Video & Transcript : 'Washington State Energy Code' :
Page 197 of 500
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- merchant codes. any state in the Constitution.
- merchant codes. any state in the Use.
- merchant codes. any state in the Falls flat.
- merchant codes. any state in the You're buying.
- Any state in the United States of America, even those who started in some way using these codes, they
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- So he's familiar with state government and been on the board.
- She is the 2025 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year.
- that they live in in this state.
- That doesn't speak to the state board of education.
- We have liaisons in the state, and then the DOD has liaisons to the state.
Bills:
HB1937 , HB2153 , HB3674 , HB2978 , HB3885 , HB3671 , HB3261 , HB3021 , HB3029 , HB4274 , HB3701 , HB3076
Committee:
Senate Education
Keywords:
HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- College and Carl Albert State College.
- College and Carl Albert State College.
- that they live in in this state.
- We have liaisons in the state, and then the DOD has liaisons to the state.
- We have liaisons in the state, and then the DOD has liaisons to the state.
Bills:
HB1937 , HB2153 , HB3674 , HB2978 , HB3885 , HB3671 , HB3261 , HB3021 , HB3029 , HB4274 , HB3701 , HB3076
Committee:
Senate Education
Keywords:
HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee first considered a series of executive nominations, including Brian Bobeck to the State Board of Education, Jonathan Daniels to the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools, Cody Swanee to OETA, Randy Squires to the Western Oklahoma State College Board of Regents, Dwight Spencer to the Carl Albert State College Board of Regents, V. Lee to the Oklahoma Arts Council, Adisha Chapman to the Murray State College Board of Regents, Trevor Pemberton to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Jennifer Carlson and Melissa Yvonne to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, Kevin Gross to the Tulsa Community College Board of Regents, and Barbara Myers to the Oklahoma Arts Council. Most nominees briefly described their backgrounds and reasons for serving, and the committee approved each nomination, with votes ranging from 8-1 to 10-0, sending them on to the full Senate or floor as applicable.
The committee then took up several education bills. House Bill 1937, dealing with the Communications with Students Act, was amended to require corroborated evidence before immediate suspension and to narrow the definition of student; it passed 9-0. House Bill 2153, which would subject OSSAA meetings and hearings to the Open Meetings Act and repeal the statutory one-year sit-out rule for transfers, drew questions about recruitment and FERPA but passed 7-3. House Bill 3674, requiring school resource officer training on sexual assault and violence, annual continuing education, mandatory reporting, and closure of contractor loopholes, passed 9-0. House Bill 3885, setting a graduated discipline framework for third through fifth graders, prompted debate over classroom safety and student rights and passed 9-1. House Bill 3671, allowing a receiving district to accept a transferring teacher’s career status, passed 10-0. House Bill 3261, assigning employee numbers to school support staff such as coaches and bus drivers for tracking across districts, passed 10-0.
Several other bills generated more extensive discussion. House Bill 2978, which would impose annual library audits, public online catalogs, a formal challenge process, and funding penalties for noncompliance, faced repeated questions about how it differed from existing policy and who could challenge materials; it failed 4-5. House Bill 3021, revising graduation requirements and preserving flexibility for applied math/science and local course approval while removing some language requirements, passed 8-2. House Bill 3029, requiring the Department of Education to develop a four-year plan, passed 9-1. House Bill 4274, expanding school choice options for military-dependent students living on base, passed 10-0. The committee also began consideration of House Bill 3076, which would clarify alternative teacher certification provider definitions and OEQA oversight, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- On the new language on page two, I see that it is designated by the State Department of Education, can
- It states that if you know, they are to let them know whether or not the teacher left in good standing
- Would this allow Oklahoma state dollars, OEP dollars, to go to pay?
- for other institutions outside of our state.
- So, if someone utilized those funds, could they pay for out-of-state tuition with it?
Bills:
SB514 , SB346 , SB1593 , SB1782 , SB1366 , SB1497 , SB366 , SB1895 , SB2048 , SB2005 , SB2006 , SB710 , SB1480
Committee:
Senate Education
Keywords:
SB514, school choice, charter school, virtual charter school, OSSAA, extracurricular activities, interscholastic activities, athletics, homeschool, other means of education, alternative education, student eligibility, student transfer, district policy, public school district, adjacent district, blended learning, virtual learning, school sports, academic eligibility
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- It's been done in other states. There are 15 other states that are working on similar legislation.
