Transcript Highlights:

• Section 4 applies to the Public Employees Retirement System, Uniform Group Insurance Program, or, for
• then we will ask the chair and vice chair, which of course Senator Bekkedahl is the vice chair of Employee

Bills: SB2271, HB1216

Keywords: adult residential facilities, care services, Medicaid, payment rates, elderly care, health services, North Dakota, prescription drugs, drug affordability, copay assistance, copayment accumulator, deductible accumulator, out-of-pocket maximum, health insurance, health benefit plan, self-insured health plan, self-funded plan, third-party payment, manufacturer assistance, patient assistance program

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and took up three bills. House Bill 1216, dealing with prescription drug expense co-pay accumulators in health plans, was presented by Rep. Karen Carl’s, who explained it would prevent insurers from refusing to count third-party assistance toward deductibles for patients using high-cost, non-generic drugs. An amendment was offered to clarify effective dates, including a delayed January 1, 2026 start for PERS coverage. PERS testified that the amendment would align with its calendar-year benefit structure and likely reduce the fiscal note. The amendment was adopted 16-0, and the bill was set aside for further discussion later. House Bill 1199, creating a criminal justice data-sharing system and missing persons/missing Indigenous people task force, was introduced with a committee amendment changing the Attorney General reference to the Attorney General or designee. The committee noted the bill includes a $250,000 general fund appropriation for ongoing costs. The amendment passed 16-0, and the amended bill received a do pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with one no vote from Senator Magrum. House Bill 1531, appropriating $75,000 for an irrigation expansion study by the Agriculture Commissioner, was supported as a way to update older economic-impact studies on irrigation and assess opportunities for expansion. Members discussed its relationship to broader study pauses and the history of irrigation development in the state, including Garrison Diversion and remaining authorized acres. The bill passed 16-0. The committee then discussed scheduling for the coming week, noting a heavy bill load and plans for daily morning meetings before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , our community hospitals, and any of our Our water utilities, our community hospitals, and any vendor
• HB 150 transfers every cyber-related power, rule, form, contract, and full-time employee from DIR to
• Mandatory pieces, baseline threat intel, and the annual employee training course are provided free of
• So again, the building that we'll be utilizing is not necessarily on the UTSA campus, so to speak.
• We have 1,350 employees, 73 retail stores, 8 million subscribers, and a facility in Houston.

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Summary: The committee took up several pending business items and reported a series of House bills out of committee, including HB 2467, HB 2468, HB 2518, HB 4310, HB 4386, HB 4490, HB 5323, and HB 149. Most of these were advanced on committee substitute motions and sent to the local and uncontested calendar or reported favorably to the full Senate. HB 2467 drew one nay vote, while the others were approved without opposition. HB 4310 and HB 4386 were described as committee-substitute versions with changes narrowing disclosure requirements and preserving attorney-client privilege in certain circumstances. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 149, an AI governance bill. The substitute was explained as addressing biometric identifier capture and storage, exempting certain AI uses for security and fraud prevention, clarifying definitions, restricting AI systems that simulate explicit child sexual content, adjusting Attorney General investigative authority, refining sandbox program waivers, reducing Texas AI Council powers and membership, and adding DIR coordination provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 1500, the DIR sunset bill. The author said the bill would continue DIR for 12 years, restructure its board, update advisory committees, require regular cybersecurity assessments and penetration testing for state agencies, improve IT procurement training, and transfer the e-grants program to the Comptroller. A Texas 2036 witness supported the bill as a way to strengthen governance, procurement, and cybersecurity. Members asked detailed questions about the bill’s structure and then left HB 1500 pending. The committee also heard a lengthy presentation on HB 150, which would create the Texas Cyber Command as a component of the University of Texas System, administratively attached to UTSA and located in San Antonio. The author argued the command would centralize cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and digital forensics, and would be able to support state and local entities, with optional services for local governments. Members raised concerns about university mission drift, governance, security, chain of command, procurement authority, gifts and donations, and civil liberties implications of proactive cyber monitoring. Witnesses from UTSA/NSCC and SecurityScorecard testified in support, emphasizing the security of the downtown San Antonio facility, the existing cyber ecosystem there, and the need for a dedicated cyber capability. The bill remained under discussion with no final committee action announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill we previously heard from Representative Slawson relating to the dissolution of a public, public utility
• When those developments go in, we utilize the UTEGCD which Mr.

