Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:28.600><c> was</c> I do believe um representative Eric was I do believe um representative
• Eric was going<00:29:28.880><c> to</c><00:29:29.000><c> make</c><00:29:29.159><c> a</c><00:29:29.360>
• <c> comment</c><00:29:29.799><c> as</c> Representative Eric: Thank you, Madam Chair and members.
• Representative Eric: It's not good for them. It's not good for the victim.
• and that should is representative Eric and that should is doing<00:53:49.680><c> a</c><00:53:49.799>

Bills: HF1917 , HF1083 , HF367

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: data practices, public official, transparency, government accountability, employment data, domestic abuse, domestic violence, battered women, victim advocate, advocacy, confidentiality, privilege, evidence law, witness privilege, court-ordered disclosure, shelter, crisis intervention, sexual assault counselor, victim services, protective services

Transcript Highlights:

• them and then set up those meetings to get things done and then notify myself, the secretary, and Eric
• Eric Dauphine, Assistant Secretary for Project Delivery at DOTD.
• Eric, you want to comment on that.
• That's exactly what we're doing is coming up with what Eric coined a five-year fiscally constrained program
• . ...notes, that's exactly what we're doing is coming up with what Eric coined a five-year fiscally constrained

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or formal actions. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black outlined the department’s transformation efforts, emphasizing faster project delivery, improved transparency, and use of technology. They reported major reductions in contractor payment processing time, from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, and change-order approvals from about 40–45 days to around five days. They also described new tools such as inspection tablets, a project delivery dashboard, e-ticketing, a customer service portal, and a pilot using sensor technology on department vehicles to identify potholes and damaged assets. The department said it is reorganizing district staffing, replacing the old area engineer model with district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, without increasing total staff. Members focused heavily on local maintenance concerns, including potholes, drainage, culverts, mowing, overgrown ditches, and utility-related delays. Several legislators asked how to get quicker responses on routine maintenance and how to distinguish state responsibility from local jurisdiction. DOTD said it would meet with district administrators to address specific problems and clarify jurisdiction, and that the new customer service portal should help track complaints electronically. Members also asked about contractor accountability, utility relocations, and public communication on long-running projects; DOTD said it is improving internal KPIs, coordinating more closely with district staff and public information officers, and considering broader public updates beyond the website. The department also reviewed highway planning and funding. Officials said the Highway Priority Program is being reworked into a more fiscally constrained, staged process that starts earlier in concept development and gives legislators and constituents more feedback before the annual road show. They said the department is using new IDIQ contracting authority to bring in outside help for bridge maintenance and other work, and that bridge maintenance backlogs remain significant. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 and 2.0 together cover 91 projects statewide totaling more than $534 million, with over 40 complete, and that LTIF 3.0 adds 39 projects and about $165 million. Combined with other funding sources, the department said its upcoming construction program will include 385 projects worth about $1.73 billion. Legislators generally praised the department’s progress but raised concerns about lingering local problems and the need for clearer communication. Questions were also asked about a barge strike on the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge, with DOTD saying divers and staff were inspecting the damage and that emergency repairs would likely be needed. After the DOTD update, the new Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, led by Archie Chesson, gave its own update on its first year, describing a small staff, heavy use of consultant and contractor pools, emergency procurement authority, and rapid delivery of rural bridge and roadway projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have one person signed in to testify remote: Eric Lindberg. Eric Lindberg. All right.
• Eric Lundberg here, fifth-generation taxpayer and voter, and I am opposed to this bill.
• So we have two folks for Senate Bill 5925, Ryan Lufkin and Eric Lundberg. Oh, I'm so sorry.
• And following up, we'll go with Ryan Lufkin and Eric Lundberg, who are also online. Good morning.

Bills: SB6011

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: court security, bailiffs, threat assessment, judicial safety, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1993, at the age of 16, he killed a young man by the name of Eric.
• They care that Eric never made it past 27 years old.
• Haynes served less than two years for killing Eric.
• She's the mother of Eric, who was killed in 1993 by the same offender who killed Ruth Dalton, the Seattle
• She's the mother of Eric who was killed in 1993 by the same offender who killed Ruth Dalton, the Seattle

