Transcript Highlights:

• From a groundwater perspective, nitrate is mobile, invisible, and difficult to remove from an aquifer
• From a groundwater perspective, nitrate is mobile, invisible, and difficult to remove from an aquifer

Bills: HB2668, HB1735, HB2131, HB2199, HB2463, HB2598, HB2619

Keywords: relocation, wildlife, game farm, agriculture, environmental impact, animal welfare, force-feeding, birds, humane treatment, sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, derelict vessels, marine environment, coastal management, environmental protection, maritime economy, farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• would prevent them from maybe<00:18:48.240><c> taking</c><00:18:48.560><c> the</c><00:18:48.680><c> job
• at that medical maybe taking the job at that medical services<00:18:50.360><c> space</c><00:18:50.720
• Did such a great job, Senator.
• And the jobs that occurred in this large data center in Texas were under 20.
• And is this actually an... because we have mobile phones or cell because we have mobile phones or cell

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It forces a physician to choose between risking their job and risking their medical license.
• No doctors should be worried that upholding their ethical requirements may cost them their job.
• It forces a physician to choose between risking their job and risking their medical license.
• No doctors should be worried that upholding their ethical requirements may cost them their job.
• Medical documentation must remain the sole purview of the qualified physician who, their job.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then took up a series of bills on business, professions, health, cannabis, and consumer protection. AB 72, creating an electric vehicle economic opportunity zone in Riverside County, drew questions about whether the state should target one region over others, but supporters argued it would help bring EV manufacturing and related jobs to the Inland Empire. The bill passed on a 8-1 vote to Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. AB 685, which would create the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Fund to support technical assistance and capital infusion programs, drew broad support from small business networks and chambers, but some groups raised concerns that the June amendments could affect eligibility and that the funding should be clearly supplemental rather than replacing existing support. The author said discussions were ongoing, and the bill passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 173, a resolution, on a 7-0 vote, and AB 1760, a Dental Practice Act cleanup bill sponsored by the Dental Board, on a 10-0 vote. AB 1637, which would limit changes to physician-authored medical records and make unauthorized alterations a misdemeanor, was supported by physicians and labor groups who said it would protect patient safety and professional accountability; it passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. AB 1785, allowing online sales of pseudoephedrine products with existing age and quantity safeguards, passed 10-0. AB 1973, expanding the ability of advanced practice clinicians to perform procedural abortions within their training, drew strong support from reproductive health providers and strong opposition from anti-abortion witnesses who raised safety concerns; after questions about training and oversight, it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. The committee then considered AB 2025, requiring disclosure when rental listings use digitally altered or AI-staged images. Supporters said it would prevent renters from being misled, while the California Apartment Association said it was working with the author on implementation; the bill passed 8-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection. AB 2697, allowing drive-through cannabis sales with local approval and security requirements, was supported by cannabis businesses and operators as a way to improve access and compete with the illicit market, while narcotics officers opposed it over ID verification and public safety concerns; it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. Finally, AB 2249, responding to a state audit on cannabis packaging attractive to children by defining prohibited imagery and creating a public rubric and pre-review process, received support from the cannabis operators association and the state auditor’s office, while small independent farmers raised concerns that some categorical bans could sweep too broadly. The transcript cuts off during that bill’s opposition testimony, and no final action on AB 2249 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they are so excited to be there on the job working.
• And a lot of people who need equipment for mobility or whatever get caught in a catch-22.
• That's my job. You addressed competitive wages as well.
• Good job. The other question... All right. You did catch me off guard on that one. Okay. Good job.
• I hope to think that it's a sign of dedication to their job. I would say so.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the legislature appropriated a $20,000 supplemental, a $20,000 enhancement for the Holistic Credit Mobility
• So part of the conversation I've had with those presidents is about job outs.
• that they pursue. and the jobs that they pursue and I also think it's happening more because of the
• You mentioned the word "job outs."
• We want to reward the job out to make sure it's actually tied to the degree that they're getting, or

