Transcript Highlights:

• >> Dams, like for holding back water. >> Dams, D-A-M. >> The dams.
• First Senator Gray and Senator Waters. Then President Carson.
• Thank you. >> Senator Waters. >> Thank you, Mr.
• Senator Rosenwald and Senator Waters. >> Thank you.
• I agree with Senator Waters. I think we need to follow up with this.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee opened by approving the May 15 minutes and then recognized Pam Ellis for her long service with the Legislative Budget Assistant’s office and upcoming retirement. The committee adopted the consent calendar with two items removed for separate consideration, then approved transfers for the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Environmental Services after questions about court benefit costs and dam project funding. The Department of Health and Human Services also received approval for a general fund transfer item. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Youth Development Center settlement fund. New administrator Jared Boyle, joined by the Attorney General, described the fund’s remaining caseload, the payment matrix, and the need for additional funding to begin hearings in August. Members raised concerns about administrative costs, attorneys’ fees, payday loans, structured settlements, and the long-term fiscal impact on the state. Boyle requested $55 million, but the committee ultimately approved a reduced appropriation of $20 million, with members noting the possibility of returning for more funding later depending on revenues and the October revenue review. The Department of Corrections then received approval for a smaller shortfall transfer and a larger overtime-related transfer, with officials citing a 52% corrections officer vacancy rate, ongoing recruitment, academy classes, and efforts to use civilian staff in some non-security roles. A late item from the Veterans Home was also approved to cover overtime, holiday pay, and indirect cost shortfalls within its existing budget. The committee then heard an informational presentation on implementation of Senate Bill 134 and the new federal Medicaid work-requirement rule. DHHS said it plans to submit a state plan amendment, seek approval for hardship exceptions, start with one eligibility check cycle, and use existing federal grant funding to make system changes. Finally, the committee received a performance audit of the Doorway opioid treatment program, which found weak written procedures, incomplete data use, reimbursement delays, and problems with the Governor’s Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention. Members discussed follow-up reporting, and the next Fiscal Committee meeting was scheduled for August 21 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So essentially, if you're sort of a little small water group, water district board back home, they make
• legislation going forward, to where we can look at this and see if there's a way to include these water
• Before I got here, I was the director of board relations for our water board, and studying...
• Director of board relations for our water board. And studying this, it was a big awakening to me.
• I'm thinking about all these little fire boards, water boards, rec boards, have websites or anything,

Bills: HB55 , HB608 , HB997 , HB1035 , HB1045 , HB1048 , HB1049 , HB1057 , HB1131 , HB1177 , HB1201

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: juror confidentiality, public records, criminal procedure, privacy, court disclosure, intercollegiate athletics, confidentiality, revenue sharing, student athletes, official journal, public notices, government transparency, local government, municipal website, school board notices, parish council, police jury, special districts, levee district, drainage district

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is do pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Natural Resources and Water.
• And re-refer to the Committee on Natural Resources and Water. Assistant, please call the roll.
• The motion is do pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Natural Resources and Water.
• The motion is do pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Natural Resources and Water.
• Re-refer to the Committee on Natural Resources and Water.

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The Senate Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, research funding, consumer protection, and insurance administration. SB 895 by Sen. Wiener would create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research and place a bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to support scientific and health research in California; supporters from UC, labor, and patient groups said it would protect jobs, public health, and the state’s research leadership amid federal funding cuts, while the committee later voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Natural Resources and Water. SB 944 would make acupuncture a permanent Medi-Cal benefit regardless of federal matching funds; acupuncture providers, patients, health systems, and API community advocates testified in strong support, and the committee voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 987, which would create a California Health Access Fund to capture state savings if federal Medicaid changes under H.R. 1 reduce Medi-Cal enrollment and redirect those funds to care for people who lose coverage and to reimburse safety-net providers. Support came from disability, consumer, family physician, emergency physician, hospital, and reproductive health groups; members discussed prioritizing indigent care, prevention, and safety-net needs, and the bill was moved on a unanimous vote to Appropriations. SB 964 would let a licensed provider adjust the dose or frequency of an already covered medication up to two times without prior authorization when clinically appropriate, with Crohn’s and Colitis advocates describing delays that harmed patients and insurers warning about safety and cost concerns; after committee discussion about off-label use and clinical safeguards, the bill passed 11-0 and was sent to Appropriations. Later, SB 1099 clarified local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA, with city and county counsel and local officials saying it would preserve flexibility for homeless outreach, street medicine, crisis lines, and other low-barrier services; it passed 11-0 and was re-referred to Human Services. SB 1033 would require protein product manufacturers to test for heavy metals and disclose results, prompted by Consumer Reports findings and supported by consumer, health, and women’s health groups; industry witnesses asked for narrower scope and source-level testing, and the committee voted 11-0 to pass it as amended and send it to Environmental Quality. The committee then began SB 1049, which would give providers a 90-day window after a plan’s latest action to correct certain claim errors and prevent denials based solely on missed filing deadlines; the author said it would address honest billing mistakes and recoupments, and the bill was introduced with support from medical groups and ongoing discussions with health plans.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 895 deals with a very specific section of water usage as we're talking about data centers.
• But essentially, what we're looking at is maximizing, if water is going to be used in a data center,
• from a municipality or other water user in order to ensure that they are not pulling from the system
• House Bill 895 deals with a very specific section of water usage as we're talking about data centers.
• from a municipality or other water user in order to ensure that they are not pulling from the system

