Transcript Highlights:

• And according to University of Washington research, that rate was as high as 55% among low- and moderate-income
• I'm Emily Myers with UAW Region 6, representing 15,000 higher education and research employees in Washington
• It supports startups, research institutions, and companies developing AI for broad public benefit.
• The SPARC Act also prioritizes ethical AI development, statewide impact, and support for small businesses

Bills: HB2521, HB2249, HB1796

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• 11% of all households in Washington were food insecure, and according to University of Washington research
• I'm Emily Myers with UAW Region 6, representing 15,000 higher education and research employees in Washington
• It supports startups, research institutions, and companies developing AI for broad public benefit.
• The SPARC Act also prioritizes ethical AI development, statewide impact, and support for small businesses

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearm background check fees. Staff explained that the bill would remove the $18 fee cap and allow Washington State Patrol to set fees based on actual program costs, which could be about $33 to $35 per check. Supporters said the change was needed to keep the background check system operating and avoid delays and layoffs; opponents argued it would burden lawful gun owners and amount to an unconstitutional tax or barrier to a constitutional right. No vote was taken in the hearing. Members then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would direct the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, address interpreter and translator shortages, and require agency implementation reporting. Testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent access for limited-English-proficient residents and the benefits for schools, families, and state services. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery fund to provide partial advance payments to low-wage workers with meritorious unpaid wage claims and adjust wage penalty provisions. Employers, labor advocates, and legal services representatives largely supported the bill as a bipartisan, worker-protection measure funded by penalties rather than the general fund. The committee next took up Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax incentives, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new state and local renewable energy excise tax structure and related grant programs for local governments and tribes. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the bill’s goal of stabilizing tax treatment for renewable projects, though several witnesses said they wanted amendments to address rates, timing, and late-stage project impacts. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the timing and duration of existing tax preferences; supporters said it would provide certainty for emerging sustainable aviation fuel projects, while one refinery sought clarification and a broader county threshold. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, directing the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and develop a statewide food security strategy. Agricultural groups, grocers, anti-hunger advocates, and farmers supported the bill as a coordination effort to improve food access, affordability, and supply chain resilience. The committee then heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903, which would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce; supporters said it would address growing unmet need and complement existing utility programs, while opponents said it did not address the root causes of rising energy costs. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities (data centers), both of which drew mixed testimony centered on balancing emissions, ratepayer impacts, reliability, and environmental or tribal concerns. No final votes were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• to work with—so where I'm at now, as I've mentioned, with Representative Arruza, is doing my own research
• to work with, so where I'm at now, as I've mentioned, with Representative Arruza, is doing my own research
• And then, doing the research, I found that the state of Colorado, when this all started, was the first
• That either makes me a terrible business person or a fairly transparent ethical person.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Mental Health met in executive session and advanced several bills. HB 1881 was voted do pass without discussion. HB 3010 was amended with a committee substitute that removed a subsection allowing payers to remove “gold carding” based on procedure volume changes, then passed 10-0. HB 2355, the “Food is Medicine” bill, received a committee amendment to align terminology with other partnerships and then passed 11-0. HB 1855, dealing with alpha-gal reporting, was substantially revised: the substitute narrowed the bill to alpha-gal, removed Lyme disease, changed a department duty from mandatory to discretionary in one section, and delayed reporting implementation; it then passed 14-0 after members discussed the need for better disease tracking and the department’s workload. The committee then heard testimony on HB 2034, which would require insurance coverage for activity-based prostheses, orthotics, and high-performance or mobility-supportive wheelchairs. Sponsor Representative Carolyn Caton said the bill is intended to cover devices that help people live, exercise, and avoid secondary health problems, while preserving prior authorization and medical-necessity review. Supporters included clinicians, parents, amputees, and athletes who described being denied running blades, water-safe prostheses, or durable wheelchairs and said the devices are essential for health, independence, mental well-being, and participation in school, work, and sports. Several witnesses said the bill would reduce long-term costs and reliance on charity. Opponents, including the Missouri Insurance Coalition and America’s Health Insurance Plans, argued the bill is an expansion of coverage with unclear definitions and potentially significant costs, especially for Medicaid and other state-regulated plans. They cited the fiscal note, warned about possible federal ACA rule changes that could shift costs to states, and questioned whether the bill’s language on Medicare supplemental coverage and “perceived disability” was workable or preempted. Committee members pressed both sides on cost savings, definitions of “normal” activity, and whether the bill could be narrowed or otherwise revised, and several said they were willing to keep working on the issue. The hearing on HB 2034 was left open and then recessed after testimony, with no vote taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• increased financial aid for students, investments in various areas such as workforce development, cancer research
• I was just holding up this bill book, and if you don't think that this bill was negotiated in research
• scientific integrity, financial accountability, and public benefit while being fiscally, medically, and ethically
• version of SB 2308 positions Texas as a national leader in responsible, evidence-based ibogaine research