- There is no state money that goes into these buildings.
- The fiscal impact to the state currently with this bill is zero.
- The fiscal impact to the state currently with this bill is zero.
- our state?
Bills:
SB514 , SB346 , SB1593 , SB1782 , SB1366 , SB1497 , SB366 , SB1895 , SB2048 , SB2005 , SB2006 , SB710 , SB1480
Committee:
Senate Education
Keywords:
SB514, school choice, charter school, virtual charter school, OSSAA, extracurricular activities, interscholastic activities, athletics, homeschool, other means of education, alternative education, student eligibility, student transfer, district policy, public school district, adjacent district, blended learning, virtual learning, school sports, academic eligibility
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee met for deadline week and first recognized guests and updates, including a report from Senator Devers on the Elgin school bus crash and recognition of 2025 Teacher of the Year Melissa Yvonne and visiting students from UCO and Darnaby Elementary. The committee then took up a series of education bills, with several authors explaining that some measures were work in progress and striking title on those bills to continue negotiations.
Among the measures advanced were SB 514, clarifying alternative education programming through charter and virtual charter schools; SB 346, expanding school-to-school notification requirements about allegations or investigations involving teachers; SB 1593, updating outdated statutory references for the OSU-Tulsa board; SB 1366, using the Teacher Empowerment Fund to reward top teachers; SB 1497, correcting graduation standards to comply with IDEA and clarify alternate diplomas; SB 366, creating a process for charter schools to be notified about district facilities and lease or purchase opportunities; SB 1895, requiring districts to report whether they participate in the Community Eligibility Provision and why not; SB 2048, allowing the statewide charter school board to pay travel-related expenses for conferences and training; SB 710, allowing multiple grants under the Teach Forward teacher-prep program; and SB 1480, creating a pilot youth apprenticeship program. Most of these bills passed on bipartisan votes, often after questions about implementation, fiscal impact, or scope.
Two of the more debated measures were SB 1782, which would end new tenure plans for higher education employees and move new hires to five-year contracts, and SB 2005, which would restructure the OSSAA board. SB 1782 passed 6-4 after extended debate over constitutional authority, academic freedom, recruitment, and litigation risk, with supporters arguing it would increase flexibility and accountability and opponents warning about legal and retention concerns. SB 2005 failed 4-6 after members split over whether the legislature should intervene in OSSAA governance; supporters said the association was not responsive enough to member schools and families, while opponents argued the issue should be left to the organization and that the bill risked government overreach.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- are exploiting at the state level to harm our democracy.
- Sorry, we know our... ...state level to harm our democracy.
- but for the United States.
- but for the United States.
- Our intelligence community has directly implicated Chinese state-owned and state-directed actors in massive
Bills:
SB1046 , SB1317 , SB1376 , SB1416 , SB1448 , SB1471 , SB1493 , SB1498 , SB1502 , SB1504 , SB1538 , SB1544 , SB1550 , SB1579 , SB1581 , SB1584 , SB1624 , SB1673
Committee:
Senate Public Safety
Keywords:
telecommunications, broadband, internet infrastructure, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, national security, foreign adversary, China, Chinese equipment, supply chain security, network equipment, microchips, Arizona Corporation Commission, telecommunications provider, communications infrastructure, Huawei, ZTE, state-owned enterprise, sanctions, infrastructure security
TX
Texas 89th Regular
89th Legislative Session - First Called Session Aug 15th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for letting us live in these great United States.
- Thank you so much, Father, for the State of Texas.
- Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and the Texas flag.
- And for the good of the United States of America and for the good of the State of Texas, my state, and
- State your inquiry. Were all of the members who made the motion for strict enforcement here today?
Bills:
HB4 , HB1 , HB2 , HB18 , HB19 , HB20 , HB4 , HB1 , HB 2 , HB20 , HB19 , HB18 , HB 4 , HB 1 , HB 2 , HB 18 , HB 19 , HB 20
Keywords:
redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council
TX
Texas 89th Regular
89th Legislative Session - Second Called Session Aug 15th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We thank you, Father, that we can meet in the great state of Texas, in this beautiful building, Father
- , with all its history of the state of Texas.
- Members and guests in the gallery, please join me in our pledges to the United States and Texas flag.
- I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
- Texas, one state under God, one indivisible. God bless you all.
Bills:
HB4 , HB1 , HB2 , HB18 , HB19 , HB20 , HB4 , HB1 , HB 2 , HB20 , HB19 , HB18 , HB 4 , HB 1 , HB 2 , HB 18 , HB 19 , HB 20
Keywords:
redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Part 2)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- after state.
- It will hit red states, blue states, every state and every district.
- It will hit red states, blue states, every state and every district.
- Disapproval of Title 8, Chapter 5 of the United States Code, of the rules presented by the Environmental
- I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Washington State, the distinguished ranking member of the
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
JLARC – Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee May 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The second new study is a review of the state energy performance standard compliance.
- The Washington State Institute for Public Policy suggested in a recent report that surplus cannabis may
- This does make Washington an outlier among states.
- So a lot of the early work that RAND did with the states, focusing on the 2016-2017 period, Washington
- And the second question is, if we have such a great oversupply in the state of Washington, it would seem
Summary:
At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations.
The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses.
JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Feb 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And I would like to see Washington State be the state that does that and does it the best.
- Third, it reduces the number of state energy strategy reports.
- Independence Act and the state energy strategy.
- I'm a senior energy policy specialist at the Washington State Department of Commerce.
- industrial loads and manufacturers in the state of Washington.
Summary:
The committee first waived the five-day notice rule for several House bills, then took up public hearings on HB 2426, HB 1742, HB 2215, HB 2575, HB 1903, and HB 2606. HB 2426 would allow the Pollution Control Hearings Board, with party consent and board approval, to hear permit appeals in alternative smaller compositions to improve efficiency; the sponsor and supporters from Greater Grays Harbor and FutureWise said it would speed up reviews without harming environmental protections, while the bill was described as cost-neutral. HB 1742 would create a Center for Environmentally Sustainable Urban Design at Ecology to promote sustainable building and design competitions; the sponsor emphasized regenerative, biophilic design and a proposed showcase project, and the bill was presented as budget-neutral through outside funding, though the fiscal note was still pending.
HB 2215 would tighten Climate Commitment Act compliance for certain newer fuel suppliers by lowering the emissions threshold for post-2023 suppliers, exempt lubricants, and add procurement and transparency requirements. The sponsor said the bill targets “paper distributors” and loopholes used to avoid coverage; Ecology supported closing the loophole but raised concerns about reporting thresholds, implementation, staffing, and rulemaking. Testimony was mixed: the propane association and Washington Oil Marketers Association were concerned about the two-tier threshold and urged stronger upstream enforcement instead, while Climate Solutions and Washington Conservation Action supported the bill as a way to prevent gaming and strengthen climate policy. HB 2575 would reduce several environmental and energy reporting obligations, including less frequent utility reporting under the Energy Independence Act and state energy strategy updates; Commerce and the sponsor said the changes would reduce duplicative reporting and save money, while preserving core protections and oversight.
HB 1903 would establish a statewide low-income energy assistance program in the Department of Commerce, phased in by 2027, to supplement existing utility programs and target households with the greatest energy burden. The sponsor and many advocates described the bill as an affordability measure to address a large unmet need, while community action agencies, utilities, and rural representatives supported the goal but asked for clearer language on voluntary utility participation, funding sources, allocation formulas, and how the program would interact with existing utility and weatherization efforts. Several speakers stressed that the program should not replace local assistance and should be designed to avoid shifting costs onto ratepayers. HB 2606 would update the Office of Privacy and Data Protection’s duties and reporting requirements, including adding review of agency AI projects and aligning the office’s work with JLARC recommendations; the chief privacy officer testified in support, explaining that the bill would formalize AI risk review, human oversight, and existing privacy/security review processes, with no fiscal impact. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Thu Feb 26, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:58:39.920><c> from</c> guess it prohibits states from guess it prohibits states from creating
- </c> place on the state. place on the state.
- I think, on behalf of the state, this bill helps stabilize access to insurance and ensures the state
- </c><01:07:32.799><c> you</c> at contracts throughout the state you at contracts throughout the state
- </c> services that are provided to the state. services that are provided to the state.
Bills:
HB1946 , HB1515 , HB1514 , HB1648 , HB1644 , HB1619 , HB1571 , HB1810 , HB2475 , HB1645 , HB2301 , HB1889 , HB1840
Committee:
House Consumer Protection & Commerce
Keywords:
time shares, registration, renewal, real estate, Hawaii, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, workers' compensation, functional capacity examination, occupational therapy, physical therapy, employer responsibilities, injured workers, medical stabilization, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, healthcare providers
Summary:
The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 26, 2026, and heard several bills, mostly in the areas of workers’ compensation and consumer protection. HB 1946 HD1 on timeshare registration renewal drew support from DCCA’s timeshare program and major industry groups including Hilton Grand Vacations, the American Resort Development Association, and Marriott Vacations Worldwide, with no opposition noted. HB 1515 HD1, which would allow an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination without employer permission, was supported by DLIR and the Department of Human Resources Development and had no other in-person testimony; the bill was then moved on without questions.
The committee spent substantial time on HB 1514 HD1, which would streamline workers’ compensation vocational rehabilitation by clarifying provider selection and requiring vocational plans within 90 days. DLIR supported the intent but asked for amendments, saying the 90-day deadline was too rigid given case-by-case complexity, limited staffing, and the need for coordination among injured workers, employers, and counselors; members discussed possible extensions and whether a 120-day timeline or other flexibility would be better. Testimony on the bill included one individual in support and seven in opposition.
HB 1648 HD1, concerning workers’ compensation and physician dispensing of non-prescription drugs, drew support from DHRD and comments from DLIR and industry witnesses. DLIR said the bill should be narrowed so it does not restrict medically necessary over-the-counter medications or oral guidance from providers, while Aloha Billing Company and Solera Integrated Medical Solutions urged tighter limits on physician dispensing and raised concerns about pricing abuse through average wholesale price. Members discussed clarifying the bill’s language so it targets written prescriptions rather than oral advice. HB 1644 HD1, requiring a standardized disclosure form for residential solar contracts, received support from the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative, while DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection supported the consumer-protection goal but proposed stronger remedies, including a three-day cancellation right, voidability for missing disclosures, and possible lender liability; members questioned how those remedies should apply to lenders, and no vote was taken on the measures in the portion provided.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Tue Feb 3, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 8
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, members, please welcome our guests and welcome to your State House of Representatives. family.
- </c> your state house of representatives. your state house of representatives.
- As having been homeschooled my whole life, I appreciate all that you do for our state.
- you</c><00:17:33.039><c> do</c><00:17:33.200><c> for</c><00:17:33.360><c> our</c><00:17:33.520><c> state
- And in each of those cleanups, we fish out probably about eight shopping carts from that state wildlife
Bills:
HB1601 , HB1616 , HB1603 , HB1604 , HB1605 , HB1606 , HB1802 , HB1569 , HB1619 , HB1730 , HB1749 , HB644 , HB1620
Keywords:
biosecurity, invasive species, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources, appropriation, agriculture, aquaculture, commercial activity, swine production, Korean natural farming, land leases, Hawaii, extension, Department of Agriculture, housing, workforce, land use, zoning, public-private partnerships, tax credit
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Feb 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Washington is the leading apple-producing state in the nation, accounting for more than 60% of U.S. apple
- Researchers working with Washington State University have already identified dozens of rare and historic
- House Bill 2525 creates a formal partnership with Washington State University to identify and register
- state.
- In the state of Washington, there's another university, Gonzaga, that had the first geothermal system
Summary:
The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee first waived the five-day notice rule and held a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 2525, which would establish a Heritage Orchard Program at Washington State University. Staff explained the bill was narrowed from the original version and would require WSU to maintain a registry of heritage orchards and a list of rare and lost apple varieties, with a null and void clause and fiscal note available. Representative Gloria Mendoza testified in support, describing Washington’s apple history and the effort to identify and preserve old apple trees still found on farms and trails around the state. Members asked questions about how the program would locate trees and preserve historic varieties, but no vote was taken on the bill during the hearing.
The committee then heard several gubernatorial appointments to higher education boards. Representative Deborah Inteman was nominated to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Bryce W. McKibben to the Pierce College Board of Trustees, former Senator David Frockt to the Western Washington University Board of Trustees, and former Senator Christine Rolfes to the Olympic College Board of Trustees. Each appointee described their background in higher education, public service, and community college or university advocacy, and members asked about attendance, board service, and how they would help bridge legislative and institutional priorities. The committee also held a work session on Central Washington University’s geothermal and decarbonization efforts, with staff explaining the university’s open-loop geothermal system, planned geo-eco plants, and climate action goals tied to state clean building and decarbonization mandates. CWU officials said the project is intended to reduce emissions, support campus heating and cooling, and serve as a living laboratory for students.
In executive session, the committee moved to report a panel of gubernatorial appointments, including the higher education appointments heard that day, with a recommendation that they be confirmed. The motion passed by voice vote, and the committee adjourned.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And each year, over $600 million is stolen from workers in Washington State.
- State Labor Council, the Association of Washington Businesses, Columbia Legal Services, and the National
- Madam Chair, we'll be hearing from Carissa Larson from the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO.
- Madam Chair, we'll be hearing from Carissa Larson from the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO.
- My name is Carissa Larson here on behalf of the Washington State Labor Council, AFLCIO, or I'm deputy
Summary:
The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2479, the Wage Recovery Act, which would create a wage recovery program and account to provide limited advance payments to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship from unpaid wages, while also changing how L&I prioritizes wage complaints and increasing civil penalties for willful wage violations. The bill was described as a consensus product of a labor-business work group, and testimony from the sponsor, work group members, business groups, and labor organizations was strongly supportive, emphasizing faster wage recovery, better enforcement, and a balanced approach to wage theft. No one testified in opposition.
The committee then moved into executive session and took action on several bills. It reported out House Bill 291, extending employee contact-information sharing requirements to all state agencies; House Bill 2105, as amended, on notice requirements for I-9 audits and related records; House Bill 2107, as amended, on L&I notice to employers after construction-site hazard inspections; House Bill 2151, as amended, on factory-built housing and inspection standards; House Bill 2190, on compensation for language access providers for missed appointments; House Bill 2303, as amended, prohibiting employer requests or coercion for microchip implantation; and House Bill 2345, as amended, adjusting paid family and medical leave premium allocation to address an IRS-related issue. The committee also deferred action on House Bills 2191 and 2218.
Several amendments were adopted during executive session, including technical and policy changes to HB 2105, a carve-out in HB 2151 for certain prefabricated enclosures used for energy equipment, and removal of administrative enforcement from HB 2303. Final votes were largely bipartisan, with most measures passing on voice vote or by recorded vote and receiving due pass recommendations.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Transportation Committee Dec 3rd, 2025
Joint Transportation Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- In Washington State, your legislation... issue.
- So that's something that Washington State could consider.
- because of requirements related to the energy code.
- because of requirements related to the energy code.
- Washington State is a place that people want to be. We have a beautiful state.
Committee:
Joint Joint Transportation Committee
Summary:
The committee first heard a presentation from WSDOT on balancing uncertainty in capital program estimates and cash flow management. WSDOT explained the differences between design-bid-build and design-build delivery, its tiered risk-assessment process by project size, and how it uses base estimates, inflation, and risk modeling to set budgets. Staff said design-bid-build estimates are generally accurate within about 1% across the program, while design-build projects carry much wider uncertainty and are better communicated as ranges; they cited a P85 budget approach and noted that large, complex projects can be affected by market competition and long procurement timelines. Members asked about the Columbia River Bridge cost growth and about value engineering, and WSDOT said it uses value engineering but has limited scope to cut costs because of project requirements and policy mandates. Troy Swing also discussed cash flow, noting that a few large projects can significantly affect biennial funding needs, and said a risk pool would not reduce overall program risk but could help manage timing if paired with appropriation and cash-flow controls.
The committee then received the final presentation in the WSDOT Project Delivery and Innovative Practices study from HKA Global. The consultant said WSDOT’s estimating practices are generally robust and recommended improving transparency by presenting budget authorizations as ranges or estimate classes, better tracking estimate growth over time, and adjusting advertisement timing to avoid competing lettings. The report also discussed surety bonding, suggesting the legislature consider restoring authority for reduced bonding on select large design-build projects or using phased bonding and alternative securities. On indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting, the consultant said current job order contract rules are restrictive and recommended legislative changes to make such tools more usable, especially for smaller tasks and to help use unspent funds more flexibly.
The committee also heard a follow-up presentation on transit-oriented development policy recommendations tied to HB 1491. The Urban Institute’s Yona Freemark said Washington has been a national leader on TOD but that housing construction, especially in the Puget Sound, has slowed sharply since 2022. He said rising construction costs, high financing costs, and local tax and rent conditions are making many TOD projects infeasible, and recommended that the state fill infrastructure funding gaps around stations, revisit MFTE affordability requirements, consider minimum rather than average density requirements near transit, and create a statewide system to track TOD outcomes such as affordability, gentrification, and transit access. Members questioned the study’s developer interviews, the role of rent control and crime, property tax assumptions, and parking needs; the presenter said the study included five private developers, that rent control was not part of the study scope, and that parking was included in the model assumptions.
