Transcript Highlights:

• you know, a budget on a lesson plan, it really hits home that it's really important that we instill skills
• As a teacher myself, I equip my students with life skills to navigate the world beyond my classroom.
• Financial literacy is really a life skill.
• And it's also a social justice issue as well.
• We have credit unions that have hired them from high school to come and work with those skills.

Summary: Treasurer and legislative supporters held a press event to announce pre-filing of legislation that would require financial education for Washington students as a graduation requirement. Treasurer said the goal is to give young people a foundational understanding of personal finance so they are not dependent on their parents’ money knowledge and can better navigate loans, credit, interest, taxes, housing, and other financial decisions. Senator Adrian Cortes said he is leading the effort in the Senate and described the bill as important for preparing students for adult life and supporting working families and future small business owners. Testimony from an educator, a financial education nonprofit leader, and a credit union representative all backed the proposal. Vanessa Medina, a Vancouver public school teacher, said students need practical skills for student loans, car loans, leases, and job benefits. Christy Johnson said the financial system is increasingly complex and that financial literacy is a life skill and social justice issue, especially given the wealth gap and the pressures facing young people. Tracy Godat said her organization already has free materials and professional development ready for educators, and Joe Atomack said credit unions see the need every day and can help expand access through school branches and student work experience. In response to questions, Cortes said the new bill differs from a previous House-passed version mainly by reducing reporting requirements and therefore lowering fiscal impact for districts and OSPI. He said the bill would align with the State Board of Education’s Future Ready process and could take effect by 2033 or earlier, depending on integration. The treasurer said the issue has broad bipartisan support and argued that Washington is behind other states in not already requiring financial education.

Transcript Highlights:

• They develop those essential skills: critical thinking, resilience, empathy.
• They significantly influence students' academic, social, and future career success.
• sets versus the broader, more general skill set that's obtained within the professional pathway that
• We're competing with the private sector for the same skilled professionals.
• We do count some of those workplace skills.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• He also needs living skills.
• commercial purpose, and it modifies the definition of personal identifying information to include a Social
• a commercial purpose and modifies the definition of personal identifying information to include a social
• Sure, when a child is entitled to Social Security funds, whether they come... What does it mean?
• When a child is entitled to Social Security funds, whether they come into care with them, we want to

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee first approved the February 4 minutes, then heard Senate Bill 1086, which would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse non-contracting providers for certain lab services when a member was referred by a contracting provider and would bar prior authorization for diagnostic services. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address unpaid claims and improve access, while Access testified neutral but warned the prior-authorization ban could increase utilization and create a fiscal impact. The committee adopted the Warner amendment limiting non-contracting reimbursement rates to no more than contracting rates, then passed SB 1086 as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1611, an emergency measure to require Access to contract with an administrative services organization for the American Indian Health Plan, while keeping Access ultimately responsible for administration. The chair’s amendment expanded ASO duties to include provider support, quality improvement, and data analytics, removed Access claims-payment authority, added tribal observers to the selection committee, and exempted IHS and tribal-facility services. The sponsor and tribal witnesses described the bill as a response to fraud, provider nonpayment, and harm to Native communities, while Access raised concerns about the fast timeline, tribal consultation requirements, possible duplication of program-integrity functions, and fiscal uncertainty. After debate over the emergency clause and tribal consultation, the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1611 as amended on a 5-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct Access to seek federal approval for a Medicaid home- and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness. Supporters said the bill would create a long-term community-care option for the sickest SMI members, reduce cycling through hospitals, jails, and homelessness, and potentially save state general fund dollars; family members and advocates testified in support. Access was neutral and said it was finalizing a fiscal estimate. The Angus amendment narrowed eligibility to long-term SMI, reduced the enrollment cap from 500 to 250, changed reporting to semiannual, and removed priority-order language; the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1630 as amended unanimously. Later, the committee passed Senate Bill 1193, which protects emergency medical care technicians’ personal identifying information from sale or disclosure by the Department of Health Services, after adopting a clarifying amendment expanding the protected information and addressing commercial requests. It then heard Senate Bill 1318, which repeals the state’s separate dense-breast notification requirement so Arizona law aligns with the FDA’s newer mammography notice standard; the sponsor and DHS said the change would reduce confusion from duplicate, slightly different notices, and the bill was moving forward with discussion of possible future amendment language.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because if someone is playing a long game and they want to get an appointment, what is?
• You've got four years in the Game Commission. Now, that might be too long.
• And that was a really thorny issue we dealt with in the Game Commission.
• Yes, there are professions like psychology, child psychology, social work, certainly.
• We had all licensed social workers in the positions back in the 1990s.