Bills: SB 612, SB 1855, SB 2568, SB 3058

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• .. something in the state and we also need to be helping these individuals that desperately need employees

Bills: HB93, HB160, HB29, HB29, HB93, HB160

Keywords: HB93, Alabama State Port Authority, State Auditor, property inventory, inventory control, audit exemption, state property, personal property inventory, public authority, port authority, Section 36-16-11, Code of Alabama 1975, administrative oversight, state audit, conforming changes, government property, Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, AMEA, municipal electric authority, board of directors

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCTiV0kVUN0, 2026-06-21T07:17:05+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Roll Call 00:00:59 Approval of Minutes 00:02:32 Special Recognition 00:03:00 Road Fund Report 00:04:10 Contracting Review for FY 23 and FY 24 00:22:38 Utility Work Zone Safety 00:36:26 Proposed Steel Wheel Legislation 01:10:25, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, when as current employees.
• It affects other employees.
• >> Entertain a motion. >> Have a motion. rights to other employees through here. rights to other employees
• But this allows for the employee well.
• </c><00:32:15.039><c> injury</c> benefit under the state employees injury benefit under the state employees

Bills: HB589, HB591, HB609, HB614, SB57, SB280, SB332, HB589, HB591, HB609, HB614, SB57, SB280, SB332, HB627

Keywords: Jefferson County, building regulations, zoning, public health, building commissioner, permits, construction, land use, county tax, lodging tax, Henry County, transient accommodations, hospitality industry, local act, sheriff, sheriff's office, task force, abandoned property, stolen property, unclaimed property

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to free up us funding for more supplies, more employees, more equipment, and ambulances are
• It's going to free up us funding for more supplies, more employees, more equipment, and ambulances are
• It's going to free up us funding for more supplies, more employees, more equipment, and ambulances are
• Retired state employees work as law enforcement officers or assistant district attorneys authorized.

Bills: HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312, HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, judicial system, funding, state budget, Pickens County, local act, vehicle tag fee, registration fee, issuance fee, motor vehicle registration, license plate, replacement tag, transfer tag, renewal fee, county revenue, earmarked funds, ambulance service, emergency medical services, EMS

Transcript Highlights:

• And how many employees—is it unlimited?
• On behalf of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, we are here in support
• On behalf of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, we are here in support
• And so that potential employee, who would have been a great addition to the team, had to move on.
• My name is Cassie Charles on behalf of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Bills: AB49, AB169, AB188, AB284, AB296, AB306, AB356, AB366, AB467, AB499, AB515, AB540, AB542, AB595

Keywords: educational personnel, teacher licensing, reciprocal licensure, provisional teaching, school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, state education standards, health insurance, speech-language pathology, stuttering, rehabilitative services, habilitative services, coverage requirements, health plans, retired public employees, subsidy, Medicare, health reimbursement arrangement, Public Employees' Benefits Program

Transcript Highlights:

• AS YOU ARE AWARE, EVERY EMPLOYEE WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS BEING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EVERY EMPLOYEE IS HELD AT
• A FULL-TIME PAID EMPLOYEE OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
• UTILITIES AUTHORITY.
• THE GAINSEVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES...
• The employee had earphones in which went into the back of her in 2018.