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 895, which would require data centers using water for cooling to use non-consumptive closed-loop systems or secure water from a municipality or other water user so they do not draw more from the system than can be sustained. Representative Raybould presented the bill, and Representative Mickelsen moved it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee approved that motion by voice vote. The bulk of the meeting focused on Idaho Fish and Game’s advanced hunting technology rule package, including restrictions on transmitting trail cameras, thermal optics, night vision, drones, and related technologies. Fish and Game staff and Director Jim Frederick described a lengthy public process, survey results showing broad hunter opposition to many technologies, and the commission’s effort to balance hunter opportunity, fair chase concerns, and enforceability. Several committee members objected to the rule package, arguing it conflicted with state law, changed substantially from the original proposal, and should have been handled by legislation rather than rulemaking. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to hold the docket until an odd-numbered day the following week, effectively delaying action. The committee then heard House Bill 910, which would create a statutory framework for the Department of Lands and Parks and Recreation to jointly manage recreation opportunities on endowment lands while protecting existing uses and maximizing revenue to the endowment. The bill drew questions about approval authority, existing MOUs, impacts on grazing and other current uses, and whether it would expand recreation development. Supporters said it would streamline management and generate revenue; opponents worried it would promote more recreation on endowment lands and create conflicts. The committee approved the bill on a 9-6 roll call vote. It also sent Senate Bill 1303, updating renewable energy language in a state fund statute, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 124, recognizing wildlife crossing projects, to the floor with due pass recommendations. House Bill 878, dealing with firefighter pay and fire suppression fund issues, was sent to House General Orders. Finally, the committee heard Senate Joint Memorial 111 on protecting federal public lands from disposal; after testimony and debate over public access, fragmented parcels, and federal land management, the committee had not yet reached a final disposition in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've seen dogs chained up with no water, no food, and the animal control officer will say, well, as long
• as he has water and food, the animal is technically not being neglected.
• not being neglected. water and food, the animal is technically not being neglected.
• When they go out to properties, they look at your basic necessities: food, water, An answer.
• When they go out to properties, they look at your basic necessities: food, water, shelter, is it dying

Committee: House Special Committee on Urban Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ranking Member Waters. Thank you, Madam Chair. Rep. Thomas, thank you for coming today.
• Ranking Member Waters. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Ranking Member Waters. Thank you, Madam Chair. We agree. Good little bill. Vote yes.
• Waters: Aye. Representative Waters votes aye. Walsh: Nay without recommendation.
• Good afternoon, Chair Mena, Ranking Member Waters, and members of this committee.

Bills: HB2235 , HJR4210 , HB2520 , HB2491 , HB2499 , HB2408 , HB2435

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: public records, concealed pistol licenses, firearm purchases, transfers, exemptions, transparency, Constitution amendment, legislative sessions, session duration, state legislature, governance, emergency meetings, public agencies, accountability, open government, HB2491, WaTech, Washington Technology Solutions, public disclosure, public inspection

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't need to be fully immersed 24/7 on the water to be able to get the experience.
• I remember the sponsor, Representative Berg, was focused on water safety as a requirement.
• bodies of water.
• There are many bodies of water.
• And frankly, many students, even despite being close to water, don't have access to water safety instruction

