Transcript Highlights:

• We also have mom and dad from the prior litter, a male that was born, so we have all the dogs from this
• litter, from this family, and the owner has not...
• So we have all the dogs from this litter, from this family, and the owner has not come forward.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1904 by Canales relating to the release of a balloon and associated littering, creating a criminal
• Speaker, members, this is a litter bill. There's an amendment acceptable. The bill.
• Speaker, members, this is a litter bill. There's an amendment acceptable. There is an amendment.
• HB 3487 by Hunter relating to a reduction in the amount of sales and use tax collections that the owners
• Well, I think the Attorney General by himself saw a reduction in 250 cases when the prosecutorial power

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Bills: HB198, HB325, HB488, HB719, HB749, HB755, HB797, HB823, HB1028, HB1194, HB1222

Keywords: Medicaid, reimbursement, ambulatory surgical centers, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, healthcare funding, Louisiana Department of Health, surgical procedures, TOPS-Tech, scholarship, education, eligibility, college credit, dual enrollment, state funding, HB 488, Belle Chasse Bridge, Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund, Plaquemines Parish

Transcript Highlights:

• We are having so many discussions to make sure that we can do harm reduction, that we can help with human
• These timely alerts also help us direct prevention and harm reduction efforts strategically to areas
• And I'm talking partners like treatment and harm reduction partners, community prevention coalitions,
• larger surrounding cities, and it allows us to kind of take that knowledge and start to do that harm reduction

Bills: SB5904, SB5915, SB6025, SB5933, SB5990, SB5981

Keywords: nursing titles, licensure, healthcare professionals, patient safety, professional standards, SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several bills. SB 5904 would clarify that only human beings may use nursing titles, including in the context of AI or chatbots; the sponsor and nursing witnesses said it would protect transparency, patient safety, and the nursing profession, and testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. SB 5915 would change the Health Technology Assessment Program’s review criteria and timelines, giving priority to technologies already recommended by Medicare or national guidelines; supporters, including educators and patients with rare or serious conditions, said the current process is too rigid and can block access to needed treatments. SB 6025 would update the definition of fetal death to use the best clinically accurate gestational age rather than last menstrual period; the sponsor and clinicians said this would align the law with medical practice and reduce emotional and financial burdens on grieving families, though the hearing drew substantial opposition sign-ins. SB 5933 would require the Department of Health to share EMS overdose data in near real time with ODMAP, with privacy protections and limits on law-enforcement use; public health, local government, recovery, and youth witnesses said it would improve overdose response and save lives, while the Poison Center asked for amendments to include its data and avoid conflating overdoses with poisonings. SB 5990 would allow APRNs or physician assistants to serve as local health officers in counties under 100,000 population; the sponsor said rural counties need more flexibility, while local public health groups supported broader access but raised concerns about qualifications, and naturopathic physicians argued they should also be included. SB 5981 would prohibit drug manufacturers from limiting 340B drug access through contract pharmacies or requiring extra data as a condition of sale; safety-net hospitals, health centers, rural providers, and patients said it protects access and funds care, while manufacturers, employer groups, and some industry representatives argued the program lacks transparency, can raise costs, and should be narrowed. No final votes were taken in the excerpt, and the committee closed each hearing after testimony, with sign-in counts noted for several bills.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Every dollar spent in the pursuit of emissions reduction goals that don't bear any fruit is a dollar
• Austin, and you can see just how during COVID, in particular, even the dramatic reduction in car traffic
• Looking at comparing that period of time because there was such a dramatic reduction in activity and
• Reduction in wastewater capacity for reuse plants, and I think we've made some forward steps on that.
• ...community if they are successfully getting those reductions.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a harm reduction coalition.
• We are a harm reduction coalition.
• everything else in our country: the Chinese have been able to produce things at a far greater cost reduction
• the bottom line is that there are some products of juice coming in smuggled in bags that say kitty litter

