Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, that's just human nature.
• It's just human nature.
• Yeah, that it's just<01:57:48.880><c> human</c><01:57:49.119><c> nature.
• It's<01:58:16.719><c> just</c><01:58:16.960><c> human</c><01:58:17.199><c> nature.
• So, I think we It's just human nature.

Transcript Highlights:

• clearing up an ambiguity between the use of the mere word emergency, which in their world means a natural
• disaster or similar, and making sure that each instance of the new language include the word medical
• their<00:20:45.600><c> world</c><00:20:46.080><c> means</c><00:20:46.640><c> a</c><00:20:46.720><c> natural
• </c><00:20:47.200><c> disaster</c> their world means a natural disaster their world means a natural disaster
• Bergeron said he was not in a position to guarantee the comprehensive nature of that because he did not

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:34:42.480><c> things</c><00:34:42.679><c> of</c><00:34:42.839><c> that</c><00:34:43.040><c> nature
• </c><00:34:44.040><c> I</c> the plans and things of that nature I the plans and things of that nature
• conversation and sitting in that ER that was on a Sunday, 11:00, 12:00, and that ER looked like a disaster
• c><01:02:06.880><c> looked</c><01:02:07.079><c> like</c><01:02:07.240><c> a</c><01:02:07.440><c> disaster
• </c> 12:00 and that ER looked like a disaster 12:00 and that ER looked like a disaster zone<01:02:09.359

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• One-time efforts to provide assistance cannot address the deeply structural nature of these energy burdens
• including a food or a brand of food commonly marketed to minors, or products attempting to conceal the nature
• These funds support disaster response, such as wildfires and floods.
• These funds support disaster response, such as wildfires and flood.
• adding the CPI going forward to have some predictable cost increases to keep up with the regulatory nature

Bills: HB2675 , HB2681 , HB2714 , HB2688 , HB2481 , HB2116 , HB1408

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: accounts, finance, business regulation, transparency, audits, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, HB 2714, caseload forecasting, food assistance, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state food assistance, budget forecasting, caseload forecast council, caseload forecast supervisor, Washington State

Transcript Highlights:

• By State Affairs Committee, Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee, and Rep.
• I wanted to of course thank the bill sponsor for the collaborative nature of the bill. the bill and also
• Agriculture Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee, Ways and Means, and Representative Mooney, CS for
• By Agriculture Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee, Ways and Means, and Representative Mooney, CS for
• This is a community known not just for its natural beauty nestled among the lakes, but for its spirit

Bills: SB 5 , SJR 3 , HB 11 , HJR 72 , HB 48 , HB 27 , HB 144 , HB 37 , HB 1481 , HB 581 , HB 1696 , HB 2216 , HB 1035 , HB 1633 , HB 742 , HB 754 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 2669 , HB 391 , HB 517 , HB 1775 , HB 1024 , HB 1607 , HB 252 , HB 1716 , HB 1562 , HB 4116 , HB 1866 , HB 1741 , HB 2103 , HB 2637 , HB 2884 , HB 3707 , HB 503 , HB 1089 , HB 1757 , HB 2986 , HB 972 , SB 365 , SB 1786 , SB 5 , SJR 3 , HB 14 , HB 43 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 106 , HB 18 , HB 11 , HJR 72 , HB 48 , HB 27 , HB 144 , HB 37 , HB 1481 , HB 581 , HB 1696 , HB 2216 , HB 1035 , HB 1633 , HB 742 , HB 754 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 2669 , HB 391 , HB 517 , HB 1775 , HB 1024 , HB 1607 , HB 252 , HB 1716 , HB 1562 , HB 4116 , HB 1866 , HB 1741 , HB 2103 , HB 2637 , HB 2884 , HB 3707 , HB 503 , HB 1089 , HB 1757 , HB 2986 , HB 972

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is referred to the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

Bills: HB17 , HB16 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB 15 , SB 18 , HB17 , HB16 , SB10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB15 , SB18

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, the Disaster Preparedness Committee the committee is meeting to consider five priority pieces

