Transcript Highlights:

• energy future in California.
• I also sit on a code standards panel for the National Electrical Code, and I've chaired the Firefighter
• Then they take that National Electrical Code and it gets published as the California Electrical Code
• State regulations are pushing these firms to transition to cleaner energy sources.
• State regulations are pushing these firms to transition to cleaner energy sources, and many firms are

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We got curious about how other states like Washington, Massachusetts, and New York were approaching the
• The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has a definition.
• and creative workers in the state.
• creative workers in the state.
• We call upon you now to align our state budget with our stated values, ensuring that California remains

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on the Arts

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in Washington State, we house 10 of the 12 major soil orders.
• Climate Resilience Strategy for Washington State Agriculture. ...the resilience, the Washington State
• Like our presenters said before, the state of agriculture, especially in Washington State,...
• Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab at Washington State University.
• It's 1974 is when the Washington was... Washington State University.

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met for a work session focused on Washington agriculture’s condition, food security, behavioral health, and animal disease surveillance. WSDA Director Derek Sandison and economist Maddie Roy presented an update on agricultural viability, describing Washington agriculture as highly diverse and valuable but increasingly strained by rising production and labor costs, aging producers, consolidation, trade barriers, land pressures, stagnant research funding, infrastructure concerns, and climate impacts. They cited declining farm numbers, falling net farm income, and negative take-home pay for farmers, while also noting strengths such as climate, soils, ports, irrigation, universities, and other infrastructure. Committee members asked about commodity-specific impacts, comparisons with other states, and the role of regulation in worsening costs. Kelly McLean followed with a discussion of opportunities to support agriculture, including trade, domestic food systems development, climate mitigation, clean energy, ag tech, workforce and education, and mental health. She highlighted investments in port and transportation infrastructure, local food processing and distribution, land access and incubator opportunities, climate resilience projects, and programs supporting farmworker and farmer mental health. Katie Raines then updated the committee on food systems and food security, explaining WSDA’s reorganization into a Farm and Food Systems Development Division and describing trends in household food insecurity, the state’s hunger safety net, and the importance of food system infrastructure. She noted that food insecurity is rising again and that even higher-income households are reporting need, while legislators asked about eligibility thresholds and the impact on lower-income residents. The committee also heard from WSU Skagit County Extension’s Don McMoran and Maddie Van der Koi on agricultural stress and suicide prevention. They described the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Partnership, crisis and referral resources, peer-to-peer outreach, trainings, and free counseling vouchers for farmers and farmworkers. They emphasized that farmers face chronic stress from financial volatility, weather, labor shortages, isolation, and stigma, and cited elevated suicide rates in agricultural populations. Members asked about reluctance to seek help and whether flooding had increased demand for services. Finally, Dr. Kevin Snekovic of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory described WADDL’s role in disease testing, food safety, wildlife surveillance, and rapid response to outbreaks such as avian influenza and chronic wasting disease. He said the lab supports trade and quarantine decisions, and members asked about elk hoof rot research, workforce needs, and how to connect constituents to the lab. No votes were taken; the session ended with a preview of upcoming Thursday work sessions on marine resources, Columbia River Basin supply, Ecology’s report back, and agricultural natural resources issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Washington State, we house 10 of the 12 major soil orders.
• ag. various different commodities in Washington state.
• Climate Resilience Strategy for Washington State Agriculture. ...the resilience, the Washington State
• Like our presenters said before, the state of agriculture, especially in Washington State, is in a dire
• I'll bring you up to speed on the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab at Washington State University

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State of Idaho.
• Washington State University also collaborates with two programs outside of the United States that bring
• There's a fair amount of that going on at Washington State University, as well as Washington Department
• against us, sending studies, sending declarations, going against an agreement and state code.
• an agreement and state code.