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of budget presentations from the Legislative Services Office and agency leaders on higher education and health education programs. Kevin Campbell first reviewed the Office of the State Board of Education budget, noting staffing growth tied to added responsibilities, the end of federal COVID/ARPA funding, a governor-recommended supplemental reversion for the sunsetted Empowering Parents grant, and FY 2027 requests including a Canvas LMS renewal, a risk-manager transfer back to institutions, and a one-time federal AI grant. Jennifer White, OSBE executive director, defended the Canvas contract as a cost-saving centralized arrangement, discussed budget pressure on colleges and universities, and said the board is developing an outcomes-based funding model that would shift emphasis from enrollment to progression, completion, and workforce outcomes while phasing in changes to avoid destabilizing institutions. Members asked about cuts, tuition, private donations, rainy-day funds, the longitudinal data system, CETL Now usage, and whether programs should be evaluated or eliminated based on outcomes. White said the board is still gathering data and expects at least another year before a workable funding proposal is ready, and she emphasized that unearned funds under the new model would be returned to OSBE for targeted intervention rather than simply removed. The committee also discussed risk-management centralization, with White explaining that moving risk managers back to institutions would improve day-to-day efficiency while OSBE retains enterprise risk oversight. The committee then turned to health education programs, beginning with Family Medicine Residencies. Campbell outlined the program’s funding and recent growth, and residency leaders said the 3% holdback affected both ISU-based and hospital-affiliated programs but would not force immediate reductions. They stressed the importance of continued legislative support, noted that residency training helps retain physicians in Idaho, and said the programs rely on a mix of state, federal, and patient-care revenue. Members also raised concerns about clinical placement capacity, rural access, and whether federal rural health funds could help support expansion. Additional presentations covered the Eastern Idaho Medical Residencies and the University of Utah medical program. EIMR leaders said Idaho remains far short of needed psychiatrists, especially child psychiatrists, and that training residents in-state helps keep physicians in Idaho; they also described private hospital support as part of the funding model. For the University of Utah program, Campbell said the state supports both medical students and psychiatry residents, and the program requested funding for three additional child psychiatry residents. Dr. Beth Botz, the training director, attributed rising child psychiatry need to increased stress, social media, COVID-era effects, and broader awareness of mental health issues, and said placing residents in southeast Idaho has already improved access and reduced wait times.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are doing our job.
• , job training, and different things like that.
• So, the types of services that Community Corrections provides include job training or job referral.
• Going out and getting a job, than not going out and going back to school.
• Lost your job, maybe it wasn't safe, you're moving somewhere else.

Transcript Highlights:

• I won't read the mission statement to you, but basically our staff do a phenomenal job carrying out the
• I was asked what is one of the issues that keep us up at night, or the hardest part of our job.
• We have not spoken in... because your staff is doing a great job.
• So I would suggest that good, experienced prosecutors are doing a good job of that balancing act.
• Good job.

Summary: The Justice Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the justice budget and the major agencies within it. Chair Maney explained that the committee would hear broad presentations rather than detailed budget questions, and the first panel included the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, Commission on Offender Review, Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the State Courts Administrator, and the Attorney General’s Office. Each agency described its mission, staffing, budget, and major responsibilities, with repeated emphasis on public safety, rehabilitation, staffing shortages, technology needs, and the importance of mental health services and education in reducing recidivism. Secretary Hall described DJJ’s prevention-to-aftercare continuum, including civil citation, detention, probation, and residential commitment programs, and highlighted reductions in juvenile arrests and commitments. Secretary Dixon said DOC’s biggest issues are staffing, overtime, and inflation, while noting progress in education, reentry, and a low recidivism rate. FDLE Commissioner Glass outlined the agency’s investigative, forensic, intelligence, and protective functions, including work on fentanyl enforcement and crime reporting systems. The State Courts Administrator emphasized the judiciary’s constitutional role, case volume, and challenges in providing interpreters, experts, and technology support. Chief Deputy Attorney General Guard described the office’s litigation, criminal appeals, consumer protection, and opioid recovery work, especially defending state laws and recovering opioid settlement funds. Members then asked questions about prison conditions, immigration enforcement, court filing fees, crime reporting, staffing ratios, and transnational gangs. Agency leaders responded that they were not aware of ICE contracts in some cases, that FDLE works with immigration authorities and detention facilities under existing authority, and that filing fees are a legislative policy decision. The committee also heard from the Justice Administrative Commission, prosecutors, public defenders, guardian ad litem, regional conflict counsel, and capital collateral regional counsel, who focused on indigent representation, dependency and death penalty cases, and persistent staffing and retention problems. No votes were taken, and the meeting concluded after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh usually when we are any any jobs.
• Uh, in law enforcement, my job is protection.
• Uh, in law enforcement, my job is protection.
• Uh, in law enforcement, my job is protection.
• </c><02:49:52.720><c> crisis</c> the practice is for the mobile crisis the practice is for the mobile