Summary: The committee began with a presentation from Berthold Barak Karlich of Benor Capital on investment and innovation from a European perspective. He argued that legacy in trade and innovation is about enabling future generations, not isolation, and highlighted Austria and Europe’s strengths in education, applied research, hidden-champion SMEs, and deep-tech. He also warned against economic nationalism and emphasized that entrepreneurship and cross-border trade create shared interests, peace, and long-term collaboration. In response to questions, he said Arizona had impressed him as a strong, international deep-tech hub, and he expressed interest in learning more about opportunities there. The committee then considered HB 2746, which creates a study committee on trade offices under the Arizona Commerce Authority to review existing trade offices, gather stakeholder input, and report recommendations by December 31, 2028. Members discussed oversight of Arizona’s trade offices in countries including Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Romania, and Germany, and the sponsor said the bill would help evaluate effectiveness while identifying new opportunities. The bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-0 vote. HB 2750, which establishes the Arizona-Sonora Trade Commission with legislative appointees, also received a due pass recommendation after members discussed its role as a complement to executive-branch efforts; it passed 5-1 with one present. The committee next heard HB 4036, a bill restricting the sale and distribution of compounded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs made with certain bulk drug substances and authorizing inspections by the State Board of Pharmacy. Supporters, including Novo Nordisk and the Partnership for Safe Medicines, argued the bill would address unsafe imported ingredients, impurities, misleading advertising, and a surge in mass compounding that they said exceeds the intent of compounding law. Opponents from the Arizona Pharmacy Association, compounding pharmacists, and a physician argued the bill would burden lawful compounders, raise costs, reduce access, and could harm patients who rely on compounded medications. After extensive debate, the committee failed to pass HB 4036 on a 5-5 vote. Finally, the committee took up HB 2765, as amended by a strike-everything amendment creating a vapor product manufacturer licensing framework, fees, penalties, and Department of Revenue oversight. The sponsor said the measure was intended to address illegal smuggling of vape products and protect children, while opponents argued it would burden lawful businesses and that the real problem was illicit actors outside the regulated market. The transcript ends during the discussion of this bill, before a final vote is recorded.

Bills: HB2391, HB2294, HB2374, HB1997, HB2147, HB2185, HB1641, HB2195, HB2023, HB2031, HB2033, HB1937, HB2586, HB2575, HB2030, HB2115, HB2233, HB1801, HB1546, HB2132, HB2102, HB2356, HB2457, HB2292, HB2554, HB676, HB1528, HB2061, HB2094, HB2095, HB2181, HB2369, HB2578, HB2493, HB1642, HB1991, HB1652, HB2104, HB2593, HB1553, HB1823, HB1918, HB1860, HB2604, HB2605, HB2001, HB2437, HB1947, HB2384, HB2473, HB2140, HB1458, HB2603, HB2411, HB1611, HB2138, HB2141, HB2284, HB1568, HB1924, HB1928, HB2570

Keywords: tax holiday, school supplies, general excise tax, Hawaii, consumer savings, education, land transfer, public schools, Department of Education, property conveyance, Act 307, Kauai, Maui, shade trees, fruit trees, educational program, climate change, tree canopy, environmental education, native plants

Transcript Highlights:

• existing sites in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that those all those green dots that you've seen littered
• c><00:09:17.839><c> seen</c> those green dots that you've seen those green dots that you've seen littered
• 18.800><c> those</c><00:09:18.959><c> maps</c><00:09:19.440><c> completed</c><00:09:20.399><c> no</c> littered
• in all those maps completed no littered in all those maps completed no later<00:09:21.040><c> than</

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:23 Approve Minutes from January 15, 2026- 00:01:03 Kentucky State Police Update on SERVS- 00:01:47 Adjournment- 00:54:18, 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from Kentucky State Police on the SERVE radio system project, with David Barker and consultant Brandon Marshall explaining progress across multiple phases. They reported that Mayfield PD fire/EMS and Graves County Sheriff are fully operational on the system, Phase 2 is 77% complete with 48 existing sites finished and 13 new sites pending acquisition, and Phase 3A remains funded but not yet complete. They also said router upgrades are complete, radio dispatch positions and mobile/portable rollout are complete, and microwave replacement is nearly finished, with one remaining site delayed by weather. A major part of the discussion focused on why the project has taken so long and why equipment is being purchased before some sites are built. KSP said the project began as a radio system upgrade but expanded as they discovered additional infrastructure needs, including routers and microwave links that were not in the original scope. They explained that equipment must be purchased in advance to match versions and preserve warranty coverage, and that older existing tower sites are being refurbished rather than replaced to make use of existing public-safety infrastructure. They also said all expenditures are tracked in inventory and accounting records and that the project remains transparent. Members pressed for a master plan and timeline, with Representative Smith arguing the project needs clearer structure and fewer layers of decision-making. KSP acknowledged the need for a timeline, said they had plans but not a full timeline earlier, and stated that if the remaining funding is approved they expect to complete the remaining existing sites and 25 new sites by June 30, 2027. They said 56 new-build sites remain, identified as the yellow-dot sites on the maps, and that some sites may be able to use existing Demar/National Guard tower locations. The committee did not take a vote on the project during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or is it all litter? It's all litter. Okay. All right. I appreciate that.