Summary: The committee began with a work session from the State Investment Board, where staff described the board’s structure, $230 billion in assets under management, and its mandate to maximize returns at a prudent level of risk for pension and other state funds. They reviewed long-term performance, noting strong historical returns and explaining that the board generally invests public equities passively through low-cost index funds. Members also discussed sustainability practices, including ESG integration, proxy voting, climate and DEI blueprints, and the board’s view that divestment or asset-class restrictions can reduce returns and increase costs. Senators asked about deferred compensation, legislative influence over investment policy, and digital assets; staff said the board is slow-moving and that any major change would be studied carefully. The public hearing then focused on SB 5439, which would prohibit new thermal coal investments beginning in 2026 and require full divestment by 2030, with limited exceptions. Supporters argued coal is a poor long-term investment and a major climate and health risk, and several said the bill still gives the board flexibility to retain holdings in companies transitioning to clean energy. The committee also heard testimony on SB 6109, which would bar investments in private detention facilities and require divestment by 2030; supporters said state money should not profit from immigrant detention, while staff confirmed the board currently holds a small investment in Geo Group. SB 6304 would require responsible investment principles for the State Investment Board, including consideration of human rights, environmental degradation, corruption, and related risks, along with proxy voting guidelines and annual reporting. Testimony in favor emphasized ethical investing, climate risk, and avoiding complicity in human rights abuses, while board staff had earlier said they view such decisions through an investment-risk lens rather than a values-based lens. The committee also heard Substitute SB 5945, which would exclude most offenses committed before age 18 from counting as strikes under the state’s persistent offender law and would allow retroactive resentencing for affected people, with exceptions for first- and second-degree murder and serious sex offenses. Staff said the substitute would likely affect fewer cases than the original bill, with estimates ranging from about 10 to 24 resentencings. Public defense, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ representatives raised concerns about workload, victim impacts, and retroactive application, while supporters and pro bono providers said they were prepared to help with resentencing and reentry support. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Remember, if you're on Zoom, use the raise-hand feature, and Eric will see you and alert me to anyone
• I'm staff to JLARC, and I'm joined today by my colleagues Aline Mizona and Eric Whitaker, and also with
• Thank you, Eric. Are there Senator Gaynor and then Representative Barnard? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Okay, thank you, Eric.
• Eric, when will we be considering the final report? December.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. Members elected Representative Pollitt as chair, Senator Wagner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary, all by roll call vote. The committee then approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously, and Chair Pollitt noted plans to strengthen bipartisan input and coordination on future audit scopes and agendas. Staff then presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreational boating programs. They said six agencies collect or spend boating-related funds, that the state collected $108 million in boating-related revenue during the 2021-23 biennium, and that $86 million was spent on boating-related activities. Most spending went to infrastructure and water access, with additional amounts for environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff also summarized a survey of other states showing Washington’s boating laws are broadly similar to those elsewhere. The committee spent most of the meeting on preliminary tax preference reviews. JLARC staff reviewed preferences for natural gas used for transportation, travel agents and tour operators, nonprofit low-income housing development, multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for certain pesticides, and energy sold to silicon smelters. Recommendations ranged from continuing preferences, modifying reporting or performance metrics, and in some cases allowing preferences to expire. Members raised questions about emissions benefits, missing employment data, low utilization by veterans, housing reporting gaps, and whether some preferences still fit current policy goals. The committee also adopted the proposed final cannabis market study. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s reporting system is incomplete and unreliable. LCB said it is working toward a new system and concurred with JLARC’s recommendations, though it said the timeline may extend beyond 2026. The committee then began the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints, with staff saying DOH was late on most acute care hospital inspections and does not consistently verify third-party inspections or fully review complaint and reporting issues; DOH concurred with the recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• He also thanked the partisan staff, including Eric Anderson, Sam O'Neal, and Alex Wheeler.
• said Jesse and Ben will have to debrief about the draft tomorrow a little bit. partisan staff, um Eric
• Anderson, Sam partisan staff, um Eric Anderson, Sam O'Neal,<00:15:42.800><c> and</c><00:15:43.120><c

Transcript Highlights:

• Eric Fredrickson, our state public defender, just giving us an update on his office and operations in
• My name is Eric Fredrickson. I am the Idaho State Public Defender. Perfect. Perfect. Thank you, Mr.
• Eric, glad you're here.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• trying to, you know, obviously, the more states that are involved, the better, but even under the ERIC
• But even under the ERIC system, which we withdrew from, not only about 30 of the 50 states were members
• of ERIC.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• How do we do that, Senator Eric Lucero? How do we do that, Senator Eric Lucero?
• Senator Eric Lucero has several ideas and bills out already to address the issue.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just heard from Bishop Eric Matsumoto, who is now in the gallery.
• Joining Bishop Eric Matsumoto is his mother-in-law, Suzuko Sasaki, joined by my office manager, Jan Saledo

