Transcript Highlights:

• The ayes have it, and the motion prevails.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, then adopted a congratulatory resolution offered by Senator Rush honoring Trevor Joseph O’Brien for attaining Eagle Scout. The chamber then took up several local and personnel matters, including a Taunton bill to continue the employment of Police Chief Edward J. Walsh until age 70. Senator Dooner offered and the Senate adopted a substitute draft authorizing the city to continue Walsh’s employment, then ordered the bill to a third reading and passed it to be engrossed. The Senate also passed to be engrossed a bill establishing a sick leave bank for Anna C. Contreras, a Trial Court employee, and a bill reauthorizing Swansea to issue additional on-premises alcohol licenses. Another House bill exempting the Assistant Fire Chief position in Natick from civil service was taken up after the rules were suspended and was ordered to a third reading. The Senate adopted an order to meet again on Thursday in formal session with a calendar. Before adjourning, members paid tribute to Joseph W. Casper, a South Boston funeral director, broadcaster, writer, and public figure, with remarks highlighting his community service and family legacy. The Senate observed a moment of silence and adjourned in his memory.

Transcript Highlights:

• The ayes have it, and the motion prevails. We'll take a brief moment of silence.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two resolutions offered by Senator Brownsberger honoring the Armenian American community, the Armenian Heritage Foundation, Friends of the Armenian Heritage Park, and former State Representative Rachel Caprillion and Peter Kutuzian on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide commemoration. The chamber then acted on committee reports and petitions, including a bill to extend MBTA service of the ride to Foxborough, which was referred to the Committee on Transportation after suspension of the relevant rules, and a House petition to establish a sick leave bank for Dana Johnson of the Department of Children and Families, which was referred to the Committee on Public Service. The Senate also adopted an order setting the January meeting for the following Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and directing that the Senate adjourn that day in memory of Philip W. Johnston. Members then offered remarks honoring Johnston’s life and public service, including his work in the House of Representatives, the Dukakis administration, the Clinton administration, and as chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, as well as his advocacy for health care, social justice, and vulnerable residents. After a moment of silence, the Senate adjourned in his memory.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails. The clerk will give the bill its second reading. Second reading, House File 4541.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Remind us that you take no delight in evil, but you rejoice when truth prevails.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, February 13, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, when you think about housing and around evictions and jobs and lost wages, people are afraid
• that people are afraid, and lost wages that people are afraid, whether<00:08:38.159><c> it</c><00:08
• /c><00:09:24.800><c> already</c><00:09:25.200><c> low</c><00:09:25.680><c> uh</c><00:09:25.839><c> wage
• </c> to them when they're already low uh wage to them when they're already low uh wage um<00:09:27.440
• </c><00:18:04.640><c> for</c> have been lost in terms of wages for have been lost in terms of wages for

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We always push for higher wages for our members. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh, any other questions?
• </c><01:40:49.840><c> So,</c><01:40:50.080><c> I</c> wages for your members, right?
• So, I wages for your members, right?
• , but it also will increase higher wages, but it also will take<01:41:02.880><c> agreement</c><01:41:
• push for higher wages for our members. members. members.

Bills: HB1769

Keywords: criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails. Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• against an anti-SLAPP motion had to establish by clear and convincing evidence a probability of prevailing
• against an anti-SLAPP motion had to establish by clear and convincing evidence a probability of prevailing
• against an anti-SLAPP motion had to establish by clear and convincing evidence a probability of prevailing
• against an anti-SLAPP motion had to establish by clear and convincing evidence a probability of prevailing
• </c> ultimately prevail. ultimately prevail.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• require a contractor submitting a bid for a public works construction project to disclose any history of wage
• For more than a year, the federal administration has waged an economic crusade built on unilateral tariffs
• the Tax Foundation, tariffs imposed by Trump reduced the GDP, hurt job growth, and failed to raise wages
• Assembly Member Gipson: ...failed to raise wages.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unemployment benefits, workers' comp, employer contributions to Social Security and Medicare, minimum wage
• A decade ago, the Kentucky Labor Cabinet reported that the amount they collect in retribution for wage
• I'm going to just say, and companies that just don't want to pay people more or pay them a living wage
• I'm going to just say, and companies that just don't want to pay people more or pay them a living wage

