've received so far.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The committee approved the July minutes and then received an informational presentation from the Office of the State Actuary on the financial condition of the state retirement systems. The actuary reported that employer contribution rates are generally declining, helped by strong investment returns and reduced funding for PERS 1 and TERS 1, while funded ratios have continued to improve; on a combined basis the plans were reported at 100% funded in 2024, with open plans above 95% and legacy plans varying by system. The presentation also reviewed projected rates and funded ratios under current assumptions, noted that pension costs are taking a smaller share of the state general fund, and discussed risks from investment volatility, policy changes, and demographic experience. Committee members asked about savings from lower rates, deferred asset smoothing, and how Washington compares with other states. The committee then considered the state actuary’s recommendation on long-term economic assumptions and adopted all four recommendations by roll call votes: inflation at 3.0%, general salary growth at 3.5%, membership growth for Plan 1 funding at 1.0%, and investment rate of return at 7.25%. The actuaries explained that the inflation and salary growth increases were driven largely by higher long-term inflation expectations, while the investment return recommendation matched the current statutory assumption. Members discussed the timing of the Pension Funding Council’s decision, the effect of tariffs and inflation uncertainty, and how assumption changes would affect future contribution rates and budgets, particularly for open plans. Staff then gave an update on the LEOFF 1 study, explaining the difference between being “ahead of schedule” and truly overfunded, and summarizing responses received from DRS, the State Treasurer, and the State Investment Board on the merger and restatement proposals. DRS said both bills could be administered, though the merger bill’s COLA banking provision would be challenging until its new system is ready; the Treasurer urged caution, especially about the restatement bill and the use of one-time funds; and the Investment Board said removing assets from the trust would have some transaction costs but likely small impacts. The committee discussed whether to invite additional agencies and local government groups to testify, and staff said more responses, including from Ice Miller and the State Actuary, were expected for the October meeting. Finally, the committee heard a briefing on PERS 1/TERS 1 COLA policy and related bills from the last session. Staff reviewed the committee’s prior ongoing COLA recommendation, the SCPP-endorsed bills that would have created a one-time 3% COLA followed by an ongoing COLA, the Senate merger bill, and a separate ad hoc COLA bill. Public testimony largely supported Plan 1 COLAs and stable contribution rates, while several speakers urged caution about transferring LEOFF 1 surplus assets or merging legacy plans, and others raised concerns about climate risk and the pension fund’s investments. No further committee action was taken on the COLA item during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lead witness, you have two minutes. Good morning, Mr.
• AB 1710 expands two key pillars of SB 330 and applies them to state and regional agencies.
• If the goals are set by a legislative body at any level of government, local agencies will need to try
• If the goals are set by a legislative body at any level of government, local agencies will need to try
• Kylie Wright with the Association of California Water Agencies, also in alignment with CSDA, opposed

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• The program for school district local accountability plans and actions challenging Texas Education Agency
• It also requires legislative updates from the Texas Education Agency on test development and the validity
• Similar to House Bill 4, This bill sets a deadline for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to publish the
• Texas Education Agency testifying on the bill, is that correct? Yes, sir.
• Agency testifying on the bill.

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a lot of government buildings that are sitting empty, and we have other agencies leasing
• Every 10 years, my bill would require every agency in the state to look at what their budget is, bring
• , build it back up, and ask what metrics are they going to use to track the success of their agency,
• Yeah, so that is from the agencies looking at fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2029.
• looking at from fiscal year the agencies looking at from fiscal year 2026<00:14:45.560><c> to</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• It also clarifies that local agencies have the authority to determine feasibility using clear and objective
• It also clarifies that local agencies have the authority to determine feasibility using clear and objective
• And it also establishes that local agencies have the authority to determine feasibility using clear and
• The second amendment by Senator Leas provides permissive authority to state and local agencies to round
• and they would represent various local government interests, cities, counties, ports, and transit agencies

