Transcript Highlights:

• The reserve information that they've collected on demographics: the average user is 36 years old or younger
• The reserve information that they've collected on demographics.
• interested in this subject: you made reference to data that you collected from CFPB or a Federal Reserve
• And so the Federal Reserve study did mention that people use it because they can't afford the purchase
• the work of CFPB, perhaps you also may be aware of other research that has been done by the Federal Reserve

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a work session on buy now, pay later (BNPL) transactions, focusing on how the products work, how they are used in Washington, and whether existing state law adequately protects consumers. Department of Financial Institutions staff described BNPL as short-term, usually no-interest installment financing offered at checkout, often with automatic payments, late fees, and varying credit-reporting practices. Members asked how BNPL compares with payday lending and earned wage access, whether it is effectively a loan or credit product, and whether Washington law already covers it. DFI explained that some BNPL structures may fall into a legal gray area under the Retail Installment Sales of Goods and Services Act because pay-in-four products may not meet the statute’s “more than four installments” language, while other structures may be covered; they also noted the Attorney General can enforce the act. DFI and committee members discussed consumer risks such as overextension, automatic debits, and lack of standardized disclosures, and DFI said it would follow up with additional data on defaults and related issues. Molly Gallagher of the Poverty Action Network and Nadine Chabrier of the Center for Responsible Lending argued that BNPL can help consumers but also poses significant risks, especially for lower-income consumers and consumers of color who already carry debt or use other alternative financial products. They said BNPL use has grown rapidly, often involves multiple simultaneous loans across providers, and can lead to overdrafts, late fees, and difficulty tracking obligations because payments are spread across different schedules. They emphasized concerns about weak disclosures, limited dispute protections, automatic payment structures, credit reporting inconsistencies, consumer overextension, and data privacy/dark-pattern marketing. They also described federal retrenchment, including the CFPB’s withdrawal of an interpretive rule that would have treated BNPL like a digital credit card, and pointed to state responses in places like New York, California, and Maryland. Committee members signaled interest in possible Washington legislation and stronger state oversight. Retail and business witnesses offered a more favorable view of BNPL as a cash-flow and sales tool. A Washington Retail Association representative described BNPL as an evolution of layaway and credit-card-style installment purchasing, noting that merchants receive payment up front minus fees while consumers get goods or services immediately and repay over time. A representative from a business using deferred-payment financing said the tool helps customers obtain equipment and helps the business manage inventory and cash flow, while NFIB said small businesses also use BNPL to bridge expenses and avoid higher-interest credit card debt. Members asked about merchant fees, consumer education, and whether BNPL is being used for impulse purchases or essential expenses like rent, car repairs, medical care, and travel. The chair concluded by saying the committee intends to pursue regulatory language and continue working with stakeholders, while also hearing from retailers to avoid eliminating legitimate financing tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll reserve your right to close, and we'll go to public testimony.
• We'll reserve the right to close and we'll go to public testimony.
• Chairman and members, I yield for questions, witness testimony, and reserve the opportunity to close.
• We'll reserve your right to close and we'll go to public testimony.
• Chair: We reserve your right. OK. All right, thank you. Mr. Leach, did you have anything to add?

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll reserve your right to... The chair calls Mayor Kirk Watson.
• And I'd be happy to stand for questions and would like to reserve my right to close, Mr. Chairman.
• If not, I reserve my right to speak. Members, are there any questions for Chairman Capriglione?
• We reserve your right. Proceed to testimony. The Chair calls up Brett Besselman.
• Chairman, I would certainly answer any questions or hopefully reserve my right to close.

Bills: HB886, HB1514, HB2434, HB2688, HB2802, HB3161, HB3221, HB4029, HB4339, HB4591, HB4774, HB4802, HB4853, HB5627, SB1737

Keywords: retirement, supplemental payment, benefits, Employees Retirement System, eligible annuitants, legislation, annuity, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age, DROP program, actuarial studies, pension benefits, municipal retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, Uh, we're going to go ahead and call up testimony, and we'll reserve you your right to close.
• At this time, I'm happy to answer any questions and reserve the right to close. Thank you, Ms.
• Uh, I reserve my right to close. I'm happy to take any questions.
• Chair, I believe we have a witness, and I reserve the right to close. Thank you, Dr. Allen.
• Thank you again, Chairman, and I reserve my right to close.

