Transcript Highlights:

• The chair will now be selected from among the other committee members rather than being the ex officio
• committee members rather than<00:17:19.520><c> being</c><00:17:20.079><c> the</c><00:17:20.400><c> ex
• official</c><00:17:21.439><c> chairs</c><00:17:21.760><c> of</c><00:17:21.919><c> the</c> than being the ex
• official chairs of the than being the ex official chairs of the two<00:17:22.720><c> government</c><

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in section two I want to take this and make it from the external part, which is the posting on the
• The second part is what we put on the public-facing website.
• And the third part would be the final report.
• And the third part would facing website.
• </c> school educators, teachers, and ex school educators, teachers, and ex expand<00:57:22.559><c> this

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was part of the Grant award.
• Will we still be able to use that money as part of our rule Renaissance Bill if it passes?
• So I just and it's part of workforce development.
• But part of it has to do with getting workforce into the rural communities. We've tried.
• Under that first, the first part of the workload funding. You're recognized. >> Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hoffman,<00:11:31.519><c> ex</c><00:11:31.839><c> explain</c><00:11:32.720><c> what</c><00:11:33.040>
• what was done in the Hoffman, ex explain what was done in the conference<00:11:34.079><c> committee.
• of of those uh in good faith on the part of of those those<00:17:51.120><c> other</c><00:17:51.360><
• I was the lead on the elections part of the bill. So, sorry. I just wanted to be short, Mr.
• </c><00:29:25.279><c> I</c> elections part of the bill. So, sorry. I elections part of the bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we've heard this bill last year, and for the most part, maybe it's a little bit less of a bill
• Is that up to the committee to decide, or could that be part of this?
• It seems like they should be part... ...or any other railroad, it seems like they should be part of the
• Yeah, I think that's a really great point and a great opportunity to think about with those ex officio
• Our current freight and rail ports division does not have a mandate for mode shift; that is not part

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard briefings and public testimony on four bills. HB 1823, a Transportation Improvement Board cleanup bill, would remove obsolete references, update terms, and repeal outdated sections; a proposed substitute would restore remaining bond authority that the original bill would have inadvertently removed. The sponsor and TIB supported the technical corrections, describing the bill as good-government cleanup, and there were no questions or opposition. HB 2092 would create a Washington State Amtrak Cascades Passenger Rail Advisory Committee to provide regular user feedback to WSDOT; the bill was presented with a fiscal note of about $82,000 this biennium and $156,000 ongoing for staffing. The prime sponsor and multiple advocates supported the concept, while committee members and witnesses raised possible amendments to broaden membership, include disability representation, and possibly add rail industry and statewide passenger rail interests. HB 2111 would allow the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project toll facility bond retirement account to retain its share of interest earnings instead of sending them to the general fund. The sponsor, the Treasurer’s Office, and a business community witness said the change would keep dedicated toll-related revenue with the project and avoid accounting and tax concerns; the bill was described as a technical fix with fiscal impact expected to benefit the project account. HB 2114 would require the Department of Licensing to waive replacement plate fees for defective plates within two years of issuance and allow waivers between two and five years in some cases. The sponsor said the bill responds to widespread plate delamination, especially in eastern Washington, and county auditors and subagents testified in support as a customer-service measure, though they noted the fiscal note seemed high relative to the small number of replacements estimated and asked for clearer definitions and implementation guidance. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chair closed public hearings on HB 1823, HB 2092, and HB 2111 after testimony, and temporarily closed HB 2114 to allow a later opportunity for a witness who had audio issues to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• We talk about ex post facto law.
• precedent to set, and nobody, no matter if you're the majority or the minority, should be OK with an ex

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, what are the protections to be able to ensure that those most painful parts of their lives aren't
• So, In parts of the bill, it talks about, I think, it goes further down there on page two, on storage
• and you know, what kind of what they're spending, what you know, how they're doing this but it is part
• Are we gonna want to be able to give a video to someone's potential ex-husband or ex-wife that they can
• But my main goal is to make sure housing is part of the conversations going forward.