Bills: SB6131 , SB6311 , SJM8016 , SB6230 , SB6032 , SB6335

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: traffic safety, roadway fatalities, Washington traffic safety commission, policy update, road safety, accident prevention, pedestrian safety, construction, accessibility, public safety, urban planning, bridge repair, infrastructure, emergency funding, transportation, cash transactions, pennies, currency, economic efficiency, financial regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• or whether it's other state agencies.
• ,</c><00:15:36.720><c> whether</c> we'll contact those agencies, whether we'll contact those agencies
• "Next, we have Hawaii team led for lead for Harvard Strife in support."
• </c> Yolani School and the Hawaii team lead Yolani School and the Hawaii team lead for<00:32:10.000><
• We are very well healthc care agency.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The joint HHS, Agriculture, Environment, Energy, and Intergovernmental Affairs hearing focused first on SB 2262, a pollution and illegal dumping measure. The Department of Health said it stood on its written testimony, and public testimony included support from CARES with suggested amendments to involve the counties in standardized response planning and to address pollution caused by individuals. Members questioned the bill’s fines, where they would go, and how the department would handle carcasses and illegal dumping enforcement. DOH said administrative fines go to the general fund, criminal fines are collected by the Attorney General, carcasses are generally buried by the landowner under existing rules, and DOH mainly regulates solid waste and coordinates with counties and other agencies when violations arise. After discussion, the chair recommended SB 2262 be passed with substantial amendments. The proposed amendments would add DLNR to the task force, deposit all fines into a special fund to support enforcement, allow fines below $5,000 for littering and higher fines for excessive or chronic illegal dumping, and include a January 30, 2050 effective date. The committee adopted the recommendation, with members voting aye. The hearing then moved to the HHS calendar. On SB 2087, relating to health insurance, agencies including DHS, DCCA, the Attorney General, and Labor stood on written testimony, while several advocacy and medical groups testified in support. One Medicaid recipient opposed the bill, arguing the coverage should be immediate rather than phased in over three years. Angela Melody Young supported the bill but urged amendments to prioritize people with disabilities, kupuna, and mothers. Members questioned whether the rural health transformation program could support the bill’s deductible structure; the Department of Human Services said it was unlikely CMS would allow that level of coverage, though rural funds might help in other ways. The committee then moved on to SB 2089, which would expand services eligible for Medicaid prospective payment system reimbursement, hearing support from OHA, DHS, and others, along with testimony about mental health access and training. The transcript also began SB 2106, relating to health and eating disorder prevention, with a student testifying in support and citing youth eating disorder harms, but the discussion was cut off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> gentleoman from Colorado, the lead gentleoman from Colorado, the lead sponsor<04:39:42.160><c> of
• </c><05:28:42.718><c> on</c> I'd also like to thank my co-lead on I'd also like to thank my co-lead on
• Additionally, the relevant agencies.
• </c> sanctions this chamber has helped lead. sanctions this chamber has helped lead.
• These teams working together, leads.

Bills: HB3351 , HB3095 , HB1450 , HB1716 , HB1764 , HB3395 , HB2384 , HB3357 , HB3339 , HB1469 , HB3343 , HB3382 , HR1043 , HR131 , HR183 , HR672 , HB2625 , HB2170 , SB201 , SB423

Keywords: small business, capital formation, financial regulation, Securities Exchange Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, ZIP Code, postal service, community designation, local governance, postal infrastructure, OFAC, Office of Foreign Assets Control, sanctions, licensing, investigators, private sector firms, nominal transactions, financial transactions, pilot program, FinCEN

Transcript Highlights:

• I happen to catch the news conference with the agencies today with President Trump and all his agency
• There are 18 agencies that are doing consultation.
• There are 18 agencies that are doing consultation.
• We can lead the way in caring for our neighbors.
• We can lead the way in caring for our neighbors.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><07:16:45.320><c> this</c> you Mr new house for uh for leading this you Mr new house for uh for leading
• The United States leads the world in medical research and innovation.
• </c><07:29:31.558><c> the</c> research the United States leads the research the United States leads the
• When we reduce an agency established to work for them, we fail them.
• When we reduce an agency established to work for them, we fail them.

Bills: HR189 , HJR42 , HJR61 , HR191

Keywords: censure, Congress, interruption, decorum, Representative Al Green, energy conservation, appliance standards, Department of Energy, consumer products, commercial equipment, regulation disapproval, HJR61, H.J.Res. 61, Public Law 119-14, Congressional Review Act, CRA, EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, air pollution, hazardous air pollutants

Transcript Highlights:

• We do think it's important to visit those agencies that we see important to visit those agencies that
• at another agency.
• They came through the governor's office and then they were pushed out to agencies, sometimes to agencies
• that agency.
• They work with agencies.