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several conference committee matters and resolutions. It granted the House request for a conference committee on House Bill 46 and adopted a conference report on Senate Bill 37, which was described as higher education governance reform, including stronger board authority, changes to faculty senates, general education requirements, and a new ombudsman office. Senators also adopted a large package of resolutions and HCRs by voice vote. A major focus was Senate Bill 12, the “Parental Bill of Rights,” whose conference report was adopted after extended questioning. The bill was described as giving parents more access to school materials and grievance procedures, requiring parental consent for student clubs, and restricting school district employees from assisting with social transitioning or related gender-identity instruction. Senators raised concerns about effects on students already socially transitioned and on parental rights in medical or psychological decisions; the author said the House language was retained in key areas and that districts would need policies and parent notification. The report passed 20-11. The Senate then adopted a resolution allowing the conference committee on Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, to go outside the bounds, and later adopted the budget conference report. Senators highlighted major funding for public education, property tax relief, public safety, health and human services, child care, water and transportation infrastructure, and the Texas Energy Fund. The budget discussion also covered higher education, mental health facilities, community attendant wages, rural hospitals, DFPS case management, child care assistance, and a study rider on TRS. The report passed unanimously, 30-0. Finally, the Senate suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 8 and adopted its conference report. The bill requires counties with jails or jail contracts to participate in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program, with sheriffs choosing among available models and counties receiving tiered grants to help cover costs. Supporters framed it as a public safety measure targeting criminal illegal aliens, while opponents questioned whether it would divert local resources and increase fear in immigrant communities. The report was adopted after debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• just things that bring us together in our agricultural communities and these products and their work ethic

Summary: The Senate opened by approving the previous day’s journal, receiving messages from the House, and referring newly introduced Senate Bill 6353 to the Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs, and Elections. The chamber then moved to resolutions. Senate Resolution 8687, commemorating the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and recognizing Japanese American veterans, incarcerees, and civil rights activists, was presented and adopted. Several senators spoke in support, describing the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans as a grave civil rights injustice and emphasizing remembrance, healing, and the need to prevent similar abuses in the future. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 8688 honoring Washington’s dairy farms and dairy workers. Senators highlighted the industry’s economic importance, family farm traditions, and the hard work involved in dairy production, with some members sharing personal family and farming experiences. After adoption, the Senate welcomed representatives of the Washington State Dairy Council, Washington State Dairy Women’s Organization, and Dairy Ambassadors Apprentices to the gallery. The Senate then adjourned without objection until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary of State, penalties of $10,000 to $200,000 for willful or repeated violations, and the Ethics

Bills: HB358, HB358

Keywords: juvenile justice, detention, age of majority, jurisdiction, child welfare, foreign influence, political activity, transparency, registration, civil penalties, hostile foreign principals, state ethics, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately for each of us, if we want to loosen the ethics requirements that the House passed.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nobody questioned our ethics or anything about where we place signs, but it did come up in our internal

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee resumed discussion of a campaign finance reporting bill and related amendments, focusing on whether the new reporting system should require beginning and ending fund balances for candidate committees and other entities. Representative Koppelman said he supported the modernization and software improvements, such as auto-populating donor information and aggregating contributions, but opposed making running balances mandatory because he viewed them as unnecessary for reporting and potentially burdensome. He also raised questions about language on contributions and expenditures, including whether certain uses of property or deposits were being classified correctly. Secretary of State Mike Lau responded that the questioned language on pages 5 and 6 was existing law, but said the beginning and ending fund balance on page 13 was important to the new system because it would allow amended reports to populate correctly across years. He said removing that requirement would effectively create two separate systems, and that the vendor could implement changes only if required by law. Members discussed whether the balance information could be hidden from the public, whether a zero-start approach would work, and whether an opt-in checkbox could avoid requiring all filers to use the same format. The committee did not take a final vote. Instead, the chair said the bill would go back to the subcommittee, with Representative Steiner and the Secretary of State’s office to continue working on the issue, and Representative Koppelman included in further discussions. The chair indicated the group would meet again later in the week to try to move the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Ethics and Elections will now come to order. Terrence, please call the roll.

