Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, a rural water district is very different from an urban one, you know, in how they're measuring

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to parks, wildlife, water, and veterans. AB 1592 would authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to partner with the California Indian Heritage Center support organization; supporters said it would help move the long-planned center forward with Native-led governance. AB 2216 would expand the Delta Conservancy’s service area and update its authority to better support watershed-scale conservation, climate resilience, workforce, tribal grants, and related projects. AB 1702 would expand state parks access for veterans, National Guard, reservists, and active duty service members by broadening eligibility for the Distinguished Veterans Pass and creating a discounted parks pass. AB 1673 would allow county fish and game commissions to use certain revenues to reimburse sheriffs for fish and wildlife enforcement and wildlife-conflict prevention, especially in rural counties with limited state enforcement presence. The committee also considered AB 1912, which would allow archery deer hunters to carry concealed firearms while hunting, aligning deer hunting rules with those already in place for other big game archery hunts. Supporters argued it would improve hunter safety in remote areas without harming wildlife enforcement, while opponents were not present. AB 1987 would dedicate revenues generated from state wildlife areas back to those areas for operations, maintenance, and habitat management; supporters said the areas are underfunded and need a stable funding source. All of these bills received due pass recommendations and were later approved by the committee, with AB 2216 passing 11-1 and the others passing 12-0. The most contested measure was AB 2630, which would give the State Water Resources Control Board emergency-style authority to make measurement and reporting changes for water diversions and use, with a five-year sunset. The author and supporters said the board needs flexibility to update the CalWATRS reporting system quickly as technology and conditions change. Water agencies, farm groups, and business groups opposed the bill, arguing it would bypass public input and could allow repeated emergency regulations affecting compliance and operations. After extended debate, the committee passed AB 2630 on an 8-4 vote. The committee also approved two consent items, AB 1804 and AB 2260, both unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, a rural water district is very different from an urban one, you know, in how they're measuring

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker is pleased to welcome representatives from the Urban Native Education Alliance, including

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, the flag was escorted by the Muckleshoot Veterans Color Guard, and the day opened with a prayer from Dennis Anderson Sr. The House approved the previous day’s minutes, welcomed representatives from the Urban Native Education Alliance, and then moved through caucuses and Senate messages before taking up a long series of third-reading votes on bills that had returned from the Senate. Several measures drew debate over Senate amendments. House Bill 1069, concerning bargaining over supplemental retirement benefits for certain public employees, passed 78-17 after supporters said it would help correctional workers and critics said the Senate changes weakened the bill. Second Substitute House Bill 1128, creating a child care workforce standards board, passed 68-27 amid arguments over child care shortages, wages, and affordability. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155, banning non-compete agreements, passed 62-33; supporters framed it as pro-worker and pro-entrepreneurship, while opponents said contracts should be voluntary and important in business sales. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1187 on ambulance billing and collections (93-2), Substitute House Bill 1390 phasing out the Community Protection Program (51-44), Engrossed House Bill 1501 on housing-related local requirements (58-37), House Bill 291 on bargaining communication rights (92-3), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2110 on ambulance staffing/training (95-0), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165 on impersonating peace officers (66-29), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2219 on child care regulations and opioid-related safety language (67-28), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2266 on housing siting and local flexibility (56-39), Substitute House Bill 2350 on notice and accountability for developmental disability services (95-0), Substitute House Bill 2360 allowing schools to keep and administer albuterol with parental-notification changes (79-16), Second Substitute House Bill 2384 on financial transparency for continuing care retirement communities (78-17), Second Substitute House Bill 2429 on behavioral health planning and appropriations (95-0), Substitute House Bill 2496 protecting tribal sacred sites (71-24), and House Bill 2510, on which the House did not concur in Senate amendments. The chamber also granted conference requests on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bills 5998 and 605 and appointed conferees for each.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rural Oklahoma, we don’t have the plumbers that the metropolitan urban areas has.

Bills: SB1241, SB1242, SB1442, SB1592, SB1623, SB1625, SB1913, SB1940, SB1949, SB2102, SB592, SB992

Keywords: ticket sales, resale, consumer protection, fraud, bots, transparency, refunds, event tickets, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana license, commercial grower, grow operation, bond requirement, land reclamation fee, revolving fund, environmental remediation, redevelopment, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a series of bills focused on credit card interchange fees, insurance regulation, alcohol licensing, utility contractor authority, medical marijuana bonding, and business liability. Senators Thompson’s SB 2102 and SB 1940 sought to limit swipe fees on large financial institutions and on taxes and tips, respectively; both passed after questions about the asset thresholds and their impact on merchants and banks. SB 1625, by Senator Fricks, would let the Oklahoma Insurance Department prepare impact analyses on health benefit plan legislation, and passed unanimously. SB 1442, by Senator Dossett, lowered distiller licensing fees, created a microdistillery license, and restored a liability insurance proof requirement through an amendment; it passed 11-0. SB 1623, by Floor Leader Daniels, would revise the state credit union charter and passed 11-0. SB 1242, by Senator Hamilton, increased the bond required for medical marijuana grows from $50,000 to $100,000 and passed 10-0. The committee also heard SB 1949 from Senator Logan, which would allow utility contractors to work closer to buildings on private property, up to five feet from structures, instead of stopping at the property line. The bill drew extended questioning from Senator Brooks about permitting, training, liability, and the relationship between utility contractors and plumbers; an industry representative testified that utility contractors already do much of the work under licensed plumbers and that the bill would reduce costs and speed projects, especially in rural areas. SB 1949 passed 8-2. Senator Reinhardt’s SB 1592 and SB 1913, both insurance-related committee substitutes, were described as ongoing negotiations aimed at homeowner insurance transparency and consumer protections; members were told the bills were still being refined, but both passed, 9-1 and 10-0, respectively. Additional measures included SB 592, which would let distributors issue credits to retailers after repeated product replacements, aimed at reducing losses from poor inventory control at large retailers; it passed 9-0. SB 992 would provide civil liability protection for businesses and property owners when violent criminal acts occur on their premises, except in cases of gross negligence; it prompted debate over gun-free zones, security, insurance, and whether the bill would reduce incentives for safety measures, but passed 5-3. Finally, SB 1241 created the Oklahoma Fraud and Ticketing Accountability Act to address fake tickets, bots, deceptive resale websites, and venue liability in the live-event market; supporters included arts venues, and the bill passed 8-0. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• they can engage and talk about, provide ag education, ag literacy, and help bridge that gap between urban

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 771, which would create a licensing and inspection framework for retail hemp products and give the Idaho State Department of Agriculture authority to test products for THC. Representative Shirts said the bill was still being worked on and asked that it be held at the call of the chair. Testimony from the Idaho Farm Bureau, Boise Police Department, and the Idaho Retailers Association generally supported the goal of closing loopholes and ensuring products sold as CBD are actually THC-free, while also raising concerns about the bill’s scope and the need to narrow it so it would not unintentionally cover non-consumable hemp items such as shampoos, clothing, rope, and other retail goods. Committee members also asked about THC thresholds and enforcement, and ISDA Director Chanel T. Walt explained existing hemp and controlled-substances definitions and said the proposal would shift routine oversight from law enforcement to an administrative licensing process. The committee then voted to hold HB 771 in committee at the call of the chair. The committee next took up House Bill 772, which would clarify when hemp producers do not commit a negligent violation if their crop exceeds the THC limit under certain conditions. Representative Shirts said the bill would align Idaho’s rules with federal standards and would not change the 0.3% THC limit, but would define a negligent violation for grain or fiber hemp when the producer made a reasonable effort to comply and the crop did not exceed 1% THC. Braden Jensen of the Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, explaining that it would protect growers from losing licenses over THC spikes caused by heat stress or other factors outside their control. The committee voted unanimously to send HB 772 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. After the hemp bills, the committee received an informational presentation from Dairy West and the Idaho Dairy Products Commission. Dairy West CEO Steve Seppi described the organization’s regional structure, funding through producer assessments, board governance, and programs focused on marketing, research, nutrition, exports, and industry relations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. He highlighted Idaho’s large dairy sector, continued growth in production and processing investment, and efforts to promote dairy consumption and innovation. Chairman Don Galswick added comments about the value of Dairy West’s work in countering plant-based protein competition and supporting the industry’s sustainability message. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the minutes from February 26, 2026, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the matter with taking courses in the Department of Urban Environmental Planning and Policy,

Bills: HB2070, HB2671, HB2617, SB6258

Keywords: funding, education, higher education, Western Washington University, state funding parity, financial aid, state funding, student support, educational reform, university procedures, academic policy, student success, Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the matter with taking courses in the Department of Urban Environmental Planning and Policy,

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2070, which would create state funding parity for Western Washington University by tying appropriations to a per-student funding ratio. The prime sponsor and Western officials said Western has long been the lowest-funded public four-year institution on a per-student basis, leading to budget cuts, reduced student services, and delayed graduation. Students, faculty, and university leaders testified in support, while some members questioned whether the bill should instead address a broader higher-education funding formula for all institutions. Central Washington University also supported the bill but suggested a broader approach. No vote was taken on HB 2070. The committee then heard House Bill 2671, which would expand eligibility for state financial aid to certain nonprofit out-of-state branch campuses operating in Washington if they meet specified accreditation, duration, and authorization requirements. Rep. Timmons said the bill is intended to help students in an accelerated nursing program at Northeastern University in Seattle access aid and support workforce needs. Northeastern’s dean testified in support, saying the bill would align financial aid law with prior changes to degree-granting statutes and would not increase state spending. The hearing on HB 2671 was then closed. House Bill 2617, dealing with the higher-education “fund split,” drew extensive testimony. The bill would gradually shift more of employee compensation increases and central services costs to state funding, and would require a study of essential student services. The sponsor and many university, faculty, staff, and student witnesses argued that the current funding practice shifts costs to tuition, contributes to layoffs, program cuts, larger classes, and reduced student support, and creates instability across public higher education. Community and technical college representatives also said underfunding COLAs harms operations and students. The committee then moved to executive session on Senate Bill 6258, which would authorize the Washington Medical Commission to create a non-disciplinary pathway for voluntary license relinquishment; the committee approved it 14-0 with a due-pass recommendation, with three members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Snoqualmie is not an urban environment.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we'll go to Tab 14, and we have Urban Meyer, who is a new appointee to the Board of Trustees of

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education convened with a quorum and first took up CS for SB 1694 on technology education. The bill would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and would encourage high school computer science courses that include AI to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal settings. The bill sponsor and several supporters emphasized preparing students for an AI-driven workforce while teaching critical evaluation and ethical use; one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the need to preserve real-world skills. Senator Davis supported the measure and suggested introducing similar instruction earlier, possibly in middle school. The committee voted the bill favorably, with Senator Leak later recorded in the affirmative. The committee then heard a large block of confirmations for higher education boards, including appointees to Tallahassee State College, the University of South Florida, the University of North Florida, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally highlighted backgrounds in education, health care, law, business, technology, and public service, and described priorities such as student success, workforce alignment, affordability, fiscal responsibility, and institutional growth. One nominee to Tallahassee State College was asked about low NCLEX pass rates and said the college had a plan approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Another nominee discussed Florida Poly’s STEM mission, and several members praised the nominees’ community ties and professional experience. After hearing the appointees, the committee voted to report the block of confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. The committee then received a high-level overview of the higher education budget, totaling $11.9 billion, with major emphasis on workforce training and development. Highlights included increases for school district workforce education, the Florida College System, workforce development capitalization, a rural educator recruitment program, funding for the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s literacy and math initiatives, UF’s autism and neurodevelopment center, and a postsecondary guardian program for campus security. Members asked a brief question about a workforce fund transfer, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds added. No public comment was offered, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• is about building a government where equity is for all and works for every Washingtonian—rural and urban

Bills: HB2309, HB2249, HB2417, SGA9066, SGA9246, SGA9268

Keywords: state employment, classified service, civil service, job qualifications, degree requirements, postgraduate degree, master's degree, doctorate, higher education, Office of Financial Management, OFM, classification plan, salary survey, market rate pay, compensation, workforce diversity, hiring reform, employment eligibility, work authorization, DACA

Transcript Highlights:

• The urban myth about all those. And it persists in almost every university, but it is not accurate.

Bills: HB30, HB120, HJR1, SB210, SB306

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Transcript Highlights:

• The urban myth about all those. And it persists in almost every university, but it is not accurate.

Bills: HB30, HB120, HJR1, SB210, SB306

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Summary: The Senate Education Committee began with announcements about likely upcoming meetings and a reminder that public testimony could be limited if bills drew large crowds. Members also introduced student shadows and briefly recognized them. The committee then took up House Bill 30, which would revise the Teacher Residency Act to strengthen teacher recruitment and retention by tying resident stipends more closely to minimum level-one teacher salaries, increasing support for residents who already hold bachelor’s degrees, and giving residents more flexibility to complete their service in any public school rather than only the sponsoring district. The sponsor and supporters from educator preparation programs, unions, and advocacy groups said the bill would make residency programs more sustainable, help rural districts, and improve teacher preparation. The bill received support from the Public Education Department and several education organizations, and the committee voted due pass. The committee next heard House Bill 120, as amended, which would clarify and limit the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. The sponsor explained that the bill came from a task force and is intended to clarify existing law rather than create a new mandate, with clearer definitions, stronger documentation, family notification, and limits on dangerous practices such as prone, mechanical, or chemical restraint. Supporters included PED, the special education ombuds office, disability rights advocates, teachers’ unions, parents, and civil rights groups, who emphasized student safety, trauma prevention, and better training for staff. One opposition witness from the school superintendents’ association argued the bill could add burdens and that more time was needed to implement current law. Committee members raised concerns about protecting teachers and aides during violent incidents; sponsors responded that the bill is meant to give staff clearer guidance and emergency-response tools, not replace disciplinary procedures. The committee voted due pass. House Joint Resolution 1, a constitutional amendment to create nominating commissions for university regents, was then presented. The sponsor said the goal is to reduce purely political appointments by having nonpartisan commissions recommend regent candidates, while also changing how student regents are selected so students have a direct voice rather than the university president choosing the student regent. AFT New Mexico supported the measure, citing concerns about donor or insider appointments and backing student representation. Committee members questioned how many commissions would be created, who would appoint their members, and how many names would be sent to the governor; the sponsor said those details would be set later in enabling legislation. The committee approved the resolution on a due pass vote, sending it onward in the process. The committee also quickly passed Senate Bill 306, which would align state higher education accreditation language with federal terminology by removing the distinction between regionally and non-regionally accredited institutions and changing reporting and fee requirements for smaller private institutions. Finally, Senate Bill 210, an appropriation for athletic and related facilities at New Mexico Highlands University, drew the most debate. Supporters said the university’s athletic facilities are outdated and inadequate, especially for women’s soccer and track, and that the project would help student-athletes and Title IX compliance. Committee members questioned the $80 million request, noting that only $3 million was currently in the budget for the three Division II schools and expressing concern about priorities amid other education funding needs. The sponsor and university president said the project could be phased and that private fundraising is also being pursued. Despite reservations and some no votes, the committee ultimately voted due pass. The chair closed by reminding members to plan on meeting Monday at 9 a.m. and said the committee was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Having worked in a rural credit union and now in a more urban credit union, winter meetings are a challenge

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 2116, which drew comments about children’s education and an amendment offered by Representative Hinman. Hinman explained the amendment would phase out the Missouri tax subtraction for contributions to non-Missouri 529 plans for new users beginning January 1, 2027, while allowing existing users to continue. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a substitute, and then voted the House Committee substitute do pass by a vote of 11 yeas, 3 nays, and 1 present. Hinman also noted concerns from the investment community about the absence of an advisor-sold 529 option and urged the department to work toward restoring it. In public hearing, Representative Lane Roberts presented House Bill 1870, a garnishment and exemption update that would modernize long-outdated exemption amounts, tie some amounts to CPI adjustments, increase the homestead exemption, and create new procedures for garnishment of financial institution account funds. The Missouri Bankers Association supported the bill, saying it was the product of extensive work with stakeholders and would improve efficiency and reduce legal risk for banks, while also protecting debtors’ rights. Questions focused on joint accounts, business accounts, and notice to account holders; a private attorney speaking in opposition argued the bill could improperly shift burdens onto non-debtor account holders and raised concerns about tenancy by the entirety, corporate accounts, and equitable garnishment. Representative Castile then presented House Bill 2586, which would lower the minimum credit union membership share from $25 to $1 and allow credit union board and committee meetings and voting by electronic means. The Missouri Credit Union Association supported the bill, saying it would improve access for members who need the $25 and help boards meet despite weather or distance, while also aligning state law more closely with federal practice. Finally, Representative Oehlerking presented House Bill 3107, the “Safe Harbor” bill, which would shield financial institutions from civil liability under state law when they act in good faith reliance on written guidance from regulators, while excluding fraud, intentional misconduct, willful wrongdoing, and gross negligence. Credit union and banking representatives supported the measure as a defense against costly litigation based on compliance with required forms and guidance, while an opposing attorney argued the bill relied on nonpublic agency guidance, raised separation-of-powers concerns, and could leave consumers without recourse; witnesses also discussed possible examples such as overdraft fee litigation and the need for any guidance to be public and reviewable.

