Transcript Highlights:

• The importance of a statewide standard cannot be overstated.
• The importance of a statewide standard cannot be overstated.
• The importance of a statewide standard cannot be overstated.
• The importance of a statewide standard cannot be overstated.
• The importance of a statewide standard cannot be overstated.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This rulemaking would need to adhere to the following new analysis standards that the bill requires for
• There needs to be an analysis of, and any adopted rule must meet the standard for economic viability
• There needs to be an analysis of, and any adopted rule must meet the standard for economic viability
• There needs to be an analysis of, and any adopted rule must meet the standard for economic viability
• It is required that we meet Washington water quality standards as set by the Department of Ecology.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2598, which would create a Salmon Advisory Commission made up of tribal leaders, state agencies, legislators, and local governments to develop recommendations on salmon and steelhead recovery. Prime sponsor Rep. Lekanoff described the bill as a way to bring executive, legislative, and tribal leaders together on salmon recovery and treaty obligations. Staff noted a fiscal note of roughly $35,000 in out years. Supporters emphasized salmon’s cultural and treaty importance and the need for coordinated leadership, while the lone public testifier, Todd Myers of Washington Policy Center, opposed the bill as another statewide layer of bureaucracy and argued that recovery efforts should focus more on local, watershed-level action. The committee noted 10 signed in pro, 886 con, and one other, but no vote was taken on the bill in the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2620, which would repeal the recently adopted Forest Practices Board rule expanding riparian buffers on non-fish-bearing streams and impose new standards for future riparian buffer rulemaking, including an economic viability standard for the timber industry and additional consensus and alternative-analysis requirements. Rep. Dent said the bill was intended to restore communication and collaboration in the forest practices process. Testimony was sharply divided. Tribal representatives and environmental advocates said the rule was the product of a long, science-based adaptive management process under the Forest and Fish framework and was needed to protect water quality, salmon habitat, and treaty rights; they argued the bill would undermine that process and conflict with Clean Water Act compliance. Forest industry and small forest landowner witnesses supported the bill, saying the process had lost trust, ignored alternatives, and imposed significant economic harm on rural communities and family tree farms. DNR and Ecology testified in opposition, saying the rule was based on science and that the bill would weaken water-quality protections and jeopardize HCP compliance. The committee recorded 592 signed in pro, 489 con, and one other, with no vote taken during the hearing. After the public hearings, the committee moved into executive session on five bills. Staff briefly described House Bill 2104, which would make permanent the Aviation Assurance Funding Program for wildfire response; House Bill 2348, a DNR request bill on land and material sales advertising; House Bill 2544, which would require an adjudication process for the Upper Columbia River with a proposed substitute; House Bill 2554, which would repeal Initiative 456 concerning state declarations on tribal natural resource management; and House Joint Memorial 4009, urging federal action on wildland firefighting consolidation. The committee then recessed briefly for caucus and began executive action, starting with a motion to report House Bill 2104 out of committee with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• , which is why we're proposing legislation that increases and standardizes the welfare of pets in pet
• obviously we Face some standards obviously we Face some significant<00:07:54.520><c> challenges</c><
• Sets clear, consistent standards.
• This bill actually increases standards higher than USDA.
• </c> this bill actually increases standards this bill actually increases standards higher<00:15:57.079

