Transcript Highlights:

• and the department office and the state and the department of<00:10:53.120><c> state</c><00:10:53.440
• </c> &gt;&gt; senator from Washington. &gt;&gt; senator from Washington.
• </c> including through state law. including through state law.
• Senator from Washington. Washington. Washington.
• Senator<02:01:02.480><c> from</c><02:01:02.719><c> Washington.</c> Senator from Washington.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state auditor is elected directly by the people of the state of Washington.
• The state auditor is elected directly by the people in the state of Washington.
• internet access to all communities across Washington State.
• Washington State Broadband remains focused on some key...
• State University Extension in 2023.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard three State Auditor’s Office performance audits: implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, Washington’s digital equity planning, and the Department of Commerce’s Digital Navigator Program. In the law enforcement training audit, the State Auditor found the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training content but had not developed all required topics, lacked a systematic project management approach, and had weak tools to ensure participation and compliance. Auditors said most officers had not completed the required 40 hours, patrol tactics training was a major bottleneck, and the Commission’s reporting did not clearly show statewide compliance. The Commission said it generally agreed with the recommendations and had begun implementing some changes. Committee members raised concerns about staffing, liability, incentives, and whether the law had enough enforcement “teeth.” In the digital equity audit, auditors said Washington lacked a comprehensive, unified statewide plan, a designated leader, and reliable funding for digital equity efforts. They said existing plans were fragmented, with the NTIA-approved plan the most complete but no longer fully funded after federal changes. The State Auditor recommended the legislature establish oversight authority and require a lead organization to coordinate and evaluate statewide digital equity efforts and develop a unified plan. The Department of Commerce and Office of Equity agreed with the need for clearer leadership and coordination, and a public witness described ongoing coalition and local planning work. Committee members asked about best practices from other states and whether the auditor could provide additional research on coordination models. In the Digital Navigator Program audit, the State Auditor concluded Commerce did not consistently follow core grant-management practices, including competitive award processes, vetting of grantees, clear contracts, performance monitoring, and reimbursement controls. Auditors said Commerce expanded grants without a new competition, lacked adequate documentation and reporting, and paid out millions without sufficient support; they also cited management decisions that overrode staff concerns. Commerce said it had already begun major contract-management reforms, created a new contracts and compliance structure, and was working on risk assessments, documentation standards, and staff training. Members pressed Commerce on accountability, possible recoupment of improper payments, ethics issues, and whether the agency had clear performance metrics for the program. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Washington State Institute for Public Policy suggested in a recent report that surplus cannabis may
• This does make Washington an outlier among states.
• So a lot of the early work that RAND did with the states, focusing on the 2016-2017 period, Washington
• And the second question is, if we have such a great oversupply in the state of Washington, it would seem
• The Washington State Auditor's Office will be presenting the findings of their current performance audit

Summary: At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses. JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rest of the state is at 39%, I think, is the state average.
• large state like ours.
• such a large state.
• University.
• Interesting fact, my sister played as a power hitter around Utah State University.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...as state legislators to keep our residents safe from this out-of-state interference.
• And again, no other state has done that. That's blue states, red states.
• And again, no other state has done that. That's blue states, red states.
• A Washington state senator witnessed that and sought to develop a data privacy law that was clear and
• Yeah, it's not much of a patchwork because the Washington state law that Chris O'Rein mentioned that

