Transcript Highlights:

• Matt's unique background as an artist and educational equity professional has given him the opportunity
• Matt's unique background as an artist and educational equity professional has given him the opportunity
• So as we talk about pay equity, we have to recognize that many of the jobs that we have in our communities
• So as we talk about pay equity, we have to recognize that many of the jobs that we have in our communities
• collective actions that brought justice, their collective action that brought representation and equity

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, we have the highest percentage of private equity-owned hospitals in the nation.
• So, there is an increasing trend of private equity buying healthcare across our nation.
• And New Mexico has Actually been rated the number one at risk for private equity acquisitions.
• And we already have the highest percentage of hospitals owned by private equity in the nation.
• And what happens often when private equity acquires healthcare is that prices go up, quality goes Down

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a staff report along with an amendment.
• On the record, Martha Whaling, staff to the committee.
• Emily Poole, staff to the committee.
• For the record, Martha Whaling, staff to the committee.
• And staff will—any member wishing to change the vote?

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 6289, which would direct the Department of Commerce to develop a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan by June 30, 2027, with updates every five years. Senator Kaufman said the bill is intended to create a more intentional, coordinated, data-driven statewide strategy to support businesses of all sizes and sectors. Supporters from the Washington Economic Development Association and the Department of Commerce said the plan is needed to align regional and local efforts, improve competitiveness, and address challenges such as capital access, infrastructure gaps, tariffs, and AI-related disruption. Both Commerce and WEDA supported moving the update cycle from two years to five years, and Commerce said the change would save money and help reduce the fiscal impact. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6149, which would expand the definition of a rural county for public facilities funding and related programs to include counties with population density of 100 or more people per square mile if they have no city larger than 45,000 people. Senator Wilson said the bill is meant to preserve rural eligibility for counties like Cowlitz as cities grow, so they do not lose access to grants and loans that support economic development. Members raised questions about how the new definition would affect counties and whether it would better capture rural areas within larger counties, but no testimony opposed the bill. In executive session, the committee considered three bills. For Senate Bill 5420, concerning access to state benefits and opportunities for veterans, the committee adopted a striking amendment that broadened some eligibility language, including changing a reference from physical to medical discharge and updating employment preference provisions, then advanced the bill by a 12-0 vote with one excused. For Senate Bill 5649, creating a Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program, members began debate on amendments that would add WSDOT scoring criteria favoring Washington-made or Washington-grown goods and limit grants and loans to projects not already eligible for Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board funding. The committee also reviewed several amendments to the AI companion chatbot bill, including narrowing educational and gaming exclusions, adding protections around age inference and manipulative engagement techniques, and limiting data collection; one amendment was withdrawn before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, staff, can we get a bill report for 6269?
• For the record, Kim Cushing, staff to the committee.
• Staff, may we please have a briefing.
• Staff, will you please brief the bills? Good morning. Kim Cushing, staff to the committee.
• Matt Shepardons, again, staff.

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee first held a public hearing on SB 6269, which updates the Motor Fuel Quality Act to broaden the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous fuels and electricity and remove the separate alternative fuel definition. Staff and the Department of Agriculture said the change would let WSDA inspect and test hydrogen and other newer fuels; Commerce and Douglas County PUD supported the bill as needed for hydrogen fueling infrastructure. The bill drew no opposition testimony, and the hearing closed with the chair noting broad support. The committee then heard SB 6223, which would authorize community-scale weatherization projects under the low-income weatherization program. Supporters from community action, Spark Northwest, Commerce, and Washington Conservation Action said the bill would let the state weatherize multiple homes at once, improve health and safety, reduce energy burdens, and help meet climate and grid goals more quickly. Staff said the bill has a fiscal note for rulemaking and administration. The hearing ended with strong support and no opposition testimony. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and passed SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 5965, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652 to the Rules Committee or Ways and Means, depending on the bill. Amendments were adopted on SB 5965 to adjust carryout bag provisions, while amendments on SB 6010 were not adopted. SB 5982 would update CETA-related utility definitions and reporting, SB 6050 addresses distributed energy resources and utility rules, SB 5965 revises carryout bag requirements, SB 6010 concerns EFSEC tribal consultation, SB 5984 regulates AI companion chatbots, SB 6076 streamlines procurement for certain clean energy projects, and SB 5652 concerns environmental and health mitigation in large port districts. The committee also noted it would not take action that day on SB 5975 and SB 5466.