Summary: The House Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up a series of hunting, wildlife, environmental, and property measures. It reported favorably HCR 79, which urges Congress and the U.S. Forest Service to allow deer hunting with dogs in Kisatchie National Forest, after testimony emphasizing the cultural importance of dog hunting and opposition from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, which supported only the wounded-deer recovery component. The committee also reported favorably SB 419 on using pre-charged pneumatic devices during primitive firearms season, SCR 29 creating a study committee on Atchafalaya Basin water quality, and SB 111 setting black bass and crappie bag and size limits in the basin, with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries saying it would continue sampling and monitor impacts. Members then approved SB 174 transferring state property in Caddo Parish from Louisiana Tech University to the Caddo Parish School Board, SB 189 prohibiting intentional release of fuels or chemicals for temperature-affecting purposes, and SB 99 modernizing DEQ communications to allow optional electronic notices. They also reported favorably HCR 54 requesting a federal study of flooded corn and migratory waterfowl behavior, and HCR 94 requiring annual boating safety reports from Wildlife and Fisheries; witnesses supported the reporting idea and suggested adding a 10-year average for context. The committee next approved HCR 104, which asks the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Geological Survey to study collection and access to subsurface data, with LSU’s Greg Upton describing ongoing modernization of core samples, well logs, and 3D subsurface mapping. It also passed SB 331, which temporarily removes a section of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act for five years to allow work on the lower Pearl River; conservation groups opposed the bill, warning about precedent, flooding, erosion, and habitat impacts, while the author said the measure was narrowly tailored to address severe silting and channel problems. Finally, the committee created a task force on illegal dumping in HCR 85 after amending its membership, adopted a substitute for HR 216 to authorize a committee hearing on the 2022 Louisiana Climate Action Plan, and reported favorably HCR 87 supporting a U.S. senator’s migratory flyway correspondence and SB 505 revising the Motor Fuels Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund grant process and related tank requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or is it all litter? It's all litter. Okay. All right, I appreciate that.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the ARP beautification funds and just kind of some updates on what we've been doing with litter
• For the laws of, again, 2024, item 2, the special appropriations, again, utilized for our litter pickup