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Social media is a tool, not a weapon.
• Colleges are not only looking at athletic skill and performance, but also at an athlete's brand and social
• I actually don't have social media.
• I have my call with many social media sites.
• Sorting social and demographic data based on invisible characteristics that do not factor into social

Bills: HB186 , HB201 , HB229 , HB796 , HB1506 , HB2702 , HB2885 , HB3225 , HB3909 , HB4285 , HB5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• who have fought for a more just society for all people, as well as the myriad of teachers, farmers, social
• We're also proud of the contributions that our community has made in civil rights, in social justice
• From advocating for worker protections and social justice to advancing groundbreaking achievements in
• The legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games is alive and well, thanks to these incredible leaders and their
• Social media.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call and opened with a prayer and pledge, then held a ceremonial observance for Jewish American Heritage Month. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 195 by Assembly Member Gabriel was presented with extensive remarks from members of multiple caucuses highlighting Jewish Californians’ contributions, the importance of solidarity amid rising antisemitism, and themes of tikkun olam and tzedakah. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 67 co-authors were added, and the chamber then recognized 14 honorees for their service in public life, philanthropy, media, faith leadership, education, and civic engagement. The floor also featured guest introductions and a procedural vote on Assembly Constitutional Amendment 9 by Assembly Member Borrero, which would add affordability as a required consideration in CPUC rate-making, remove telecommunications from the commission’s portfolio, create an office of broadband, and expand legislative appointments. The amendment was adopted. The Assembly then moved through a long third-reading file, passing measures including AB 1697 delaying implementation of a 2025 employment law, AB 2322 on stormwater permit definitions, AB 1653 on hearing-illness education, AB 2274 closing a loophole involving secrecy in trafficking cases, AB 2512 on Anaheim Angels naming language tied to a land exemption, AB 1956 prioritizing young men and boys in suicide prevention, and AB 2273 addressing prosecutorial handling of a local sexual abuse case. Additional bills passed included AB 1809 extending job order contracting for school and community college districts, AB 1970 banning step therapy for serious mental illness and substance use disorder medications, AB 1973 expanding practice authority for advanced practice clinicians, AB 2055 updating vessel law, and AB 2059 narrowing CEQA vehicle-mile-traveled mitigation for certain rural highway projects. The Assembly also adopted ACR 186 designating May 2026 as California Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being Month and H.R. 11 recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia after a lengthy debate that included support from several caucuses and some disagreement over the resolution’s framing of current threats to LGBTQ+ communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is, you have plenty of media and you have opportunities on social media to express your passions
• This is, you have plenty of media and you have opportunities on social media to express your passions
• , but today, You have plenty of media and you have opportunities on social media to express your passions
• I'm a social worker with the Adelante Project at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
• Social and psychological research confirms the powerful testimonies that we’ve heard today.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy hearing on a wide range of bills involving domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, trafficking, victim compensation, and related criminal justice reforms. Testimony focused on measures to support survivors and close perceived legal gaps, including bills to protect domestic violence survivors in child welfare proceedings, expand victim compensation for homicide families and trafficking survivors, create a DNA exception to the rape statute of limitations, eliminate or extend statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, and strengthen laws on upskirting, sexual abuse by adults in positions of authority, and sexual assault by rideshare drivers. Several speakers also addressed bills concerning vulnerable adults, harassment and custody-related abuse, and early evidence kits. Witnesses included legislators, prosecutors, advocates, and many survivors who described personal experiences with abuse and barriers to justice. Supporters argued that current laws often leave survivors without meaningful remedies, especially where consent, reporting requirements, evidentiary rules, or statutes of limitations prevent prosecution or compensation. Prosecutors and advocates said the bills would clarify vague statutes, increase penalties in some cases, and better reflect the realities of coercion, grooming, trafficking, and delayed reporting. Some testimony also urged amendments, including changes to victim compensation reporting rules and clarifications to avoid unintended conflicts with other wage-recovery laws. No committee votes or final actions were taken in the hearing itself. The chairs emphasized strict time limits, respectful conduct, and the submission of written testimony, and several witnesses were called out of order to accommodate the large number of speakers.