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 173 simply allows these providers to do their jobs to the full extent of their training, so patients
• loss: loss of jobs, economic activity, and reinvestment back into our communities.
• That is how we create jobs, support affordability, and build stronger communities from within.
• We know we need to do a better job holding employers accountable.
• We also know that HR 1 risks job loss. Up to 217,000 health care workers could lose their jobs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've done a good job.
• I feel like House Bill 3 does a good job of that.
• They are job creators for my city.
• And Miranda was with us last year and did such a great job.
• Brandon was with us last year and did such a great job.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call, and a long series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, public servants, nonprofit leaders, students, and a park ranger honored for life-saving actions. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate nonconcurrence on numerous amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on another bill. The main floor action centered on budget conference committee reports, especially House Bill 2002 on public education. Members debated whether the conference version fully funded the foundation formula, with supporters arguing it maintained record-level funding and opponents saying it left schools about $190 million short and relied on uncertain funding sources such as blind pension, lottery, and possible ARPA dollars. After a substitute motion to send the bill back to conference was defeated, the House adopted the conference report 83-68 and then third-read and passed House Bill 2002 by the same margin. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where members discussed a move toward a future performance-based funding model while keeping current funding flat; the conference report passed 119-28 and the bill was third-read and passed 109-32. The chamber next considered House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation. Debate focused on transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety project in Lebanon that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The conference report was adopted 128-21 and the bill was third-read and passed 127-27. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2005 for the Office of Administration and IT-related functions, with the sponsor and supporters emphasizing IT accountability, the Movers project, and the transfer of some staff to DSS; the transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um three heat cycles, then then the job um three heat cycles, then then the job is<00:29:59.840>
• to get a good job 99.9% of the time.
• I don't know what their education job.
• good</c><01:58:26.639><c> job</c><01:58:27.599><c> 99.9%</c> get a good job 99.9% get a good job 99.9%
• </c> easy job I mean that that isn't a job easy job I mean that that isn't a job that<02:34:42.479><c