Summary: The committee heard two main presentations. First, University of Idaho representatives Rob McQuaid, Matt Powell, and Dean Dennis Becker described the university’s land-grant mission and its work in agriculture, natural resources, extension, research, and workforce training. They highlighted the Morrill, Hatch, and Smith-Lever Acts; the university’s colleges and research stations; the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station; 4-H; the CAFE dairy research facility; the deep soil ecotron; the wildfire, forestry, and policy analysis programs; and the university’s role in veterinary, forestry, and agricultural education. Members asked about quagga mussels, New World screwworm, chronic wasting disease, federal and state funding cuts, and the status of the CAFE project. The university officials said they were willing to assist on invasive species issues, but emphasized not duplicating or diluting agency work, and they described significant impacts from federal funding delays and state cuts. No votes were taken. The committee then heard testimony from Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse on Idaho’s position regarding ICE’s 287(g) partnership programs. He argued that participation should remain voluntary and locally controlled, and explained the differences among the jail enforcement, warrant service officer, and task force models. He said local agencies already cooperate with ICE in limited ways, but mandatory participation could create staffing, liability, and community-trust problems. Members asked about costs, detention standards, administrative versus criminal warrants, liability exposure, and whether deputies lose local control under task force arrangements. Hulse said the programs vary in cost and complexity, that ICE housing standards can be burdensome, and that local sheriffs should decide based on resources and community needs. The committee also discussed the number of Idaho agencies currently participating and the compensation and exit provisions in the agreements. No formal action or vote was taken. In a later segment, the committee heard testimony from the Idaho Wool Growers Association and sheep producers on the long-running domestic sheep and bighorn sheep conflict. Stan Boyd reviewed prior legislation and litigation involving bighorn sheep transplants, notice requirements, and “hold harmless” protections for permittees, while Harry Solon described how forest closures and bighorn-related decisions reduced his family’s sheep operation and forced layoffs. The testimony focused on the economic and family impacts of the closures and lawsuits, and on the history of state efforts to protect grazing permittees. No committee action was recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• across the state.
• state.
• The project is owned and managed by the state for the State Water Commission.
• basin states combined.
• basin states combined.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• States Code of the 8 of title 5, United States Code of the rule<02:21:28.880><c> submitted</c><02:21:
• I yield two minutes now to a member of our committee, the gentlewoman from Washington State, Ms.
• gentleoman from Washington State, Miss gentleoman from Washington State, Miss Dr.<02:48:10.160><c> Shrier
• <02:52:33.279><c> blue</c><02:52:33.600><c> states,</c> everybody, red states and blue states, everybody
• Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with our state credits.
• That are active as a voice for states when it comes to state and federal tax issues.
• The state.
• for clean energy.
• state work or state contracting.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• That's kind of how our economy is in the state.
• I think the state of Washington, you could say it might be our geography, but we just learned a long
• growth and energy and environment.
• of consumers live... outside of the United States.
• , to bring their IP to the United States.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Commerce, International Trade, Tax Policy, Nominees, Inflation, Middle-class, Trade Practices, Economic Concerns