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:36 HB 732 Discussion: 02:00 HB 732 Vote: 20:55 SB 343 Discussion: 23:39 SB 343 Vote: 28:54 SB 129 Discussion: 30:30 SB 129 Vote: 32:27, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are only kind of paid through their minimum wage as well as tips.
• only kind of paid through their They are only kind of paid through their minimum<00:05:06.400><c> wage
• </c> minimum wage as well as uh, tips. minimum wage as well as uh, tips. and and and and<00:05:11.680

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it only applies to people who are full-time for wage and hour purposes.
• So it only applies to people who are full-time for wage and hour purposes.
• So it only applies to people who are full-time for wage and hour purposes.
• So it only applies to people who are full-time for wage and hour purposes.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth’s Attorneys, County Attorneys, Prosecutor’s Advisory Council 00:00:18 Approval of Minutes 00:20:09 State Treasurer 00:20:33, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from representatives of the Prosecutor’s Advisory Council, including county and commonwealth attorneys, on their proposed budget. They described the scope of their work in district and circuit court, juvenile and dependency cases, specialty courts, guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, and the Rocket Docket program. The witnesses emphasized that their budgets are overwhelmingly personnel costs and warned that proposed cuts could lead to layoffs, reduced retention, and loss of recently added positions. They also said the General Assembly’s recent salary classification plan had improved recruitment and retention, and that underfunding could reverse those gains. A major topic was the Rocket Docket program, which they said speeds lower-level cases through the system, reduces jail costs, and saves money for both counties and the state. They reported that in one circuit, average jail time for certain cases dropped from about 50 days to about 6 days. They also raised concerns that the Rocket Docket line item may not be clearly included in the committee substitute and asked for clarification on how the budget would treat it. In response, the chair said the intent was to move some of those items into the base budget, though the exact structure was still uncertain. The presenters also discussed a 2022 subsidy for county attorney employees tied to retirement contributions, saying it totals about $1.3 million and should not be reduced because the obligation remains. They said the budget would need to support the salary classification plan extensions, House Bill 8 subsidies, and a new case management system that they described as essential to modernizing operations and improving communication with victims and law enforcement. The chair thanked them for the testimony and indicated the committee would continue reviewing the budget. The committee then heard from Deputy State Treasurer Russell Weber, who reported that the treasury has now returned more than $90 million in unclaimed property to Kentuckians. He said the office faces ongoing fraud issues and requested funding for a dedicated legal counsel and a fraud investigator, along with outreach money to educate the public about unclaimed property. He also outlined several capital requests, including the final year of a printer-system lease and replacement of HVAC equipment in the treasury building. Members briefly joked with him about a mineral-rights bill and coal, but no votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> Every time a cow is milked in Minnesota, it creates a ripple effect through our economy through wages
• 00:03:37.200><c> our</c><00:03:37.519><c> economy</c><00:03:38.159><c> through</c><00:03:38.400><c> wages
• </c><00:03:39.280><c> that</c> through our economy through wages that through our economy through wages

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then when they found a new job, they had to take a 30% to 40% pay cut because of the wage suppression
• You need to raise wages. We have constant complaints about affordability in this state.
• And it's because we're suppressing wages in the tech industry.
• Well, if this comes... ...this state, and it's because we're suppressing wages in the tech industry.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FSA report just last week, or meeting last week, said, you know, our withholdings, which represents wage
• when we actually look at the individual income tax, you know, the flat tax isn't necessarily driving wage
• It's national... ...driving wage earnings potentially.
• So there can be higher wages for Arizona workers. This is good policy. It's the right thing to do.