Transcript Highlights:

• And examples of that is the resilience hubs, Kōkua for Keiki, Iliahu, and our social service navigators
• </c><00:09:01.360><c> service</c> Iliahu, and our social service Iliahu, and our social service navigators
• </c> with the abundance they have in skill with the abundance they have in skill sets,<00:19:32.880><
• So it's the same kind of skill sets, and then hubs are places or sites, big or small.
• </c> they'll they'll need to have the skill they'll they'll need to have the skill sets<01:29:04.400>

Bills: HB2437 , HB1815 , HB1614 , HB1613 , HB1612 , HB2411 , HB2597 , HB2583 , HB2474 , HB1863 , HB2590 , HB1813 , HB1838 , HB2138 , HB1967 , HB1576 , HB2139 , HB1605 , HB2113 , HB812 , HB1831 , HB1707 , HB2561 , HB1805 , HB2469 , HB2472 , HB2387 , HB1658 , HB1661 , HB1664 , HB1859 , HB2276 , HB2335 , HB1656 , HB2116 , HB2272 , HB2273 , HB2340 , HB2158 , HB2339 , HB2489 , HB2159 , HB2171 , HB2338 , HB2005 , HB1952 , HB1872 , HB1676 , HB2384 , HB2614 , HB20 , HB1776 , HB1565 , HB2310 , HB1975 , HB1801 , HB1668 , HB2114 , HB1972 , HB1546 , HB1518 , HB1131 , HB2208 , HB2156 , HB2268 , HB2622 , HB2581 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB1577 , HB2033 , HB2031 , HB2023 , HB1969 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB2315 , HB2343 , HB2501 , HB2505 , HB816 , HB1562 , HB1591 , HB1853 , HB1854 , HB1871 , HB1965 , HB1966 , HB1537 , HB1541 , HB276 , HB2606 , HB2270 , HB1920 , HB1756 , HB1727 , HB1718 , HB1715 , HB1713 , HB1711

Transcript Highlights:

• 19 students from within this state going on the road, entering a tournament unseeded, winning six games
• And great celebrations that social media took notice of. They were fun. And you could see the joy.
• And I know, though, they're a family, and they carried their fallen player with them in those games as
• And great celebrations that social media took notice of. They were fun. And you could see the joy.
• And I know though, they're a family, and they carried their fallen player with them in those games as

Transcript Highlights:

• It has value, and our goal is to build a learning ecosystem that formally recognizes applicable skills
• In fact, the CSU continues to dominate CollegeNET's highly respected social mobility index.
• We become the best engine of social and economic mobility there is.
• But combining these short-term skills, marketable skills, with an internship.
• And so students,” “Short-term skills, marketable skills with an internship.