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing focused on a package of Massachusetts privacy and technology bills, especially measures to ban the sale of location data, establish a comprehensive consumer data privacy law, and regulate biometric recognition and surveillance pricing. Chairs and sponsors argued that self-regulation has failed, that data brokers and large tech companies routinely collect and monetize sensitive information, and that state action is needed because federal protections are weak or absent. Several speakers tied the bills to reproductive health, gender-affirming care, domestic violence, children’s data, and other sensitive uses of location and biometric information. Supporters included legislators and advocates who backed H. 86/S. 197 (Location Shield), H. 78/S. 45/H. 104/S. 29 (comprehensive privacy bills), H. 99/S. 47 (surveillance pricing in grocery stores), and H. 36/S. 36 (biometric recognition accountability). They emphasized data minimization, bans on selling sensitive data, consumer rights to access, delete, and opt out, and in some cases a private right of action. Several witnesses said Massachusetts should lead or align with other states, while others argued that stronger protections are needed because data can be weaponized by stalkers, anti-abortion actors, abusive partners, insurers, or law enforcement. Industry and coalition witnesses urged the committee to favor a more standardized, interoperable framework modeled on laws already adopted in other states, warning that novel definitions, data-minimization rules, and private rights of action could create compliance burdens, confusion, and costs for businesses, including small businesses. They argued that entity-level exemptions for sectors already covered by federal laws like HIPAA or GLBA promote consistency, and that Attorney General enforcement is preferable to private lawsuits. Committee members questioned witnesses on patchwork concerns, the scope of exemptions, and whether the proposed bills would harm or help consumers and small businesses. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; written testimony was noted as due later, and the committee continued taking testimony from multiple panels and virtual witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Texas. allows universities to go out and recruit the best researchers from the United States. or around
• But, over the last two years, we've seen many other universities across the state and smaller universities
• So this state competes with other states.
• The state...
• I am a state retiree.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is George Washington.
• University.
• This is in the state constitution, members.
• Fifteen states authorize dental therapy.
• He's a United States Marine major, a retired United States Marine major, and I know what PTSD looks like

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Washington County administrator Alan Massey, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then adopted the special order report setting the day’s floor calendar. The chamber also approved the journal and moved into special-order bills. Early action included unanimous passage of CS/HB 967, which creates an electronic payment option for constituents dealing with local governments, and HB 127, which adds cursive writing to required instruction for grades 2 through 5; supporters framed both bills as modernizing basic public services and preserving literacy and heritage. HB 453 also passed unanimously, creating pathways for students in Special Olympics and marching band to satisfy physical education and arts graduation requirements. The House then took up HJR 583, a proposed constitutional amendment to protect religious expression in public schools. The resolution drew extensive debate over whether it merely codified existing law or could create ambiguity about prayer, religious speech, and discrimination issues in schools and at school events. Supporters argued it would strengthen protections for faith expression and let voters decide; opponents raised First Amendment, church-state separation, and implementation concerns, including questions about what counts as religious expression and how schools would handle potentially offensive remarks. The resolution passed 93-17. Several health-related measures followed. CS/HB 237, requiring APRNs who use the title “doctor” to clarify they are APRNs when communicating with patients, passed 111-0. CS/HB 363, creating a dental therapy license and a new mid-level dental provider to address access shortages, prompted sharp debate over training, anesthesia risk, and whether the bill would create a lower tier of care; it passed 80-29. HB 375, removing a mandatory supervision requirement for autonomous CRNAs, passed 78-28, and HB 301, authorizing psychiatric mental health APRNs to provide mental health services within existing licensure, passed 88-18. The House also passed HB 863, giving Citizens Property Insurance policyholders the choice between arbitration and court for disputes, by 105-3, and HB 1399, increasing oversight of property insurers’ affiliate transactions, by 160-3. The chamber then began consideration of a local claims bill, HB 6517, for relief related to an incident involving the City of St. Petersburg.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate on January 13, 2026, to deliver the State of the State address.
• We showed the country that states could hold the line when Washington would not.
• We have to help set the tone and direction for the state.
• DIRECTION FOR STATE.
• When Washington offers rhetoric, we produce results.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and briefly closed out the 2025 legislative session by adopting a concurrent resolution on adjournment. The chamber then reopened for the 2026 session with a quorum present, a prayer by Bishop Mark O’Connell, and opening remarks from the Lieutenant Governor, Minority Leader Rob Ortt, and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The remarks focused on the responsibilities of the new session, the need to listen to constituents, and broad priorities such as affordability, public safety, rights protections, and working across party lines. Governor Kathy Hochul’s message requesting the Senate’s presence for the 2026 State of the State address was read and filed. In their remarks, Ortt emphasized affordability, keeping more money in New Yorkers’ pockets, energy choices, and public safety, while Stewart-Cousins highlighted rising costs for housing, groceries, utilities, health care, and child care, along with defending voting rights, equal rights, and immigrant communities. Both leaders said their conferences were prepared to work with each other and with the Governor. The Senate then adopted two organizational resolutions: one appointing Senators Bynoe and Chan to inform the Governor that the Senate was organized and ready to proceed, and another appointing Senators Ryan and Wildcat to inform the Assembly that the Senate was assembled and ready to proceed. No substantive legislation was debated, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, January 12, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days designated as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Senator District 8, Angela Paxton. State Senator District 10, Phil King.
• State Senator District 12, Tan Parker. State Senator District 14, Sarah Eckhardt.
• State Senator District 17, Joan Huffman. State Senator District 18, Karen Bates.
• and of this state.
• and of this state.