Bills: SB1290, SB1332, SB1369, SB1379, SB1381, SB1386, SB1390, SB1428, SB1584, SB1696, SB175, SB1778, SB1794, SB1806, SB1836, SB201

Keywords: 2-1-1 services, revolving fund, Department of Human Services, crisis pregnancy, abortion, legal funding, housing, infrastructure, water projects, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, economic development, zero-interest loans, clawback provision, local contractors, mental health, crisis services, 988 Lifeline, suicide prevention, behavioral health, human trafficking

Transcript Highlights:

• Ex-officio. Hart. Here. Hillman. A quorum is present, Chair Andrade.
• Ex-officio Hartleman? Yes. Congratulations. Senator Trabolsi showed the bill reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, one county in the kind of the northeast part of what I'll call the northeast part of the state, maybe
• And again, I believe it's part of the packet that we provided in terms of all of the information that
• We may or may not be part of all of that vision.
• Ravalli, it looks like these are just basically ex officio members of the board.
• Do we have any ex officio members on, for instance, the Wyoming Tourism Board?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You brought up the part about parental control with these—I think overseeing the industry, the companies
• They’re part of modern commerce.
• So that scares me into sending emails, and it’s such an important part of my business.
• So that scares me into sending emails, and it's such an important part of my business.
• He proposed to put a similar ...cancer,” as ex-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 5976 would revise the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by narrowing liability for misleading email subject lines and changing damages and Consumer Protection Act claims. Business, retail, hospitality, and e-commerce witnesses supported the bill, saying recent litigation has created uncertainty and exposed routine marketing emails to excessive penalties. Consumer advocates and the Washington State Association for Justice opposed it, arguing the current law protects consumers from deceptive marketing and that the bill would weaken enforcement and class actions. SB 6111 would require age verification and parental consent for minors creating social media accounts, restrict providers’ use of minors’ data, and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General and a limited private right of action. The sponsor and several parents, medical professionals, and advocacy groups supported the bill as a response to social media harms, including addiction, depression, cyberbullying, eating disorders, and exposure to harmful content. Technology and civil liberties witnesses opposed it, warning about privacy, data security, constitutional concerns, and the difficulty of implementing reliable parental consent and age verification. The committee also heard SB 6250, which would raise the maximum small loan amount from $700 to $1,200 and index it to inflation. The sponsor and a lender representative said the change would update an outdated limit and preserve existing consumer protections. Opponents, including legal aid, poverty, housing, labor, AARP, and community advocates, argued the higher cap would increase debt burdens and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. Staff also briefed SB 6257, which would allow illness-related tolling for trainee real estate appraiser licensing timelines, and SB 6289, which would direct Commerce to create a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan; SB 6289 drew supportive testimony from Commerce, ports, economic development groups, and business interests. The committee also held confirmation hearings for several Gambling Commission and Lottery appointees, who described their backgrounds and service, but no votes or final actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We speak in strong support of House Bill 1020, HD1, and just want to reiterate this part of an important
• <00:04:40.440><c> to</c><00:04:40.680><c> reiterate</c><00:04:41.280><c> this</c><00:04:41.600><c> part
• </c><00:04:41.800><c> of</c> and just want to reiterate this part of and just want to reiterate this
• part of a<00:04:42.800><c> important</c><00:04:43.400><c> Administration</c><00:04:44.280><c> package
• </c> Senator Deco is ex Senator Deco is ex Senator<00:11:00.519><c> rhs</c><00:11:01.519><c> Senator<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several energy- and environment-related measures. HB 242 HD1 on electric vehicle batteries drew support from the Department of Health, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, SERFCO, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation; the Energy Office suggested a broader working group covering all lithium-ion batteries, and members later adopted amendments including a date change and revised timing language. HB 751 HD2 on statewide organic waste reduction and diversion received mixed testimony, with the Department of Health opposing it over concerns about compostable food packaging and incomplete testing data; the committee nonetheless moved the bill forward with amendments removing compostable food packaging from the definition of organic waste and changing the effective date to July 1, 2050. The committees also considered HB 1020 HD1 on a statewide program to characterize carbon sequestration potential and underground water resources. The Hawaiʻi State Energy Office and Ulupono supported the measure as part of a broader geothermal and energy security effort, while members raised concerns about overlapping roles between agencies and the need for a single coordinated voice. The committee ultimately amended the bill to place DBEDT in charge, with technical changes, and passed it. In a separate portion of the hearing, HB 350 HD2 on energy was heard with support from the State Energy Office, industry, and advocacy groups; opponents argued the existing solar water heater law is working and that variances already allow flexibility. The committee passed HB 350 unamended. Later, the committee heard HB 977 HD1 on energy financing, HB 1017 HD1 on the greenhouse gas sequestration task force, HB 1051 HD1 on energy efficiency portfolio standards, and HB 1406 HD1 on government procedures. HB 977 received support from the Public Utilities Commission, DCCA, and others and was advanced with technical, non-substantive amendments. HB 1017, which would repeal the greenhouse gas sequestration task force, and HB 1051, which sets energy efficiency benchmarks, were both passed unamended. HB 1406, a task force bill aimed at improving permitting and regulatory processes, was amended to add a Senate representative, include the State Energy Office, make the bill effective on approval, and note prior funding requests in the committee report; it was then adopted. Votes were recorded on each measure, with some members excused and HB 751 drawing one no vote from Senator Rhoads.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and I apologize if this was answered during the first part of your presentation.
• have to isolate them in there as well for the protection of the staff and/or, I mean, if you put two ex
• if</c><00:27:19.679><c> you</c><00:27:19.840><c> put</c><00:27:20.080><c> two</c><00:27:20.480><c> ex
• </c><00:27:21.120><c> if</c><00:27:21.360><c> you</c> mean, if you put two ex if you mean, if you put
• Uh, number one, I was on part of that working group that Senator Carroll talked about, and I thank him