Summary: The meeting focused first on a legislative working group report created under House Bill 368 from the prior session on medical education in Idaho. The presenter described Idaho’s physician shortage, noting the state ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average. The group’s unanimous recommendations included maintaining current state-supported medical school seats, adding 10 new non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, prioritizing in-state training, and creating a dedicated health education coordination role to manage undergraduate and graduate placements, clinical sites, and data. Members discussed whether WAMI should also expand, the quality of WAMI graduates, the need for more clinical preceptors and residency sites, rural recruitment incentives, and whether the plan should include other health professions such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The presenter said the plan includes benchmarks and timelines, and estimated costs of about $350,000 for coordination, $350,000 to $485,000 for 10 new UME seats depending on placement, and $900,000 for the GME request. The committee then heard from Legislative Audit Division Manager April Renfro on the state’s 2024 single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited, 21 major federal programs across 15 agencies, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, including Medicaid findings involving delayed health and safety surveys, managed care provider eligibility and roster controls, and capitation payments tied to ineligible members; Child Care and Development Fund reporting and cost-allocation errors; and repeat issues in vocational rehabilitation and low-income home energy programs. She also noted Department of Environmental Quality problems with indirect cost proposals and a duplicate grant draw, while Transportation had no findings. Members asked about accountability for repeat findings, the role of Luma in reporting errors, fraud detection, and how to prioritize corrective action; Renfro said agencies, federal management decisions, and legislative oversight all play a role, and she planned to send a prioritized list of key findings to the co-chairs. A later presentation by budget analyst Brooke Dupree introduced front-end reports in the legislative budget book, explaining state government structure, the constitutional limit of 20 executive departments, and how the Legislature uses decision units to build appropriations. She walked through the original appropriation, reappropriations, supplemental appropriations, and how those pieces roll into the current-year total appropriation, with members asking brief questions about departmental divisions and the budget model.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> beloved wife, Connie, Martin helped lead beloved wife, Connie, Martin helped lead one<00:11:15.279
• Leading in the that she called home.
• He earned numerous rewards agency.
• staffed</c><07:25:56.878><c> and</c><07:25:57.200><c> fully</c> agency is fully staffed and fully agency
• </c> change, enabling inter agency change, enabling inter agency coordination.<07:27:45.920><c> This<

Bills: HB1522 , HB1917 , HB3937 , HR600

Keywords: Federal Retirement Fairness Act, FERS, federal retirement, creditable service, temporary employees, temporary federal service, Postal Service, USPS, Office of Personnel Management, OPM, retirement buyback, annuity, pension, civil service retirement, federal workforce, government employees, Members of Congress, retirement benefits, Great Lakes, fishery management

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, the agency is approved for 56 FTEs. This would bring our total count to 60.
• So, statutorily, what drives our agency and our budget request is the total.
• For all agency recurring budgets, including ours and the other executive agencies, the recommendation
• He has served in various capacities, administrative, and most recently has been the lead.
• The only agency currently supporting teacher housing formally is the PSFA through the PSCOC fund.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• We were able to protect the nation-leading greenhouse Gas mitigation program.
• We're cutting schools and increasing agency funding.
• We're facing a six billion dollar deficit, and the first place we start should be our agencies.
• The bill put teachers and classrooms over bureaucrats and agencies. I wish I could say this...
• We provide $125,000 to the agency for these cuts for the Blue Ribbon Commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Parks, but we sort of have a network of our partners under the California Natural Resources Agency
• that we provide... ...have a network of our partners under the California Natural Resources Agency that
• There’s multiple state agencies that we work with to find this data—Cal Fire, EDD.
• And so although we are entrepreneurial in nature, we don’t aim to make a profit as a state agency.
• “We don’t aim to make a profit as a state agency.

Transcript Highlights:

• We lead bike excursions, especially in our city areas.
• in collaboration with the state or local child welfare agency.
• I frequently argued with foster parents, APS workers, and third-party foster agencies who refused or
• If they are contracted out, it could be anyone from just third-party agencies, and I do not know the
• There's questions about who pays for transportation: APS or the local education agency or CYFD.

Bills: SB23 , SB73 , SB210 , SB234 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16 , SB23 , SB73 , SB210 , SB234 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also consolidates several agency-specific cybersecurity exemptions into one agency-wide exemption
• Next, we're going to take up tab 17, SB 7026, OGSR: trade secret held by an agency.
• Courage that helped lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Florida to lead in telling the full story of history to include Black history.
• You've got a whole agency, the Office of Insurance Regulation, that regulates those folks.

Bills: S0014 , S0016 , S0024 , S0052 , S0308 , S0504 , S0506 , S0564 , S0572 , S0590 , S0594 , S0806 , S1396 , S7020 , S7024 , S7026

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: negligence, settlement, police conduct, municipal liability, personal injury, compensation, injuries, Miami-Dade County, places of worship, house of worship, church, mosque, synagogue, religious security, armed security, volunteer security, private security, security guard licensing, licensure exemption, Florida Statutes chapter 493

Transcript Highlights:

• , and compare that to how an agency is performing to identify that gap.
• , and compare that to what is how an agency is performing to identify that gap.
• It leads to a lot of crypto investment losses.
• It leads to a lot of crypto investment losses.
• And that can lead to some substantial losses.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by Susanna Pratt. JLARC found that Washington produced roughly two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that incomplete, unreliable traceability data limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate, verify taxes, and track diversion. The presentation also reviewed canopy estimates, market conditions since legalization, and the social equity program. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 implementation timeline was more realistic. JLARC also recommended the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity beyond new producer licenses, noting that 10 new producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on overall production capacity. Members asked about social equity licensing delays and about whether Washington could look to other states’ traceability systems, including Biotrack and Metric, for model practices. The committee then heard a series of presentations on financial fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scams, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, social media companies, and regulators. He noted that Australia’s whole-of-government anti-scam model has reduced losses and said Washington could look to other states for model legislation, including crypto ATM restrictions and telecom accountability measures. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the emotional and financial harm to victims, emphasizing the need for education, information sharing, law enforcement partnerships, and stronger protections around scam-related transfers. She also highlighted the role of high school financial education and the challenges posed by authorized peer-to-peer transfers and crypto ATMs. Kyle Innes of SIFMA focused on investor scams, especially “pig butchering” and other crypto-related relationship scams, and said Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law for vulnerable adults helped shape similar laws in most other states. He stressed that fraud has become more professionalized and international, and that better coordination among adult protective services, law enforcement, and financial firms is needed. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs of the Department of Financial Institutions then described pig-butchering scams in more detail, including fake profiles, fake trading platforms, and escalating demands for more money, and said recovery is difficult because funds move quickly through crypto channels. They pointed to DFI’s investment tracker and other consumer education efforts as tools to warn the public and disrupt scams.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many government agencies, public defenders, prosecution offices, and courts typically offer summer or
• These include public defenders, prosecutors, attorneys of state agencies, NGOs, and those clerking for
• It leads to burnout and it leads to turnover. and it's simply see people sitting in jail without an attorney
• , it leads to burnout, and it leads to turnover, and it simply perpetuates the problem.
• We assist various state agencies, and now we also have to provide training to guardians as well.

Summary: The work session began with a discussion of expanding opportunities in the legal profession, especially in response to shortages of lawyers in rural Washington and in public service roles. Washington State Bar Executive Director Tara Nevitt described a slowly growing but aging attorney population, noted that younger attorneys have declined, and outlined efforts such as supervised practice pathways to bar admission, reduced admission-by-motion experience requirements, expanded law clerk capacity, rural job fairs and grants, and a pilot program allowing innovative legal service delivery models. Members asked about bar passage score changes, loan repayment assistance, and the former Limited License Legal Technician program; Nevitt said the bar is monitoring other states and remains in dialogue with the court about paraprofessional licensing. Law school representatives from UW, Seattle University, and Gonzaga emphasized public service pipelines, financial barriers, and rural legal deserts, citing LRAPs, scholarships, stipends, clinics, and hybrid or regional programs designed to recruit and retain students in Washington. Seattle U highlighted its FlexJD and hybrid hub partnerships in underserved areas, while Gonzaga and UW reported substantial shares of graduates entering public service, though most still cluster in urban regions. The committee also heard from the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Office of Public Defense, both of which described severe recruitment and retention problems in rural counties, with vacancies, low applicant pools, and the need for higher salaries, housing help, internships, and loan support. The Office of Public Defense said its internship and fellowship program, created by SB 5780, has already placed interns in rural counties and produced some commitments to return after graduation. The Washington State Bar’s law clerk program was also presented as a pathway that helps people train locally and remain in their communities, including by supporting succession for aging solo practitioners. The committee then shifted to family law and guardianship issues. On Title 26 guardian ad litem practice, presenters from Northwest Justice Project and private family law practice said GALs can play an important role but that training, oversight, and consistency remain major concerns, especially in domestic violence cases. They described problems such as inadequate training, bias, inconsistent recommendations, high fees, and lack of accountability, and suggested stronger, standardized training, more use of mental health professionals for custody evaluations, and better oversight mechanisms. Members asked about county practices, including rotation systems for GAL appointments and whether King County’s family court assessors provide a useful model. The discussion then moved to minor guardianships under the Uniform Guardianship Act. A Superior Court judge said the 2021 changes increased the need for court visitors and appointed counsel, but courts are struggling to find qualified attorneys and visitors, especially in rural areas. A former commissioner said most of the bill under discussion was technical cleanup to align prior amendments, though it would add some fiscal burdens. Administrative Office of the Courts staff reported that the statewide reimbursement program for UGA implementation has repeatedly run out of money earlier each year, with minor guardianship costs making up most of the expense. The Office of Public Guardianship then described rapid growth in demand for adult guardianship and less restrictive alternatives, noting that referrals and caseloads have risen sharply, but that the office is constrained by a shortage of certified professional guardians and low compensation levels. Finally, the committee began an update on Blake implementation from the Office of Civil Legal Aid, which funds civil legal services related to the decision, before the transcript cut off.