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and mobility aids.
• </c><04:11:19.120><c> Uh</c> like mobility and mobility aids. Uh like mobility and mobility aids.
• And our job mandated through the DD Act.
• She would like them to do that job.
• Representative McGee said she thinks the commission’s job is to do that work.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The feds call it a disaster declaration that mobilizes a lot of funding that comes into...
• There are people in my district working two jobs.
• Effective date. >> This act... >> Good job.
• This amendment defines mobile AIS systems so there is clarity in how they're used.
• And, yeah, good job. Are you crying? You're crying.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• agencies, the Department of Service and Civic Innovation and the Department of Social and Economic Mobility
• civic innovation and social<00:34:33.040><c> and</c><00:34:33.200><c> economic</c><00:34:33.679><c> mobility
• </c><00:34:34.560><c> We</c><00:34:34.720><c> passed</c> social and economic mobility.
• We passed social and economic mobility.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've increased with the mobile barbering so people can kind of show up and, you know, find people where
• 00:07:42.479><c> increased</c><00:07:42.800><c> with</c><00:07:42.880><c> the</c><00:07:43.039><c> mobile
• </c> Um we've increased with the mobile Um we've increased with the mobile barbering<00:07:43.840><c>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met in August with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee then reviewed several regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection, and heard brief explanations from agency representatives on each item. The Board of Pharmacy regulations would clarify what registered and certified pharmacy technicians may do under supervision and what certified technicians may not do, while updating registration applications. The Board of Cosmetology package included changes to executive director authority, licensure and reciprocity rules, school requirements, training hours, instructor ratios, sanitation and disease-related rules, complaint procedures, and permit terms; members asked about straight razor language and the increase in student-to-instructor ratios, and the board explained that cosmetologists are not permitted to use straight razors and that the higher ratio was intended to give schools flexibility, especially for part-time students and schools with wait lists. The Occupational Therapy emergency compact regulation added four compact rules adopted in April 2025, and Senator West raised a technical question about certification requirements under House Bill 6; the agency said it had been instructed to file the regulation as submitted. The Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources presented a package covering wildlife management area rules, a northern pintail bag limit increase, reportable disease reporting, and a repeal tied to boat registration fees. After a brief explanation of the new wildlife disease reporting rule, the agency requested and received a deferral of 301 KAR 2:031 to avoid a gap while replacement language is finalized. The Economic Development Finance Authority explained an emergency regulation for the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program, saying it was needed because the program had become oversubscribed and because administration was shifting to a new film office and council; members also asked about certification issues under House Bill 6, and the agency said it had filed the regulation as directed. The Department of Workplace Standards emergency PPE regulation was also discussed, with members asking about HB 6 certification language, and the agency gave the same response. The Department of Insurance regulation would create a $10,000 registration fee and a $1,000 annual licensing fee for pharmacy benefit manager licenses, with an agency amendment exempting PBMs that solely serve workers’ compensation plans. Members asked how many PBMs would be affected and why workers’ compensation PBMs were carved out; the agency said there were 70 registered PBMs total, four solely workers’ comp, and that workers’ comp rates are set by statute and could not absorb the fee. Finally, the Public Service Commission’s pole attachment regulation was summarized as a broadband-expansion measure that speeds application review, increases the number of poles allowed in a single application, and shortens dispute timelines; the commission explained it grew out of earlier legislative direction and subsequent emergency amendments, and the committee adopted the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and partners representing thousands of businesses will mobilize

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution commending the Greater Boston Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals for recognizing North American Occupational Safety and Health Week and Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day. Senators welcomed guests from the chapter, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote. The chamber also briefly recessed for a photo with the guests. The Senate then received a message from the Governor filing the Ride Safe Act, which would enhance the safe use of micromobility devices such as mopeds, electric scooters, and bikes. The message noted the bill’s connection to the Mass Leads Act and a special commission on micromobility regulation. The matter was referred to the Committee on Transportation. The Senate next took up and passed to be engrossed House No. 5245, establishing a sick leave bank for Courtney Cochran, an employee of the Department of Children and Families. The Senate also adopted an order setting its next formal session for Thursday at 11 a.m. and later considered an order governing filing deadlines for amendments to the General Appropriation Bill and scheduling its second reading on May 19, 2026. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, which was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• AND THEY WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR MOBILITY. THEY WANT IT FOR SAFETY REASONS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing on 629 and we will open the hearing on Senate Bill 649, increasing fines for using a handheld mobile
• which increases fines and adds license suspension for repeat offenses involving the use of a handheld mobile
• Um, and repeated violations can cost the drivers their job for 60, 120, or a year from their ability
• So, we support this bill. their their job for 60, 120 or a year their their job for 60, 120 or a year
• Essentially, it makes our jobs much more difficult to enforce the rules that we have for every exception