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and temporarily postponed Senator Yarborough’s bill and Senate Bill 1170 at the sponsor’s request. The committee first considered Senate Bill 982 by Senator Bernard, which was amended to remove language the sponsor said had been declared unconstitutional in 2016. As amended, the bill addresses qualifying fee payment issues, allows qualifying fees to be paid by properly executed checks or debit cards linked to a candidate campaign account, creates a private right of action for qualifying challenges limited to candidates, and addresses campaign expenditures by debit card. Mark Heron testified in support, saying the bill would clarify recent qualifying disputes. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported SB 982 favorably. The committee then took up Senate Joint Resolution 536, a proposed constitutional amendment to impose legislative term limits of eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate, with carve-outs for current officeholders and redistricting. An amendment to change the limits to 12 years in each chamber failed on a tie vote. Public testimony was mixed but largely opposed, with speakers from county and small-county groups arguing the proposal was a one-size-fits-all statewide mandate that would override local choice and reduce institutional knowledge. Several members debated whether the eight-year limit was the right number, with some supporting term limits in principle but questioning a lifetime ban on returning to office. The resolution was ultimately reported favorably. The committee also considered Senate Joint Resolution 802, which would place on the 2026 ballot an eight-year term limit for county commissioners and school board members, with school board limits applied retroactively and county commissioner limits prospectively. An amendment to change the limit to 12 years failed. The Florida Association of Counties, a county commissioner, and representatives of the Small County Coalition testified against the measure, arguing that counties should retain local control through county charters and local referenda. Some senators supported the concept of term limits but raised concerns about imposing a uniform statewide rule on counties and school boards. After debate, the joint resolution was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators who had missed votes were allowed to register their positions on SB 982 and SJR 536, and the committee moved to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• Crossbows do not replace skill or ethical hunting.
• So, it's good to know that that wasn't an issue that you found in your study and your research.
• So, it's good to know that that wasn't an issue that you found in your study and your research.
• your study an issue that you found in your study and<01:31:55.040><c> your</c><01:31:55.280><c> research
• </c> and your research. and your research.

Bills: HF624

Keywords: HF624, Minnesota fishing law, game and fish, walleye stamp, walleye stamp validation, angling, angler, fishing lines, two lines, four lines, open water fishing, ice fishing, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, fishing regulations, fish harvest, conservation, Minnesota Statutes 97C.315, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• oversight is weak, it not only risks fraud, waste, and abuse, it undermines the credibility of the many ethical
• Kentucky needs a better peer support framework that is reliable, ethical, effective, and sustainable
• Kentucky needs a better peer support framework that is reliable, ethical, effective, and sustainable

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You are supposed to look past that color and serve us humbly, ethically, and morally. Right.
• Put on your gloves and fight right, ethically and morally. Okay? Leave us alone.
• understand that previous people have spoken before and they don't have the right conception, but there's ethical

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know those, and it was a great life, but it was definitely—you learned the work ethic and just how
• I know those, and it was a great life, but it was definitely—you learned the work ethic and just how
• back when I did it, I know those, and it was a great life, but it was definitely—you learned the work ethic

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: SB2876, SB3253, SB2125, SB2781, HB549, HB1768, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB2140, SB2544, SB2069, SB2697, SB874, SB2043, SB888, SB2721, HB2152, HB1334, HB2385, HB1643, HB2314, HB1688, HB1692, SB2568, SB2983, SB2108, SB3136, HB1959, SB3156, HB1511, HB1753, HB1824, HB2137, HB1810, HB2279, HB2309, HB1548, HB2078, HB2293, SB3262, SB2169, SB2607, SB2964, SB3255, HB2576, HB1481, HB1864, HB1550, SB2818, SB3067, SB2061, HB1728, HB1881, HB2361, HB2395, HB1823, SB2050, SB2397, SB2175, SB2852, SB847, SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2657, relating to Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research.
• Hussey as co-chairs, managers Amato and Morikawa. and related dementia research and related dementia
• research for<00:32:23.920><c> UH</c><00:32:24.320><c> Johnson</c> for UH Johnson for UH Johnson countries

