Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is not a crime-fighting tool.
• , is we are the legislative branch.
• Madam Chair and Representatives, I would just distinguish this legislation from another piece of legislation
• That's not part of this legislation.
• That's not part of this legislation.

Bills: SB38, SB17, SB41, SB264

Keywords: SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration, New Mexico, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, sexual crimes, statute of limitations

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 38, which would make permanent the New Mexico affordable spay-neuter program funded by fees on registered pet food. The sponsor and supporters said the program helps reduce companion animal overpopulation, shelter intake, and euthanasia, while opponents argued the charge is an unlawful tax, is tied to ongoing litigation, and that required annual reporting has not been done. After public testimony, the committee adopted a due pass motion on SB 38 by a 10-1 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 17, a gun-safety measure that would impose new requirements on firearms dealers and prohibit future sale of certain assault-style and high-capacity weapons. Supporters, including sponsors, gun-violence survivors, public safety advocates, and some local officials, argued the bill would address straw purchasing, trafficking, dealer accountability, and mass-casualty weapons. Opponents, including firearms retailers, ranchers, law enforcement, and gun owners, said the bill would burden lawful businesses, raise constitutional concerns, and do little to stop crime. After extensive testimony and questions about the bill’s legal basis, definitions, and dealer regulations, the committee did not vote and instead rolled the bill for further work on amendments. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 41, as amended, which would eliminate the statute of limitations for second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor. Support came from the Chamber of Commerce and sexual assault advocacy groups, who said delayed disclosure is common and justice should not expire before survivors are ready to come forward. Committee members asked detailed questions about the bill’s scope, including why certain offenses remained covered and how the criminal statutes are categorized. The committee adopted an amendment to correct drafting issues and then passed SB 41 as amended on a 10-0 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 264, an elections safety bill that would strengthen penalties for election interference, create emergency polling-place protocols, and clarify when law enforcement may be present at polling places at the request of election officials. Supporters said it was needed to protect voters from intimidation, while an opponent argued it could put law enforcement at risk and restrict their ability to vote. The sponsor and Secretary of State explained that the bill was aimed at preventing ordered deployment of armed personnel to polling places, not barring officers or service members from voting. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Port is carrying that um legislation Port is carrying that um legislation that<00:04:33.280><c>
• </c><00:04:44.080><c> that</c> working on a piece of legislation that working on a piece of legislation
• </c><00:19:54.960><c> And</c> from the legislative point of view.
• And from the legislative point of view.
• Will that impact legislating this session? Yeah, it's amazing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the 5th Legislative District, and I just... My name is Lisa Callan.
• The bill is request legislation from the Department of Revenue.
• I run one of these stores in Olympia and am one of the legislators' constituents.
• I'm from the 48th Legislative District.
• I'm from Renton, Legislative District 5.