Bills: HB153

Transcript Highlights:

• That we have in Florida, as well as potentially the number of SIRS structural integrity reserve studies
• height of the building is, right, we know that the Legislature has mandated the structural integrity reserve
• And secondly, we need to know how many have not yet completed their structural integrity reserve study
• complaints and condo associations to file important documents, including their structural integrity reserve
• probably more, I will include proviso that places the secretary's salary rate and salary budget in reserve

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for budget day, heard agency follow-up questions, and then presented its recommended budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Chair Lopez opened with remarks about reducing spending, emphasizing vacancy reductions and recurring savings across agencies. The recommendation eliminated 452.5 vacant positions and produced recurring savings of $57.2 million overall, while still funding selected priorities. Notable funded items included $500,000 for a new DBPR website for condominium complaints and document filing, $481.3 million for the MICEF Florida Home Program in DFS, funding for Florida PALM implementation, $330,000 for a Tampa office in the Office of Insurance Regulation, $835,000 for warehouse space for confiscated gambling machines, $821,000 for the Lottery gaming system contract, and major DMS capital and facilities funding. Lopez also criticized DMS leadership and said the secretary’s salary would be held in reserve pending answers on fleet management, remote workers, SUNCOM billing, and other issues. The committee then questioned DBPR Secretary Griffin about condominium records, structural integrity reserve studies, and milestone-inspection compliance. Members focused on how the division tracks condominiums, whether it can identify buildings with three habitable stories, and whether the current filing system can be improved to better capture building height and story count. Griffin said the division relies heavily on self-reporting and complaint-driven checks, but has updated forms to capture whether a condominium has buildings three stories or higher and has received additional submissions. Members also asked about staffing and the Miami-area office; Griffin said DBPR now has two Fort Lauderdale offices and a Doral office, with about 82% of new positions filled. Secretary Davis of the Florida Lottery also testified, defending travel to Paris and other conferences as part of industry engagement, technology research, and best-practice sharing. He said the travel was reimbursed through lottery-related organizations, described the Lottery as an enterprise fund that receives no general tax revenue, and said the agency has remained a top revenue generator nationally. Members questioned Orlando travel reimbursements and dues to the Multi-State Lottery Association, and asked for more information on how increased revenue translates into more Bright Futures scholarships. Davis said he would provide additional details. The subcommittee then unanimously passed two conforming bills. PCB SAB 25-01 removed statutory references to the legacy FLAIR accounting system in preparation for Florida PALM and was reported favorably. PCB SAB 25-02 addressed Capitol Center space after the planned House lease cancellation, declaring the governor, cabinet, and legislature permanent tenants, protecting existing space and parking allocations, giving the legislature first right of refusal on vacant space, and giving legislative leaders control over utilities in their space; it also passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned after the bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• , raised, like basically what a conquering army would do to a country by basically destroying its forest
• a country by basically<02:17:47.719><c> destroying</c><02:17:48.360><c> its</c><02:17:48.559><c> forest
• ,</c><02:17:49.040><c> its</c> basically destroying its forest, its basically destroying its forest,

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They own a part of a forest which is in Vermont.
• > a</c><00:15:01.920><c> part</c><00:15:02.079><c> of</c><00:15:02.240><c> a</c><00:15:02.399><c> forest
• Uh they own a part of a forest states.
• Uh they own a part of a forest which<00:15:03.120><c> is</c><00:15:03.279><c> in</c><00:15:03.680><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wish to reserve any time, please let me know.
• Yes, and I would reserve all time.
• used up way more of my time than I thought I was going to, so I'm going to end right there so I can reserve
• used up way more of my time than I thought I was going to, so I'm going to end right there so I can reserve