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:13:35.000><c> department</c><00:13:35.720><c> may</c><00:13:35.960><c> grant</c><00:13:36.280><c> ex
• -</c><00:13:36.640><c> accept</c> two, the department may grant ex- accept two, the department may grant
• ex- accept accept<00:13:38.800><c> an</c><00:13:39.040><c> extensions</c><00:13:40.440><c> as</c><00
• on a floor amendment, so he may be bringing in some changes to this on the business administrator part
• on a floor amendment, so he may be bringing in some changes to this on the business administrator part

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the defendant goes in and asks for it to be ex parte at that point, he or she can petition the judge
• Is that ex parte, or does the defendant get to be at that hearing or not?
• Not—um, that part is ex parte.
• Chair, call Shauna Vondelinda. not um that part is exp parte okay so not um that part is exp parte okay
• Have you ever seen a case where firearms, once the... not at the ex parte hearing, but at the hearing

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 146, which would require longer retention and quicker disclosure of certain video recordings from traffic stops and similar motor vehicle violations when a citation is disputed. The prime sponsor described the bill as a response to a constituent who challenged a speeding ticket but could not obtain a cruiser video before it was deleted under the current 30-day retention practice. Supporters argued the bill is about fairness and access to potentially exculpatory evidence, and one member suggested a simple 60-day retention period might avoid confusion over different timelines. The sponsor also noted that the bill would not affect criminal cases and that victims and complainants should have access to the same evidence as law enforcement when a recording is relevant to a defense. Major Brendan Davey of the New Hampshire State Police testified in opposition. He said the proposal would create a different discovery standard for one type of evidence, could discourage agencies from adopting body-worn or cruiser cameras, and would add cost and administrative burden. He explained that the State Police already retain routine traffic-stop videos for at least 30 days, but keep videos much longer when complaints or possible litigation are involved, and said the current system balances efficiency with accountability. He also argued the underlying speeding case did not make the trooper video directly material to the citation, though he acknowledged the legislature could choose a longer blanket retention period if it wished. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 638, which would allow people serving life without parole sentences to become eligible for a parole hearing at age 60 after serving at least 18 years, provided they have had no major conduct violations in the prior 10 years. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give a narrow second look to a small number of elderly prisoners, citing the high cost of incarceration and the health challenges of aging in prison. He emphasized that the bill would not automatically release anyone, would not apply to capital murder convictions under RSA 630:1, and would still allow victims to participate in the parole process. Testimony on HB 638 was mixed. Alexander Bailey, a survivor of violent crime and domestic violence advocate, supported the bill, saying many survivors favor rehabilitation, second chances, and restorative justice, and that people in prison often age faster and face serious health and safety problems. Another supporter, Russell Roy, began offering a personal story about crime, addiction, and violence in Concord, but the transcript cuts off before his full remarks. Committee members asked about why age 60 was chosen, how released individuals would support themselves, and whether victims or families would be consulted; the sponsor said 60 was meant to limit eligibility and reflect the health realities of prison, and that parole boards already consider support networks and victim input. No action or vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing community by adding the administrator of the program for the deaf and hard of hearing as an ex
• for the deaf and hearted hearing uh<00:33:19.320><c> as</c><00:33:19.440><c> an</c><00:33:19.559><c> ex
• </c><00:33:19.799><c> official</c><00:33:20.240><c> member</c><00:33:20.559><c> the</c> uh as an ex official
• member the uh as an ex official member the commission<00:33:21.000><c> acknowledges</c><00:33:21.519