Bills: SB2043 , SB2044 , SB2004 , SB2143 , SB2411 , SB2455 , SB2519 , SB2661 , SB2665 , SB2731 , SB2737 , SB2767 , SB2794 , SB2830 , SB3334

Transcript Highlights:

• With me today is Eric Dunk on behalf of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to speak on the impact
• My name is Eric Dunk, and I'm a legislative representative at the California Department of Education

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services met for its first bill hearing of the 2026 legislative year and heard two measures. The chair opened with remarks about protecting safety net programs and noted limits on testimony and rules for disruptions. The committee first heard AB 673, by Assembly Member Corey Jackson, which would create the Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program to help homeless 16- and 17-year-olds who are not in a parent or guardian’s custody by funding referrals to housing, basic needs, educational support, and employment readiness through five-year competitive grants administered by the Department of Education. The California Department of Education supported the bill, citing the scale of student homelessness and poor outcomes for unaccompanied youth. One public witness testified in support, and there was no opposition. Members discussed budget concerns and the need to prioritize services for vulnerable youth, then moved the bill forward to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard AB 277, by Assembly Member Rowelleece, which would require background checks for employees providing behavioral health treatment before hiring. The author said current law covers many other categories of workers but not behavioral health employees such as registered behavioral technicians, and argued the bill would better protect children with disabilities who may be more vulnerable to abuse and less able to report it. The author said the bill had been amended in consultation with the committee to preserve employer hiring discretion while adding the background check requirement. There was no public testimony in opposition, and members expressed support. AB 277 was moved on a due pass recommendation to the Assembly Appropriations Committee and later recorded as passing 6-0. AB 673 was also recorded as passing 4-0 after the roll was left open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Eric Power from Brookline.
• Uh, Eric. Thank you, Chairman Gray and members of the committee.
• For the record, Eric Power from Brooklyn, president of the School District Governance Association, and
• Eric Power from Brooklyn, president of the School District Governance Association, and speaking in favor
• And I'd be happy to answer any questions from Senator Lang. >> You heard my question to Eric. >> Yes.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Anything else, Chair Eric? Just really quickly since we still have a half an hour.
• &gt;&gt; Anything<01:14:13.000><c> else,</c><01:14:13.240><c> Chair</c><01:14:13.440><c> Eric?
• </c><01:14:13.880><c> Just</c><01:14:14.120><c> really</c> &gt;&gt; Anything else, Chair Eric?
• Just really &gt;&gt; Anything else, Chair Eric?
• So I want to thank Representative Eric for bringing this to the attention of people, and there's some

Bills: HF4698 , HF4608

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• represent</c><00:01:10.159><c> C</c><00:01:10.439><c> district</c><00:01:10.720><c> 14</c> uh I'm Eric
• I represent C district 14 uh I'm Eric I represent C district 14 the<00:01:11.119><c> greater</c><00:
• Hello, my name is Eric Ohlon, uh, nonpartisan Senate fiscal analyst for this committee.
• I talked with the other one, though—sorry about that—her husband, Eric.
• </c> her husband oh Eric her husband oh Eric yeah<01:28:45.159><c> yeah</c><01:28:45.360><c> assistant

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:40.960><c> Um,</c><00:35:41.440><c> there</c> Uh, chair Eric. Um, there Uh, chair Eric.
• Thank you, Chair Eric. for your work. Thank you, Chair Eric.
• Thank you, uh, Chair Eric.
• </c><00:46:15.599><c> and</c> thank you so much um Chair Eric and thank you so much um Chair Eric and
• Thank you, Chair Eric.