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings held oral argument before the Legislative Ethics Board in the matter of Tara Simmons, docket 401-645, on a respondent-filed motion for summary judgment. Judge T.J. Martin identified the issues as whether Simmons violated the Ethics Act by using her legislative position for the benefit of others and by holding outside employment that conflicted with her official duties, under RCW 42.52.070 and RCW 42.52.020, and, if violations were found, what penalties or sanctions would be appropriate. The judge clarified that board staff had not filed its own summary judgment motion, only a response to Simmons’ motion. Attorney Doug McKinney argued that the complaint and board staff’s allegations were legally insufficient because they did not allege a personal benefit to Simmons, only benefits to her employer, EEC, or to others. He contended that the Ethics Act has historically required a benefit to the legislator herself, that employees do not automatically have a disqualifying interest in their employers, and that the board’s position would create a new bright-line rule and unfairly change the law as applied to Simmons. He also addressed allegations involving a contract provision, a campaign surplus donation to AEG, a subcontract dispute involving AEG and EEC, and text messages with Anthony Powers, arguing none showed a special privilege or conflict of interest for Simmons. Assistant Attorney General Julia Eisenhower, for board staff, argued the motion should be denied because the record sufficiently alleged violations of both statutes. She said Simmons’ involvement in securing funding for EEC, her employment duties involving stakeholder and legislator connections, her donation of campaign surplus funds to AEG to help secure a job for someone she knew, her role in the AEG-EEC subcontract dispute, and her text messages referencing her official capacity all supported the allegations. A board member asked whether the allegations were sufficient to show a special benefit, and Eisenhower responded that the facts were enough at the summary judgment stage. After rebuttal by McKinney, the ALJ closed the hearing and the board went into deliberations; no ruling was announced during the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any no votes or reservations? Seeing none, the measure is adopted. Thank you very much.
• c><00:09:53.520><c> no</c><00:09:53.720><c> votes</c><00:09:54.000><c> or</c><00:09:54.040><c> reservations
• </c> Are there any no votes or reservations? Are there any no votes or reservations?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held a Governor’s Message hearing on two nominations. For GM 750, Tracy Fujita was nominated to the Commission to Promote Uniform Legislation for a term ending June 30, 2030. Testimony in support came from several officials and commission members, including the Deputy Attorney General, Maui Behavioral Health Resources CEO Nicole Hokoana, Maui Council Chair Alice Lee, and Uniform Law Commission members. Fujita said her county-level legislative law background at the Department of Corporation Counsel and Office of Council Services would help her serve, and she expressed particular interest in health care legislation. For GM 778, Jessica Schafer was nominated to the Commission on the Status of Women for a term ending June 30, 2030. Support testimony came from Commission Executive Director Yasmin Chaney and multiple others. Schafer said her background includes prosecuting domestic violence cases, working in a human trafficking clinic, investigating sexual misconduct in higher education, and leading gender-based violence programming at the University of Hawaii; she said she is especially interested in sexual and gender-based violence issues but is open to broader commission work. After questioning, the committee moved to decision-making on both nominations. The chair recommended advise and consent for each, and the committee adopted both measures without any no votes or reservations. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a captain in the Army assigned to the inactive ready reserves here in California.
• I received an honorable discharge into the Army Reserves and was awarded the Joint Meritorious Service
• I received an honorable discharge into the Army Reserves and was awarded the Joint Meritorious Service
• Active duty, not reserve duty. No, sir. Okay. Gotcha.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• haven't had an opportunity to speak with them about this process to fully understand, but I do have reservations
• You've heard my minimal reservations, but I believe I'll support the motion specifically because a full
• worse thing and redetermination is much easier, but at the same time, I do have a little bit of a reservation
• I will support the motion, and I, too, have a couple of reservations about the things I'm just currently

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee first approved the minutes from March 5, 9, and 16, then took up House Bill 913 on Medicaid community engagement requirements. Representative Van de Woude explained the bill would align Idaho Medicaid expansion with new federal community engagement rules, using a redetermination process beginning when the bill takes effect and aiming to avoid immediate loss of coverage by allowing time to cure deficiencies before January 1. Members asked about disability exceptions, department staffing and budget, the three-month lookback period, impacts on hospitals and uninsured care, and how children would be affected; the sponsor said the department had budgeted for the work, that children are covered separately, and that the federal rules require 80 hours per month of qualifying activity. Despite concerns from some members about administrative burden and coverage losses, the committee voted to send HB 913 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with two members requesting to be recorded as opposed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1266, a foster care cleanup bill presented by Representative Healy. He said it removes an outdated expedited-placement provision for extended foster care youth ages 18 to 23, adds kinship placement language, and makes technical corrections to conform the code to existing law. Members questioned language changing termination-of-parental-rights timelines from 15 months to 12 months; Healy said those were technical corrections because the code was already intended to say 12 months. The committee voted to send SB 1266 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 1316, also presented by Representative Healy. He said the bill codifies current hospital practice allowing parents to decline newborn screening, vitamin K, or eye ointment without stating a reason, aligning the statute with existing exemption language. After brief discussion, the committee voted to send SB 1316 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The meeting ended with notice of additional bills expected later and adjournment subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• haven't had an opportunity to speak with them about this process to fully understand, but I do have reservations
• Representative Vail: You've heard my minimal reservations, but I believe I'll support the motion specifically
• At the same time, I do have a little bit of a reservation specific to that word 'no person,' but I'll
• I will support the motion, and I, too, have a couple of reservations about the things I'm just currently