Bills: HB 29, HB 125, HB 145, HB 171, HB 255, HB 50, HB 796, HB 363, HB 116, HB 491, HB 589, HB 1495, HB 368, HB 1285, HB 1905, HB 1360, HB 2002, HB 917, HB 2723, HB 2067, HB 1238, HB 2337, HB 745, HB 1188, HB 1606, HB 2003, HB 2147, HB 2391, HB 2355, HB 2546, HB 2495, HB 2818, HB 2249, HB 1749, HB 3109, HB 3228, HB 3240, HB 1507, HB 658, HB 1748, HB 1851, HB 1922, HB 2001, HB 2798, HB 107, HCR 29, SB 5, SB 262, HB 11, HJR 72, HB 106, HB 18, HB 48, HB 27, 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 1024, HB 1607, HB 252, HB 1716, HB 1562, HB 4116, HB 1866, HB 1741, HB 2103, HB 2637, HB 2884, HB 503, HB 1089, HB 2986, HB 972, HB 502, HB 29, HB 125, HB 145, HB 171, HB 255, HB 50, HB 796, HB 363, HB 116, HB 491, HB 589, HB 1495, HB 368, HB 1285, HB 1905, HB 1360, HB 2002, HB 917, HB 2723, HB 2067, HB 1238, HB 2337, HB 745, HB 1188, HB 1606, HB 2003, HB 2147, HB 2391, HB 2355, HB 2546, HB 2495, HB 2818, HB 2249, HB 1749, HB 3109, HB 3228, HB 3240, HB 1507, HB 658, HB 1748, HB 1851, HB 1922, HB 2001, HB 2798, HB 107, HCR 29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Summary: The Florida House of Representatives conducted legislative business including prayer, pledge, and voting on multiple bills. Key legislation included HB 1105 expanding Florida Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility, HB 443 on charter school regulations (passed 83-23), and HB 1539 on materials harmful to minors (passed 81-29) after extensive debate about book challenges in schools. Other bills addressed education funding, law enforcement benefits, parole guidelines, and various local issues. The Speaker announced budget negotiations with the Senate have stalled, with disagreements over spending levels and tax cuts. The House will not meet this weekend as originally planned. Session adjourned until tomorrow at 10 AM.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public Utilities Commission in support.
• Thank you. derelict or aging utility poles and derelict or aging utility poles and lines<00:12:19.680
• </c><01:10:41.240><c> rates</c><01:10:41.600><c> and</c> electric utility rates and electric utility
• Utilities Commission with Public Utilities Commission with comments.
• utilize utilize um<01:32:43.480><c> looking</c><01:32:43.840><c> at</c><01:32:44.000><c> just</c><01

Bills: SB2960, SB2347, SB2272, SB3137, SB3132, SB2271, SB2804, SB2175, SB2487

Keywords: homeowners insurance, disaster recovery, replacement cost value, state of emergency, policyholder rights, insurance extensions, tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, SB2272, Act 105, home health licensing, home health agency, home health services, Department of Health, DOH, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions and one bill focused on energy reliability, utility infrastructure, insurance, tenant rights, and home health licensing. On the energy side, members heard HCR 203/HR 193 on a status update for the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, HCR 204/HR 194 on a comprehensive PUC analysis of cost reduction and risk, and HCR 202/HR 192 creating a legislative task force on future energy pathways. Testimony on the energy measures was generally supportive from the PUC, DCCA’s Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with OHA urging that equity, native Hawaiian impacts, and public trust resources be considered alongside cost savings. The committee also heard HCR 125/HR 117 on coordinating with utilities to address aging utility poles and lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk corridors; Hawaiian Electric supported the measure, Hawaiian Telcom and Charter Spectrum said much of the work is already underway and questioned whether the resolution was necessary, and committee questioning focused on existing double-pole tracking and the role of DOT and the PUC. The committee then took up HCR 137/HR 129 on timely reimbursement of health care claims under the clean claims statute. The DCCA Insurance Division and the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the measure as drafted, saying it could be read to require payment beyond policy limits and could raise premiums or reduce market participation. United Policyholders supported the measure, arguing it would simply give policyholders more time to collect benefits they already purchased, and clarified that it was not intended to increase coverage beyond policy limits. The committee later amended the resolution to direct the DCCA Insurance Division to prioritize investigation and enforcement of clean claims complaints. In the decision meeting, the committee recommended and adopted passage of HCR 203/HR 193 as is, HCR 204/HR 194 with an amendment removing the eighth whereas clause, HCR 202/HR 192 with an amendment adding a committee representative to the task force, HCR 125/HR 117 as is, and HCR 137/HR 129 with amendments. The committee also heard SB 2960 SC1 on property insurance, which would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to document replacement-cost claims. The Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed it, warning it could force coverage beyond policy limits and increase premiums, while United Policyholders supported it and said it would help disaster survivors recover benefits they already paid for; members questioned whether similar laws in other states had caused premium spikes and clarified that the bill was not intended to exceed policy limits. The committee also heard SB 2347 SD1 on multilingual tenant-rights notices, with OHA, Hawaii Appleseed, and others supporting the bill but urging restoration of language requiring landlords to directly provide the notice at lease signing. Finally, SB 2272 SD1 HD1 on home health licensing drew support from the Department of Health, SHPDA, and the Health Care Association of Hawaii, with the association requesting an effective date amendment; testimony explained that the bill would allow state licensing compliance to be demonstrated through CMS-approved accreditation or certification surveys, potentially reducing duplication and freeing state resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I was looking at this, I was curious about if a county issues bonds utilizing the revenue stream from
• As I was looking at this, I was curious about if a county issues bonds utilizing the revenue stream from
• Seamus Petrie with the Washington Public Employees Association, representing the frontline folks, the
• Like Matt said, Pacific Corp is also a centrally assessed state utility by the Department of Revenue,
• Okay, so Representative Jacobsen, centrally assessed utilities will cross multiple county lines, and