Summary: The committee first heard HB 299, a bill to support the Highway 180 project between Deming and Silver City. The sponsors described it as a three-phase road expansion that is already partly complete, but they emphasized rising construction costs, frequent accidents, heavy mining traffic, and the importance of the route to the local economy, tourism, and access to Silver City. A DOT engineer confirmed the project’s phases and cost increases, and the bill drew support from a former DOT official and others. The committee voted do pass, 6-0. The committee then heard HB 325, which would create a railroad crossing safety fund to help improve crossings statewide with lights, gates, overpasses, and other safety measures. Sponsors said the fund would be seeded with a modest amount and could leverage local, federal, and possibly public-private funding, with DOT setting rules and priorities. Railroad lobbyists from Union Pacific and BNSF supported the bill, saying it would help address a major public safety issue, especially for smaller communities. The committee voted do pass. Next, SB 73 was presented to require driver education schools to include at least three hours of instruction on vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Supporters said the bill would improve awareness and safety at low cost, and public testimony included a bicyclist and a parent who lost a daughter in a crash involving a vulnerable road user. Some members asked how the requirement would apply to first-time or older drivers, and sponsors said it would be part of driver education curriculum developed by MVD and DOT. The committee voted do pass, with one member explaining a vote to note the bill should be read as applying to any first-time driver, not just young drivers. The committee also heard SB 111, which would align the Motor Vehicle Division’s confidentiality rules with last session’s SB 36 by protecting personal information such as sex, gender identity, immigration status, and national origin from public disclosure. The Taxation and Revenue Department said the change was meant to close a gap in the law and prevent release of sensitive data in response to public records requests, while still allowing disclosure for law enforcement and other legally required purposes. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote, with one member voting no and saying he was frustrated by last-minute efforts to fix problems he did not see as existing. The meeting concluded with lengthy DOT district presentations from District 1 and District 6, covering budgets, completed and ongoing projects, local road and bridge work, equipment needs, and unfunded priorities. Members asked about specific projects, freight routes, cattle guards, dust and weather issues, striping contractors, and how projects are prioritized under the state’s asset management scoring system. DOT officials said many projects were complete or underway, that some major projects would be funded through Senate Bill 2 or other appropriations, and that equipment and recurring maintenance funding remain major concerns. The committee adjourned after thanking DOT staff and members for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• And he was charged with littering, I want to say trespassing, littering with over 500 pounds.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met with a full agenda and reported all measures favorably. The committee first heard HB 1327, which would codify the Hope Florida program in state law, and HB 1329, the related public-records exemption for Hope Florida participants; both bills drew questions about oversight, duplication of services, staffing, and data privacy, and both passed 17-0 after an amendment to HB 1329. The committee then approved HB 391, allowing certified batterers intervention programs to include optional faith-based content while remaining grounded in required therapeutic models; an amendment clarified that participation in faith-based components must be strictly voluntary. Supporters argued the bill restores choice and access, while opponents raised concerns about church-state separation and uneven availability of secular alternatives; the bill passed 17-0. Members also advanced HB 1065, creating an Alzheimer’s disease awareness initiative through the Department of Elder Affairs, with broad support from members who shared personal experiences and emphasized early detection and public education. HB 1163, dealing with recovery residences, passed 12-5 after debate over local zoning authority, home rule, and whether the bill would help or hinder placement of level four recovery homes near urban cores. Several members said they supported recovery housing in principle but wanted more clarity on task force findings and local impacts before fully backing the measure. The committee next approved HB 969, which shifts evaluation of school district mental health assistance programs to OPAGA and requires reports on outcomes and effectiveness; members stressed the need to know whether substantial mental health funding is improving student outcomes. HB 1191, which decriminalizes allowing children to travel to school, play outdoors, or stay home for reasonable periods and codifies current DCF policy, passed 16-0 with support framed around parental rights and child development. Finally, HB 1207, the Tristan Murphy Act, passed 15-0 and would expand mental health diversion and treatment options, including training for first responders, a forensic hospital diversion pilot, a behavioral health data repository, and additional evaluation requirements before inmate work assignments. The meeting adjourned after all agenda bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• going to really be intolerant and give up their cat when they find out that these cats don't use the litter
• really be intolerant and give up their cat when they find out that that these cats don't use the litter

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee held its first regular bill hearing of 2025 and considered a wide range of measures on health care access, professional regulation, animal welfare, and consumer protection. Early in the hearing, the committee adopted its rules and then approved a consent calendar of several bills, including measures by Chen, Caloza, Carrillo, Arreguín, Berman, and Flora. The committee also took up AB 1082, which would allow California nursing students enrolled in out-of-state programs to complete clinical training in California; supporters said it would help address the nursing shortage and keep students closer to home, while opponents warned it could worsen already limited clinical placement capacity and reduce oversight. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations after a quorum was established. The committee then heard and advanced several health-related bills. AB 50, by Assembly Member Bonta, would ease Medi-Cal access to over-the-counter hormonal contraception by removing the need for a prescription for coverage purposes; pharmacists, reproductive health advocates, and medical groups supported the bill, and it passed unanimously to the Committee on Health. AB 489, also by Bonta, would prohibit AI systems from misrepresenting themselves as licensed health professionals; supporters from medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and other professional groups said the bill would protect patients from misleading chatbot advice, and it passed to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 481, by Assembly Member Rubio, would expand the tasks that federally qualified lab personnel can perform under CLIA supervision to help address lab staffing shortages; labor groups raised concerns about training, certification, and supervision, but the bill passed to Appropriations with an amended do pass recommendation. The committee also considered animal welfare and access-to-care measures. AB 631, by Assembly Member Lee, would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; supporters said the reporting would improve policy and resource allocation, while members discussed how the requirement would work for shelters without websites, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 867, also by Lee, would prohibit cat declawing except when medically necessary for the animal; animal welfare groups strongly supported the bill, while the veterinary association opposed it as an improper legislative regulation of veterinary surgery, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1307 would create a pilot program allowing a limited number of qualified dentists trained in Mexico to practice in underserved California areas; supporters framed it as a cost-neutral way to address major dental access gaps, the California Dental Association remained opposed unless amended, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Several members later added their votes on the various items after the hearing, and the committee kept the hearing open briefly to allow additional add-ons.