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the minutes from March 5, 9, and 16, then heard House Bill 913 on Medicaid community engagement requirements. The sponsor said the bill would align Idaho Medicaid expansion with new federal community engagement rules, using a redetermination process beginning as soon as the bill takes effect and running through December. Members asked about disability exceptions, the department’s workload and budget, the three-month lookback, appeal rights, and the potential number of people who could lose coverage. Supporters said the bill would help ensure the program serves able-bodied adults and give people time to cure noncompliance; opponents warned it could cause large coverage losses and strain hospitals. The committee sent HB 913 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with two members recorded as opposed. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1266, described as cleanup legislation for foster care law. The sponsor said it removes an expedited placement provision for foster youth ages 18 to 23, expands kinship placement language, and corrects technical inconsistencies in termination-of-parental-rights timelines. Members questioned whether the bill changed the timeline from 15 months to 12 months, and were told the 12-month language was already intended in code and the bill was correcting drafting errors. SB 1266 was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1316, which the sponsor said aligns Idaho law with current hospital practice on newborn screening, vitamin K, eye ointment, and related parental refusals by clarifying that parents do not have to state a reason when declining those interventions. The committee had no substantive opposition and sent SB 1316 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The meeting then adjourned after brief scheduling remarks about additional bills expected later.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have a resource witness from General Justice if you need it, and I reserve the right to close.
• I'm open to any questions and reserve the right to close.
• We'll reserve your right to close. We'll close in just a moment. Yes, sir. Thank you.
• I reserve the right to close. Representative Wu: Yes, sir. Two questions. Yes, sir.

Bills: HB2947, HB3276, HB3513

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• well, unfortunately did not. get through the Senate, and so if there are no questions for me, I will reserve
• I reserve the right to close. Thank you.
• That being said, I request favorable consideration and I reserve the right to. close.
• little bit about why this bill is important and then that being said, I... open for any questions and reserve

Bills: HB147, HB 1113, HB 1203, HB 1269, HB 1276, HB 1277, HB1437, HB147

Keywords: livestock, brands, marks, earmarks, tattoos, electronic registry, Texas Animal Health Commission, county clerk, Agriculture Code, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, horses, animal identification, brand registry, livestock traceability, electronic filing, rerecording, law enforcement access

Transcript Highlights:

• But as far as those reserves, no, there are not reserves.
• Those reserves disappeared in a very loud vote on a 1,400-page bill that nobody read. Thank you.
• But um as far as those reserves, close.
• ><c> not</c><00:42:55.680><c> reserves.
• </c><00:42:56.240><c> those</c> no, there are not reserves. those no, there are not reserves. those reserves

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• budget reserve?
• budget reserve?
• budget reserve?
• budget reserve?
• Representative Stevenson: Do we first do this and then do the budget reserve?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First, reserve requirements.
• So just need 10% reserve on a demand deposit.
• So just need 10% reserve on a demand deposit.
• So just need 10% reserve on a demand deposit.
• Reserve backing is essential.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met on November 12 and first approved the September 17 and October 15 draft minutes unanimously after brief discussion. Members also identified themselves for the record, including a new member from Bumpsk Bank, a staff attorney from the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Securities Regulation, a prior crypto commission participant, and a uniform law commissioner involved in tokenization projects. The main presentation was by UNH law professor Seth Orinberg, who discussed the federal GENIUS Act and the pending Clarity Act and how they affect New Hampshire’s options in the digital asset space. He described the GENIUS Act as governing payment stablecoins/stable tokens, defining them as blockchain-based assets used primarily for payments, redeemable for a fixed amount of national currency, and required to maintain stable value. He said the law creates three possible state roles: hosting federally qualified issuers, becoming a state qualifier for issuers up to a $10 billion threshold, or exploring state-backed issuance as a sovereign. He noted that the state-qualification path would require conforming legislation, examination capacity, and coordination with Treasury, while the sovereign-issuer theory is legally uncertain and may become a test case. Orinberg also outlined the core compliance framework he said applies to covered issuers: 100% reserve backing in high-quality liquid assets, monthly public reserve reporting, no yield or interest-like rewards, segregation of reserve assets, immediate redemption at face value, and anti-money-laundering/know-your-customer obligations. He then turned to the Clarity Act, describing it as a broader market-structure bill that would create categories such as digital asset, digital commodity, digital security, and ancillary asset, with self-certification procedures for issuers. He said the two federal laws together would separate payments from investments, preempt inconsistent state standards for covered payment stablecoins, and likely reshape the boundaries of state authority over digital assets.