Keywords: Intro: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:31 Discussion of SB 122: 02:30 Roll Call Vote on SB 122: 26:47, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee took up Senate Bill 122, a measure dealing with pet stores, breeders, and the scope of local regulation. The chair explained the bill was intended to balance private business rights with local control, and said he wanted to clarify definitions such as qualified breeder, local authority, and where fees and fines would go. He also said he would work on a floor amendment and noted concerns about whether the bill would allow localities to outright ban pet stores or instead only regulate them. The committee first adopted a committee substitute by motion and voice vote. Supporters of the bill, including representatives from Petland and an attorney who had worked on animal-related regulation in Ohio, argued that the bill would create statewide standards, protect responsible pet retailers from what they described as politically motivated local bans, and preserve consumer choice. They said local governments would still be able to inspect, require documentation, and enforce licensing, but not shut businesses down without due process. A senator from Campbell County asked whether the bill would interfere with strong local ordinances; supporters responded that the bill would set standards higher than USDA rules and still allow local regulation, while opposing local bans. Opposition came from the Kentucky League of Cities and representatives of Kentucky animal care and control agencies. KLC said local decisions should remain at the local level and noted that several cities and one county already had ordinances that could be affected; it also said the bill was opposed by its board and might overlap with pending litigation. Animal control representatives said the bill did not clearly define breeder verification or enforcement responsibility, could restrict local authority, and did not address animal care conditions or consumer transparency. After questions and debate, the committee voted on the bill; the roll call ended in a 5-5 tie, and Senate Bill 122 failed to pass out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the bottom of page three, section five relates to standards development.
• </c> section five uh relates to standards section five uh relates to standards development<00:16:22.880
• rulemaking process for implementing the statewide standards enumerated under paragraph A.
• </c> either an expedited or uh standard either an expedited or uh standard rulemaking<00:59:38.920><c
• All of the recent core standards revisions have shifted an understanding of how we look at standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:47.400><c> but</c> lot about the revised standards but lot about the revised standards but
• </c> bit more like okay so if this standard bit more like okay so if this standard isn't<00:47:57.760
• </c><00:49:24.240><c> um</c> be environmental standards um be environmental standards um supervision<
• </c> um a with this with the draft standards um a with this with the draft standards as<01:25:30.040>
• </c><01:25:40.719><c> says</c> into here's what the standard says into here's what the standard says

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our design standards should help meet the concern of a lot of that.
• set reliability standards.
• like the CIP standards.
• So Newark has got its standards. If there are state standards developed, they should be consistent.
• And highest standards, including the National Fire Protection Association standard 855, which is the

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local agencies are authorized to make determinations using clear and objective standards regarding the
• These routes must adhere to the following standards: the temporary pedestrian routes must be smooth and
• continuous; they must comply with ADA standards for design; they must comply with MUTCD standards for
• Washington State Department of Transportation and to local governments that have not adopted standards
• So we borrowed from what the great city of Tacoma did and would like to establish those same standards

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So just a quick comment on the the We set standards full, the international gold and silver market and
• This is an international standard relied upon by several jurisdictions, several stakeholders upstream
• We want to do away with our standard to our monetary currency that we have today.
• But to your point, this will be standardized as we're basically just going on on a Troy ounce.
• And I would suggest the lbma standards or what the commercial version that you may be using.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like the CIP standards.
• So NERC has got its standards. If there are state standards developed, they should be consistent.
• So Newark has got its, its standards. 4255 If, if there are state standards developed, they should be
• , including a National Fire Protection Association standard, 855, which is the kind of gold standard
• This large load standard, large load interconnection standard, is going to apply a set of requirements

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• Compliance with defensible space standards.
• This is a standard. It's not a disclosure. It's a standard of compliance.
• It's a standard of compliance.
• It's a standard of compliance.
• Why couldn't that standard be applied during the escrow process?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most homes in the high-risk areas were built before the modern fire-resistant construction standards
• Modern fire-resistant construction standards took effect.
• Wildfire data standards and metrics.
• with that state standard.
• I think we need to look at the Western United States creating the same type of data standard.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill I'm proposing does not make any changes to... ...current standards and qualifications.
• and increasing transparency for future standards.
• future standards.
• stakeholder process to develop and update network adequacy standards informed by access data.
• Updated standards that were first established eight years ago.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, oversight, and affordability. The first major item was SB 306 by Senator Becker, a prior authorization reform bill. Becker and supporters, including the California Medical Association and California Hospital Association, argued that prior authorization delays care, adds administrative burden, and can lead to serious patient harm. The bill was substantially amended late in the process to have DMHC and CDI identify services and drugs to exempt from prior authorization based on utilization data, with safeguards for fraud, waste, abuse, and patient safety. Health plans and insurers opposed the measure as written, saying prior authorization remains an important utilization-management tool and raising concerns about the 90% threshold, drug inclusion, and how modifications are counted. The committee also heard SB 35 by Senator Umberg, which would let cities or counties inspect unlicensed sober living homes if DHCS does not act promptly on complaints. Supporters said the bill would address weak enforcement and protect residents, while one behavioral health directors group opposed it unless amended. Members generally supported the measure, citing problems with unlicensed facilities and the need for local enforcement backup. The committee then heard SB 62, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark if approved by the federal government. Senator Wiener said the package would add hearing aids, durable medical equipment, and infertility treatment including IVF, acknowledging that premiums could rise but arguing the benefits were worth it. Health Access California and other advocates supported the bill, while the California Family Council opposed it. The committee also took up SB 596 by Senator Menjivar, which would tighten the rules for hospitals claiming an on-call list as a defense to nurse staffing ratio penalties. Supporters, including nurses and SEIU, said hospitals have used vague or ineffective on-call practices to avoid accountability and that the bill would improve enforcement and patient safety. Hospital groups opposed it, arguing that staffing is highly dynamic, that hospitals need flexibility to manage acuity and emergencies, and that the bill could increase costs and interfere with collective bargaining arrangements. Finally, the committee heard SB 40 by Senator Wiener, the Insulin Affordability Act, which would cap insulin copays at $35 for a 30-day supply and restrict step therapy unless a plan covers at least one insulin in each drug type. Supporters, including physicians, diabetes advocates, nurses, students, and patient groups, said insulin is life-saving and too often unaffordable, forcing patients to ration or choose between medication and basic needs. There was no formal opposition testimony, though one member questioned why insulin remains so expensive. The committee also began discussion of SB 363, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full presentation or any action on the measures. No votes are recorded in the portion provided, and several bills were noted as consent items earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• All payments are conditioned on meeting performance standards. There'll be no upfront payments.
• All payments are conditioned on meeting performance standards. There'll be no upfront payments.
• There'll be no performance standards. There'll be no upfront<00:10:12.680><c> payments.
• There is clear risk allocation and clear enforceable operating standards.
• There is clear risk allocation and clear enforceable operating standards.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of the April 27 minutes, and a report of informational items. Those informational items included University of Kentucky medical equipment purchases, UK’s planned use of restricted funds for a public-private partnership, school district debt notices, UK’s use of construction management at risk for five projects, Kentucky Communications Network Authority capital project reporting, and UK lease improvements. The main action item was University of Kentucky’s request for approval of a $600 million central plants and utility infrastructure P3 tied to the Chandler expansion and other campus facilities. UK said the project would modernize and expand utility capacity, improve redundancy and efficiency, and support 24/7 hospital operations. UK explained that the financing would combine private equity and nonprofit debt, with no UK or Commonwealth debt or upfront payment, and that future availability payments would come from UK Healthcare funds. Members asked about the financing stack, the source of the restricted funds, and whether existing units would be replaced or modernized. The committee then approved the P3 agreement by roll call vote. The committee also considered and approved a lease renewal for a 20,000-square-foot College of Medicine facility near the Bowling Green Medical Center. UK said the lease would cost $38 per square foot, or $912,000 annually, and supports its long-running partnership with Bowling Green Hospital and planned medical student growth in the region. Members spoke favorably about the local impact of the program, and the lease renewal passed by roll call vote. Finally, the Finance and Administrative Cabinet reported three items requiring no action, including a $2.103 million Transportation Cabinet Department of Aviation project for two medium box hangars at Capital City Airport. Cabinet staff said the project would be funded by federal aviation money and restricted aviation funds, and later explained that the restricted funds come from a jet fuel tax deposited into the Aviation Economic Development Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:52.680><c> to</c> high scholastic and ethical standards to high scholastic and ethical standards
• The builder can— This standalone standard is a much more This standalone standard is a much more is<01
• . standard.
• Act</c><04:23:41.320><c> of</c> standard Fair Labor Standards Act of standard Fair Labor Standards Act
• </c> these types of standards. these types of standards.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• law allows the public to request payroll records from the awarding body or the Division of Labor Standards
• law allows the public to request payroll records from the awarding body or the Division of Labor Standards
• While the process for requests made to the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement is clear, statute
• the project, two being the awarding agency of the project, and three being the Division of Labor Standards
• During the COVID-19 epidemic, Cal/OSHA implemented workplace safety standards to protect workers from