Finally, the committee began a presentation on regulating emissions from ocean-going vessels at berth. Staff and consultants described California-style at-berth rules, which require shore power or equivalent emissions controls so ships can shut off diesel auxiliary engines while docked. The study is examining vessel traffic, emissions reductions, implementation costs, labor and operational needs, and possible effects on port competitiveness and cargo diversion. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Senate and Governmental Affairs May 27th, 2026
Senate & Governmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- State your name for the record, please.
- State your name for the record, please.
- And state boards and commissions that are authorized to adopt rules and state boards and commissions
- would probably never urge local governing authorities or even state boards and commissions, and state
- He's a state senator in Pennsylvania.
Committee:
Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs
Keywords:
sales tax, exemptions, credits, rebates, uniformity, legislative rules, fiscal report, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, public meetings, broadcast, transparency, government accountability
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- What are the in-state migration or out-of-state migration patterns of TOPS completers?
- We are comprised of 11 institutions across the state.
- I know it's done in other states.
- And in the administrative code, BESE allows non-public schools to award a state-weighted diploma or a
- So I think we expend a lot of money in the state.
Committee:
House Education
Keywords:
education, investment, workforce development, TOPS, higher education, repayment, scholarships, academic eligibility, financial aid, athletics, high school sports, state report, student wellness, computer science, scholarship, curriculum requirements, workforce training, education funding, data administration, financial assistance
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- state.
- He's done great things for the state of Oklahoma.
- If you will state your name and who you're with.
- Can you state your name and who you're with again?
- dollars would remain in the state?
Committee:
Senate Agriculture and Wildlife
Keywords:
veterinary medicine, definitions, animal husbandry, board of veterinary examiners, telemedicine, veterinarian-client relationship, animal welfare, commercial pet breeders, licensing, advertising, animal cruelty, Oklahoma Agricultural Extension, local funding, financial institutions, county extension services, state funds, wildlife conservation, hunting regulations, mountain lions, black bears
Summary:
The Agriculture Committee first considered two executive nominations and approved both unanimously. Rebecca Hartfield was re-nominated to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, where she described her rural mixed-animal veterinary work and efforts to encourage future veterinarians. James Harrell was then nominated to the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medical Authority; supporters emphasized his commitment to rural Oklahoma and addressing the shortage of large-animal veterinarians, and he discussed efforts to improve veterinary education and recruit more Oklahoma students. Both nominations passed 13-0.
The committee then took up House Bill 3391, which would add improper advertising as a basis for revoking a commercial pet breeder license and define advertising to include digital and social media. Members asked about the definition and scope of commercial pet breeders. The bill passed on a 9-4 vote. House Bill 4128, dealing with black bear hunting season and harvest limits, drew extensive debate. An amendment to move the opener to September 21, expand counties, and let the Wildlife Commission set quotas failed 6-7. The underlying bill, which would have kept the September 15 opener and a 200-bear limit, also failed 3-9 after testimony and debate focused on bear population data, nuisance complaints, and concerns about out-of-state hunters and impacts on female bears.
House Bill 3557, which would keep locally raised county extension funds in separate accounts so they are not swept into state accounts, passed 10-2 after questions about how local, state, and federal funds would be handled. Finally, House Bill 3239 on veterinary telemedicine passed 9-3. The bill defines the veterinarian-client relationship needed before telemedicine can be used, with supporters saying it would provide needed structure while preserving access for rural livestock care; opponents worried it could restrict access in emergencies. The committee then adjourned.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee REVISED: SB1262 added pursuant to Speaker's waiver of 48 hr rule Apr 8th, 2026 at 04:30 pm
A&B Education Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- So, I think there's a very clear statement to educators and education students across the state that
- As far as the agency goes, it should be an account with the state region, so I think the funding level
- have institutions of higher learning that routinely will mingle in scholarship programs that some are state
- No, what I do know is that we have nonprofit partners all across the state who have, in similar programs
Committee:
House A&B Education Subcommittee
Keywords:
school funding, general fund carryover, State Aid, educational finance, budget penalties, emergency clause, tuition waiver, human trafficking, education, higher learning access, victims' rights, Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant, higher education, financial aid, income eligibility, student grants, scholarships, capital improvements, teacher incentives, Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act