Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will open the roll. Mr. DeMaio is asking for an aye vote.
• Clerk will open the roll. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Under the redistricting commission that the citizens created, all of their meetings are open meetings
• We have to meet the moment.
• Clerk will open the roll. Motion by Macedo. We'll wait until the roll is open.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, recess, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into a highly procedural and contentious floor session centered on redistricting measures. Members debated a point of order raised by Assembly Member DeMaio challenging the constitutionality of SB 280, ACA 8, and AB 604; the Speaker ruled the point not well taken, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on appeal. The body also took up consent-calendar and procedural motions, including suspending rules to adopt late amendments on ACA 8 and to bring the measure up without reference to file. Several motions to re-refer or suspend rules on related measures failed, while the motion to adopt the late amendments on ACA 8 carried. The main substantive item was ACA 8, the Assembly Constitutional Amendment related to redistricting, presented by Assembly Member Berman as a response to mid-decade redistricting efforts in other states, especially Texas. Supporters argued the measure was a temporary, voter-driven response to protect democracy, counter partisan gerrymandering, and address broader threats tied to the Trump administration, including immigration enforcement and health care cuts. Opponents argued ACA 8 would undermine California’s independent citizens redistricting commission, violate the state Constitution, and amount to partisan gerrymandering or a power grab. Members on both sides framed the issue as a defense of democracy, but disagreed sharply over whether the Legislature should act or leave redistricting to voters and the existing commission. No final vote on ACA 8 is shown in the transcript excerpt, but the Assembly did vote on several procedural matters: the appeal of the Speaker’s ruling was sustained 58-18; the motion to adopt late amendments on ACA 8 passed 58-19; a motion to re-refer ACA 8 and SB 280 to Judiciary failed 19-58; and a motion to take up A.J.R. 21 without reference to file failed 19-58. The session remained focused on ACA 8 and related redistricting questions, with extensive floor speeches from both supporters and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I'll have a couple of opening statements.
• </c><00:23:24.720><c> because</c> get the Monorca mine back open because get the Monorca mine back open
• open market.
• Um, US Steel pellets on the open market.
• We have a meeting tomorrow coming up?

Bills: HF3393

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT IS WHAT IT WOULD SELL FOR IN THE OPEN MARKET.
• OPENING PROTECTION IS THE WORDS OF THE STATUTE USES.
• WE OPENED AUGUST 4, IT IS NOW DECEMBER 2 AND WE STILL HAVE MONEY.
• IN JULY WE OPENED THE GRANT APPLICATION, THEN IN AUGUST WE OPENED THE INSPECTION APPLICATION AGAIN TO
• WE ALSO MEET MONTHLY WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, YOU HEARD MR.

Transcript Highlights:

• We went over 10,000 open matters last year in one given day.
• And as I sit here talking to you today, we are nearing 12,000 open matters.
• We went over 10,000 open matters last year in one given day.
• And at the end of 2025, we went over for the first time 11,000 open matters.
• We have since been able to open a single additional, well, we've opened two offices, but we now have

Transcript Highlights:

• Pond said around vaccinations in her opening testimony.
• Comments at the outset of the meeting.
• We'll open up to public comment then.
• We're meeting with them regularly.
• Thank you for your time, and I'm open to any questions. Well, thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The speaker's about to open the roll call machine. The speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• It also requires that the Board follow the Open Public Meetings Act, so decisions that affect our communities

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we get a motion to approve the minutes of the March 18th meeting? Thank you.
• And so we do plan on meeting. We have the right people involved, I feel.
• That's when we open up the mall loop or the visitor parking.
• The next meeting will be September 30th.
• Motion carried; meeting adjourned.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes before hearing a series of informational updates. The Petroleum Council reported that North Dakota oil production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with activity shifting northward in the Bakken as technology improves and three- and four-mile laterals boost well performance. The presentation also discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, the importance of pipelines and other linear infrastructure, and enhanced oil recovery pilot projects supported by state and federal funding. Members asked questions about gas production taxes, natural gas liquids, and the outlook for drilling rigs and future production. The Office of State Tax Commissioner then reviewed the federal “big beautiful bill” and its estimated effect on North Dakota individual and business income tax collections. Staff explained that most of the individual income tax impact comes from the permanent increase in the standard deduction, while temporary provisions such as senior deductions, tip and overtime exclusions, and auto loan interest deductions have smaller or limited-term effects. They also noted that business tax changes, especially depreciation and expensing provisions, create a larger near-term cash impact, and that some FY25 collections likely reflected one-time oil field transactions that may have inflated the baseline used in earlier estimates. OMB provided updates on major capital projects and facility funding. For Capitol grounds improvements, officials described plans for 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding upgrades, public seating, lighting, tree management, and possible restroom and lobby reconfiguration, while also noting the governor’s residence security project and the discovery of human remains on the Capitol grounds. OMB and its consultants also reported on the state facility maintenance fund, including window replacement, boiler work, roof and foundation repairs, and a new facility conditions assessment covering more state buildings. Updates were also given on the new state hospital in Jamestown, the Minot state office building, and the use of federal state fiscal recovery funds, including possible future reallocations to the Department of Corrections. Finally, Legislative Council staff summarized the interim compliance report on legislative intent and trust fund activity, highlighting the status of lines of credit, Bank of North Dakota profit transfers, the statewide litigation pool, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, corrections planning, HHS program updates, and a likely future general fund request for the unemployment insurance modernization project. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes; the meeting was primarily informational, with members asking clarifying questions throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn’t have any opening comments. Okay. Thank you.
• However, that’s not meeting the state goal of a 90% in-state answer rate.
• However, that's not meeting the state goals of a 90% in-state answer rate. as Taurus. meeting the state
• have heard about. 21 public meetings with our seven work groups.
• . ...opening statement with a young individual from Kourouk’s people.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to open uh what I would justice.
• I the meeting. So, I was not a aware.
• </c><00:13:27.920><c> up</c> guess maybe at this time I can open up guess maybe at this time I can open
• ><00:52:42.559><c> of</c> several meetings with Department of several meetings with Department of Corrections
• To date, they have not failed to meet their contractual obligations.

Summary: The committee met to hear updates from the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections on two related issues: a proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility and medical services contracts, including the impact of Wellpath’s bankruptcy proceedings. At the start, the chair agreed to hear the Department of Corrections first so members could get context on the medical contract before turning to DJJ’s proposal. DOC officials said Wellpath, the department’s comprehensive medical and mental health provider since 2013, was awarded its current contract through a 2021 procurement process. They reported that Wellpath’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan had been confirmed and that the company had transitioned ownership to lenders, but had not yet fully completed the bankruptcy process. DOC said there had been no service lapses, no reduction in care, and no known impact on Kentucky vendors or hospitals, and that DOC staff meet with Wellpath almost weekly. Members asked whether the committee had been kept informed and whether the bankruptcy could affect future services or subcontractors. DJJ then presented its concept for a high-acuity facility, explaining that the project is still in the preliminary programming and conceptual stage and has not yet entered the formal design phase with DECA. Officials said the proposal in the capital plan would create a 24-bed facility, with 16 clinical beds and 8 assessment/stabilization beds, to serve justice-involved youth with serious mental health needs. They said the facility would need to separate males and females and high- and low-risk youth, and that current placements often require sending youth out of state to places such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas. Staff said the goal is to centralize treatment, improve safety, and reduce the need for fragmented or out-of-state placements. Committee members questioned the cost estimates, staffing needs, and whether the facility was justified given the small number of youth currently placed out of state. DJJ said the operational estimate includes an unknown medical-contract component and that the number of youth needing the facility can fluctuate because of surges in the juvenile population. Officials also said they had consulted with South Carolina, which is developing a similar facility, and noted that renovating existing facilities was considered but could be more expensive or impractical than building a separate site. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This provides some comfort language around open meetings.
• meeting laws.
• Um, Senator Gustafson, did you say that 3.55 is the open meeting law? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Chair, and I'm being told that it's for the open meeting for the legislature laws.
• When you're under chapter 13D, the regular open meeting law, when there are finalists, those names are

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a long night last night with the ...day affairs meeting.
• We're trying to meet the needs of the state.
• We appreciate your staff meeting with us to discuss this issue.
• We have some invited testimony and then open testimony.
• To be able to meet the demand.