Transcript Highlights:

• APPLICATION PROCESS CAME UP NUMEROUS TIMES IN MY THOUGHT PROCESS AND I FELT COMPELLED TO PURSUE ITS STAFF
• OUR CHAIRMAN AT THE TIME, I THINK GUIDED US DOWN THE RIGHT PATH TO MAKE SURE OUR LEGAL STAFF RESPONDED
• I THINK YOU WOULD COME TO FIND IF LOOKING BACK AT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE STAFF ASSIST US WITH IN
• I'VE ASKED OUR STAFF INTERNALLY TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONERS THROUGHOUT SO THEY CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
• WE START IDENTIFYING WHO THE PARTY IS GOING TO BE AND OUR STAFF STARTS TO GO TO WORK BUT THERE'S NOT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

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• Our designers and staff work with that customer, and we determine what part of that we need to do on
• running the utility multiplied by whatever the commission determines as appropriate return on our equity
• running the utility multiplied by whatever the commission determines as appropriate return on our equity
• running the utility multiplied by whatever the commission determines as appropriate return on our equity
• </c><01:45:05.520><c> and</c> have reminded us that the equity and have reminded us that the equity and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• approval of an amendment to the charter of the City of Burlington, relating to the office of racial equity
• approval of an amendment to the charter of the City of Burlington, relating to the office of racial equity
• It simply says that in order to build towards more equity in the property tax system, we are providing
• It simply says that in order to build towards more equity in the property tax system, we are providing
• As our fiscal staff, and I want to thank them because I'm not sure how many night hours they put into

Keywords: 927, senate, all

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• I'm chair of the Birth Equity Work Group.
• Witness: The Birth Equity Work Group works to decrease disparities in maternal and newborn health care
• </c> or stroke or wounds turn into a staff or stroke or wounds turn into a staff infection<00:28:19.000
• By preserving MinnesotaCare, we uphold our commitment to health equity, ensuring everyone can live a
• ensuring everyone can live a Equity ensuring everyone can live a healthy<00:31:09.399><c> productive

Bills: HF10, HF27

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, permit to carry, concealed carry, handgun permit, firearm permit, pistol training, sheriff, application process, electronic filing, mail application, fax submission, certified mail, certified delivery, gun rights, Second Amendment, firearms regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I want to make sure I clarify my statements on equity issues.
• You know, if you're a poorer our equity.
• We talked about equity a lot and I think we clarified what we meant through the meeting.
• We talked about equity a lot and I think we clarified what we meant through the meeting.
• We talked about equity a lot and I to.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee began its first meeting on retained education funding bills, focusing on HB 366, which concerns school building aid for eligible projects, and HB 295, which would make school building aid program funds non-lapsing. The chair framed the discussion around broader questions about how school building aid should work, noting the state’s limited available funding, the existing debt service obligations, and whether the current formula should continue or be changed. He also raised concerns about the state’s overall revenue constraints and the need to consider renovation, new construction, and possibly leasing within any future program. Members and the Department of Education representative discussed whether school building aid is a state or local responsibility, the current backlog of projects, and the condition of school facilities statewide. Tim Carney of the Bureau of School Facilities described his background and answered technical questions about current programs. Representative Luno argued that under the ConVal decision the state has responsibility for school buildings, including construction and renovation, and that the program also serves an equity function by helping districts with less property-tax capacity. Representative Papich urged the committee to focus on policy structure and fairness rather than just available dollars, saying the current system creates winners and losers and suggesting a simpler per-capita or similar allocation model, while acknowledging a possible transition for projects already in the pipeline. The discussion also covered CTE facilities and leasing. Carney explained that charter schools, and possibly CTE centers, can receive limited leasing aid, and that CTE capital requests are funded through a state capital process, while federal Carl Perkins funds cannot be used for construction. He and others described a separate rotational funding approach for CTE centers, but several members said that model can leave programs waiting too long and may not match changing workforce needs. The chair and others noted that a report from a related study group on CTE policy and funding was still pending, and that its absence could affect legislation for FY28. No votes were taken and no bill was acted on in the portion of the meeting provided; the discussion ended with interest in modeling alternatives, reviewing the waiting list, and examining the tradeoffs of reducing upfront state aid versus funding more projects overall.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:40.320><c> at</c> is equivalent to losing 80% of staff at is equivalent to losing 80% of staff
• And then that is implemented by myself and the other staff members of PELSB.
• </c><00:35:59.520><c> and</c> are made with both equity and are made with both equity and practicality
• I also serve as a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard.
• </c> &gt;&gt; other things, I also serve as a staff &gt;&gt; other things, I also serve as a staff sergeant