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2785, a major Arizona tax conformity measure that would align state law with the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026 and apply retroactively to tax year 2025. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would make Department of Revenue tax forms legal, provide certainty to taxpayers already filing under those forms, and deliver about $440 million in tax relief through provisions such as no tax on tips and overtime, a larger standard deduction, a $6,000 senior deduction, and changes to deductions and the SALT cap. Opponents argued the bill would significantly reduce state revenue, disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers, and should not move forward without a broader budget plan. After an amendment addressing retroactivity and foreign dividend language was adopted, the committee approved HB 2785 on a 5-4 vote. The committee then heard several Arizona State Retirement System technical cleanup bills. HB 2089, clarifying the health insurance premium benefit subsidy, passed 9-0. HB 2090, changing the disability timeframe for long-term disability benefits, passed 8-1. HB 2092, allowing certain employees over age 65 to waive ASRS participation within 30 days of eligibility, also passed 8-1. These measures were described by staff and the sponsor as simple corrections, with little opposition. Finally, the committee considered HB 2477, which conforms Arizona’s 529 education savings plan to federal law, expands allowable uses, and adds rules for 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers and ABLE transfers. Supporters called it a cleanup bill that would simplify administration for families, while some members raised concerns about the Roth rollover and possible use of funds transferred from ESA accounts. The bill passed 5-3 with one member voting present. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• to credit unions, they turned to other less predatory products like even employer-integrated earned wage
• Other things we know are harder to implement, like matching minimum wage to inflation, but also, I think
• We don't garnish your wages.
• We don't garnish your wages.

Bills: SB5976, SB6111, SB6250, SB6257, SB6289, SGA9060, SGA9169, SGA9265, SGA9266

Keywords: commercial email, spam regulations, online marketing, privacy, consumer protection, SB 6111, Washington Protecting Children Online Act, online child safety, minor privacy, age verification, parental consent, social media regulation, digital platforms, user-generated content, content moderation, online harms, youth protection, data privacy, geolocation, targeted advertising

Transcript Highlights:

• tremendously successful in bringing billions of dollars of investment and supporting thousands of family wage
• , family wage union jobs in our local communities.
• At the same time, all of our operating costs continue to rise: wages, benefits, supplies, utilities.
• At the same time, all of our operating costs continue to rise, wages, benefits, supplies, utilities.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on aircraft fuel taxes, hearing from WSDOT Aviation about the FAA’s aviation fuel tax rules, Washington’s compliance history, and the potential consequences of noncompliance. WSDOT said the state has collected roughly $210 million in aviation fuel taxes since the federal compliance period began, and that FAA has questioned some of the state’s claimed offsets. Members asked about the federal authority behind the rules, who pays the taxes, and whether Boeing is affected. The committee then moved to public hearing on several bills tied to aviation fuel tax revenue. SB 5989 would redirect a small share of state sales and use tax on aircraft fuel to the aeronautics account and require reporting on airport project funding. Supporters, including port, airport, and pilot groups, said it was a measured step toward FAA compliance and airport investment; the bill’s staff summary said it would reduce general fund revenue and increase DOR costs. SB 5898 would redirect hazardous substance, petroleum products, and oil spill-related taxes on aircraft fuel to the aeronautics account. Supporters said it would bring Washington into compliance and help airports, while Ecology, counties, and ports warned it would significantly reduce MTCA and related environmental funding. SB 6240 would create a new noise and air quality mitigation account funded by a portion of hazardous substance tax revenue; airport and aviation groups opposed it as duplicative or noncompliant with FAA rules, while community and environmental advocates from Sea-Tac area cities supported it as a needed mitigation source. The committee also heard SB 6244, which would extend a hazardous substance tax exemption for certain pesticides used in Washington agriculture through 2038. Agricultural and logistics witnesses supported it as important for food security, storage, and competitiveness, and staff said it would have a small revenue loss and administrative cost. SB 6231, a governor-request bill, would repeal the sales tax exemption for data center refurbishments while keeping the exemption for original server equipment; OFM and local government groups supported it as a revenue-raising budget measure, while data center, labor, and business representatives opposed it, warning of lost investment, jobs, and competitiveness. SB 6228 would repeal the preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers; OFM supported it as an outdated preference, but pharmacies, wholesalers, and business groups argued the cost would be passed through to pharmacies, hospitals, insurers, and patients and could worsen pharmacy closures. The committee then heard SB 6220, which would narrow and clarify a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income homeownership property by allowing temporary community use and preserving the exemption when property is transferred to another exempt nonprofit. The sponsor said the bill was intended to let a community land trust host local performances without jeopardizing affordable housing plans. Finally, the committee heard SB 5880, which would allow blood and breath toxicology results to be admissible if tested by ISO/IEC 17025-certified labs, in addition to the state toxicologist process. Seattle’s city attorney supported it as a way to reduce a long toxicology backlog and speed DUI cases, while counties raised concerns about shifting costs to local governments and creating unequal access based on local resources. No votes were taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• create smooth pathways from high school to college to career, so students can move easily into jobs and wages
• Let's open more opportunities to family wage jobs for more people. It's fabulous.
• Let's open more opportunities to family wage jobs for more people with this legislation. Thank you.
• Let's open more opportunities to family wage jobs for more people with this legislation. Thank you.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing first from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, then from the Education Research and Data Center. The dual credit overview described Washington’s six dual credit programs, high participation rates, transferability, and recent efforts to improve transparency, pathways, and equity. Testimony emphasized both benefits and challenges, including access, funding, advising, and the need for clearer statewide coordination. ERDC outlined its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school-level factors and possible causal effects of dual credit participation. No votes were taken during the work session. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227 would direct WSAC to work with public higher education institutions to create formal data collection protocols for parenting students and convene a work group to recommend how to identify and support them. Senator Wilson and multiple student and advocacy witnesses supported the bill, citing the lack of consistent statewide data and the barriers parenting students face; WSAC testified that its research found significant food, housing, and child care insecurity among these students. SB 6235 would prohibit public colleges with athletics programs from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving athletics revenues or control. Senator Holy said the bill was intended to prevent loss of institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit flexibility and create competitive disadvantages. The committee also heard SB 6217, which would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to students in eligible non-degree credential programs beginning in 2027-28. Supporters from the community and technical college system, a community college president, and workforce representatives said the bill would help students access short-term training for family-wage jobs and address workforce shortages, especially in construction trades. Finally, SB 6209 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship eligibility for certain private four-year and career/vocational schools if they meet a gainful-employment standard. DigiPen, Evergreen Beauty College, Seattle Film Institute, and related students and administrators testified in support, arguing the bill would preserve access for low-income and nontraditional students in career-focused programs; some witnesses on the bill’s earlier panel also urged that certificate and two-year programs be included. The hearings were managed with shortened testimony times because of the large number of sign-ins, and no final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• experiences multiple short layoffs, this bill redefines suitable work as any job that pays minimum wage
• industrial painter, a journeyman glazer, or a highly trained drywall finisher could be forced to take a low-wage
• Thank you for your time. ...redefined suitable work as any job that pays minimum wage.
• industrial painter, a journeyman glazer, or a highly trained drywall finisher could be forced to take a low-wage

Bills: S0216, S0246, S0356, S0388, S0470, S0488, S0490, S0528, S0584, S0594

Keywords: reemployment assistance, fraud prevention, eligibility verification, Department of Commerce, benefit disqualification, specialty license plate, specialty plates, motor vehicle registration, license plate fees, annual use fees, Florida DHSMV, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, deauthorization, financial reporting, nonprofit organizations, college license plates, university license plates, veterans plates, law enforcement plates, Fraternal Order of Police