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:03.840><c> the</c> &gt;&gt; Um, we do take a look at the ex the &gt;&gt; Um, we do take a
• look at the ex the what<00:08:06.080><c> the</c><00:08:06.319><c> firms</c><00:08:06.639><c> are</c><
• this part was supposed to be focused<00:18:08.880><c> on</c><00:18:09.039><c> that.
• </c><01:04:52.960><c> uh,</c> the legislature about the ex uh, the legislature about the ex uh, responsibilities
• here in part because of our protected<01:15:59.440><c> environment.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information. In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• A part of that included making sure that they had their sex-separated facilities.
• That is the part that is completely unclear from the bill—how anyone is supposed to do this.
• But one important part of Senate Bill 31 is that we're no longer required to...
• Do you want to keep your first part of your registration as the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth?
• Blowers or just more abusive exes?

Bills: HB7, SB 8, HB7, SB 8

Keywords: abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:54.640><c> of</c> 2.7% 2.7 times lower in that part of 2.7% 2.7 times lower in that part of
• But I will say I agree with parts of what Senator Murphy has said.
• The interesting part about responsible gaming and problem gaming is that we keep putting money aside
• The interesting part also, I'm glad you brought the MindStep on, the interesting part is that the self-exclusion
• Unfortunately, they are not, for the most part, based here in New Hampshire.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we use it right, we can help every part of the state.
• We feel like that's an important part of our mission.
• In terms of some of the momentum, these are all parts that we've been involved with through GoEO as part
• I want to be part of that Forrest Gump scene and relive that.
• Representative Hawkins has been a big part of this.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are part of a panel, speaking panels will have six minutes total.
• "When my ex went to the bathroom, I stepped away to say hi to a few people I recognized.
• My ex carried me under a bridge and called my mom, yelling, 'Something is wrong with Ella.
• This dispatcher was an essential part of an amazing team that saved my son's life.
• And the hardest part is this happens every day across the Commonwealth.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of public health and emergency services bills, with many speakers focusing on EMS system failures, hospital service closures, trauma preparedness, epilepsy awareness, drink-spiking response, sudden cardiac arrest, and survivor financial assistance. Several legislators and advocates described the EMS system as underfunded and overstretched, citing long ambulance waits, staffing shortages, and the need for statewide oversight, a special commission, and clearer recognition of EMS as an essential service. A number of speakers also supported bills to preserve essential hospital services after closures such as Nashoba Valley Medical Center and birthing services in Leominster, arguing that current closure rules lack enforcement and leave communities without critical care. Multiple panels testified in support of bills requiring trauma kits in public buildings, public education on SUDEP and epilepsy mortality, and improved cardiac arrest response. Supporters of the trauma-kit bill said public buildings should have bleeding-control kits and trained staff, comparing them to AEDs and first aid supplies. Epilepsy advocates, clinicians, and grieving parents urged a public health campaign on SUDEP, saying families are often not warned about the risk and that awareness could improve medication adherence, reduce guilt, and save lives. On cardiac arrest, EMS professionals and the American Heart Association backed measures to improve telecommunicator CPR, create an AED registry, and strengthen dispatch and training standards. The committee also heard extensive testimony on a bill addressing illicit drink spiking. Senators, city officials, victims, physicians, and an international anti-spiking advocate described cases in which hospitals refused toxicology testing unless a sexual assault was reported, and argued for standardized testing protocols, better data collection, and coordination with law enforcement and licensed venues. Another bill drew a sharp exchange over local public health control and the SAFE 2.0 law, with one senator arguing for more local approval and voluntary participation, while committee members defended the earlier law as a response to inequities in local public health capacity. Finally, advocates from Jane Doe, Inc. supported legislation to provide flexible financial assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, saying unrestricted cash helps survivors meet basic needs, escape abuse, and rebuild stability.