Bills: SCR7

Keywords: legislature, adjournment, permissions, Texas Constitution, session, legislative authority, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Washington.
• </c> Services for the Newport Northern State Services for the Newport Northern State Correctional<00:
• </c> State Sheriffs again this morning. State Sheriffs again this morning.
• </c> for two high hazard dams in the state. for two high hazard dams in the state.
• </c> Senator from Washington. Thank you, Mr. Senator from Washington. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, do I hear a Secretary of State.
• <c> actually</c> the the university is actually the the university is actually requesting<00:03:32.560
• </c> counties region in state fiscal year 24. counties region in state fiscal year 24.
• So, state.
• </c> Washington of clawing back funds. Washington of clawing back funds.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Government Contracts Committee first approved the minutes from its July 8 meeting and then moved through a large agenda of contracts and deferred items. The committee deferred a Kentucky Education Television contract because the vendor was still not registered with the Secretary of State, and also deferred a University of Louisville contract to the September meeting at the university’s request. Both motions passed by roll call. The committee then took up a contract with the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities for Seven Counties Services. Committee members questioned why the state continues funding the provider despite its ongoing bankruptcy tied to unpaid retirement contributions, how the funding split is determined, whether the state had explored other providers or direct state delivery, and whether all services in the contract are truly required by statute. Agency officials said Seven Counties is the statutorily designated community mental health center for the region, serves about 24,500 people, and provides core safety-net services that would be difficult to replace; they also said the bankruptcy dispute is still ongoing and the contested amount is about $20 million. The committee ultimately deferred the contract to the next meeting and requested additional information on the scope of services and potential offsets or recovery of unfunded liabilities. The final deferred item was a Department for Community Based Services contract with Youth Villages for the Intercept program. DCBS explained that the program is used because it is an approved evidence-based service under the Family First Prevention Services Act, that Youth Villages has Kentucky staff and offices even though it is headquartered in Tennessee, and that the contract is intended to support intensive in-home services, foster care stabilization, and family reunification. Members asked why the services could not be provided in-house, whether Medicaid should cover more of the cost, and whether the state requires the provider to bill Medicaid as a payer of last resort. DCBS said it would verify billing and funding details and provide them back to the committee. The committee then voted to defer the contract to the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> detective with the Indiana State Police. detective with the Indiana State Police.
• </c> state football championship since 1986. state football championship since 1986.
• </c> state championship. I yield back. state championship. I yield back.
• Wendy Winterstein, president of Iowa State University, on her retirement next month after more than 40
• Under her leadership, Iowa State University has advanced cutting-edge research to strengthen Iowa agriculture

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lowe is a resident of the state of Washington, visiting us.
• Alfredo received an honorary doctoral degree from Arizona State University at the Hispanic Convocation
• I also want to mention that, even though our universities are only funded at 12% by our state funds,
• And we could make that a universal waiver list for everything that we do in this state that a resident
• Not only that, it takes $100 million away from our state universities over the next three years.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In here in the state of Minnesota.
• Many other states have done it. Uh, it's bipartisan from Washington state to Texas.
• Uh it's bipartisan<00:20:52.840><c> from</c><00:20:53.200><c> Washington</c><00:20:53.760><c> state</
• c><00:20:54.160><c> to</c> bipartisan from Washington state to bipartisan from Washington state to Texas
• </c> Uh and other states are looking at it. Uh and other states are looking at it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• other than Washington.
• He said Medicaid dollars in Washington state are for Washington residents, not out-of-state residents
• of Washington.
• of Washington.
• When the state purchases and begins to construct state-owned transmission, When the state purchases and