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• briefing. ...with a staff briefing from Ms.
• Lily Smith, staff to this committee.
• Thank you, Lily, for that staff briefing. Are there any questions for staff?
• Rebecca Lewis, staff to the committee.
• Are there questions for staff on this bill?

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2170, which would authorize DNR to enter ecosystem service and carbon contracts on state trust lands, and House Bill 2578, which would add tribal members and alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. For HB 2170, the Department of Natural Resources and supporters said the bill would diversify revenue, help meet climate goals, and allow DNR to participate in emerging carbon and ecosystem markets without necessarily eliminating timber harvest. Opponents, including counties, school districts, timber companies, loggers, and forest industry groups, argued the bill could reduce harvest levels, harm rural jobs and mill supply, and lower revenues for schools and other trust beneficiaries; several said any new authority should be limited to additive projects with stronger safeguards. Supporters included environmental groups and some local officials who said the bill would provide a more stable revenue stream and better align land management with climate and watershed benefits. The chair noted there are two related vehicles in committee, HB 1508 as the negotiated version and HB 2170 as the department version, and the public hearing on HB 2170 was closed after extensive testimony. For HB 2578, staff explained that the bill would add four tribal commissioner positions and four alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission, with representation from federally recognized tribes on both sides of the Cascades and staggered terms. Prime sponsor Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the measure would strengthen co-management and the state’s government-to-government relationship with tribes, while acknowledging there are other related bills and ongoing legal issues involving WDFW. The chair asked whether the bill would affect existing tribal consultation obligations, and Lekanoff said it would not replace government-to-government consultation; she also said she would follow up on how the governor would make appointments. The hearing on HB 2578 was then suspended so the committee could return to HB 2170 testimony. The committee also heard staff briefing and sponsor testimony on House Bill 2544, which would create a pilot process for the Upper Columbia River water rights adjudication. Staff said the bill would require Ecology to run the adjudication in two phases, starting with tribal and federal claimants and allowing time for settlement before bringing in other claims, with a report due by June 2035. Rep. Larry Springer said the bill is intended to establish a baseline of water use more efficiently in a process that can otherwise take decades. After the briefing and sponsor remarks, the committee began public testimony on the bill, with tribal representatives and other stakeholders queued to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• Closing this is not just about infrastructure; it's about equity, opportunity, and long-term investments
• Closing this is not just about infrastructure; it's about equity, opportunity, and long-term investments
• Closing this is not just about infrastructure; it's about equity, opportunity, and long-term investments
• Closing this is not just about infrastructure; it's about equity, opportunity, and long-term investments
• Representative Petri, thank you for the quick Zoom call, we've submitted updated information to the LRC staff