Summary: The committee convened to discuss various bills and nominees, including the critical nominations of William Kimmett for Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and Ken Keyes for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department. Discussions highlighted the nominees' roles in managing critical trade and tax policies amidst rising economic concerns, particularly focusing on inflation and its impact on American families. Members expressed both support and skepticism, emphasizing the significance of fostering fair trade practices and ensuring tax policies that benefit the middle-class amidst claims of an agenda favoring affluent individuals and corporations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why does it need additional state support?
• State your name and make sure your mic is on. State your name and make sure your mic is on.
• But the state would be responsible for outcome data, right?
• Border states, you have to be concerned about.
• The gold, 12% leave for another state in the Midwest.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2510, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeier, which would create a coordinated state framework for critical minerals involving the Departments of Natural Resources, Economic Development, and Higher Education and Workforce Development. The sponsor said Missouri is well positioned because it contains 36 of 60 minerals deemed critical to national security and manufacturing, and argued the bill would help Missouri pursue federal funding, build a workforce pipeline, and support advanced manufacturing with a five-year sunset. Committee members questioned the need for a new state structure and fund, the cost to Missouri, the role of universities, and whether the task force was too narrowly written around the University of Missouri system and mistakenly included DESE instead of higher education. A Missouri Chamber witness supported the bill for its economic and national security benefits, while an environmental witness urged adding an environmental professional to the task force and a mining permitting framework, citing health and water concerns and suggesting a separate mining-regulation bill as an amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 2585, sponsored by Rep. Castile, which updates Missouri workforce development statutes to align with federal law and implement the new Workforce Pell Grant program. The sponsor said the bill would allow short-term, high-value training programs in fields like welding, public safety academies, health technology, and trucking to qualify for Pell support, while preserving oversight and tying eligibility to outcomes such as completion, job placement, and earnings. Members asked about the number and makeup of the workforce board, whether the bill’s staffing references still pointed to the wrong department, how the 150% poverty-level threshold and reporting metrics would work, and whether the board could move quickly enough to meet federal timelines. A Missouri Community College Association witness said all 12 community colleges have programs likely to qualify and explained the federal eligibility standards, including a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and three-year rolling data review; a FGA Action witness and the Missouri Chamber also supported the bill as a way to expand access to skills training and draw down federal funds. After the bill hearings, the committee received an informational presentation from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. The presenter described the compact’s regional cost-saving work, including reciprocity for distance education, technology contracts, grants, and efforts on dual credit and FAFSA support. She also shared Missouri-specific data on educational attainment, enrollment trends, student migration, and net price, noting that Missouri lags slightly behind the U.S. in attainment, has projected declines in high school graduates, retains most in-state students, and has higher net prices for low-income students than the Midwest average. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my name is Bargob Iyer with the Associated Students of Washington State University.
• This would make Washington an extreme outlier among other states.
• Curtis Diner with the Washington State Association of Counties, testifying in support of Senate Bill
• I'm here to testify on behalf of the Washington State Association of County Auditors.
• I'm here testify on behalf of the Washington State Association of County Auditors.

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the United States v.
• Change it in Washington.
• state.
• Energy bills are up.
• state leave.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Consistent with section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, 50 United States Code 3043
• </c> 50 United States Code 3043, I have 50 United States Code 3043, I have enclosed<01:42:34.000><c>
• DTE Energy in my state already charges us some of the highest rates in the nation, with some of the most
• that restrict the supply of energy in our state.
• that restrict the supply of energy in our state.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State of the State sort of came in as a State of the State of<00:05:59.639><c> if</c><00:05:59.720><
• , Vermont, Maine, New York, Connecticut, Oregon, Washington State, Illinois, and there's also, uh, collected
• , Vermont, Maine, New York, Connecticut, Oregon, Washington State, Illinois, and there's also, uh, collected
• by governments like Washington, D.C. statistics states that already collect statistics states that already
• </c><01:25:49.760><c> State</c> Connecticut Oregon Washington State Connecticut Oregon Washington State

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Jack from the great state of Georgia. Jack from the great state of Georgia.
• </c> was allowed to enter the United States. was allowed to enter the United States.
• </c> States, and is presently deportable. States, and is presently deportable.
• Senate 616, an act to amend Title 36, United States Code, to revise the federal charter for the foundation
• United States Code, to revise the United States Code, to revise the federal<04:00:32.319><c> charter<

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State contracts for an adversary prohibition is just the way it was stated.
• Several states have done this.
• have state sovereignty.
• It was created by the states.
• It was created by the state.