Bills: HB1960, HB2194, HB2089

Keywords: HB1960, renewable energy, clean energy, solar, wind, battery storage, energy storage, excise tax, property tax exemption, local investment, county revenue sharing, local taxing districts, school districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, model ordinance, siting, permitting, tribal consultation, tribal capacity grants

Summary: House Finance held hearings on three bills. HB 2194 would allow a county and a city within that county to both impose the cultural access sales and use tax at the same time, with the county providing a credit for the city tax. The sponsor said the bill would fix an unfair limitation and expand support for arts, science, and cultural programs. Olympia and Thurston County representatives testified in support, citing grants to local cultural organizations, free programming, and school access. A committee member asked about whether concurrent taxes could affect county bond repayment, and the testifier said he would follow up. No vote was taken. HB 2089 would remove the current requirement that a financial institution be located in 10 or more states in order to lose a B&O tax deduction on interest from certain mortgage-related loans, with the resulting revenue directed to the wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account. Staff estimated the bill would raise significant revenue and affect about 450 taxpayers. The sponsor said the bill restores wildfire funding cut in the prior session by narrowing a tax preference that he said had primarily benefited large institutions rather than community banks. The Department of Natural Resources and public employees representing wildfire workers supported the bill as a way to restore wildfire preparedness funding. The Washington Bankers Association and community bankers opposed the bill as drafted, saying it would harm community banks and that they were working on revised language; they also said credit unions are not subject to B&O tax. No vote was taken. The committee then heard a proposed third substitute for HB 1960, a complex bill that would exempt certain renewable energy facility personal property and battery storage systems from property tax and replace that tax with a state and local excise tax based on generating or storage capacity. The bill would also create a local investment distribution account, make tribal capacity grants permanent, and set conditions for counties to receive grant funds tied to siting and consultation requirements. The sponsor said the goal is to levelize taxes over the life of wind, solar, and storage projects so local communities are not left with a shifting tax burden, and described the measure as a compromise. County officials, assessors, treasurers, the Department of Revenue, and conservation groups generally supported the approach but asked for clearer definitions, payment timing, and rate adjustments. Utilities and some renewable energy developers were in respectful opposition or signed in as con, saying the rates may be too high, the bill may not be workable for centrally assessed utilities, and some provisions need further refinement. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned.

Bills: SB13, SB278, SB13

Keywords: education, national anthem, patriotism, school policy, constitutional amendment, SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education

Bills: HF51, HF1161, HF2201, HF2786, HF1053

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• the penalty on people who conspire to trespass or damage critical infrastructure such as pipelines, utility
• the penalty on people who conspire to trespass or damage critical infrastructure such as pipelines, utility
• 00:04:42.600><c> such</c><00:04:42.800><c> as</c><00:04:43.000><c> pipelines</c><00:04:43.840><c> utility
• </c> infrastructure such as pipelines utility infrastructure such as pipelines utility lines<00:04:45.199
• The law since 2002 to trespass on property containing critical public service facilities, utilities,

Bills: HF7

Keywords: public safety, criminal justice, sentencing guidelines, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, public sentencing database, felony dismissals, prosecutor reporting, bail notice, bond posting, law enforcement data, arrest data, public records, sex trafficking, human trafficking, mandatory minimum sentence, peace officer assault, police assault, fleeing police, vehicular flight, stolen motor vehicle

Bills: HB179, HB354, SB57, SB137, HB431, HB179, HB354, SB57, SB137, HB431

Keywords: campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer chaplain, public schools, public K-12 education, public charter schools, local control, teacher support, student support services, religious volunteer, faith-based support, church-state separation, background check, sex offender registry, school volunteer, education policy, district attorney, compensation, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• and renewal processes for employee organizations.
• For public safety employee organizations, they may be certified or recertified by a majority of employees
• by a majority vote of the employees in the bargaining unit.
• Employees, their unions should have protections.
• , utility workers, and other public workers.

Bills: S0332, S0464, S0576, S0830, S0964, S0984, S1096, S1296, S1298, S1612, S1656

Keywords: public records, public meetings, property rights, transcripts, settlement negotiations, Veterans Day, K-12 schools, holiday observance, education, Florida statutes, cybersecurity, local government, grant program, data-sharing, Florida Digital Service, ransomware protection, county administrators, city managers, exemption, privacy

Summary: The committee first heard a committee substitute for SB 332, which creates a narrow public meetings and public records exemption for certain pre-suit settlement communications in Bert Harris claims involving local governments and private property rights. The sponsor said the change is intended to allow confidential legal strategy and negotiation during the 90-day pre-suit period while keeping settlements and outcomes public. The strike-all amendment was adopted, supportive testimony was waived in, and the bill was reported favorably. Members then approved several other measures, including SB 464 requiring K-12 schools to formally observe Veterans Day as a school holiday; SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention, which was amended to add a statement of important state interest and reported favorably after testimony from firefighters both supporting the bill and urging a longer benefit window; SB 576 on local government cybersecurity, which was amended to route the program through the Florida Digital Service and strengthen state-local coordination; SB 964 clarifying how certain gift and honoraria disclosures are filed with the Commission on Ethics; SB 1612 requiring local governments to accept electronic payments with a delayed effective date; SB 830 creating public records exemptions for certain local government administrators and their families; SB 1096 clarifying the filing deadline for employment discrimination complaints; and SB 1656 designating the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship. All were reported favorably. The committee also considered a slate of appointments, including a separate vote on Jeffrey Aaron to the Public Employees Relations Commission, which was recommended favorably after Senator Polsky objected to the appointment and cited concerns about political ties and prior work. The remaining appointees on tabs 12 through 30 were also recommended favorably. After a recess, the committee took up SB 1296 on the Public Employees Relations Commission, as substituted by a committee PCS. The PCS would change union certification and recertification rules, require stronger showing-of-interest and voting thresholds, limit paid union leave in some cases, require equal access to employer communication spaces, and speed up impasse procedures for state-funded salary increases. The bill drew extensive testimony, with supporters arguing it would improve accountability, transparency, and taxpayer fairness, and opponents—many of them teachers, bus drivers, and other public employees—saying it would weaken collective bargaining, burden workers, and function as union busting. Members raised constitutional concerns about the single-subject rule and collective bargaining protections, and debate was ongoing at the end of the transcript.

Bills: SB57, SB155, HB39, HB77, HB104, SB57, SB155, HB39, HB77, HB104

Keywords: property, acknowledgment, conveyance, business entities, limited liability companies, state employees, payroll deduction, salary deduction, comptroller, membership association, membership dues, voluntary contributions, insurance premiums, financial instruments, deferred compensation, state payroll, employee benefits, association dues, withholding, Alabama Code 36-1-4.3

Transcript Highlights:

• Within these categories, the data must show utilization data, out-of-network utilization, in-network
• I've remained paneled with insurance because the population I work with needs to be able to utilize their
• I've remained paneled with insurance because the population I work with needs to be able to utilize their
• monitoring or modifying drug therapy in accordance with written guidelines, participating in drug utilization
• This bill is a solution that hopes to utilize the best medication experts to provide more care in Washington