Summary: The committee heard briefings, sponsor presentations, and public testimony on several finance bills. HB 2038 would impose an additional B&O tax on businesses operating social media platforms beginning in 2027 and create a youth behavioral health account funded by the tax. The sponsor argued the bill would help address youth mental health harms linked to social media and support implementation of the Washington Thriving plan. Supporters in testimony, including youth advocates and some public health voices, said social media contributes to youth anxiety and addiction and that the revenue should be used for behavioral health services. Opponents, including technology and business groups, argued the tax unfairly singles out one sector, could be passed on to consumers, and may violate federal internet tax law. The hearing on HB 2038 was suspended and later reopened for public testimony; no vote was taken. HB 2297 would create tax incentives for grocery stores in underserved communities, including local B&O preferences, a sales tax exemption for security services, a 30-year property tax exemption program, a B&O tax credit, and a B&O exemption for certain locally owned or employee-owned stores. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to preserve and attract grocery stores in food deserts, especially after recent store closures, and to help communities with limited transportation and access to healthy food. County representatives supported the goal but raised concern about the bill’s sales tax exemption and its effect on local revenues. Public testimony was largely supportive, with advocates, local officials, grocers, and residents describing grocery stores as essential community infrastructure. No action was taken. HB 2382 would raise cigarette taxes by $2 per pack, restructure vapor and other tobacco product taxes, and dedicate portions of the revenue to a time-sensitive emergency system, tobacco enforcement, and the foundational public health services account. The sponsor said the bill would generate needed revenue, support cancer research funding, and strengthen public health and enforcement. Supporters said higher tobacco taxes reduce use and help cover long-term health costs, while some public health witnesses supported the revenue but suggested directing more funds to existing tobacco prevention accounts. Opponents from retail and industry groups argued the proposal is regressive, could increase illicit sales and cross-border purchasing, and would hurt small businesses and low-income consumers. The committee also heard HB 2487, a Department of Revenue request bill that would narrow the B&O exemption for insurers to clarify that it applies only to premium income subject to insurance premium tax, and apply the change retroactively to 2019. The sponsor and supporters said the bill closes a loophole created by a recent Supreme Court ruling and preserves tax equity, while insurers and business groups objected to the retroactive application, warning of higher premiums and unfair taxation. Finally, HB 2018 would increase the solid waste tax by 0.5% per year for five years and direct the new revenue to a local government solid waste assistance account for county and city waste management plans. County officials supported the bill as a way to stabilize funding for solid waste systems, and testimony emphasized rising disposal and infrastructure costs. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is governor-request legislation.
• As was mentioned, this is governor-request legislation.
• In sum, the committee should not move forward with this legislation.
• This legislation prohibits minors to content that fuels self-harm and suicide.
• We also disagree with some of the proposed legislative findings of the bill.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on three bills. SB 6076, sponsored by Sen. Gaynor, would streamline procurement for consumer-owned utilities on clean energy, storage, transmission, and distribution projects through 2045 by raising contract thresholds, allowing more use of vendor lists, electronic bids, and broader competitive-bidding exemptions for certain energy-related projects. The sponsor and utility and labor supporters said the bill would help PUDs respond to rising costs, supply-chain shortages, aging infrastructure, and growing electricity demand, while keeping work with union labor. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing closed with 60 people signed in pro and 3 con. The committee then heard SB 5984, a governor-request bill sponsored by Sen. Wellman that would regulate AI companion chatbots by requiring disclosure that users are interacting with AI, restricting manipulative engagement techniques for minors, requiring safeguards against sexual content and self-harm, and creating enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act with a private right of action. Supporters included the governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, privacy officials, parents, child-safety advocates, researchers, and some tech-industry voices who urged stronger safeguards; they emphasized harms to minors, suicide risks, and the need for transparency and accountability. Opponents and critics argued the bill could sweep too broadly, create constitutional/free-speech problems, burden general-purpose AI and consumer-facing