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:02:04.719><c> As</c> the University of Mary Washington.
• As the University of Mary Washington.
• </c> to state prisons. to state prisons.
• </c> the state. the state.
• You have a state of the state yesterday.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, January 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington was the first state to adopt the top-two primary system for congressional and state-level
• The law in Washington never refers to candidates as nominees and explicitly states that the primary serves
• The law in Washington never refers to candidates as nominees and explicitly states that the primary serves
• You just mentioned creating awareness, and in the other states, Washington and California, what type
• that are independently elected in Washington than in any other state that elects county clerks, which

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-12, H.503, a proposal to implement all-party state primaries for Massachusetts state and federal elections. The committee opened with procedural remarks explaining Article 48 requirements and then heard first from two subject-matter experts. Professor Costas Panagopoulos of Northeastern University testified that top-two primary systems in other states have produced mixed results: they may modestly increase primary turnout in some cases, but the research does not show a reliable reduction in polarization, and such systems can weaken party gatekeeping, increase strategic behavior, raise campaign spending, and reduce general-election choice for voters whose preferred party is not on the ballot. Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures outlined the different primary models used nationwide, explained that Massachusetts currently uses an open-to-unaffiliated primary, and reviewed legal distinctions between blanket primaries and top-two systems; she noted that blanket primaries were struck down by the Supreme Court, while Washington’s top-two system was upheld because it narrows the field rather than nominating party candidates. She also said voter education and administrative preparation would be important if the system changed. The proponents’ panel, led by Danielle Allen of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, argued that Massachusetts has chronically uncompetitive elections, low turnout, and too many uncontested races, and that all-party primaries would give every voter a meaningful choice in the first round and force candidates to appeal to a broader electorate. Allen said the proposal is designed specifically for Massachusetts and differs from other states by allowing party endorsements to appear on the ballot, which supporters said would preserve useful information while shifting control of the preliminary election from party insiders to voters. Jim Henderson, the coalition’s counsel, said the bill is narrowly tailored to state-level primaries and would amend Chapter 53 to put all voters on equal footing. Other supporters, including Kevin Johnson, Kate Kavanaugh, and Spencer Reynolds, emphasized that the reform could increase competition, reduce polarization, improve participation by independents and underrepresented voters, and create more accountability to the full electorate. Committee members pressed the witnesses on turnout, the practical effect of endorsements, whether the proposal would simply shift party influence to an earlier stage, and whether it could disadvantage minority-party or independent candidates. Senator Fattman repeatedly asked about evidence that turnout would materially increase, while Representative Peisch and others questioned whether requiring or seeking endorsements would create new barriers or pressure candidates to clear the field. Supporters responded that the system would modestly increase primary participation, that the general election would remain the decisive contest, and that endorsements would be optional and handled through party rules. No vote was taken at the hearing; the committee heard testimony and questions only.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a prolific, profitable asset for the state of Missouri.
• Anywhere in the state. Okay, great.
• Louis University and Washington University. ...to provide recreational services, working with St.
• Louis University and Washington University, and addressing the stigma and the blight of addiction and
• It's happening, affecting communities across the state.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Her name is Maggie Funston, and she graduates next week from Missouri State University.
• And being able to equip our tourism department not only here in the state at the state level, but also
• The state level, but also partnering with our local tourism partners across the state is crucial.
• or the state level currently.
• , potentially help save money in our state to help families in our state, my level of opposition on this

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Between yourselves, this committee, the state, and the university, They have been put into a brand new
• They're free to transfer from state to state when they do commission. Well, Mr.
• We need engineers—are they going down to some of these universities like state and tech to try to recruit
• Of those, 51 are from the state of New Mexico, 49 are here at the University of New Mexico, and two are
• and CEO out of Washington.