Transcript Highlights:

• support 15 boards, including the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board, Board of Accountancy, and Social
• The agency's mission is to responsibly provide entertaining games and maximize its dividends for public
• You know, we have a social media position.
• Tomorrow we've got the Department of Fish and Game and the Office of I'll just mention that tomorrow
• we've got the Department of Fish and Game and the Office of Species Conservation, and we'll be hearing

Summary: The committee first heard a report from the Joint Millennium Fund co-chairs on recommended uses of Millennium Fund dollars. The recommendations included one-time funding for juvenile safety assessment centers and child advocacy centers, ongoing funding for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments to reduce the general fund impact in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation because the fund had previously been directed away from Medicaid; the co-chairs said the request was made in light of a revenue downturn and was intended as one-time funding, with any unused balance returned. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Legislative staff summarized the division’s consolidation of licensing boards, staffing, fee-balance management requirements, and the governor’s and committee’s budget recommendations, including vehicle replacement and IT hardware requests. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced overall expenditures since consolidation, improved licensing and inspection timeliness, and used fee changes, fee holidays, and board mergers to keep board balances within the target range. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for prescriber DEA fees, the continued need for a 10% transfer exemption, vehicle replacement timing, and how complaints and discipline are handled; Barron said complaints drive investigations, boards set fees subject to legislative approval, and a universal discipline bill could improve consistency. Finally, the committee heard the state lottery budget. Staff described lottery revenues, prize payouts, dividend distributions to schools and state buildings, and a small one-time request for replacement computers. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts for significant future savings, and is trying to improve performance without relying heavily on paid advertising. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, the return on advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; he said detectives investigate theft and other lottery-related crimes, advertising results are hard to isolate from jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design work. The committee concluded its business and adjourned, with a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you want to follow her on social media, attorney Martinez, thank you. 584 The chair recognizes
• Members, today is a game warden day at the Capitol. capital.
• Most of you know a game warden, probably personally.
• We have a distinguished group from our Texas Game Wardens Association here in the gallery today.
• , and members, let's recognize our brave men and women that are proud to call themselves our Texas Game

Transcript Highlights:

• Certain exempt uses include youth character building, benevolent, protective, and rehabilitative social
• uses include, to name a few, youth character building, benevolent, protective, and rehabilitative social
• behalf of Advocate Community Housing and Development, a nonprofit housing developer and provider of social
• , how to hold books and flip pages, and language skills, correctly using many different words.
• Children with these skills are more likely to read proficiently by third grade, a critical educational

Bills: SB6256 , SB6275 , SB5868 , SB5954

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: tax exemptions, affordable housing, nonprofit, unoccupied property, housing policy, community reinvestment, economic development, local investment, financial assistance, SB 5868, superior court, judge, judgeship, judicial vacancy, court administration, Skagit County, Yakima County, RCW 2.08.061, Washington courts, county judges

Transcript Highlights:

• So now we're going to take up Senate Bill 7008 on OGSR, Florida Gaming Control Commission, by Regulated
• public records exemptions from repeal for records and portions of a meeting conducted by the Florida Gaming
• public records exemptions from repeal for records and portions of a meeting conducted by the Florida Gaming
• information received by the Department of Legal Affairs or a law enforcement agency into whether a social
• information received by the Department of Legal Affairs or a law enforcement agency into whether a social

Bills: S7000 , S7002 , S7004 , S7006 , S7008 , S7012 , S7014 , S7016 , S0350

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first postponed SB 350 for a future meeting. The committee then considered a series of Open Government Sunset Review bills preserving or extending public records and public meeting exemptions. SB 7000, relating to emergency shelter recipients’ address and phone information, and SB 7002, relating to Department of Military Affairs records in Department of Defense systems, were both amended to set a new sunset date of October 2, 2031 and reported favorably. SB 7012, concerning Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records, was amended to conform its effective date with the House companion and also reported favorably. The committee next heard SB 7006, which preserves exemptions for certain Florida Public Service Commission hearing portions involving confidential proprietary utility information, and SB 7008, which preserves similar exemptions for the Florida Gaming Control Commission; both were reported favorably without amendment. SB 7004, concerning conviction integrity unit investigation information, was also reported favorably after testimony that state attorney conviction integrity units support keeping the exemption in place beyond its current repeal date. Later, the committee took up SB 7014, presented by Senator Arrington on behalf of Senator Leitz, and adopted a committee substitute extending to October 2, 2031 two exemptions tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations of social media platforms. The committee also approved SB 7016, which preserves the exemption for certain financial information used by economic development agencies to administer small business loan programs. At the end of the meeting, members recorded affirmative votes on several bills and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a lengthy-scale, um, my agency colleagues talk about how we play the long game here.
• </c> talk about how we play the long game talk about how we play the long game here<00:25:42.720><c>
• </c><00:58:22.200><c> at</c> projects together are very skilled at projects together are very skilled
• </c><00:58:58.720><c> too</c> in with their own skin in the game too in with their own skin in the game
• And it’s not a rich person’s game here.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:54.000><c> and</c> the improvement of skills and the improvement of skills and extracurricular
• My name is Natasha Doctor and I am<01:08:00.240><c> a</c><01:08:00.400><c> social</c><01:08:00.640><c
• It would fund a school social worker, which we dearly need. I'm in seventh period... revenue time.
• It would fund a school social 3% to 5%.
• Um, it would fund a social worker, which we don't currently provide for our students.