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered ten bills, beginning with SB 594 on local housing assistance plans. Senator Burton explained that the bill would make residents of mobile home parks and manufactured housing communities eligible for SHIP rental assistance and, in some cases, repair or rehabilitation funds, recognizing that many own their homes but rent the lot. Supporters from AARP and the Federation of Manufactured Homeowners said the bill would help seniors and low-income residents remain housed. The bill was reported favorably by a roll call vote. Members then approved two Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles measures: SB 488, the agency package updating Florida’s motor fuel tax compliance with IFTA, allowing online filing and private license plate agencies to act as agents, raising the crash-damage reporting threshold, expanding email communications, and updating tank vehicle compliance; and SB 490, a related public records exemption for email addresses collected for renewal notices. Both were reported favorably without opposition. The committee also passed SB 246, creating a specialty license plate for the UFC Foundation, despite concerns raised that the foundation is based out of state and that the plate was politically motivated; the bill was approved on a split vote. The committee gave favorable reports to SB 216 on reemployment assistance eligibility, which would tighten job-search requirements, require more frequent eligibility verification, and add reporting on fraudulent claims. The bill drew substantial opposition from labor and policy advocates who argued it would add barriers for unemployed workers, especially in rural and skilled-trades jobs, and that the state’s unemployment system remains difficult to navigate. Supporters said the bill was aimed at fraud prevention and ensuring claimants remain eligible. SB 356 on utility terrain vehicles generated extensive debate over safety, local control, and whether UTVs should be allowed on certain roads; supporters emphasized rural utility and law enforcement benefits, while opponents cited manufacturer warnings and crash risks. The sponsor ultimately temporarily postponed the bill. The committee also reported favorably SB 528 on manufacturing, which expands the Department of Commerce’s manufacturing responsibilities, codifies the chief manufacturing officer position, and creates workforce development grant support; SB 584 on commercial driving schools, which authorizes DHSMV agreements with county tax collectors to help enforce school regulation; and SB 388, which raises the annual use fee for the Florida Wildflower specialty plate from $15 to $25 to support the Florida Wildflower Foundation. The final bill, SB 470 on the Fraternal Order of Police specialty plate, was introduced as a measure to broaden eligibility for the existing plate and stabilize funding for law enforcement memorial efforts, but no final action on that bill was reached in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They've built 10,000 homes across 126 cities, and they focus mostly on serving median-wage households
• My county has about a $70,000 median wage versus the statewide median wage of about $95,000.
• only help the local tax base, but also raise the fortunes of our own residents looking for family wage

Bills: HB2103, HB2388, HB2316, HB2006, HB2224

Keywords: renewable energy, nonemitting generation, public entities, contracting, electric generation, distributed energy, agricultural land, energy generation, renewable resources, siting regulations, land use, urban development, vegetation management, shrubsteppe, environmental regulation, economic development, sales tax, rural counties, industrial land banks, growth management

Transcript Highlights:

• They've built 10,000 homes across 126 cities, and they focus mostly on serving median-wage households
• My county has about a $70,000 median wage versus the statewide median wage of about $95,000.
• not only help local tax base, but also raise the fortunes of our own residents looking for family wage

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several local government bills. HB 2006 would extend the deadline for certain rural counties that collect a sales and use tax for economic development to designate industrial land banks under the Growth Management Act. Supporters, including the sponsor and Kittitas County representatives, said the bill would help counties identify industrial land for job growth and economic development; Futurewise opposed it, citing concerns about large industrial land banks and impacts to agricultural lands. HB 2244 would let a city that forms a fire protection district after July 1, 2026, keep its levy rate without reducing it by the district’s levy, and would also allow online notice and interlocal contracting for fire services. City and fire officials supported it as a practical tool to fund fire service, while one witness opposed the broader trend of appointed taxing authorities. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 2316, which would limit shrub-step vegetation inside urban growth areas from being treated as wildlife habitat, critical area, or conservation area, and would bar related mitigation or replacement requirements. Tri-Cities officials, builders, housing advocates, and the sponsor argued the bill would reduce delays and costs for housing and development on already designated urban land, while conservation groups, tribal representatives, and some individuals opposed it as a broad rollback of habitat protections and a harmful precedent for ecosystems and wildlife. No vote was taken on the bills during the hearing. HB 2103 would expand public utility contracting authority so cities, utilities, and joint operating agencies could enter “capability” contracts for renewable or non-emitting generation projects, including nuclear, renewable hydrogen, and fusion, and repeal certain price-limit restrictions. Supporters said it would align older contracting law with the Clean Energy Transformation Act and help utilities plan for future power needs; opponents warned it would shift risk to ratepayers and revive concerns tied to the WPPSS nuclear debacle. The committee also heard HB 2388, which would classify pivot-corner solar and agrovoltaic facilities on agricultural land as distributed energy resources and accessory uses; the sponsor and supporters said it would help meet energy needs without harming productive farmland, while Futurewise asked for clarification to avoid unintended loss of agricultural land. The hearing then returned to HB 2103 for additional testimony, with the same basic split between utility and clean-energy supporters and ratepayer or anti-nuclear opponents.