Bills: HB4 , HB4

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of pressure on our natural reefs.
• from. from vehicle access into crowds and things of that nature.
• So if some big natural disaster... happens, we do try to get in there and make a note of it, make that
• natural resources.
• We protect the natural resource.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• It keeps FEMA ready to ensure our disaster response is not a casualty of the Democrat shutdown, and it
• It keeps FEMA ready to ensure our disaster<00:10:19.519><c> response</c><00:10:20.240><c> is</c><00:10
• :20.560><c> not</c><00:10:20.720><c> a</c><00:10:20.959><c> casualty</c><00:10:21.440><c> of</c> disaster
• response is not a casualty of disaster response is not a casualty of the<00:10:21.839><c> Democrat</
• But we're also one of the most disaster-prone places in the entire country.

Transcript Highlights:

• Signed. signs, placards and other objects of similar nature are prohibited as well as food and drink.
• That if we were to do this, that the natural consequence of that would be that there are more schools
• Okay, this is a long way from disaster. There's clear evidence of improvement during this period.
• However, you want to attribute that it's certainly not a disaster I'll transition now to to Arizona because

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• It had been going ongoing because of the nature that the good senator from 32 was discussing.
• maintenance, to render medical assistance, to provide law enforcement assistance, or to render aid during a natural
• disaster.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a US citizen, a naturalized immigrant.
• Partnership for New Americans, which is a nationally recognized organization, about 2.7 million US naturalized
• long, too hard to let our president continue on a dangerous path that this history shows ends in disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this bill is intended to be clarifying in nature to ensure that we're not favoring one industry
• These funds support disaster response, such as wildfires and floods.
• I'm a non-smoker who uses natural, synthetic nicotine lozenges in Washington, specifically for cognitive

Bills: HB2038 , HB2297 , HB2382 , HB2487 , HB2018

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: HB2038, Washington, B&O tax, business and occupation tax, social media tax, platform tax, youth behavioral health, mental health, adolescent mental health, children's mental health, telebehavioral health, behavioral health account, state treasury, digital services tax, internet platform, social media companies, youth services, depression, anxiety, public health funding

Transcript Highlights:

• possible and keeping fires smaller, therefore reducing the amount of either property loss or loss to our natural
• Current state policies lead to water sovereignty and cause ecological and economic disaster.
• And the goals are big: we want to restore fisheries and ideally enhance the natural ecosystem, improve

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a work session covering the state revenue outlook, caseload forecasts, wildfire costs, budget balance, tort liability, water supply, and pension policy. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reported modest near-term U.S. growth, no near-term Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and elevated inflation, with tariffs and federal policy cited as major risks. Revenue forecasts were slightly improved for the current biennium by about $105 million but down about $185 million for the next biennium. Members asked about income inequality and housing permits; staff said personal income is an aggregate measure and housing production remains below long-term needs. The Caseload Forecast Council then reported that most forecasts were unchanged or only slightly changed, but several programs increased, including Washington College Grant, Working Connections, aged/blind/disabled cash grants, nursing homes, home and community services, and developmental disabilities personal care. The largest policy-driven change was in Medicaid low-income adult caseloads, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce coverage substantially through narrower eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. The committee also heard a wildfire funding update and a 2025 fire season review. Staff explained that the state budgets $93 million annually for suppression and uses supplemental appropriations for costs above that level, with an estimated state supplemental need of about $139 million for the current year. Department of Natural Resources officials said 2025 fire activity remained below the 10-year average in acres burned, but fires were more complex and closer to communities, contributing to higher residence loss. They described expanded use of aircraft, firefighters from other states, corrections crews, and the Arcadia 20 hand crew, and said the state did not need National Guard ground support this year. A budget preview then showed that the near general fund outlook had worsened after vetoes, lapses, and forecast changes, and that maintenance-level costs alone would leave a projected negative balance by fiscal year 2027 and about $4.3 billion by fiscal year 2029, before any policy decisions. Jason Seams, the state risk manager, reported a sharp rise in tort claim costs, with indemnity expenses nearly doubling from fiscal year 2023 to 2025 and DCYF accounting for most of the increase. He said the state self-insurance liability account has run deficits for four straight biennia and is now facing nearly $600 million in deficits, driven largely by a surge in DCYF claims, especially juvenile rehabilitation and long-running sex abuse cases. Members asked about the role of old claims, comparisons with other states, excess insurance, and whether more Attorney General staff could reduce special assistant attorney general costs. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust. Tribal witnesses emphasized overappropriation, declining flows, climate impacts, and the need for legislative oversight and tribal participation in water policy. Ecology described major projects in the Odessa sub-area, Yakima Basin, and Dungeness, along with the need for storage, recharge, conservation, and policy changes to support water supply development. The Washington Water Trust argued that climate change is reducing summer flows and that the state needs more funding, enforcement, and long-term commitment to restore instream flows. The final item was a pension update on LEOFF 1 surplus assets; staff reviewed two 2025 bills that would have merged or restructured the plan and used surplus assets, but neither passed, and instead the budget directed the Select Committee on Pension Policy to study the issue and report back.