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:05 HB 537 Discussion 00:00:40 HB 537 Vote 00:02:45 HJR 34 Discussion 00:03:30 HJR 34 Vote 00:07:45 HJR 30 Discussion 00:08:30 HJR 30 Vote 00:10:25 HJR 32 Discussion 00:11:00 HJR 32 Vote 00:41:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee took up several measures related to appropriations and school facilities. House Bill 537 was explained as a technical fix to Kentucky’s opioid abatement settlement framework so the state can accept funds from national bankruptcy settlements under the allocation structure now used by the courts; the bill was supported by the Attorney General’s office and local government groups and received a favorable recommendation. House Joint Resolution 34 authorized release of previously appropriated KCTCS funds for three projects, and members discussed whether KCTCS facilities could be used more broadly for community needs such as public health, workforce, and other services. KCTCS officials said they were open to that idea, and the resolution also received a favorable recommendation. House Joint Resolution 30, concerning the Waters program and release of funds for projects that had remained in design, was adopted by committee substitute and passed favorably. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Joint Resolution 32, which concerns school facility gap funding for districts with low bonding capacity. The chair and sponsor explained that the General Assembly had previously asked the auditor and Blue & Co. to analyze district data because of disputes over project costs and bonding capacity. Superintendents from Marion County, Augusta Independent, Williamstown, and Walton Verona described their projects and financial constraints. Marion County and Augusta argued that full gap funding is necessary for new school or multipurpose facility projects that cannot be phased in; Augusta emphasized its old building stock, high poverty rate, and the need for a gymnasium/multipurpose space used for school and community functions. Williamstown described a STEM center and field expansion, saying the project would be delayed for years without full funding. Walton Verona described rapid growth, overcrowding, and an intermediate school project that had risen sharply in cost from the original estimate. Members asked questions about the accuracy of cost estimates and the scope of the projects, including why some estimates differed from the auditor’s figures and whether the funding requests covered only parts of larger phased plans. The testimony generally supported full funding for the listed districts, with the districts arguing that the projects are necessary for safe, modern learning environments and that local tax effort has already been substantial. Each of the measures considered during the meeting was reported out favorably, with the chair voting no on the resolutions and bills before the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:30.400><c> Judy</c> Uh, Tazim Hammad, Pierre Blake, Judy Carbone, Monica Watkins, and their staff
• life, frustrated by the political process, she turned to economics as a strategy for greater racial equity
• She continued to fight, but in 1977 she died of breast cancer at 59. racial equity.
• In 1968, she began a pig racial equity.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, February 9, 2026, 960, senate, all

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• Members, my staff and I have been in consistent dialogue with stakeholders since last fall and I remain
• which ensures that as California leads the nation in offshore wind, we also lead in transparency and equity
• And I just want to really thank the author for her continued beginning of this issue around equity and
• and housing crisis plaguing public higher education, this bill will safeguard our students, promote equity

