Video & Transcript : 'legislative ethics' :
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ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Apr 15th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
North Dakota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 2001, as amended, is the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly budget and passed out
- Senate Bill 2001, as amended, is the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly budget and passed out
- It provides funding for health insurance for legislators and other salary items for legislators, such
- The next portion of the bill relates to legislative management and legislative council.
- Section 10 provides legislative intent that legislative management gather information regarding chamber
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, pledge, and roll call, establishing a quorum. It then took up a series of appropriations and policy bills, with the most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs budget. The House approved amendments that shifted governance of the department and veterans’ home from ACOVA to the governor, citing concerns about ACOVA’s salary-setting actions and broader appropriation oversight. Members opposed to the change argued ACOVA had studied compensation and acted within its role. The amended bill passed 57-34, and the final bill passed 69-22 with the emergency clause carrying.
The House also passed Senate Bill 2001, the legislative branch budget, which funds the 2027 session, legislative staff, chamber upgrades, IT improvements, and salary adjustments for legislative leaders; the bill passed 62-29, but the emergency clause failed. Senate Bill 2019, the Career and Technical Education budget, passed 82-10 with emergency clause. Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget, passed 75-17 after discussion of data center migration, service automation, mainframe transition, ERP study, and DPI’s move from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Other measures passed included Senate Bill 2228 for rural grocery store sustainability grants, Senate Bill 2390 creating a rural catalyst community grant program, Senate Bill 2188 adjusting the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, and Senate Bill 2265 authorizing a veterans national cemetery grant and line of credit with added reporting safeguards.
Several House bills returned from the Senate were concurred in and then passed, including House Bill 1361 on mandatory minimum sentences for human trafficking offenders, House Bill 1017 for the Game and Fish Department, House Bill 1588 on firearms and dangerous weapons provisions, House Bill 1429 on harassment and stalking involving robots, House Bill 1591 on county fair resiliency grants, House Bill 1537 on service agreement protection for water projects, House Bill 1203 on edible medical marijuana products, and House Bill 1027 transferring administration of the State Fire and Tornado Fund from the Insurance Commissioner to OMB. The House also rejected a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2307, which dealt with library materials and obscenity-related restrictions, by a vote of 48-51. In addition, the chamber appointed conference committees on several House and Senate measures where concurrence had failed, and laid over Senate Bill 2340 for two legislative days.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- We ask you to pass this legislation.
- We might be able to do that in the enabling legislation.
- Madam Chair, Representative, we did drop enabling legislation.
- Yeah, without enabling legislation, however, I don't...
- And now we're on the hook for enabling legislation.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- We don't legislate for the sake of legislating; we actually look where we can help people in the Commonwealth
- all these last couple of years we don't legislate for the sake of legislating we actually look where
- I'm also the legislative chair of the MNBA.
- So Pew was continuing to work with legislators in the Massachusetts House and Senate on legislation that
- So Pee was continuing to work with legislators in the Massachusetts House and Senate on some legislation
Summary:
The committee held an informational opening hearing for the Financial Services Committee, with Chair Murphy and Senator Feeney introducing new and returning members and explaining that no bills were being heard that day beyond brief introductory testimony. Commissioner of Banks Mary Gallagher thanked the committee for last session’s money transmission modernization law, and several members echoed appreciation for her office’s work. The hearing then featured a long series of stakeholder introductions and overviews of their priorities for the session.
Testimony covered a wide range of financial, insurance, housing, health care, and consumer issues. Banking and mortgage groups discussed housing affordability, foreclosure delinquencies, flood insurance, regulatory changes, and the impact of federal policy shifts. Insurance representatives raised concerns about auto and homeowners market pressures, labor rates, tariffs, rebates, e-titling, third-party litigation funding, and public adjuster restrictions. Consumer and advocacy groups highlighted debt collection reform, earned wage access, retirement savings access, public banking, and consumer protections in financial services. Several speakers also emphasized the need for committee expertise and offered themselves as resources for future bills.
Health-related organizations focused on insurance mandates, prior authorization, behavioral health access, pharmacy benefit manager reform, community health center funding, maternal health and midwifery reimbursement, and anesthesia reimbursement parity. Other groups, including credit unions, retailers, auto dealers, dental and medical associations, and behavioral health providers, described their roles in the Commonwealth and previewed legislation or policy areas they expect to follow this session. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended after testimony from the sign-up list and a few late additions.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- ,<00:32:07.679><c> elevating</c><00:32:08.240><c> community</c> legislation, elevating community legislation
- The speaker thanked the sponsor for bringing the legislation.
- </c><01:03:44.400><c> Speaker,</c> legislative process. And Mr. Speaker, legislative process.
- might</c><01:19:09.760><c> decide</c> different legislators, they might decide different legislators
- </c> if there is now going to be legislation if there is now going to be legislation that<02:23:03.359
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 094 Apr 18th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- , and expended to the Legislative Council staff and requiring the Legislative Council staff to publicly
- </c> legislation. Thank you. legislation. Thank you.
- </c><02:04:19.760><c> at</c> landed on this piece of legislation at landed on this piece of legislation
- </c> about this particular legislation. about this particular legislation. um<02:08:43.440><c> simply
- </c> this piece of legislation this piece of legislation which<02:08:54.880><c> I'm</c><02:08:55.119>
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 44 Morning Session Apr 21st, 2026
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And this legislative body said, you know what, we're going to do just that.
- The heart, the intelligence, the hard work ethic on our team is unmatched.
- That's a correct interpretation of the legislation.
- then we dislike another piece of legislation.
- This piece of legislation has a multitude of legs of negotiation between multiple not only legislative
Bills:
HB4028, HB4075, HB4077, HB4074, HB4076, SB1221, SB1921, SB2118, SB1932, SB2134, HCR1025, SB1432, HCR1024, HCR1022, SB1122, HB4029, HB4063, HB4073, HB4078, SB1936, SB44, SB237, SB248, SB1360, SB985, SB1204, SB1239, SB1307, SB2143, SB1428, SB1390, SB1400, SB1405, SB1732, SB1832, SB1859, SB1989, SB2018, SB1427
Keywords:
tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, water resources, appropriations, funding, state treasury, infrastructure projects, emergency act, emergency management, disaster relief, pandemic response, state appropriations, HB4074, Health Care Workforce Training Commission, Health Care Workforce Revolving Fund, health workforce, health care workforce
Summary:
The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions and introductions, including Deer Creek students, Skiatook Chamber members, Sand Springs youth leaders, and international visitors studying U.S. energy policy. The chamber also honored the Nurse of the Day, Marla Lyceum, and heard a lengthy farewell speech from Minority Leader Munson reflecting on her service, constituent work, leadership, and bipartisan relationships.
Members then took up several special presentations and resolutions, including HCR 1024 recognizing Route 66 Day and its economic importance, HCR 1022 honoring National Lineman Appreciation Day, and a citation for Langston University Day at the Capitol. The House also recognized Deputy Kenton Blumenthal as Oklahoma’s 2025 Officer of the Year for heroic actions during a dangerous pursuit. Later, the House introduced the pages of the week.
On legislation, the House passed SB 1122 on ad valorem tax, which supporters said would equalize tax treatment for broadband infrastructure and promote business fairness, over some concern about tax policy and revenue impacts. The chamber also passed HB 4029, HB 4063, HB 4073, HB 4078, and SB 1936, with emergency clauses adopted on the first four. HB 4063, which referred two previously approved state questions to a special August election, drew extended debate over ballot timing, turnout, and whether combining the questions was appropriate; it ultimately passed and the special election referral was approved. SB 1936, which elevates falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer to a D1 felony, passed unanimously.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Jan 23rd, 2026 at 08:00 am
Consumer Protection & Business
Transcript Highlights:
- Legislation, thank you. Do we have any other questions for the prime sponsor?
- of this legislation, and the consumer enforcement piece of this.
- Thank you for sponsoring this legislation.
- I will say that the reason we want this legislation, the reason the USTIA wants this legislation, is
- I wanted to give a thank you again to the legislators who participated on the work group.
Keywords:
life insurance, policy lapse, policy cancellation, nonpayment of premium, premium grace period, lapse notice, termination notice, third-party notice, third-party designee, beneficiary protection, consumer protection, insurance regulation, insurer notice requirements, policyholder, beneficiary, Washington RCW, insurance code, unintentional lapse, coverage continuation, premium delinquency
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Jan 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- For the record, I’m Representative Osmond Saladin from the 48th Legislative District.
- I’ll try to keep my remarks brief, as we know that this is complex legislation as well.
- This legislation does not call for extreme measures.
- I'm the Director of Legislation and Policy for State Auditor Pat McCarthy.
- I fully support the need for legislative oversight.
Summary:
On January 20, 2026, the committee held public hearings on House Bill 2102, House Bill 2161, and House Bill 2332. HB 2102 would sharply limit legal financial obligations by prohibiting courts from imposing costs unless specifically authorized by statute, repealing many fees and interest on restitution, and making eliminated debts unenforceable and satisfied. The sponsor and supporters argued that LFOs are harmful, inconsistently applied, and create uncollectable debt that burdens indigent defendants and hinders reentry. Opponents, including local government and collections representatives, warned the bill would shift costs to cities and counties, reduce accountability tools, and could cost local jurisdictions millions. No vote was taken.
HB 2161 would expand the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands for possible violations involving civil rights, labor standards, jail standards, immigration-related restrictions, and police use-of-force laws. Supporters from the Attorney General’s office, labor groups, and civil rights advocates said the bill would make investigations faster and more effective, especially in wage theft and discrimination cases, while not changing substantive enforcement authority. Opponents from law enforcement, cities, and business groups argued the bill was overbroad, lacked sufficient standards, and could create due process, confidentiality, and separation-of-powers concerns. Members asked about safeguards, and staff and the AGO described court challenge procedures and internal review standards. No action was taken.
HB 2332 would regulate automated license plate readers used by state and local agencies, generally limiting use to specified law enforcement, parking, toll, and transportation purposes, restricting sharing and retention, and prohibiting uses tied to immigration enforcement or protected health care. The sponsor and privacy, immigrant-rights, and reproductive-rights advocates said the bill was needed to prevent misuse of sensitive location data and to close loopholes that could allow out-of-state or federal access. Law enforcement, cities, vendors, and some business and campus representatives supported privacy guardrails but said the 72-hour retention limit, warrant requirements, and other restrictions were too strict and could hinder investigations, victim recovery, and parking enforcement. The hearing ended with testimony still underway and no vote or final action reported.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Health Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Public Health
Transcript Highlights:
- that originates in the House or Senate, all introduced by legislators.
- this vitally important piece of legislation.
- this vitally important piece of legislation.
- I testified on the same bill in the last legislative session.
- This is the third time... ...I've testified on fluoride legislation.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing focused on children’s health, disease prevention, screening, treatment, and pharmacy-related bills. The chair explained that the session was for public testimony only, with no votes or decisions taken that day, and outlined the three-minute limit for individual testimony. The committee then heard testimony on a range of bills, including H. 2413 on adding electromagnetic sensitivity to the state’s MAVEN registry, S. 1508 and H. 2433 on creating an amputation prevention task force, H. 2535 and S. 1551 on establishing a naloxone purchase trust fund, S. 1635 on authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, H. 2385 on creating a special commission on avian influenza, and S. 1497 on patient safety and non-FDA-approved compounded drugs.
Testimony on H. 2413 came largely from advocates and individuals who described electromagnetic sensitivity as a real health condition and argued that adding it to the registry would improve data collection, provider education, and public awareness. Testimony on the amputation prevention task force bills came from the American Diabetes Association and podiatry groups, who said diabetes-related amputations are often preventable, disproportionately affect people of color, and could be reduced through earlier screening, better care coordination, and improved insurance coverage for preventive foot care. On the naloxone trust fund bills, a representative, emergency physician, and nurse testified that hospitals often cannot reliably send overdose patients home with naloxone because of billing and reimbursement barriers, and that a bulk-purchase fund would expand access at no added cost to payers or providers.
The committee also heard strong support for S. 1635 from pharmacists and public health researchers, who said community pharmacists could safely initiate and maintain buprenorphine treatment and help close gaps in opioid use disorder care. On H. 2385, a local board of health chair supported a special commission on avian influenza, citing gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for clearer coordination across agencies. On S. 1497, a pharmacy representative opposed restrictions on compounded drugs from outsourcing facilities, warning that changes could reduce access to life-saving medications and harm patient safety. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:14:27.560><c> studies</c><00:14:28.279><c> it</c> will suffer most from ethic studies it will
- Our Community Committee Legislative Assistant is going to hold up 30 seconds.
- Our Community Committee Legislative Assistant is going to hold up 30 seconds.
- Our Community Committee Legislative Assistant is going to hold up 30 seconds.
- Our Community Committee Legislative Assistant is going to hold up 30 seconds.
Keywords:
railroad, infrastructure, transportation funding, environmental remediation, capital investment, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Civil Rights & Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- For the record, I'm Representative Osman Saladin from the 48th Legislative District.
- I'll try to keep my remarks brief, as we know that this is complex legislation as well.
- This legislation does not call for extreme measures.
- I'm the Director of Legislation and Policy for State Auditor Pat McCarthy.
- I fully support the need for legislative oversight.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Mar 5th, 2025
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- That will be refocused soon through our sunset legislation from the 87th and the legislation, a lot of
- We would support any legislation that bolsters fusion centers.
- The legislative. chair for the Sheriff's Association of Texas.
- There's some legislation being drafted.
- Legislative fix, potentially.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice Sep 24th, 2025
Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We passed some legislation. I wanted the sponsor to come back.
- It's also listed in the legislation as well.
- It came to a head in this legislation.
- So those are my thoughts on this legislation.
- Chair, legislate love and hate. We can't legislate that.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice Jul 1st, 2025
Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So we, the effective date of this legislation was...
- This concerns legislation that you're passing out.
- I'm very much unresolved despite this legislation.
- Some of the legislation led to that perception.
- Legislation we passed because this was just a preliminary today.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- That will more align this piece of legislation with the legislation that regulates alcohol and tobacco
- This legislation, in our view, assists both parties.
- And this legislation would help bring closure to people. Thank you, sir.
- Under this legislation, that attorney's appointed immediately.
- And so 153 votes tells me that's a legislative priority.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Apr 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- From the 2026 legislative session.
- . generate funds; it only distributes existing legislative appropriations.
- And then we have math legislation implementation right below that.
- do we need and to have committee-endorsed legislation.
- And so kind of always keep in mind what is the legislation.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Apr 8th, 2025 at 01:00 pm
North Dakota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- HB 1300 relates to legislative term limits and the calculation of years of service.
- HB 1300 relates to legislative term limits and the calculation of years of service.
- put in there by Legislative Management.
- Who is actually put in there by Legislative Management, if that answers your question. Thank you.
- This legislation is pro-education, pro-growth, and most importantly, pro-student.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. The chamber received notice that the governor had signed several bills, and the Speaker appointed conference committees after the Senate failed to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2180 and 2330. The House also approved several sixth-order amendments without objection before moving into reconsideration and final action on House Bill 1300, which concerns legislative term limits. After procedural motions to reconsider and undo concurrence, the House voted to do not concur on HB 1300, sending it back to the chair’s lap for further negotiation.
A major portion of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 2232, which changes mandatory reporting rules for prenatal exposure to controlled substances and alcohol. Supporters said the bill is intended to keep pregnant women in prenatal care by removing an automatic CPS report if a woman tests positive but enters and stays on a treatment plan; opponents argued it weakens protections for unborn children and creates vague standards for mandated reporters. The House passed the bill 57-36. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 2280 unanimously, establishing timelines and standards for prior authorization in health insurance, and passed Senate Bill 2186, which creates a civil remedy for interference with court-ordered parenting time, a child custody review task force, and related reporting requirements.
The House then took up Senate Bill 2239, an apprenticeship grant program with a $1.1 million appropriation, but rejected it 14-79 after the committee said the program lacked a clear administrative home. Senate Bill 2241, creating a framework for public charter schools, generated extensive debate over school choice, local control, funding, staffing, and rural impacts; supporters emphasized flexibility and community-driven options, while opponents warned about diversion of funds and weak guardrails. The bill passed 64-29. The House also passed Senate Bill 2024, the Department of Environmental Quality budget, after discussion about federal funding uncertainty; Senate Bill 2374, updating property insurance laws and market rules; Senate Bill 2216, creating a waterfowl habitat restoration stamp; Senate Bill 2245, allowing certain duck and goose hunting from anchored floating craft; and Senate Bill 233, establishing a distressed ambulance services process, which drew questions about how affected districts and neighboring services would be involved.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Jun 12th, 2026
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules
Transcript Highlights:
- And so I actually watch legislation and I watch the rules.
- But that was done legislatively through a public system.
- And it may make, it may make sense, I think, at that time, legislatively to do it.
- I think my point in making this motion is just, I think at that time, legislatively to do it.
- limit ourselves through legislation and have to come back every session and change that.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Members announced that two Department of Natural Resources rules had been withdrawn, leaving only the Missouri Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) rule proposal for consideration. Public testimony focused on a proposed expansion of PDMP access to additional licensed behavioral health professionals, including licensed clinical social workers, licensed master social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and psychologists, along with related clarifications to delegate access categories such as medical assistants and clinical nurse specialists.
Testimony from the PDMP director and supporters from Compass Health and the Department of Mental Health argued the changes would improve care coordination, medication reconciliation, and overdose prevention within multidisciplinary behavioral health teams, especially in CCBHC settings. They said access would remain limited to licensed Missouri professionals working under supervision or collaboration with a prescriber or dispenser, and that the system is intended for treatment-related, view-only use. Opponents and skeptical committee members raised concerns that the rule would expand access beyond the original statutory framework without legislative change, could create privacy risks or misuse in non-treatment contexts such as custody disputes, and might exceed the committee’s rulemaking authority. One public witness opposed the rule, warning it could deter patients from seeking counseling and arguing the change should be made, if at all, by statute.
After testimony, committee members debated whether the proposal was a permissible clarification or an impermissible substantive expansion of the law. Supporters of disapproval said the issue was legality, not the merits of PDMP access, and urged the department to seek a bill sponsor if it wanted the change enacted. A motion was made and seconded to disapprove Rule 1 CSR 60-1.010 on the grounds of lack of statutory authority, conflict with state law, and arbitrariness/capriciousness. The committee then took a roll-call vote and approved the motion by 7 ayes to 1 no, disapproving the rule and adjourning with no further business.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Judiciary Feb 18th, 2026
Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence
Transcript Highlights:
- That will more align this piece of legislation with the legislation that regulates alcohol and tobacco
- This legislation, in our view, assists both parties.
- And this legislation would help bring closure to people. Thank you, sir.
- Under this legislation, that attorney's appointed immediately.
- And so 153 votes tells me that's a legislative priority.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee met in executive session and approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2765, which was amended to revise hemp beverage retailer delivery language, adjust retailer fees and renewals, require product registration, and remove residency requirements. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported do pass by a 10-0 vote. The committee also voted House Bill 2848, relating to mass intimidation offenses, do pass by a 9-0 vote.
In public hearing, the committee took testimony on House Joint Resolution 130, which would ask Missouri voters to authorize retrospective civil laws for child sexual abuse claims. The sponsor and survivor advocates argued the measure is needed to allow revival windows and address delayed disclosure, while opponents from the insurance, tort reform, and business communities warned it could expose third parties such as schools, churches, nonprofits, and employers to broad, open-ended liability and higher insurance costs. No vote was taken on the resolution.
The committee also heard House Bill 2254, which would speed capital post-conviction review by requiring earlier appointment of counsel and aligning Missouri procedures with federal standards. Supporters, including victims’ family members and the Attorney General’s office, said it would reduce years of delay and bring closure, while opponents raised concerns about wrongful convictions, conflicts from simultaneous representation, and increased public defender workload. Finally, House Bill 2206 on catalytic converter theft was heard; the sponsor and law enforcement supported stronger recordkeeping and licensing rules, while scrap/recycling and press representatives objected to added paperwork and a separate provision affecting public notice for self-storage sales. The hearing on HB 2206 was interrupted by the floor schedule and not completed in the transcript.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Feb 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm asking for a yes vote on this legislation before us.
- I'm asking for a yes vote on this legislation before us. asking for a yes vote on this legislation before
- I believe that this legislation will make it. rights respected and upheld.
- This is a complex piece of legislation.
- I would ask for your support to pass this piece of legislation forward.
Summary:
The committee heard Substitute Senate Bill 5520, which revises Washington’s wrongful conviction compensation law. Staff said the bill changes the proof standard for filing claims, expands treatment of Alford pleas, requires the Attorney General to concede qualifying claims in most cases, includes civil detention in compensation calculations, changes attorney fee provisions, and extends filing deadlines. The prime sponsor and supporters from the Washington Innocence Project and exonerees said the bill would reduce unnecessary relitigation and improve access to compensation, while one witness argued it would broaden eligibility and state costs. The bill was not acted on in the excerpt, but testimony was taken and questions focused on the term “actually innocent.”
The committee then heard Senate Bill 5536 on property division in dissolution and legal separation cases, which would direct courts to consider real-estate sale costs, homelessness risk, and housing needs when dividing property and liabilities, and would clarify enforcement of real property orders. The sponsor said the bill is meant to make property divisions more equitable when one spouse must keep and later sell the family home. No public testimony was taken on the bill in the excerpt.
In executive session, the committee considered Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925 on Attorney General civil investigative demands. Members debated and voted on many amendments; most Republican-sponsored amendments were rejected, but Amendment 279, limiting use by the Criminal Justice Division, and Amendment 273, requiring consultation with local law enforcement in matters that may involve criminal violations, were adopted. The committee then passed the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation by a 7-5 vote. The committee also heard and advanced Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6002 on automated license plate readers, adopting a striker and then passing the bill out 7-5 as amended, with members emphasizing privacy protections, retention limits, and limited law-enforcement uses while some members urged broader operational flexibility.
Later, the committee took brief public testimony on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6086, which would let Administrative Office of the Courts security staff conduct threat assessments and expand Supreme Court bailiff authority; witnesses described rising threats to judges and court personnel. It also heard Senate Bill 5868 to add one superior court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties, with local officials citing caseload growth and budget strain. Senate Joint Memorial 8006, urging restoration and expansion of the limited license legal technician program, drew support from a paralegal and victim advocate who said it would improve access to justice for domestic violence survivors. Finally, the committee considered Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5993 on medical debt interest rates, which would lower the interest cap on new medical debt and prohibit interest in certain circumstances; the bill was moved out of committee with a do pass recommendation in the excerpt.