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually kind of go back and forth with Yurok as far as who has the largest reservation.
• Actually, we kind of go back and forth with Yurok as far as who has the largest reservation in the state
• We're definitely in the top two, largest reservation.
• cross-deputization, There's opportunities for tribes to do cross-deputization, hiring different reserves
• Like, we live 15 minutes away, and it takes them, like, sometimes an hour to come toward the reservation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The unallocated core fund reserves the system has are not enough to cover these shortfalls.
• These reserves are not significant enough to cover new campus expenditures while we wait to receive the
• The unallocated core funds reserves, the system-wide has, are not in.
• The unallocated core funds reserves the system-wide has are not enough to cover these shortfalls.
• UC campuses have approximately 155 million in unallocated reserves, which is only enough for about four

Summary: The subcommittee heard opening remarks and updates from UC President James Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia on the state of higher education, including federal funding losses, civil rights/Title IX compliance, enrollment, housing, and budget needs. Both leaders emphasized the value of UC and CSU to California’s workforce, research, and economic mobility, while warning that federal grant cancellations, investigations, and changes to student aid are creating major financial and operational strain. UC reported losing or having at risk more than 1,600 grants and over $1 billion in research activity, while CSU said it had lost more than 200 grants totaling about $161 million, including minority-serving institution grants that affected student support programs. Both systems said they are investing in civil rights services and trying to limit the release of personally identifiable information in response to federal requests. The committee then reviewed the higher education student housing grant program. Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office staff said the governor’s budget does not include major new changes but continues support for the program. CSU reported 12 approved projects that will add about 5,047 beds, with roughly 75% below market rate, and said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing housing insecurity among students. UC said its housing projects have added more than 7,000 beds when reduced-rent and regular-rent units are combined, but nearly 10,000 students were on housing wait lists at the start of fall 2025. Both systems described rapid rehousing efforts, emergency beds, and partnerships with community colleges, and UC noted several joint housing projects, including at Riverside, Merced, and Santa Cruz. Members discussed whether future housing bonds and use of surplus school sites could help expand capacity. In the enrollment section, the LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan at the three highest-demand UC campuses, and holding UC enrollment flat in 2027-28. For CSU, the LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 enrollment expectation downward to reflect updated projections, while also funding enrollment growth separately and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. CSU said it has rebounded from pandemic-era declines, is above its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. UC said it has already exceeded its compact enrollment goals and is planning continued growth, but that sustaining it depends on ongoing state support. Members raised concerns about campus-specific enrollment declines, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pathways. The final section covered core operations and deferred payments: Finance said the governor proposes another one-year deferral of about $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU, and the LAO recommended retiring the deferrals when one-time funds are available. CSU described rising compensation, financial aid, utilities, insurance, and deferred maintenance costs, and said it is pursuing cost-saving measures such as procurement alignment, campus integration, and shared administrative services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any reservations? >> Thank you, Chair. Your recommendation has been adopted. >> Thank you.
• Any<01:08:04.880><c> reservations?</c> Any reservations? Any reservations?
• No votes, reservations. >> Thank you, Chair. Recommendation has been adopted. >> Thank you.
• Next, we'll be moving on to HB 1545 relating to healthcare plan for workers. reservations. reservations
• . reservations.

Bills: SB2141, SB2593, SB2824, SB2135, SB2115

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, pension, public safety, employee contributions, Law Enforcement Standards Board, LESB, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, law enforcement certification, police standards, law enforcement training, officer certification, training and curriculum coordinator, lead investigative agent, administrative manager, administrator, Hawaii HRS 76-16, Hawaii HRS 139-3, personnel exemption