Bills: HF3790 , HF3654 , HF3371 , HF3470 , HF1099

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• of process created to inform legislators about the cost and benefits of old rules, that changes the game
• of process created to inform legislators about the cost and benefits of old rules, that changes the game
• It required some people skills, if you will. And that required convincing.
• It required some people skills, if you will, people in that Office of Regulatory Management to get on

Summary: The Special Committee on Regulatory Reform met to hear from Patrick McLaughlin of the Hoover Institution and Pacific Legal Foundation about regulatory accumulation and reform. Chair Mark Wright explained the meeting was a study hearing only, with no votes planned or quorum for action. McLaughlin described his research measuring regulation by counting binding words such as “shall” and “must,” and said Louisiana ranks among the most regulated states, with about 183,000 restrictions and growth in regulatory stock outpacing the national average. He argued that excessive regulation slows GDP growth, raises consumer prices, and disproportionately burdens small businesses and low-income households. McLaughlin pointed to reform examples in British Columbia, Idaho, and Virginia, where centralized oversight, periodic review, one-in-one-out or similar rules, and simplified benefit-cost analysis were used to reduce regulations without harming safety. He said Virginia’s regulatory modernization effort, including use of AI and a regulatory management office, helped cut requirements and lower homebuilding costs. Committee members asked about how the data were measured, how regulation affects housing, licensing, and population growth, and whether Louisiana could use similar tools. McLaughlin emphasized that AI should assist human reviewers, not replace them, by identifying outdated, duplicative, or overly burdensome rules. Members also discussed Louisiana’s own reform efforts, including LaDOGE, permit streamlining, and prior bills to create public hearings and legislative review of regulations. Wright and others asked about federal mandates, “gold plating” of state rules, and how to identify unnecessary state-level additions. McLaughlin said some state rules are required by federal law, but many others are not, and AI can help distinguish required language from added burdens. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after members expressed interest in following up on McLaughlin’s report and examples from other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• DEPLOYED IN ARIZONA FOR A FLOODING EVENT WHERE THEY ASKED FOR THREE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS WITH A SPECIFIC SKILL
• IT'S LIKE A GAME OF CHUTES AND LADDERS, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT OLD CHILDHOOD GAME.
• THEY WOULD WORK AND PRODUCE IN A TECHNICAL OR SKILLED LABOR JOB WE WOULD GIVE THEM OURS, CREDIT HOURS

Transcript Highlights:

• So three out of 10 workers on a project that require skilled and trained need to meet this standard.
• But my point in saying that is that this isn't a 100% skilled and trained statute.
• So three and 10 workers on a project that require skilled and trained need to meet this standard.
• But my point in saying that is that this isn't 100% skilled and trained statute.
• Certainly once you have disease or a condition, that is all fair game.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> security</c> Eg. birth certificate, social security Eg. birth certificate, social security numbers
• </c> they bringing a social security card? they bringing a social security card?
• There's no perfect legislation, but the games have to stop.
• There's no perfect legislation, but the games have to stop.
• </c> legislation, but the games have to stop. legislation, but the games have to stop.

Committee: House Election Law