Keywords: 988, house, all

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• There are going to be some variation in costs in terms of getting the staff trained and up to speed and
• It aligns with our mission to provide equity to everybody in Hawaii.
• It aligns with our mission to provide equity to everybody in Hawaii.
• Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, testified in support. equity as a goal.
• So, I think um knowing equity as a goal.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened its Health and Human Services calendar, noted quorum, and first took up HB 194. The chair explained amendments to add an exemption for a person invited by a patient to attend a birth outside an accredited birth facility when no compensation is involved, remove a date reference in section 9, and accept Department of Health amendments. Members raised no objections, and the committee voted to pass HB 194 with amendments. The committee then heard HB 139 on insurance, with the Attorney General flagging possible unlawful delegation issues and suggesting clarifying language, while the Insurance Division stood on written testimony. A number of health organizations and advocates, including HMSA, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, oncology and fertility groups, testified in support. HB 613 on homeless youth drew broad support from state agencies, counties, youth advocates, and community groups; testimony emphasized the need for permanent safe spaces and more attention to unaccompanied minors, with one witness asking for clarity on funding and shelter capacity. HB 71 on a tax credit for family caregivers drew support from AARP, Alzheimer’s and children’s advocates, and several individuals, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about blank provisions and the cost-effectiveness of administering a small credit. The Department of Taxation said a prior version with a $5,000 nonrefundable credit would have cost the general fund about $397.4 million. HB 716 on health care technology support received strong support from SHPDA, OHIN, and many provider groups, who described it as a one-time investment of roughly $20–25 million to connect rural and neighbor island providers to electronic health records; members questioned how the grant program would be allocated. HB 799 on physician hospital privileges also drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would align Hawaii with updated CMS rules and improve access, especially on Maui, while Maui Health and some members worried it could reduce on-call coverage and hospital safety, leading to discussion of a possible report and sunset date.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll then turn to the California Public Utilities Commission, whose staff will provide an update on
• And today we have the following staff from the CPUC joining us.
• The information we are presenting here today is from CPUC staff in the communications division.
• Staff proposal, we're planning to have that ready.
• So our focus as CPUC staff is to continue forward with that proceeding.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm joined by my chief of staff, Eric Helmuth, and by Senator Paul Mark, who has got a lot of experience
• Are there new people at this staff level? Just kind of curious how those relationships go.
• . bipartisan organization supporting the work of legislators and legislative staff.
• There may also be staff in the executive branch or other offices in the state.
• There may also be staff in the executive branch or other offices in the state.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on census preparation, focusing first on testimony from U.S. Census Bureau staff James Whitehorn and Andrea Grace Johnson. They described the Bureau’s decade-long geographic and redistricting programs, including the Boundary and Annexation Survey, School District Review Program, Participant Statistical Area Program, and Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA), along with the Block Boundary Suggestion Project and voting district collection. They emphasized that Massachusetts has been a strong partner in these efforts and explained how the Bureau is using updated street data, building footprints, machine learning, and change detection to improve address lists and track new housing. Whitehorn also reviewed the 2030 redistricting data program, the legal basis for it under PL 94-171, the role of state nonpartisan liaisons, and the expected timeline for data delivery. He noted that OMB’s revised race and ethnicity standards will merge those questions into one and add a Middle Eastern/North African category. Committee members asked about the new standards, state contacts, and how boundary updates are submitted, and the witnesses said they would provide the slide deck and contact information. Wendy Underhill and Helen Brewer of NCSL then testified about why census preparation matters for states, stressing its impact on data, federal funding, and political representation. They outlined optional steps states can take before 2030, including staying in touch with Census Bureau staff, identifying state and local personnel involved in census work, supporting local participation in Bureau programs, and creating complete count committees or commissions. They cited Massachusetts’s prior complete count committee and grantmaking efforts as an example and said such efforts can improve self-response and overall accuracy. They also noted that state legislatures can act as conveners and trusted messengers, and they discussed broader issues such as privacy protections, differential privacy, budget uncertainty, and the possibility of future litigation or a citizenship question. Secretary of State William Galvin then gave extended remarks on Massachusetts’s 2020 census experience and the need to prepare early for 2030. He said the state faced major challenges in 2020 from the pandemic, litigation, and rhetoric about citizenship, and that Massachusetts relied heavily on local records, university data, and community outreach to document residents, especially students and non-native-born populations. He argued that the state should strengthen local recordkeeping now through LUCA, annual resident lists, assessors’ and zoning records, and other local data sources, and he urged support for a proposed $500,000 appropriation for census-related grants and technical assistance. Galvin said better preparation is needed because housing patterns, population shifts, and local administrative capacity have changed since 2020, and he emphasized that the goal is to improve the completeness of the records the Census Bureau will use in 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• It speaks to your work and your diligence and to your staff as well.
• It speaks to your work and your diligence and to your staff as well.
• I would like to begin by accepting the committee's amendments and thank the chair and committee staff
• So first of all, I want to again thank your committee and staff for the support on this bill.
• CTC staff is in the audience. Does someone from CTC want to come step up and provide some insight?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• was fortunate enough to attend some of the programs that the Legacy Fund supports, to the Outdoor Equity
• So I want to again thank Representative Small and the LFC staff for working on this technical fix and
• We are the staff to the Water Trust Board, which is making the recommendation this year for the 113 projects

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up several House bills, mostly related to funding for conservation, housing, education health insurance, and public projects. HB 184 as amended made technical fixes to the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund and Investment Fund to prevent trapped balances and improve distributions to the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund; public testimony from conservation groups strongly supported it, and the committee voted due pass. HB 200 as amended created an incentive program for starter-home construction and homebuyer assistance; supporters said it would help low- and moderate-income buyers, address the shortage of starter homes, and support local builders, and the committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation because funding was already included in House Bill 2 before voting due pass. The committee then considered a substitute for HB 47, the school employee health insurance “80-20” bill. The substitute kept the 80% employer contribution but added statewide participation in NMSIA, removed waivers, added reference-based pricing, and expanded oversight to control costs and stabilize the risk pool. Supporters, including school employees, unions, and educator advocates, said it would improve recruitment and retention and reduce take-home health costs; the committee approved the substitute and moved do pass on the substitute while not passing the original bill. The committee also approved HB 63, authorizing NMFA Water Project Fund loans or grants for 113 water projects recommended by the Water Trust Board, and HB 64, which appropriated $13.3 million from the Public Project Revolving Fund for drinking water, local planning, and cultural affairs facilities. HB 48, a straight appropriation already included in the budget, was tabled. The meeting ended after those actions, with no opposition recorded on the final motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vet or relating to the redesignation of the portion State Highway 11 in Morris County of the Army Staff
• by Tinderholt relating to the authority of a political subdivision to implement certain diversity, equity
• Cameron relating to the process of which a hospital makes certain determinations regarding medical staff