Summary: The House Education Committee received status updates on career and technical education (CTE), including OSPI’s work under 2024 legislation on allied health pathways and a statewide CTE task force, an update from Core Plus Maritime, and findings from an Education Northwest longitudinal study of Washington CTE access and outcomes. OSPI described development of allied health guidance such as a home care aide to nursing assistant bridge, model curricula, updated course equivalency frameworks, and coordination with health agencies and employers. It also reviewed Core Plus framework work, task force expansion under later legislation, and the timeline for recommendations due in November 2026. Committee members asked about health profession outreach, equitable access for rural districts, data updates, and employer support for local programs; OSPI said it continues to work with agency and industry partners and that local labor-market alignment varies by region. Core Plus Maritime presenters described expanding maritime career exploration into middle school through low-cost ROV curriculum, student visits to ferries and vessels, Sea Scouts partnerships, and ship-based safety and welding experiences. Industry representatives from the Northwest Marine Trade Association, American Seafoods, and Vigor Marine Group emphasized the maritime sector’s economic importance, aging workforce, and need for hands-on training to build the pipeline for family-wage jobs. A teacher from South Kitsap High School said the program gives students a clear pathway and has helped connect them to careers in shipyards, fishing, and related trades. Vigor also noted support for a student welding competition and equipment donations for a Rainier Beach shop. Dr. Sam Riggs of Education Northwest presented a longitudinal study using state data from 2013-14 through 2023-24. The study found CTE access has been relatively steady statewide, but offerings vary by school size, locale, and income, with rural and lower-income schools generally offering fewer pathways. Participation is high: nearly all students earn at least some CTE credit, and more students are accumulating multiple credits over time, though fewer go deep within a single pathway. Students who earned more CTE credits, especially within pathways such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and construction, were more likely to graduate on time and later had stronger postsecondary certificate attainment and earnings. Riggs recommended addressing local barriers to participation, considering whether the CTE graduation requirement should better encourage depth while preserving flexibility, and aligning offerings more closely with labor-market needs. Committee members asked about COVID-era trends, student motivation, early workforce entry, delivery settings such as skill centers, and how to interpret the comparison groups used in the analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we talk about energy, New Mexico energy is huge, water is huge.
• I think that's just big in New Mexico; energy is big, and water, and so that's good to hear.
• A developer will be able to see what the power is to that site, what access to water, natural gas, all
• And so, Chair, what if I really love that particular site because of its location but it needs water?
• If you add water, if you add broadband to this site, you've now made it much more competitive to its

Transcript Highlights:

• And this amendment, the A97, goes after clean drinking water.
• So, if you've sat in committee water.
• </c><01:35:14.639><c> and</c> we need to prioritize waste water and we need to prioritize waste water
• and clean<01:35:15.199><c> water.
• </c> always saying, "Every bucket of water always saying, "Every bucket of water starts<01:45:08.080>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The water lab provides lab testing for public water sources in the event of a drinking water emergency
• Water Water Supplies<00:04:46.280><c> the</c><00:04:46.440><c> mission</c><00:04:46.880><c> of</c><00
• water emergency or the event of drinking water emergency or enforcement<00:06:07.479><c> action</c><
• </c> Beach program that includes sea water Beach program that includes sea water and<00:06:26.280><c>
• Introduce the prime sponsor, Senator Waters. Sorry to keep you waiting, Senator Waters.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've heard some about water usage at these.
• so it's going to fall to political subdivisions to work through the water usage and impacts on water
• so it's going to fall to political subdivisions to work through the water usage and impacts on water
• So I'm thinking about the water use. Mr.
• water.

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Waters putting this together.
• Waters putting this appreciate Mr.
• Waters putting this together.<00:47:31.359><c> Jim</c><00:47:31.520><c> Waters</c><00:47:31.920><c> is
• and the amount of can't handle the water and the amount of water<01:13:44.800><c> that</c><01:13:44.960
• </c> water that they're putting through them. water that they're putting through them. and<01:13:46.640

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:15 Roll Call 00:00:45 Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:33 Adjournment 01:17:15, 958, all

Summary: The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year. KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years. The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Important to remember that, you know, we don't outlaw water, but I would venture to guess we may Have
• one person a year die of water toxicity in North Dakota, okay?
• Classically, it's somebody that can't get satiated with water and they keep drinking water.
• And it's really classic, and people go run Long marathons or something, they just keep drinking water
• But to Representative Murphy's comment about you can die of overconsumption of water, I mean, you can

Summary: The working group met for a legislative-only discussion on kratom ahead of a special session, with members agreeing to keep remarks brief and noting a public open house and expert testimony would follow the next week. Staff provided an overview of kratom regulation, describing the substance, its psychoactive effects, reported health risks, federal DEA action on 7-OH, state approaches, and North Dakota’s recent executive action and special session call. Legislators then debated whether the state should prohibit kratom, regulate it, or distinguish between natural kratom and synthetic or concentrated 7-OH products. Several members cited extensive testimony from the 2025 session, including House Bill 1101, which would have scheduled kratom as a Schedule I substance and failed in the House, and House Bill 1566, which evolved into a study. Supporters of regulation emphasized testimony from people who said natural kratom helped with chronic pain or function, while others stressed concerns about addiction, adulterated products, youth access, infant withdrawal, and deaths linked to kratom or 7-OH. Members also discussed enforcement and public health issues, including whether the Good Samaritan law should be updated, how law enforcement would respond under the executive order, and whether withdrawal could drive people toward harder drugs. One member urged a temporary approach until the 2027 session, while others argued the short special session could still address a narrow ban on 7-OH and tighter controls on natural kratom. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with plans for additional testimony and further legislative hearings during the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Means, to whom was referred the House bill providing for fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water
• Second reading of the bill: An act providing for fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water Resources
• and Means, to whom was referred the House bill providing for fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water
• Second reading of the bill: An act providing for fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water Resources
• Third reading of the bill, an act providing for fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water Resources