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee met on March 19, 2025, adopted its rules, and approved the consent calendar before hearing several bills. AB 538, by Assemblymember Berman, would require awarding bodies on public works projects to make a timely attempt to obtain certified payroll records from contractors when the public requests them, rather than simply saying they do not have the records. Supporters said it would clarify existing prevailing wage enforcement; county, city, special district, and housing groups opposed it over workload, privacy, and potential funding risks. The bill passed the committee on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 485, authored by Chair Ortega, which would direct state agencies to deny or renew business licenses for employers with outstanding wage theft judgments unless the judgments are satisfied or bonded. Supporters, including labor groups and a caregiver who described delayed recovery of unpaid wages, said the bill would give workers meaningful leverage to collect judgments. The California Hospital Association opposed it, warning that license action could threaten patient access to care. The bill passed on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 596, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would codify workers’ right to wear a face covering or respirator at work unless it creates a direct safety hazard. Supporters said the measure would protect workers from illness, wildfire smoke, and employer restrictions after prior Cal/OSHA protections expired; the Chamber of Commerce opposed it narrowly, asking for an exception where masks are infeasible for certain tasks. The committee supported the bill and sent it to Appropriations. The hearing concluded with the roll kept open for absent members and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who breaks the public standard? And with what public standard? Mr.
• No one is promulgating new standards requiring anybody to take any vaccine that is not already standard
• However, after July 1st, we would revert back to the federal standard, and so whatever that standard
• The standard would follow federal law, but the New Mexico standard for Medicaid would follow state law
• There's no new standard. It's the same thing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the committee analysis notes, high-road employment standards are becoming the standard.
• SB 131, with its broadly defined advanced manufacturing projects, eroded labor standards for workers,
• California has some of the cleanest electricity, the toughest efficiency standards, and the cleanest
• So UFCW, along with many other unions, are trying to lift the standard of living.
• And when you have... ...are trying to lift the standard of living.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Tanner, members of the committee, the standard language begins on page four.
• Chairman Tanner, members of the committee, the standard language begins on page four.
• I request unanimous consent to accept the non-standard language as included in the packet.
• This packet includes the standard or statewide maintenance decisions and standard language for the public
• This packet includes the standard or statewide maintenance decisions and standard language for the public

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first received updates from LSO on the latest green sheet, including the revenue impact of House Bill 559, recent cash transfers, and the Idaho Budget Rescissions Act for FY 2026. Members then moved through a series of FY 2027 maintenance budgets, beginning with the legislative branch. The committee discussed the statewide 2% reduction layered on top of the governor’s recommendation, benefit-cost adjustments, and how those decisions were being built into the maintenance budgets. The legislative branch budget passed, followed by unanimous-consent adoption of related language. The committee next considered public safety, natural resources, health and human services, economic development, judicial branch, constitutional officers, and general government budgets. In each case, analysts explained how rescissions, ongoing base reductions, and statewide adjustments were incorporated. Several members objected to the across-the-board cuts, arguing they would reduce staffing or services in corrections, juvenile corrections, environmental quality, health and welfare, public defender services, crime victims compensation, tax administration, and treatment courts, while supporters said the committee needed a target and would revisit details in enhancement work groups. Most budget motions passed on divided votes and were forwarded with do-pass recommendations. The committee also adopted multiple sections of standard and nonstandard language, including cash transfers, reporting requirements, and agency-specific provisions. In Health and Human Services, members debated language requiring reporting on large acquisitions and transfers, and in Economic Development and General Government they adopted language affecting the State Public Defender, the Department of Insurance, and group insurance premiums. The meeting ended while the committee was still working through a disputed general government language item about funding employee health insurance premiums from reserve accounts, with members debating whether the language should reference specific reserve funds or broader reserve funding and whether the proposal was properly within JFAC’s scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reasonable force is left to be interpreted by a judge or a jury as it is with other standards.
• Reasonable force is left to be interpreted by a judge or a jury as it is with other standards.
• this is not a it is with other standards this is not a shoot<00:02:53.959><c> first</c><00:02:54.239
• Yeah, so again, the standard that our Supreme Court set forth in this decision is not in use in any other
• </c><00:04:33.400><c> in</c> judge and that's that's standard in judge and that's that's standard in

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:41.080><c> of</c> must adhere to the highest standard of must adhere to the highest standard
• </c> ethical standards. ethical standards.
• </c> complaint before us is for the standards complaint before us is for the standards in<00:26:18.240
• </c> the highest standard of ethical conduct. the highest standard of ethical conduct.
• standards? standards?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all