Transcript Highlights:

• purpose, meaning for the purposes of capturing footage related to a crime in the area or things of that nature
• Acknowledge, or first off, mention that I was with the Water Natural Resource Committee last week in
• of roads in my rural areas between District 4 and District 5, but also because we're dealing with disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• and communication services, and they are especially important during hurricanes, floods, and other natural
• disasters.
• Ryan Matthews, Florida Municipal Natural Gas Association, waiving in support; Nicole Albers, Florida

Summary: The committee heard and voted on a long agenda of criminal justice, public safety, and civil justice bills. Among the measures reported favorably were SB 984, which adds aggravating factors for capital sentencing when a murder occurs during religious, school, or public government gatherings; SB 1140, creating a Hillsborough County pilot program to address substance abuse among offenders on probation; SB 1180, expanding child pornography laws to cover lewd altered or filtered images and solicitation; SB 10, providing compensation to Sidney Holmes for a wrongful conviction; SB 500, creating a Spectrum Alert system and training for missing children with autism; SB 1054, increasing penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices; SB 1072, establishing an expedited DNA testing grant program; and SB 240, the Haven Act, which aligns domestic and dating violence protections and creates a feasibility study for a discreet emergency contact system for victims. Several bills were amended before passage, including funding for the Spectrum Alert program and technical changes to the DNA, juvenile justice, and other proposals. Members also advanced SB 494, creating a statewide FDLE animal abuse database and increasing sentencing consequences for aggravated animal cruelty, with strong support from animal welfare groups and county officials. SB 1422 was reported favorably to strengthen penalties for unmanned aircraft over critical infrastructure and for weaponized drones, though members raised concerns about the bill’s “reasonable force” language. SB 1268 updated FDLE statutes and increased reimbursement for retired police dogs. SB 1252 was amended into a feasibility study for a statewide pawn data database, and SB 1386 increased penalties for assaults and batteries on utility workers, drawing support from utility and industry groups. The committee also approved SB 1084 on sexual cyber harassment, which criminalizes dissemination of intimate images and digitally forged intimate images, and SB 1654, which revises sexual offender and predator registration rules, including online reporting for certain in-state travel residences. SB 1650 expanded the vexatious litigant law, and SB 1652 created a public records exemption for stricken non-criminal court filings. Finally, SB 1284, expanding Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow civil claims for the death of an unborn child, drew extensive testimony both for and against; supporters called it a life-affirming measure, while opponents warned it could increase litigation, affect abortion-related care, and discourage physicians from practicing in Florida. The bill was heard with multiple public comments, but the transcript excerpt does not show a final vote on SB 1284.

Transcript Highlights:

• payment assistance program, $50 million for homeless initiatives, and then $100 million for the disaster
• Line 107 is $20 million to the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department for wildfire mitigation
• of the office to be directed at a one-stop shop for permitting, rights of way, and things of that nature

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a natural lag in the, you have a long process between the data rate filing is made and its approval
• of charging actuarially sound rates—is so that we are able to pay our policyholders’ claims when disaster
• we thought that we would see a higher rate of claims closed without a payment because of the flood nature