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This one just relates to the Soil and Water Commission and what was once called an Idaho One Plan.
• gentleman from 22 and have the same question, but have you talked with the folks from the Soil and Water
• This one just relates to the Soil and Water Commission and what was once called an Idaho One Plan.
• I, in my district, there are considerable hot water springs. A lot of fish farming going on.
• Oh, I'm sorry, your water bottle is in the way and I can't see it. I'm sorry.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Waters, would you like to say a few words about this fine bill? Thank you.
• Representative Waters. Thank you, Madam Chair. We agree.
• Waters? Representative Waters votes nay, do not pass. Anyone wish to change the vote?
• Waters? Representative Waters votes, nay, do not pass. Anyone wish to change the vote?

Bills: SB5420

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, service members, uniformed services, National Guard, reservists, active duty, qualifying discharge, veterans preference, hiring preference, public employment, state benefits, license renewal, professional licensing, retirement service credit, pension, public retirement system, Washington RCW, military leave, reemployment rights

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an algae-based water treatment business that licensed some technology, a prototype, from Sandia
• And so based on the data and the results of this, this technology can scale beyond municipal water to
• things like dairy, to helping mitigate the negative impacts of produced water and beyond.
• How many has the water company hired?
• So they're looking for partners in the permitting right now to get into produced water mitigation, and

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 82, which would extend the Technology Readiness Gross Receipts Tax Credit for 10 years and increase the annual cap from $1 million per lab to $5 million over time. The sponsor and witnesses from Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories said the program helps New Mexico businesses commercialize deep-tech innovations and is unique in the country. Multiple business and economic development representatives testified in support, describing successful projects and job creation. Committee members asked about specific companies, wages, and the program’s impact, but several members raised concerns about the bill’s fiscal effect and the lack of room in the tax package. The committee adopted a substitute that delayed the credit increase by one year, but then voted to table HB 82 by about 5-3. The committee then heard House Bill 142, which would increase the Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit and expand eligibility to underserved urban areas. Supporters, including Think New Mexico and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, said the credit has not been updated in years and could help recruit more health professionals, especially EMTs. Members questioned whether urban areas should be included, how “underserved” is defined, the size of the current expenditure, and whether the credit actually changes provider behavior. Some members expressed concern that the bill could dilute support for rural areas, while others noted that most New Mexico counties are designated shortage areas. The sponsor moved to table HB 142, and the committee agreed. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 58, as amended, which extends the period for metropolitan redevelopment area property tax abatements from seven years to up to 14 years. The sponsor and MRA representatives said the longer period would help projects in blighted areas become financially feasible, especially for housing and redevelopment projects in Albuquerque and other cities. Support came from housing developers, Realtors, chambers of commerce, and economic development groups. Committee members asked about how MRAs are designated, how the abatements work, and why the bill also changed a separate 10-year reference; concerns were raised about the lack of statewide reporting on MRAs. The committee ultimately voted do pass on SB 58 as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• wondering if you can talk about any research on the impact of ADUs on infrastructure, especially like water
• change on any one neighborhood, they generally don't make a big impact on these shared resources like water
• housing units, but at population, which is what's really important when we're talking about sewer and water
• less expensive—but when you're digging up roads and other things, having to deal with that, replace water
• That's a good topic for discussion, but determining what the capacity of the sewer system and the water

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our roads and bridges, and every single district in the state has a water issue, whether it's PFAS or
• water treatment systems.
• So it's—but again, when you come down to the local projects, it's mostly those water, roads, bridges.
• <00:08:47.760><c> it's</c><00:08:48.399><c> mostly</c><00:08:48.880><c> those</c><00:08:49.440><c> water
• ,</c><00:08:50.000><c> roads,</c> um it's mostly those water, roads, um it's mostly those water, roads

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it be an industrial air permit plus an industrial storm water permit and a water discharge permit
• permit and a industrial storm water permit and a water<01:07:06.960><c> discharge</c><01:07:07.520><
• storm water is another air permitting is storm water is another air permitting is the<01:23:58.000><c
• </c> and water for tier one and tier two. and water for tier one and tier two.
• Chair, are you speaking about air or water? water? water? &gt;&gt; Senator<01:43:02.000><c> Green.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all