Summary: The meeting covered a very large number of bills across multiple committees, with most items presented on consent calendars and several sponsors explaining their measures. Education bills focused on moving statewide testing later in the school year, allowing paper testing by local choice, increasing transparency around district administrator pay, expanding religious excusal policies, creating a school fitness recognition program, and sending a resolution to voters to require sex-based designation of school sports teams and private spaces. Federalism and Government items included bans on foreign contributions to ballot-measure committees, a proposed ballot measure to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting, memorials urging withdrawal from the United Nations and the IMF, penalties for late agency financial reporting, restrictions on state contracts with China, and a bill limiting use of ADS-B aviation data for fee collection. Commerce bills addressed digital goods disclosure, child influencer trust accounts, liability for river outfitters, marketplace contractor termination rights, utility submetering charges, unemployment eligibility checks, and association-based health plans. Health and human services measures included lactation consultant certification and Medicaid breastfeeding support, a ban on gender transition procedures for minors, a requirement that chief medical officers hold active licenses, technical ambulance definitions, a SNAP waiver request to restrict non-eligible food purchases, hospital collection of patient immigration status, and enrollment verification for AHCCCS-related hospital presumptive eligibility. Judiciary bills included consent-verification requirements for online sexual material, a civil cause of action for DEI policy violations, hate-crime-style enhancements that also cover political affiliation, name-change disclosure rules for sex offenders, penalties for possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present persons, penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, speed-inhibiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, longer transition services for inmates, stronger penalties for sexual extortion of minors, and legislative oversight of state shooting range closures. Natural resources and water bills dealt with brackish groundwater recovery and desalination studies, water augmentation authority financing, HOA drought-year watering restrictions, water-rate parity for customers outside city limits, and groundwater transportation from the McMullen Valley basin. Other topics included a ban on PFAS firefighting foam, restrictions on vaccine and mask mandates by governments and businesses, protections against employment or service discrimination based on medical interventions, elimination of long-vacant state positions, consumer protections against device disabling after owner modifications, and restrictions on Chinese-made critical infrastructure. The committee also heard a Space Commission update bill and a continuation of the Arizona Beef Council. Several bills were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments or legal concerns, including the testing-window bill, student directory information bill, river outfitter liability bill, ambulance bill, and others. No final floor votes were taken in the transcript, but many bills were advanced on third-read or consent calendars, while a few were set aside for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I was growing up, my father was a forestry professor at Washington State University.
• </c><00:48:48.240><c> My</c><00:48:48.480><c> uncle</c> Washington State University.
• My uncle Washington State University.
• c> trust</c><03:44:42.640><c> for</c> the state of Washington into trust for the state of Washington
• the</c> United States Code, to revise the United States Code, to revise the federal<05:04:10.638><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's only to purchase state... It's only to purchase state...
• Well, I don't think we have the state. around the state.
• We are funded by the state contributions for government code, also department contributions, Part One
• SECO has been allocated DOE money for a state energy plan, for a revolving loan fund, and also, very
• state agency.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the language does state on in section 50581, subsection A1.
• That's not a good use of state resources for these agencies to be doing that.
• Fire Marshal, the Energy Commission, and the Building Standards Code Commission all to collaborate all
• Code Commission all to collaborate all four times on separate reports.
• These are communities that right now in the state of California.

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our current law of the state.
• Certain energy-related components.
• We believe advanced energy is one of those, and that's why this is important to both put into state law
• credit independent to the state.
• I wanted to ask, does the state advanced energy production definition include hydrogen? Mr.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 108, which amends the Watershed District Act to fix a problem created by last year’s changes: appointed watershed district boards could not legally levy taxes, even though several districts already had mill levies. The sponsor and staff explained the bill would preserve the existing tax authority by tying it to the soil and water district responsible for the watershed district. There was no public opposition, and the committee voted do pass on HB 108 as amended. The committee then heard House Bill 154, a tax credit bill intended to decouple New Mexico’s Advanced Energy Equipment Tax Credit from changing federal definitions and to add fusion machines and related components to the state definition. Supporters from economic development, industry, utilities, and education argued the bill would provide certainty, attract advanced manufacturing, and help New Mexico compete for investment without changing the credit’s caps or fiscal impact. Members questioned why hydrogen, geothermal, and small modular reactors were not included; staff said those technologies were not in the federal definition and that adding them now could create unintended consequences. The committee voted do pass on HB 154, with one member voting reluctantly yes. House Bill 291, the Taxation and Revenue Department’s annual tax code cleanup bill, was then presented and amended twice. The first amendment preserved New Mexico’s independent definition of qualified research for the tech jobs and R&D credit. The second removed a proposed expansion of the film tax credit to certain tribal expenditures after concerns about fiscal impact; members discussed possible future approaches for tribal film activity and the film partner loophole. The bill also makes technical and policy changes including rounding certain payments to the nearest nickel, waiving interest when tax deadlines are extended for good cause, removing small late-filing penalties in some cases, allowing delinquent taxpayers to renew permits under installment agreements, intercepting excess delinquent property tax auction proceeds for other state tax debts, clarifying tobacco tax treatment for larger vape cartridges, and tightening film credit rules. After public opposition from business groups and discussion from members, the committee voted do pass on HB 291 as twice amended.