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I lost my job and never got to say goodbye to my students.
• It empowers judges to do their job.
• It reflects more than a year's work of... ...judges to do their job.
• Good job. Thank you. Thank you.
• Everybody has done a fabulous job of presenting your opinions on this.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety met on March 17, 2026, with no quorum at the start and throughout much of the hearing, so bills were presented and discussed but no final votes were taken. The committee heard SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales, SB 941 on commissary price caps in private immigration detention facilities, SCR 118 urging release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, SB 1009 on juvenile detention standards, AB 46 on mental health diversion, and SB 948 on firearm safety training and registration for new residents. The chair explained public comment procedures and noted that SB 891 was on consent, but the transcript focused on the other measures. SB 936 drew strong support from the author, prosecutors, local officials, and public health/environmental groups, who described rising misuse of flavored large nitrous oxide canisters, youth targeting, impaired driving crashes, deaths, and waste disposal costs. Opposition from the ACLU argued the bill was too broad and should use a regulatory rather than criminal approach, warning about overreach into ordinary household items. Members generally expressed support, though some asked for narrowing amendments to avoid unintended coverage. SB 941 was presented as a cap on markups for commissary goods sold to detainees in privately run federal immigration detention facilities, modeled on prior prison commissary limits. Supporters described severe price inflation for basic necessities and the burden on families, while no opposition testified. SCR 118, calling for full release of unclassified Epstein investigation files, was supported by the author, a survivor statement, and anti-trafficking advocates; one member objected that the resolution could implicate people without full facts, while others emphasized transparency and survivor accountability. SB 1009 and AB 46 both centered on criminal justice discretion: SB 1009 would require clear and convincing evidence before detaining youth and was supported by defenders and youth advocates but opposed by probation and district attorneys who warned about public safety and resource constraints; AB 46 would narrow mental health diversion by allowing judges to deny diversion when public safety is at risk, with prosecutors and victims’ families supporting it and public defenders, ACLU, and behavioral health groups opposing it as an unnecessary restriction on treatment. SB 948 would expand firearm safety certificate requirements to include live-fire training and require new California residents to register firearms within 60 days; the author and gun-safety advocates supported it as a common-sense safety measure, and the hearing moved into support testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's open more opportunities to family wage jobs for more people. It's fabulous.
• Good job on timing. Thank you. Okay. Go ahead, Damien. Thank you. Damon Doyle.
• Okay, good job. The next panel will be remote: Craig Freeman, Ted Hassee, and Bethany Ari.
• Okay, good job. The next panel will be remote, Craig Freeman, Ted Hassee, and Bethany Ari.
• We have a job placement rate of well over 70 percent.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing first from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, then from the Education Research and Data Center. The dual credit overview described Washington’s six dual credit programs, high participation rates, transferability, and recent efforts to improve transparency, pathways, and equity. Testimony emphasized both benefits and challenges, including access, funding, advising, and the need for clearer statewide coordination. ERDC outlined its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school-level factors and possible causal effects of dual credit participation. No votes were taken during the work session. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227 would direct WSAC to work with public higher education institutions to create formal data collection protocols for parenting students and convene a work group to recommend how to identify and support them. Senator Wilson and multiple student and advocacy witnesses supported the bill, citing the lack of consistent statewide data and the barriers parenting students face; WSAC testified that its research found significant food, housing, and child care insecurity among these students. SB 6235 would prohibit public colleges with athletics programs from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving athletics revenues or control. Senator Holy said the bill was intended to prevent loss of institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit flexibility and create competitive disadvantages. The committee also heard SB 6217, which would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to students in eligible non-degree credential programs beginning in 2027-28. Supporters from the community and technical college system, a community college president, and workforce representatives said the bill would help students access short-term training for family-wage jobs and address workforce shortages, especially in construction trades. Finally, SB 6209 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship eligibility for certain private four-year and career/vocational schools if they meet a gainful-employment standard. DigiPen, Evergreen Beauty College, Seattle Film Institute, and related students and administrators testified in support, arguing the bill would preserve access for low-income and nontraditional students in career-focused programs; some witnesses on the bill’s earlier panel also urged that certificate and two-year programs be included. The hearings were managed with shortened testimony times because of the large number of sign-ins, and no final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.