businesses, and rely on unclear or ineffective definitions. The hearing closed with 697 signed in pro, 219 con, and 477 other. Finally, the committee heard SB 6119 on 6PPD-containing tires. The bill would phase out sale and distribution of tires containing 6PPD or regrettable substitutes beginning in 2035, create a mitigation fee on such tires, and dedicate revenue to Ecology administration, monitoring, salmon and waterbody studies, and waste tire removal. Supporters, including the bill sponsor, scientists, environmental groups, Seattle Public Utilities, and salmon-recovery advocates, said 6PPD-Q is acutely toxic to coho salmon and that a deadline and fee would accelerate safer alternatives and fund mitigation. Ecology and industry witnesses acknowledged the problem but said no proven alternative is yet available and warned the bill could be premature, raise costs, and affect tire safety and affordability; business and trucking groups also opposed the measure, citing duplication of the existing Safer Products process and the need for further stakeholder work. No votes or executive action were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had my question has to do with the California legislation.
• We do support thoughtful AI legislation.
• Representative Lisa Callan, I represent the Fifth Legislative District.
• This is governor-request legislation.
• I hope you look at this as strong legislation to stop the harms.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three AI-related bills. HB 1170 would require large generative AI providers to offer provenance detection tools and include latent and manifest disclosures in AI-generated or altered content; supporters said it is needed to combat deepfakes and disinformation, while opponents raised First Amendment, technical feasibility, and compliance concerns, and the Attorney General’s Office said the bill needs clearer provider definitions and enforcement language. HB 2157 would regulate high-risk AI systems used in consequential decisions such as employment, housing, health care, and parole by requiring risk management, impact assessments, disclosures, and a private right of action; the sponsor said it is needed to address algorithmic discrimination and consumer protection, while industry and civil liberties groups warned it is overbroad, burdensome, and constitutionally problematic, and the AG’s Office supported the concept but asked for changes to enforcement and the right-to-cure provisions. HB 2225 would regulate AI companion chatbots by requiring disclosures, limits on manipulative engagement, and safeguards for minors and self-harm; the sponsor, governor’s office, AG’s Office, researchers, and several families testified in support, citing harms to youth and real-world suicides, while industry groups supported narrower protections but objected to the private right of action and scope. No votes were taken during the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• The judicial, magistrate, legislative, and volunteer firefighter funds.
• Legislative funds have been trending downward.
• Prior to legislation, I believe that contribution is $3.8 million that's coming back into the legislative
• Okay, before we go to the legislation, I want to recognize one of our guest legislators.
• She'll explain the legislation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was not a legislator during the beginning of the pandemic.
• Prior to 2011, the SWEFA required legislative authorization.
• It's on us as legislators for not legislating more efficiently or effectively, I would say.
• And that second one will be a legislative reception.
• In New Mexico, what are you asking from this legislation? So, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:03.679><c> session,</c><00:24:04.080><c> there</c> of the last legislative session, there
• </c> as last educ uh legislative session. as last educ uh legislative session.
• c> and</c><00:27:33.520><c> the</c> legislators, community leaders, and the legislators, community leaders
• Well, not the motives of the legislator or the legislature, but okay.
• Um won't repeat anything legislation.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , legislators, legislators, from<01:16:40.719><c> town</c><01:16:41.120><c> administrators,</c> from
• </c> 91 A5X as amended by prior legislation 91 A5X as amended by prior legislation such<02:06:26.800>
• The legislative history, spaces.
• </c> an opportunity under this legislation an opportunity under this legislation for<02:28:49.520><c>
• </c> his legislation. his legislation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I strongly oppose the legislation. Thank you.
• This is the unintended consequences of prior legislation.
• Alexa Chavez, legislative advocate here on behalf of CCPU.
• I'm a legislative advocate with ACLU California Action.
• I'm a legislative advocate with ACLU California Action.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I won't um I won't ask legislation.
• Um by page of your existing legislation.
• </c><00:03:26.959><c> We</c> that I think this legislation is. We that I think this legislation is.
• ><c> an</c><00:21:57.840><c> appropriation</c> legislation, we provide an appropriation legislation,
• of model legislation because the obviously<01:26:08.320><c> the</c><01:26:08.800><c> legislative</c>