Summary: The Higher Education Finance and Policy Conference Committee met publicly to compare House and Senate positions on the higher education budget, with the chairs emphasizing transparency and alternating gavel control. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through a spreadsheet of differences across the Office of Higher Education and Minnesota State, including major items such as state grants, childcare grants, work study, tribal college grants, emergency assistance grants, hunger-free campus grants, student parent support, direct admissions, paramedic scholarships, and several medical residency and fellowship programs. The House and Senate also differed on administrative funding, campus sexual assault reporting, and a House FY25 cancellation that would be carried forward. Members discussed several of the larger policy and funding choices. The Senate explained its increase for Minitex as support for operating costs and statewide access to information. The House explained its cuts to student parent support and other items as necessary to work within a zero target and to prioritize direct aid to students, while the Senate said it focused on direct appropriations and access-related programs. On hunger-free campus grants and emergency assistance grants, the Senate said it was changing the distribution method and direct appropriations rather than reducing the overall money, while the House noted differences in whether nonprofit institutions remained included. The committee also reviewed Senate-only additions and reductions in Minnesota State, including free course materials, Lake Superior College remediation, and changes to the Kids on Campus appropriation. A representative from Lake Superior College testified that the PAS remediation funding would help address contamination issues at an emergency training site near Lake Superior and that the money was shifted from the Kids on Campus initiative. No final conference agreement or vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued discussing differences and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, thank you for your testimony, Eric Gronenberg. Eric. How's it going?
• My name is Eric Roneberg.
• Well, thank you for your testimony, Eric. Is there any questions from the members of the committee?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 36 bills covering aviation, commercial vehicles, school buses, veterans license plates, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate Chair Brendan Crighton outlined the hearing procedures, then the committee heard testimony on a range of measures, including a bill to modernize alternative student transportation for vulnerable students such as those covered by McKinney-Vento, foster children, and students with disabilities; a bill on unmanned aerial systems that would define drones and restrict weaponization, interference with aircraft, and certain surveillance; and a bill addressing airplane noise and reporting at Beverly Regional Airport. Supporters of the student transportation bill argued it would update outdated school bus requirements while preserving safety standards, while drone-related testimony was split between sponsors and public safety advocates who supported stronger restrictions and industry representatives who warned the bills could conflict with federal law and harm legitimate commercial uses. The committee also heard testimony on workforce and school transportation bills. Representatives and industry witnesses supported a proposal to create a grant program and career outreach for the trucking industry, citing a persistent driver shortage and the importance of trucking to the state’s economy. Teamsters Local 170 supported a bill to ease unemployment job-search requirements for school bus drivers and monitors who are expected to return to work within a short period, saying the current rules create unnecessary burdens during summer layoffs. Another school transportation bill would create an under-the-hood exception for CDL licensing of school bus drivers; several chiropractors testified in support, saying they already perform DOT-style exams and should be explicitly authorized to do school bus driver medical certifications. Veterans-related testimony focused on license plate and disability-definition bills. Advocates supported a Medal of Fidelity license plate for Gold Star families and a separate bill to create an air medal plate. The Office of the Veteran Advocate testified in favor of revising the state’s definition of disabled veteran for RMV purposes, arguing the current language is tied to special monthly compensation categories and does not adequately reflect modern service-connected disabilities, including invisible wounds. The American Legion also urged clarification of the definition, while opposing a separate women veterans plate on the grounds that it could divide veterans unnecessarily. The committee took no votes during the hearing and ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• members before us today for appointment are Joseph Abbott, Aubrey Archer, Edgar Castro, Sam Christensen, Eric
• Christensen, Christensen, Eric<00:16:37.440><c> Hansen,</c><00:16:38.600><c> Robert</c><00:16:39.120>
• <c> Lind,</c><00:16:40.080><c> Matthew</c> Eric Hansen, Robert Lind, Matthew Eric Hansen, Robert Lind

Transcript Highlights:

• As well as Eric Raidell.
• Uh, Greg will walk through the space update, and Eric will walk us through the State Office Building
• Um, Greg will walk through the space update, and Eric will walk us through the State Office Building
• I'm Eric Rudell, the construction operations manager with the Department of Administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• And joining us in the gallery are his parents, Jennifer and Eric, and brother Jacob.
• the gallery are his parents,<00:14:22.840><c> Jennifer</c><00:14:23.800><c> and</c><00:14:24.000><c> Eric
• ,</c> parents, Jennifer and Eric, parents, Jennifer and Eric, and<00:14:25.400><c> brother</c><00:14:

Bills: HB1576 , HB2490 , HB1546 , HB1588

Transcript Highlights:

• Eric Lurr on behalf of the California State Association of Counties and the Rural County Representatives
• Eric Lairn, on behalf of the California State Association of Counties, opposed. Thank you.
• Eric Lairn, behalf of the California State Association of Counties, opposed.
• Eric Lairn, on behalf of the California State Association of Counties, opposed. Thank you.

Committee: House Labor and Employment