Bills: SB2876, SB3253, SB2125, SB2781, HB549, HB1768, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB2140, SB2544, SB2069, SB2697, SB874, SB2043, SB888, SB2721, HB2152, HB1334, HB2385, HB1643, HB2314, HB1688, HB1692, SB2568, SB2983, SB2108, SB3136, HB1959, SB3156, HB1511, HB1753, HB1824, HB2137, HB1810, HB2279, HB2309, HB1548, HB2078, HB2293, SB3262, SB2169, SB2607, SB2964, SB3255, HB2576, HB1481, HB1864, HB1550, SB2818, SB3067, SB2061, HB1728, HB1881, HB2361, HB2395, HB1823, SB2050, SB2397, SB2175, SB2852, SB847, SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing

Bills: SB2876, SB3253, SB2125, SB2781, HB549, HB1768, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB2140, SB2544, SB2069, SB2697, SB874, SB2043, SB888, SB2721, HB2152, HB1334, HB2385, HB1643, HB2314, HB1688, HB1692, SB2568, SB2983, SB2108, SB3136, HB1959, SB3156, HB1511, HB1753, HB1824, HB2137, HB1810, HB2279, HB2309, HB1548, HB2078, HB2293, SB3262, SB2169, SB2607, SB2964, SB3255, HB2576, HB1481, HB1864, HB1550, SB2818, SB3067, SB2061, HB1728, HB1881, HB2361, HB2395, HB1823, SB2050, SB2397, SB2175, SB2852, SB847, SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing

Bills: SB2876, SB3253, SB2125, SB2781, HB549, HB1768, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB2140, SB2544, SB2069, SB2697, SB874, SB2043, SB888, SB2721, HB2152, HB1334, HB2385, HB1643, HB2314, HB1688, HB1692, SB2568, SB2983, SB2108, SB3136, HB1959, SB3156, HB1511, HB1753, HB1824, HB2137, HB1810, HB2279, HB2309, HB1548, HB2078, HB2293, SB3262, SB2169, SB2607, SB2964, SB3255, HB2576, HB1481, HB1864, HB1550, SB2818, SB3067, SB2061, HB1728, HB1881, HB2361, HB2395, HB1823, SB2050, SB2397, SB2175, SB2852, SB847, SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing

Bills: SB2876, SB3253, SB2125, SB2781, HB549, HB1768, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB2140, SB2544, SB2069, SB2697, SB874, SB2043, SB888, SB2721, HB2152, HB1334, HB2385, HB1643, HB2314, HB1688, HB1692, SB2568, SB2983, SB2108, SB3136, HB1959, SB3156, HB1511, HB1753, HB1824, HB2137, HB1810, HB2279, HB2309, HB1548, HB2078, HB2293, SB3262, SB2169, SB2607, SB2964, SB3255, HB2576, HB1481, HB1864, HB1550, SB2818, SB3067, SB2061, HB1728, HB1881, HB2361, HB2395, HB1823, SB2050, SB2397, SB2175, SB2852, SB847, SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing

Bills: SB2876, SB3253, SB2125, SB2781, HB549, HB1768, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB2140, SB2544, SB2069, SB2697, SB874, SB2043, SB888, SB2721, HB2152, HB1334, HB2385, HB1643, HB2314, HB1688, HB1692, SB2568, SB2983, SB2108, SB3136, HB1959, SB3156, HB1511, HB1753, HB1824, HB2137, HB1810, HB2279, HB2309, HB1548, HB2078, HB2293, SB3262, SB2169, SB2607, SB2964, SB3255, HB2576, HB1481, HB1864, HB1550, SB2818, SB3067, SB2061, HB1728, HB1881, HB2361, HB2395, HB1823, SB2050, SB2397, SB2175, SB2852, SB847, SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing

Bills: SB2876, SB3253, SB2125, SB2781, HB549, HB1768, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB2140, SB2544, SB2069, SB2697, SB874, SB2043, SB888, SB2721, HB2152, HB1334, HB2385, HB1643, HB2314, HB1688, HB1692, SB2568, SB2983, SB2108, SB3136, HB1959, SB3156, HB1511, HB1753, HB1824, HB2137, HB1810, HB2279, HB2309, HB1548, HB2078, HB2293, SB3262, SB2169, SB2607, SB2964, SB3255, HB2576, HB1481, HB1864, HB1550, SB2818, SB3067, SB2061, HB1728, HB1881, HB2361, HB2395, HB1823, SB2050, SB2397, SB2175, SB2852, SB847, SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing