Transcript Highlights:

• It's highly inefficient for health care providers and it's wasteful of state resources.
• Robinson, members of the committee, Travis Dutton, representing the Association of Counties and our solid waste
• you likely know, counties are responsible for planning, managing, implementing, and providing solid waste

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we work closely with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and do the chronic wasting disease testing
• And I mentioned chronic wasting disease, but I also touched on avian influenza.
• I mentioned chronic wasting disease, but I also touched on avian influenza and how those two interact

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met for a work session focused on Washington agriculture’s condition, food security, behavioral health, and animal disease surveillance. WSDA Director Derek Sandison and economist Maddie Roy presented an update on agricultural viability, describing Washington agriculture as highly diverse and valuable but increasingly strained by rising production and labor costs, aging producers, consolidation, trade barriers, land pressures, stagnant research funding, infrastructure concerns, and climate impacts. They cited declining farm numbers, falling net farm income, and negative take-home pay for farmers, while also noting strengths such as climate, soils, ports, irrigation, universities, and other infrastructure. Committee members asked about commodity-specific impacts, comparisons with other states, and the role of regulation in worsening costs. Kelly McLean followed with a discussion of opportunities to support agriculture, including trade, domestic food systems development, climate mitigation, clean energy, ag tech, workforce and education, and mental health. She highlighted investments in port and transportation infrastructure, local food processing and distribution, land access and incubator opportunities, climate resilience projects, and programs supporting farmworker and farmer mental health. Katie Raines then updated the committee on food systems and food security, explaining WSDA’s reorganization into a Farm and Food Systems Development Division and describing trends in household food insecurity, the state’s hunger safety net, and the importance of food system infrastructure. She noted that food insecurity is rising again and that even higher-income households are reporting need, while legislators asked about eligibility thresholds and the impact on lower-income residents. The committee also heard from WSU Skagit County Extension’s Don McMoran and Maddie Van der Koi on agricultural stress and suicide prevention. They described the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Partnership, crisis and referral resources, peer-to-peer outreach, trainings, and free counseling vouchers for farmers and farmworkers. They emphasized that farmers face chronic stress from financial volatility, weather, labor shortages, isolation, and stigma, and cited elevated suicide rates in agricultural populations. Members asked about reluctance to seek help and whether flooding had increased demand for services. Finally, Dr. Kevin Snekovic of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory described WADDL’s role in disease testing, food safety, wildlife surveillance, and rapid response to outbreaks such as avian influenza and chronic wasting disease. He said the lab supports trade and quarantine decisions, and members asked about elk hoof rot research, workforce needs, and how to connect constituents to the lab. No votes were taken; the session ended with a preview of upcoming Thursday work sessions on marine resources, Columbia River Basin supply, Ecology’s report back, and agricultural natural resources issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• center around ensuring there are multiple layers of robust oversight. to prevent and detect fraud and waste
• funding determination process to work together seamlessly and effectively to prevent and detect fraud, waste
• In those two investigations we've heard about there's over half a billion dollars in fraud, waste, and

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a mandate in public education to compost our food waste.
• There is also substantial waste, especially at some of our school sites.
• making sure our children have adequate time to enjoy their meals, so hopefully there'll be less food waste

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:09:06.640><c> spending</c><00:09:07.040><c> in</c><00:09:07.279><c> other</c><00:09:08.200><c> wasteful
• </c> reducing the spending in other wasteful reducing the spending in other wasteful areas<00:09:10.160

Transcript Highlights:

• for voluntary cleanup tax credit applications and expanding eligibility for credits tied to solid waste
• The House Bill 645 is a bill that grants general permit for distributed waste treatment systems, also
• House Bill 691 authorizes domestic waste treatment facilities with an approved plan.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee heard and acted on several bills related to wetlands, emergency management, fishing licenses, disaster recovery, the Florida Keys, brownfields, wastewater treatment, and spring protection. HB 1175 on mitigation banking drew the most discussion, with supporters saying it would create more predictable release of mitigation credits and help address shortages, while opponents warned it could weaken watershed-based wetland protection and allow credits to be used farther from the impact site. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment making the changes prospective after July 1, 2025, and then reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 12-3 vote. The committee also considered HB 1535, a broad emergency management strike-all that would expand local storm-preparedness information, debris removal coordination, shelter planning, permitting procedures after storms, limits on post-storm fee increases and moratoria, and changes to election procedures after disasters. Members raised questions about FEMA coordination, shelter standards, impact fees, and the 100-mile post-storm land-use restrictions. After adopting the strike-all, the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute on a 17-0 vote. HB 673, which would extend the same fishing-license convenience to freshwater guides that saltwater captains already have, and HB 705, which extends a public-records exemption for disaster recovery assistance applicants, were both reported favorably without amendment. Later, the committee approved HB 995 for the Florida Keys, which combines affordable-housing incentives, a Habitat for Humanity bond exemption, an extension of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, and a modest increase in hurricane evacuation time to allow additional residential permits; it was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. HB 733 on brownfields received a technical strike-all and was also reported favorably. HB 645 creating a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems passed unanimously, and HB 691 on a reclaimed-water project tied to Outstanding Florida Springs passed 16-1 after concerns were raised about cost, water quality, and whether the bill could broaden the intent of existing spring-protection law. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, and when we think about the disparities that we have, that's just wasted talent that we all really
• Yeah, and when we think about the disparities that we have, that's just wasted talent that we all really
• Yeah, and when we think about the disparities that we have, that's just wasted talent that we all really

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH IN MY OPINION IS OVERREACHING AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND INEXPENSIVE WASTE
• YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME THIS BILL.
• IS OVERREACHING, HYPOCRITICAL AN INVITATION TO FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over-regulating, you guys are wasting money. That's how I feel as a consumer.
• Over-regulating, you guys are wasting money. That's how I feel as a consumer. You're not helping.
• It doesn't mean I'm completely against it, and I feel like you guys are wasting a lot of money on this

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture heard a presentation from Florida FFA state officers Gabby Howell and Macy Jordan, who described FFA and agricultural education as a three-part model of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development. They highlighted FFA membership growth, Florida’s more than 60,000 members, industry certifications, and state funding that allows all agriculture education students to participate at no cost. Members praised the students and the organization’s role in developing future agricultural leaders. The committee then took up SB 438, which would regulate hemp and hemp extract products, including THC-infused beverages, by adding testing, labeling, retail location, age, and event restrictions, along with penalties and $2 million for testing equipment. Senator Burton said the bill is intended to address public safety, prevent products with illegal THC levels from reaching consumers, and respond to the governor’s prior veto concerns, especially store location and regulation. An amendment clarifying final batch testing was adopted without objection. Testimony was mixed. Supporters, including beverage distributors, law enforcement, and some hemp beverage businesses, backed regulation and said the bill would improve safety and clarity, though some asked for changes to avoid treating specialty beverage retailers like liquor stores. Opponents and some hemp industry representatives argued the bill was too restrictive, would hurt small businesses, and could push products into the black market; they also objected to THC limits, event restrictions, and the proposed regulatory structure. After debate, the committee voted 6-0 to report CS for SB 438 favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they generate a waste stream, and it was these massive quantities of stuff they called salt cake,
• That testimony is not admissible under this bill. all around so they generate a waste all around so they
• generate a waste stream<00:19:47.559><c> and</c><00:19:47.679><c> it</c><00:19:47.799><c> was</c><00

Summary: The Natural Resources Committee met with prayer and the Pledge, approved the prior minutes, and recognized visiting guests, including representatives from Nucor Steel and students from Eastern Kentucky University. The main business was House Bill 137, which would require air-pollution enforcement actions by the Energy and Environment Cabinet and Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District to rely on EPA-approved monitoring methods or scientifically defensible, quality-assured data. The sponsor and industry supporters argued the bill would ensure reliable evidence and protect manufacturers from enforcement based on questionable data. Opponents, including the Kentucky Resources Council, the West Jefferson County Community Task Force, and a former cabinet employee, argued the bill would conflict with the Clean Air Act’s allowance for “any credible evidence,” could exclude community air-monitoring data and citizen complaints, and might weaken enforcement by limiting the use of lower-cost sensors, photos, video, and other nontraditional evidence. Committee members questioned how credible evidence and the Daubert standard would apply, and supporters and opponents debated whether the bill would simply set evidentiary rules or improperly narrow enforcement authority. One member also raised concerns that the bill’s title and scope could be read as affecting the broader air program. House Bill 137 was ultimately approved favorably by roll call vote, with Senator Webb’s aye vote later clarified for the record. The committee then took up House Bill 346, as amended by a subcommittee. The bill was described as helping about 708 companies and carving out emergency generators used for safety purposes in distilleries, with support from the Kentucky Chamber. The subcommittee amendment was adopted, and the bill passed the committee favorably by roll call vote. The meeting ended with an attempted adjournment and a brief record correction on the vote for House Bill 137.

Transcript Highlights:

• We track every single thing we do very carefully and feel very comfortable that there's no waste or other
• comfortable<00:28:04.640><c> that</c><00:28:04.880><c> there's</c><00:28:05.200><c> no</c><00:28:05.360><c> waste
• </c><00:28:06.159><c> or</c> comfortable that there's no waste or comfortable that there's no waste or
• It's just wasting law enforcement's time, hurting people with low-level charges, and throwing away revenue
• There's age limits. just wasting law enforcement's time, just wasting law enforcement's time, hurting

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• in this agency that are made through this agency relate to either contamination mitigation or solid waste
• </c> mitigation or uh Solid Waste mitigation or uh Solid Waste projects<00:29:15.480><c> then</c><00:
• the<00:36:40.480><c> euphemism</c><00:36:41.079><c> for</c><00:36:41.560><c> uh</c><00:36:41.720><c> waste
• ><00:36:42.160><c> water</c><00:36:43.160><c> um</c><00:36:44.160><c> and</c> the euphemism for uh waste
• water um and the euphemism for uh waste water um and then<00:36:44.920><c> uh</c><00:36:45.119><c> point

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem isn't revenue; the problem is wasteful spending.
• 57:50.359><c> is</c> problem isn't revenue, the problem is problem isn't revenue, the problem is wasteful
• </c> wasteful spending. wasteful spending.

Bills: HR203 , SB2802 , SB3081 , SB2902 , SB2005 , SB3252 , SB2096 , SB2095 , SB2046 , SB2999 , SB3103 , SB83 , SB2041 , SB3234 , SB3156 , SB3154 , SB2146 , SB2053 , SB2010 , SB2009 , SB2667 , SB3215 , SB2698 , SB2363 , SB2372 , SB2673 , SB2948 , SB2277 , SB2057 , SB3085 , SB3025 , SB2761

Transcript Highlights:

• bring in a data center that does not use closed-loop cooling, but instead uses water in the most wasteful
• Instead uses water in the most wasteful and profligate fashion possible.
• So it's not going to let cities waste money, but if they want to use that money to obtain new sources
• The only thing I liked about House Bill 4030 is that we weren't wasting voters' time and adding another

Transcript Highlights:

• buyer's sake as well as for the community's sake because if it is failing, then we know where the waste
• then we know because if it is failing, then we know where<00:12:52.320><c> the</c><00:12:52.560><c> waste
• 53.440><c> to</c><00:12:53.600><c> go</c><00:12:53.920><c> into</c><00:12:54.240><c> the</c> where the waste
• is going to go into the where the waste is going to go into the local<00:12:54.639><c> water</c><00:

Transcript Highlights:

• the AG throw up that are... ...several lawsuits that people like the AG throw up that are a complete waste
• extent possible without violating federal law, and it is my opinion that we simply do not need to waste
• the extent possible without violating federal law and it is my opinion that we simply do not need to waste
• money we don't have my opinion that we simply do not need to waste money we don't have on costly that

Committee: House House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several wildlife-related bills. HB 2197, concerning camping near watering facilities, was amended to change the distance standard and remove language tied to domestic stock access; supporters said it would help protect ranch and wildlife water sources, while one member opposed it over expanded criminal penalties. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a do pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote. HB 2497 would establish a statutory right to lawfully hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife and limit restrictions on those activities. Supporters described it as an affirmation of existing rights and wildlife heritage, while opponents argued it would weaken Game and Fish authority and conflict with the 2010 voter rejection of similar language. After a technical amendment, the committee approved the bill 5-3. The committee also advanced HB 2147, which requires landowner deer permits under certain conditions to address crop damage and wildlife conflicts; Game and Fish said population management hunts are already being used, while opponents warned against privatizing wildlife. HB 2158, which would classify bears, cougars, mountain lions, and wolves as predatory animals, drew strong opposition from Game and Fish and conservation groups over science-based management and endangered species concerns, but was still recommended do pass 5-3. HB 2159, allowing landowner permits for Mexican gray wolves and a compensated trapping program, was likewise opposed as conflicting with federal law and the Endangered Species Act, but was approved 5-3. The committee then began HB 2162, which would require at least one Game and Fish commissioner to be a cattleman or rancher; Game and Fish opposed it, saying ranchers already have representation through the appointment process, and testimony continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also think that there are several lawsuits that people like the AG throw up that are a complete waste
• the AG throw up that are several lawsuits that that people like the AG throw up that are a complete waste
• the extent possible without violating federal law and it is my opinion that we simply do not need to waste
• money we don't have my opinion that we simply do not need to waste money we don't have on costly that

Bills: HB2023 , HB2100 , HB2147 , HB2158 , HB2159 , HB2162 , HB2197 , HB2497 , HB2787 , HCM2006

Committees: House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs , House House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference

Keywords: land division, property disclosure, real estate, affidavit, Arizona Revised Statutes, small land subdivision, land use, real estate regulation, county ordinance, water supply requirements, property access, civil penalties, wildlife management, deer permits, private land, landowner rights, human-wildlife conflict, predatory animals, hunting regulations, game and fish

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say thank you for bringing this forward, but I don't want to waste money.
• And so I think that if we partner with health care systems that are doing this so that we don't waste
• I just want to say thank you for bringing this forward, but I don't want to waste money.
• And so I think that if we partner with health care systems that are doing this so that we don't waste

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• carbon negative emissions and it is protecting public health when you do things like convert organic waste
• I'm with Californians Against Waste.
• Thank you for having me here on behalf of the California Compost Coalition Rethink Waste and CR&R Environmental
• Services, I would like to echo the sentiment of Californians Against Waste made earlier.

Transcript Highlights:

• We generally don’t make direct payments to households as kind of waste, fraud, and abuse measure, so
• 28.520><c> of</c> direct payments to households as kind of direct payments to households as kind of waste
• c><00:26:30.600><c> so</c><00:26:31.039><c> to</c><00:26:31.200><c> go</c><00:26:31.320><c> to</c> waste
• rod and abuse measure so to go to waste rod and abuse measure so to go to the<00:26:31.640><c> uity<

Summary: House File 771, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion. The bill would create a state supplemental grant program to build on LIHEAP, with the goal of expanding energy assistance beyond the winter season to cover summer cooling needs and reduce utility shutoffs. Representative Craft said the proposal would use existing LIHEAP systems, help more eligible households, and support related services like weatherization. The committee adopted the author’s amendment, DE2, without objection. Supporters testified that energy costs remain unaffordable for many Minnesotans, especially in rural areas and among low-income households, seniors, and people using delivered fuels. Annie Levenson-Faulk of the Citizens Utility Board said only about a quarter of eligible households receive assistance, summer shutoffs are common, and cooling needs have grown significantly. Trisha Leite of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Amanda Macky of Minnesota Valley Action Council, and Ken Schum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association all supported the bill, saying year-round assistance would help households, reduce disconnects, stabilize demand for aid, and ease pressure on utility rates. Michael Schmitz of the Department of Commerce said Minnesota has received about $112 million in LIHEAP funds so far this year and is awaiting additional federal money; he also noted recent funding has been lower than in prior years and inflation has reduced its value. Members discussed the scale of utility shutoffs, the increase in cooling demand, and whether the bill addresses root causes or serves as a temporary fix. Representative Weiner argued that the state should focus on keeping more money in taxpayers’ pockets and reducing the need for subsidies, while Representative Craft responded that the underlying issue is low incomes and widening wealth inequality, and that policies like the child tax credit are better ways to address poverty. The chair also asked how LIHEAP dollars flow, and Commerce said most benefits are paid directly to utilities on behalf of households rather than as direct cash payments to recipients.