Bills: SB75 , SB715 , SB776 , SB1299 , SB1405 , SB1968 , SB2021 , SB2077 , SB2148 , SB2321 , SB2330 , SB2411

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, we're going to leave the bill open for absent members. I apologize. Thank you.
• Five votes will keep the roll open for absent members.
• Five votes will keep the roll open for absent members.
• Madam Chair, please need the roll open.
• Yes, we will keep the roll open until Assembly Member Alanis comes back.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we will open the discussion up for questions or comments from committee members.
• But in years past and previous sunsets, unfortunately, the Bureau was not meeting that mark.
• So let's say if John Smith and Jane Smith opened a school, they were a bad actor, you know, they opened
• Meeting adjourned.” in programs that may not lead to intended employment outcomes.
• Meetings adjourned. Adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the January 23rd, 2026, meeting of the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections
• This will open up identity fraud.
• And I think we're open to conversations.
• And I think we're open to conversations.
• And I'm open to him. And I just wanted to share that on final passage.

Bills: SB5973 , SB5892 , SB6081 , SB5842 , SB5827 , SB5968 , SB6034 , SB6035 , SB5888 , SB6123 , SB5853

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: initiative, referendum, ballot measure, petition, signature gathering, circulator, per-signature pay, paid circulator, election integrity, voter fraud, ballot title, Secretary of State, Code Reviser, direct democracy, citizen lawsuit, civil penalties, Washington elections, initiative process, referendum process, grassroots petition

Transcript Highlights:

• Open debate. Thank you, Mr. President.
• So they meet in April, the board meets in April, and they say, oh, we think we need this much money because
• Senator Cook, you have the floor to open debate. Thank you, Mr. President.
• And with that, debate is open. This is a beautiful budget. And with that, the debate is open.
• So with that, debate is open. Is there any debate?

Transcript Highlights:

• They would have to meet that plus the $12,000 revenue threshold.
• I think I'm open to the conversation. Representative Dufault, thank you.
• I appreciate that open door. It's extremely valuable.
• And I'm open for any questions. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rawlinson.
• And I'm open for any questions. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rawlinson.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2483, which would create an annual data broker registry at the Department of Licensing beginning in 2027. Staff explained that data brokers would have to register, pay a fee, and disclose information about the types of data collected, security measures, opt-out options, and whether precise geolocation or consumer health data is involved. Prime sponsor Rep. Kloba said the bill is intended to make data collection and resale more visible to consumers and to address harms such as scams, tracking, and surveillance pricing. Testimony was mixed: TechNet, the Association of Washington Business, and the Washington Retail Association opposed the bill as drafted, saying the definition of data broker is too broad and could sweep in businesses that are not true data brokers, while the sponsor and committee members discussed possible clarifying amendments and public-data carve-outs. The committee then heard House Bill 2400, which would regulate monetized social media content featuring children. Staff described provisions requiring vloggers above certain revenue thresholds to register with the Department of Revenue, creating trust accounts for minor children appearing in monetized videos, allowing young adults to request deletion of monetized childhood content, requiring reporting by social media services, and establishing civil penalties and statutory damages. Rep. Reeves said the bill is meant to draw a line between ordinary family posting and monetizing children online, citing concerns about child labor protections and exploitation. TechNet and AWB opposed the bill, arguing that social media platforms should not be made the middleman for trust accounts and that the private right of action and enforcement structure should be revisited; they urged further work during the interim. Finally, the committee took testimony on House Bill 2439, an omnibus tobacco and vapor product bill. Staff said it would create a responsible vendor program, raise license fees and penalties, require retailers to buy from licensed wholesalers or distributors, add certification requirements for vapor manufacturers, study extended producer responsibility for vapor waste, expand lab testing authority, tighten age-verification rules, prohibit certain imitation or entertainment vapor products, remove state preemption so local governments could adopt stricter rules, and redirect portions of tobacco tax revenue to public health accounts. Supporters, including public health groups, King County, the American Heart Association, and pediatricians, backed the youth-prevention, local-control, and funding provisions. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill, focusing on the loss of preemption, higher fees, compliance burdens, and the risk of pushing sales to the illicit market; some also argued the bill should rely more on state-level uniform regulation and stronger enforcement rather than new restrictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• opening remarks, and we'll begin hearing from the governor and her team.
• meet our obligations to all our constituents.
• They're meeting right now.
• because they didn't open on ...time?
• I think next week I'll be in Brockton to meet with the mayor.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:23.720><c> with</c> as a new Dean coming in um meeting with as a new Dean coming in um meeting
• I'm very open about it. Some of my faculty might say we have to do research, which is open-ended.
• I'm very open about it. Some of my faculty might say we have to do research, which is open-ended.
• </c> of material for example to get to open of material for example to get to open the<01:05:51.079><
• </c><01:26:28.239><c> so</c> meeting and that meeting is at 3 p.m. so meeting and that meeting is at

Summary: The joint Committee on Higher Education and Agriculture heard Senate Bill 1158, which would authorize general obligation bonds and appropriations for a controlled environment agriculture research and demonstration facility at the Magoon Research and Teaching Site in Manoa. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the University of Hawaiʻi, Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Maui County, MetroGrow Hawaiʻi, and other agricultural groups, who said the project would strengthen food resilience, support year-round production, create clean jobs, and provide a demonstration site for urban vertical farming. University representatives said the project would include demolition of an existing condemned building, a research and lab component, and a multistory vertical farm, with an estimated cost of $6 million and a projected two-year build time. Members questioned whether Manoa was the best location, whether the project fit the university’s broader strategy, and whether the request would displace other priorities. The University said the site is tied to SEAR activities, close to students and faculty, and intended to support hands-on training and commercial-scale production. In response to concerns about soil testing and stakeholder needs, the University said it would restart the soil testing lab using internal funds, though not as part of this bill, and would request additional staff for efficiency. The committee then recessed and later reconvened in decision-making, where the chairs recommended and the committee adopted amendments to SB 1158, including a name correction and deferral to July 31, 2050, and the bill passed with amendments. The committee then took up Senate Bill 663, relating to the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and SEAR research and experiment stations. The University testified that the stations are important for locally relevant agricultural research but are short staffed, with 34 positions down since 2005, and that the bill requests eight new positions, including agricultural technicians and four county community coordinator positions, to improve station operations, community engagement, and workforce development. The Farm Bureau supported the measure, saying the positions are needed to revamp extension services and that Manoa is an appropriate urban location for the vertical farming component. Members questioned why vacant or existing positions could not be used instead of new ones, and the University explained that some listed vacancies reflected old federally funded positions or inaccurate counts, promised a written update, and said it was working to fill current openings. No final vote on SB 663 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, if you're open to it, I want you to close your eyes.
• You can open your eyes. This is the reality of second chances.
• Okay, all debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll for co-authors.
• It's eye-opening.
• And I'd like to ask for the first roll to be open for co-author. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:51.360><c> in</c> is that this program when it opened in is that this program when it opened
• Gregory, Office meeting with the uh, Dr.
• </c><00:43:13.040><c> that</c> and they have talked about opening that and they have talked about opening
• I was told there was an open answer.
• </c> outcome of that open records request? outcome of that open records request?

Committee: House Postsecondary Education