Bills: HB0103, HB0070, HB0091

Keywords: First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a piece of legislation that was passed in 1986, which provided for Idaho membership on the Pacific
• This legislation, House Bill 855, is a fairly simple bill.
• Fish and Game was actually looking at doing agency legislation on this one next year, but I figured why
• Chairman, members of the committee, for the record my name is Ellery Tucker Williams, legislative and
• Ellery Tucker Williams, legislative and community engagement coordinator for the Idaho Department of

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 1396, a Code Cleanup measure repealing Idaho Code 67-452, which had authorized Idaho membership on the Pacific Fisheries Task Force. It was noted that Idaho has not participated since 2022. Senator Cook moved the bill be sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the motion passed unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 855 from Representative James Petsky, which would extend the residency requirement for purchasing a lifetime hunting or fishing license from six months to five years. Petsky said the change was intended to close a loophole he described as people moving to Idaho briefly to qualify for the license and then leaving. Idaho Fish and Game testified in support, saying the bill would reduce abuse of the program and better align with the state’s nonresident draw system. After questions about how residency is verified and whether the bill would affect current license holders, the committee voted to send HB 855 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Next, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 34 from Senator Mark Harris, which reaffirms Idaho’s rights under the Bear River Compact and calls for studies, reporting, and planning related to water storage, recharge, and stream gauging in the Bear River Basin. Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association supported the resolution and said it would help identify ways to better manage and develop water supplies. The committee asked about costs, and Arrington said the resolution was focused on study and reporting rather than immediate project spending. The committee then moved HCR 34 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also approved the February 25 minutes and concluded with a recognition of page Antoine, who spoke about his future plans and was presented with a gift.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no legislative record, unlike the Voting Rights Act.
• That's the legislative reapportionment.
• Yes, I believe it is. of legislative reapportionment.
• Fox News receiving a map before us, the legislators, is wild.
• Before us, the legislators, is wild to me.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This, to me, this bill is about legislative oversight.
• I am the legislative liaison for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• I am the Legislative liaison for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• In the legislative process, we sit here right now in a committee.
• I am one of the two women candidates for Legislative District 19.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2787, which would bar the state and its political subdivisions from using personnel or financial resources to enforce or cooperate with the federal Mexican wolf reintroduction program, while exempting the Livestock Loss Board’s livestock loss program. Sierra Club and animal welfare advocates opposed the bill as harmful to wolf recovery and unnecessary given the livestock loss reimbursement data. The committee approved HB 2787 on a 4-3 vote. Members then considered House Bill 255, which would create a Brackish Groundwater Recovery Program Fund and authorize the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to administer projects using long-term water augmentation funds. Opponents argued brackish groundwater is still groundwater and pumping it could cause localized impacts and land subsidence, while supporters framed it as a water-supply solution. The bill failed on a 2-4 vote. The committee next advanced House Bill 2782, requiring disclosure rules for regulatory assets included in utility rates, and House Bill 2781, which would impose financial assurance, insurance, decommissioning, and site-restoration requirements on solar energy power plants. HB 2781 drew stakeholder testimony from solar industry, utilities, and local-government interests; an amendment to revise financial assurance and remove a remediation fund was adopted, but the bill itself then failed on a 4-4 vote. The committee also approved House Bill 2975, which would suspend State Land Department solar scoring maps and require new mining and housing resource maps, despite opposition that it would reduce transparency and favor certain land uses over solar. Later, the committee approved House Bill 2696, as amended, directing the Arizona Commerce Authority to prioritize fuel and gas price reduction and create a fuel resiliency task force, after debate over whether the bill should focus more broadly on energy resilience and whether the ACA was the right agency. The committee also passed HCM 2009, urging Congress to streamline mining access, compensate states for subsurface mineral rights, and require legislative approval for new national monuments, and HB 2889, which would fund ADEQ monitoring of uranium contamination and create a statewide registry and tribal-partnered monitoring program. Finally, the committee heard HB 2763, which would require a legislative joint resolution before the Game and Fish Commission could close a shooting range; Game and Fish said it would add another step to the closure process and mainly affect the Ben Avery facility, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, thank you very much for your consideration of this legislation.
• ,</c><00:23:33.400><c> that</c> outlawing by this legislation, that outlawing by this legislation, that
• And this legislation allows lending.
• The legislation would expand that authority to crowd in more private capital.
• </c> legislation simply and straightforwardly legislation simply and straightforwardly just<00:30:41.200

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we all know what happened in June of 2025 when our own Minnesota state legislator, Speaker Emeritus
• They show up in all sorts of different ways from phone calls to drones outside of legislators' homes.
• They show up in all sorts of different ways from phone calls to drones outside of legislators' homes.
• They show up in all sorts of different ways from phone calls to drones outside of legislators' homes.
• There was no clear command in who's in charge of the safety of legislators.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• on</c><00:07:01.680><c> more</c><00:07:01.919><c> than</c> legislation that reflects on more than legislation
• Um, I for working on this legislation.
• This is the exact legislation that we hoped would follow.
• This is the exact legislation Caucus.
• House Bill 136 is necessary legislators.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:26 Report of Committees 05:13 Orders of the Day/ HB 6 06:22 HB 480 14:13 HB 562 17:55 HB 136 25:53 HB 257 29:47 HB 490 35:54 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 40:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 52:44 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 53:49 ConC/Rules Report 57:12 Floor Amendments 58:49 Adjournment 58:59, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> your legislation Senate Bill 2314. your legislation Senate Bill 2314.
• a piece of anti-trafficking legislation.
• . legislation. legislation.
• We have not led any legislation on That. We have not led any legislation on that.
• And again, I'm not upset about the legislation.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Curtis King from the 14th Legislative District.
• Hi, I'm Representative Julia Reed from the 36th Legislative District.
• We looked at the legislative action in 2020.
• We looked at the legislative action in 2020.
• I mean, there's always going to be someone that will take legislation, but even when you have legislation

Summary: The meeting began with introductions from members of the Joint Transportation Committee and a presentation from the Association of Washington Cities and the public works directors of Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, and West Richland. The cities described the Quad Cities region as one of the fastest-growing in the state and outlined shared transportation priorities that align with the committee’s focus on safety, multimodal access, climate resilience, and economic development. They emphasized Vision Zero efforts, complete streets, ADA accessibility, regional trail and bike/pedestrian planning, and coordinated long-range transportation and land-use planning to manage growth. The city officials also discussed major funding and delivery challenges, including rising construction costs, project phasing, pavement preservation, right-of-way acquisition, and delays caused by state and federal permitting and review processes. They highlighted regional cooperation through the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments, Good Roads, and local funding tools such as impact fees, transportation benefit districts, REET, tax increment financing, and state and federal grants. Specific projects discussed included Richland’s SR 240/Aaron Drive complete streets project and downtown connectivity work, Kennewick’s Columbia Center Boulevard improvements and rail study, Pasco’s Court/Road 68, Sylvester Street corridor, I-182 bridge/interchange work, and a new north-south bridge study, and West Richland’s SR 224 Red Mountain corridor project, which officials said was awarded under budget and is scheduled to begin construction. Committee members asked questions about sidewalk connections to schools, state-agency right-of-way timelines, apprenticeship utilization, contractor selection, and whether complete streets requirements add burdens to pavement preservation projects. The city officials said new development is generally meeting sidewalk standards, but older infill areas remain a gap; that state right-of-way transactions can take much longer than expected; that apprenticeship requirements are common but harder for smaller contractors and local labor markets; and that low-bid contracting leaves little room to screen for performance history. They also said complete streets requirements are usually manageable on major projects but can be difficult to absorb in smaller preservation work. The committee then shifted to a JTC-funded study on transit-oriented development, presented by Urban Institute researcher Yona Freemark. The study examined TOD conditions in 33 cities in Snohomish, King, Pierce, Clark, and Spokane counties near rail and bus rapid transit stations. Freemark said Washington’s housing affordability crisis is severe, especially near transit, and found that high-cost cities have seen more development near stations but also signs of gentrification and loss of affordable housing, while lower-cost cities have had less development and worsening affordability relative to income. He identified barriers including high debt costs, land costs, infrastructure costs, zoning and parking rules, and limited subsidies for affordable housing. He recommended more neighborhood infrastructure funding near stations, stronger affordable housing investment, and better use of public land, noting that HB 1491 and related legislation are already changing some local requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• For us to be able to look at legislatively.
• We don't need legislation to do it again.
• Are there legislative changes that need to be made?
• I have legislation AB 315 that's moving forward through the legislative process to look at whether...
• Jason Constantouros, Legislative Analyst's Office.

Keywords: 988, house, all