Bills: SB6226, SB6305, SB5924, SB5990, SB5185, SB5845, SB6071, SB6258

Keywords: SB 6226, Washington, audiology, audiologist, hearing aid specialist, speech-language pathologist, telehealth, teleaudiology, clinical autonomy, clinical judgment, in-person care, remote care, Board of Hearing and Speech, hearing instruments, hearing aids, dispensing hearing aids, standards of care, professional licensure, health professions regulation, patient-centered care

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee met on January 30 and first moved through executive session on five bills. The committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced Senate Bills 5999, 5185, 5845, 6071, and 6258 to the Rules Committee, all by voice vote and subject to signatures. SB 5999 would let smaller rural counties appoint an APRN or PA as an acting local health officer; SB 5185 creates a pilot pathway for international medical graduates toward physician licensure; SB 5845 revises timely payment rules for health carriers; SB 6071 standardizes overpayment recovery timelines; and SB 6258 creates a non-disciplinary pathway for relinquishing certain medical licenses. Several sponsors noted that SBs 5845 and 6071 were still being worked on with stakeholders. The committee then held a hearing on SB 6226, which would protect the clinical autonomy of audiologists and require the Board of Hearing and Speech to apply hearing-instrument rules consistently across care modalities, including telehealth. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with witnesses emphasizing teleaudiology’s role in expanding access, especially for rural residents, older adults, and people with mobility challenges. One association witness supported the bill’s goals but warned it could be read too broadly and affect other regulatory standards. The hearing closed with 54 people signed in pro, none opposed, and two other. Next, the committee heard SB 6305, the Truth in Mental Health Coverage Act, which would require carriers to submit standardized annual data to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner on behavioral health coverage, access, reimbursement, utilization, and network participation, with public posting in raw files and dashboards. Supporters said the bill would make parity and access problems visible and help consumers compare plans; the OIC said it supported the transparency approach and was already engaged in parity oversight. Opponents argued the bill was premature given implementation of recent parity legislation and could add burdens without addressing workforce or network adequacy. The hearing closed with 396 signed in pro, two con, and zero other. Finally, the committee heard SB 5924, a proposed substitute expanding pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and limited diagnostic authority for certain drugs and conditions, consistent with a Department of Health sunrise review. Supporters from pharmacy, health care, retail, and rural access perspectives said it would reduce administrative barriers, improve access in underserved areas, and better use pharmacists’ training; some cited examples such as immunizations, contraception, opioid use disorder treatment, and minor illnesses. The Washington State Medical Association opposed the bill, saying it moved away from collaborative practice and needed more time to resolve concerns about coordination, pediatrics, and complex patients. A few testifiers raised objections to psychiatric prescribing or specific drugs, while others asked about reporting back to primary care. The hearing closed with 279 signed in pro, six con, and four other, and the committee adjourned after concluding its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any employees here? I'm sorry, sir. We don't have any employees here. Thank you.
• How many instances have state or federal employees been caught in smuggling? Good morning, sir.
• Where the cartels will actively utilize women to coerce or corrupt Border Patrol agents, Customs, and
• There will also be a mandatory integration into cybersecurity for state employees.

Bills: SB659, SB1585, SB2201, SB2514, SB2569

Keywords: smuggling, human trafficking, criminal penalties, felony offenses, law enforcement, foreign adversary, foreign-owned company, scrutinized company, China, national security, cybersecurity, information technology, communications technology, ICT, critical infrastructure, state contracts, government procurement, vendor certification, debarment, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides that school employees are subject to existing requirements pertaining to mandatory reporters
• And so this is just trying to help our school employees, teachers, any coaches, everybody who works in

Bills: HB256, HB272, HB350, HB363, HB386, HB434, HB445, HB690

Keywords: mandatory reporting, school employees, child protection, training requirements, Department of Children and Family Services, education, reading program, student eligibility, literacy, school performance, R.E.A.D. program, book distribution, École Pointe-au-Chien, French immersion, public school, Terrebonne Parish, grade levels, independent school, virtual school, extracurricular activities