Transcript Highlights:

• But programs like school-based health, behavioral health, youth diversion, gang reduction strategies,
• speaker and members AB 1046 provides a narrow exemption from the state's short-lived climate pollutant reduction
• needed technical changes to keep organic waste out of landfills and help meet the state's methane reduction
• AB 823 would also ban the sale of personal care products containing plastic litter beginning Plastic
• There are natural alternatives to plastic microbeads used as abrasives and plastic litter.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• training in what's called OMM, which is osteopathic manipulative medicine, would include... ...the reduction
• M, which is osteopathic manipulative medicine, would include the reduction of dislocations or the recentering
• affordable spay and neuter, this bill addresses the issue at its source, reducing the number of unwanted litters

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills on access to care, professional licensing, and consumer protection, beginning as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking. AB 1307 would create a pilot program allowing up to 30 qualified dentists from Mexico to work in underserved California areas for up to three years; the author and sponsor framed it as a cost-neutral way to address dental shortages, the California Dental Association moved from opposition to neutral after amendments, and members expressed support. AB 1703 would restrict use of osteopathic titles and osteopathic manipulative treatment to licensed DOs; supporters said it would prevent patient confusion and unlicensed practice, while non-physician osteopaths argued it would criminalize a long-standing, safe practice and reduce access. Members raised concerns about consumer clarity and access, and the author said she would continue working with opponents. AB 2250 made technical cleanup changes to last year’s hemp enforcement law, with support from the cannabis industry and no opposition. AB 1758 would raise the annual seller-of-travel assessment for the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund from $35 to $60, and AB 1794 would allow prescribed enteral nutrition formulas to be drop-shipped directly to patients’ homes with pharmacist oversight; both drew support and no opposition. AB 1775 would expand state licensing priority and related support for veterans discharged because of a federal transgender military policy, with emotional testimony from a transgender Army captain and support from equality and women’s organizations. AB 1939 would allow licensed professional fiduciaries to form corporations, and AB 2477 would create a limited provisional period for new pest control employees to work under supervision while licensing is pending; both were supported, though AB 2477 drew questions about supervision and committee amendments. AB 1999 would address veterinary workforce shortages by creating retired volunteer status, a shelter-veterinarian pathway, changes to VCPR rules, and narrowing the owner exemption to exclude surgical procedures; supporters cited animal welfare concerns, while some opponents warned about overreach. AB 2010 would permit high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics in nontraditional settings to expand access, but the Veterinary Medical Board and some advocates opposed it unless amended over safety and clarity concerns. AB 2311 would let public health care district hospitals directly employ physicians, with supporters saying it would improve recruitment and access and opponents warning about erosion of physician autonomy; the author said the bill included safeguards, a sunset, and reporting requirements, and continued negotiations were ongoing. After quorum was established, the committee took roll-call votes and advanced the bills, generally on party-line or broad bipartisan votes, with several measures placed on call and others sent to Appropriations, Judiciary, Revenue and Taxation, Military and Veterans Affairs, or other committees as noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal funding reductions, changes in grant programs, and uncertainty around future reimbursement are
• We're already facing federal and potential state funding cuts, soon Medicaid reductions will further
• Federal funding, reductions, for... our organization is under unprecedented strain.
• Federal funding reductions, changes in grant programs, and uncertainty around future reimbursement are
• The fiscal note estimates a reduction in general fund revenues of about $2.8 million in this biennium