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Tim Serio, with Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworski also answering questions. Serio reviewed Citizens’ role as Florida’s insurer of last resort, its statutory funding structure, eligibility rules, depopulation program, reinsurance obligations, and the surcharge/emergency assessment mechanisms that can be used if Citizens runs a deficit. He emphasized that recent legislative reforms, combined with lower litigation and improved market conditions, have helped the private market recover and reduced Citizens’ policy count from a peak of about 1.41 million in 2023 to 936,182 at the end of 2024, with a projected drop to about 771,000 by the end of 2025. He also said the reforms reduced Citizens’ rate need and helped avoid an emergency assessment after the 2024 storms. Members asked about Citizens’ rate increases, why Citizens still seeks higher rates despite lower litigation, how the 20% eligibility threshold works, whether Citizens should be wind-only, and whether the state or federal government could help with deficits. Serio explained that Citizens is still charging below actuarially sound rates in most areas, that rate filings reflect reduced litigation and lower reinsurance exposure, and that assessments on all Florida property policyholders are the reason Citizens tries to build surplus and depopulate. He said the depopulation program is working better than in the past, with less than 2% of takeout policies returning to Citizens, and that the Office of Insurance Regulation has been vetting takeout companies more carefully. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on claims handling after Debby, Helene, and Milton, including flood-versus-wind disputes and Citizens’ use of the Division of Administrative Hearings for some claim disputes. Serio said Citizens had received 76,625 claims from the three storms and had paid nearly $823 million in indemnity and expenses as of January 7, 2025. He said many closed-without-payment claims were either below deductible, withdrawn, duplicate, or flood-only, and that Citizens had asked its internal audit function to independently review the claims data and denials. He also described Citizens’ storm outreach, catastrophe response centers, managed-repair program, and claim review process, and said the corporation remains focused on paying valid claims while minimizing the risk of assessments on the broader Florida market.

Transcript Highlights:

• case management project to disaster case management project to continue<01:10:11.679><c> recovery</c
• Additionally, for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the budget also commits the following
• Lastly, Madam Speaker, $6.9 million and 21 positions for the Department of Land and Natural Resource
• Additionally, for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the budget also commits the following
• Lastly, Madam Speaker, $6.9 million and 21 positions for the Department of Land and Natural Resource

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this bill ensures that when disaster strikes, Californians can rely on a fair process and a safe
• Again, this bill ensures that when disaster strikes, Californians can rely on a fair process and a safe

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not initially present, then later established a quorum and heard several bills. The main special-order item was AB 1795 (Gibson), which would create statewide standards for testing, inspection, and remediation of wildfire smoke damage in homes, with CalEPA and public health agencies developing science-based standards and insurers required to follow new claims-handling timelines. Supporters, including Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and wildfire survivors, said the bill would bring consistency and safety; insurers and consumer groups generally supported the concept but sought further amendments on scope, standards, and claim handling. The committee voted do pass as amended and refer AB 1795 to Appropriations, with the roll held open for later additions. The committee also considered AB 1576 (Ortega) on the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund, which would make changes intended to reduce litigation and employer assessments while preserving the program’s purpose of encouraging hiring of workers with prior disabilities. Labor-side witnesses supported the bill as a reform step, while business, public entity, and insurance groups opposed it, arguing it did not address the core structural problems and that a trailer bill was a better vehicle for broader reform. AB 1576 was voted do pass to Appropriations, with the roll held open. AB 1931 (Papan) would create an optional limited-lines license for utilities to offer home protection products for repairs to appliances and utility service lines. Support came from HomeServe, utilities, and industry groups, who said the bill would clarify current law and add consumer protections such as training, disclosures, and a free-look period; there was no opposition in the room. The committee passed AB 1931 to Appropriations. AB 2361 (Pacheco) would limit vicarious liability for peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing platforms like Turo while preserving insurance coverage requirements; supporters said it would align California with other states, while consumer attorneys opposed it as reducing accountability and consumer recovery. The committee passed AB 2361 as amended to Appropriations. AB 2098 (Kalra), heard later, would require employers to allow leave for workers to attend treatment for occupational injuries during work hours, subject to notice and business-necessity limits; labor groups supported it and business and insurance groups sought narrower standards. It was also voted do pass to Appropriations. The committee then completed roll-call add-ons and adjourned.