Bills: SB6294, SB6211, SB5650, SB6033, SB6297, SB6343, SB6067, SB6082, SB6323, SB6324, SB5862, SB5923, SB6151

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on several bills, beginning with Substitute Senate Bill 6026, which would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, with limits on requiring mixed-use or ground-floor retail and some height flexibility where such requirements are imposed. Committee staff described the bill as governor-request legislation with a fiscal note for Department of Commerce implementation and local zoning updates. Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck testified in strong support, calling it a major housing bill that would add needed capacity without burdening housing with retail requirements. The committee then suspended the hearing and moved to other bills on the agenda. Senate Bill 6294 drew extensive testimony. Staff said it would expand local fiscal tools in eight parts, including broader uses for certain REET revenues, a new option for cities to impose the affordable housing REET with voter approval, a county utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded uses for existing housing sales tax revenues, possible standalone county veterans and behavioral health levies, longer voter-authorized levy lid lifts, and expanded uses for rental car tax revenue. Supporters from cities, counties, housing, and public health groups said the bill would provide needed flexibility for housing, child care, public health clinics, and county budgets. Opponents, including wireless, water and sewer, auto dealer, realtor, and energy industry representatives, objected to the county utility tax, the new sales tax, or the REET provisions, citing regressivity, higher costs, and housing affordability concerns. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a Department of Commerce grant program funded by a surcharge on covered tech platforms, with revenue also supporting the Murrow Journalism Fellowship at Washington State University. News organizations, civic groups, and journalism advocates testified that local news is in decline and that the bill would help preserve reporting jobs and community accountability, while technology industry representatives warned of legal risks and argued the bill unfairly targets online platforms. Other bills heard included SB 6211, which would let voluntarily planning GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; SB 5650, which would authorize local cannabis excise taxes, drawing support from local governments and opposition from cannabis businesses that said the industry is already overtaxed; SB 6033, which would waive penalties and interest for certain taxpayers who failed to collect new retail sales tax on services, supported by small business advocates; SB 6297, which would exempt temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health entities from sales tax, supported by behavioral health providers; and SB 6343, which would extend and expand tax relief for property damaged by natural disasters, with support from local officials in flood-affected communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can do a one-page amendment as far as spreading litter.
• This one will now spread litter or export either one. Open for questions. Move for adoption.
• Now, as far as the $5,000 fine, that's if somebody sells more than 10,000 pounds or 10 tons of litter

Bills: HR1036, HB2975, HB3026, HB3297, HB2981, HB2978, HB4144, HB1322, HB1818, HB3194, HB3767, HB3342, HB3344, HB4170, HB3287, HB3288, HB4454, HB3264, HB3266, HB3268, HB4095, HB4115, HB4316, HB3530, HB3428, HB4272, HB4273, HB4274, HB3405, HB3406, HB3467, HB3469, HB3931

Keywords: Bob Wills, Western Swing, Cain's Ballroom, Oklahoma music history, country music, rock and roll, folk jazz blues, Oklahoma Arts Council, Oklahoma Film and Music Office, Oklahoma Historical Society, OKPOP Museum, commemorative resolution, day at the Capitol, musician recognition, heritage celebration, Tulsa, poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• The fifth reform in this bill requires DCF to implement a statewide fraud reduction and payment accuracy
• The fifth reform in this bill requires DCF to implement a statewide fraud reduction and payment accuracy
• The fifth reform in this bill requires DCF to implement a statewide fraud reduction and payment accuracy
• plan. to implement a statewide fraud reduction and payment accuracy plan governing supplemental nutritional
• And then we know that this bill is littered with constitutional issues, littered with constitutional

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including a resolution honoring Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a special-order calendar with multiple bills, many of them paired with House companions and amended before final passage. Early action included adoption of a tax conformity bill tied to federal changes in the Internal Revenue Code, with a 34-0 vote. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described provisions to strengthen fraud enforcement, impose work requirements for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid drug purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Democrats offered amendments to delay work requirements until Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP users such as caregivers, seniors, disabled individuals, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators also questioned implementation details, exemptions, and potential effects on vulnerable populations. After debate, the bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a public records exemption and related Parkinson’s Disease Registry measures, designation of the SS American Victory as the state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on legal tender recognition for gold and silver, public records protections for financial and digital-asset custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government budget transparency, digital voyeurism, insurance customer representative licensing, and a medical freedom bill with amendments on vaccine-related materials and anti-kickback provisions. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though the public records bill for gold/silver custodians and the legal tender repeal drew a few dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fifth reform in this bill requires DCF to implement a statewide fraud reduction and payment accuracy
• To implement a statewide fraud reduction and payment accuracy plan governing supplemental nutritional
• citizenship status and requires the use of photo identification. to implement a statewide fraud reduction
• clarifies that the budget-cutting exercise is a workshop for identifying strategies for potential reductions
• And then we know that this bill is littered with constitutional issues, littered with constitutional

Keywords: 999, senate, all