Transcript Highlights:

• Having worked in a rural credit union and now in a more urban credit union, winter meetings, I can tell

Keywords: 959, house, all

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• The Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals is an organization of young people between 18 and

Keywords: 1182, all

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• over-regulation of the wholesale industry, such as limiting the right to contract, could greatly increase urban

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• years to make sure that this program is distributed across the state in neighborhoods far and wide, in urban

Bills: HB2565, HB1607, HB2254, HB2385, HB2531, HB2543

Keywords: investment, gifts, grants, University of Washington, funding, higher education, recycling, waste reduction, environmental policy, sustainability, municipal regulations, HB 2254, Washington, Health Care Authority, partnership access line, psychiatric consultation line, first approach skills training, behavioral health, mental health, assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• It was getting insurance to urban areas who couldn't get insurance anywhere else.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Fair Plan, focusing on its rapid growth, financial stability, rate adequacy, and role in the homeowners insurance market. Committee members described the Fair Plan as increasingly functioning as a “safety net” rather than a true insurer of last resort, while Fair Plan representatives said the plan was created by statute, is privately funded by member insurers, and is now taking on more business because of non-renewals and limited availability in the admitted market. They emphasized that the plan offers residential and commercial coverage, but not a full HO-3 homeowners policy, and said expanding into that product would require major new staffing, vendor, and claims infrastructure. A major topic was pricing and assessments. Fair Plan officials said their rates have historically lagged their projected costs, especially because reinsurance costs were not fully recoverable in rates until recently. They reviewed recent filings, including a 2023 filing that was reduced from an estimated 80% need to a 35.8% request after working with the Department of Insurance. They also discussed the plan’s reinsurance tower, a new catastrophe bond, and the $1 billion assessment triggered by the 2025 Los Angeles fires after losses exceeded available capital. They said AB 226 helped secure a $600 million line of credit to reduce assessment risk, and they thanked lawmakers for supporting that measure. Members raised constituent concerns about coverage limits, underinsurance, and misinformation from agents. Fair Plan officials said they do not deny applicants because their homes exceed the plan’s $3.3 million limit; instead, policyholders can combine Fair Plan coverage with excess insurance. They said broker training and webinars are being expanded to address misunderstandings, and they noted that raising the cap would depend on achieving actuarially sound rates and sufficient financial capacity. Members also asked about smoke claims from the 2025 fires; the Fair Plan said it has paid covered smoke claims under California law, reviewed closed claims, and removed the “sight and smell” language from its policy form after litigation and CDI action. Public commenters from the insurance industry, builders, agriculture, and nonprofit service providers largely urged faster depopulation of the Fair Plan, more adequate rates, and reforms to the clearinghouse process. Some warned that the Fair Plan is now competing with the admitted market because it can be cheaper in some areas, while others said the plan is still essential because the private market is not serving high-risk or specialized properties. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, but committee members and Fair Plan representatives agreed to continue working on rate, transparency, and depopulation issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s in a highly urbanized area.

Bills: HB2537, HB2245, HB2296

Keywords: emissions, climate commitment act, environmental regulation, trade regulation, facility compliance, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, sustainability, energy policy, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's in a highly urbanized area.

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2537, which would change how energy-intensive, trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) are treated under the Climate Commitment Act. Committee staff and the bill sponsor explained that the measure would require Ecology to update its post-2034 report to include proposed allowance-reduction methods, leakage-risk adjustments, and consignment recommendations, and would add new reporting and decarbonization-planning requirements for EITEs to continue receiving no-cost allowances. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 2245, a separate Clean Energy Transformation Act bill, and later voted the proposed substitute out of committee on an 11-8 vote with 2 excused, after debate over exemptions for certain utilities and market customers. Supporters of HB 2537, including The Nature Conservancy, NRDC, Washington Conservation Action, Climate Solutions, Clean and Prosperous Washington, Ecology, and some utility representatives, said the bill would provide needed clarity, better data, and a path for long-term industrial decarbonization while helping prevent emissions leakage. They argued that EITEs receive substantial public value through free allowances and should be required to document emissions sources, energy needs, and feasible reduction pathways so the state can design a post-2035 policy consistent with climate goals. Ecology said it generally supports the bill, though it recommended streamlining duplicative reporting and noted the work would require significant agency resources not included in the governor’s budget. Opponents, including the Association of Washington Business, the Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, the Association of Western Pulp and Paperworkers, WISPA, the Alliance of Western Energy Consumers, Food Northwest, Simplot, Kaiser Aluminum, and Newcor Steel, warned that the bill could increase compliance burdens, expose sensitive business information, and worsen leakage risks by making Washington less competitive. They said many facilities have already made major investments and face high capital costs, limited clean electricity supply, permitting delays, and technologies that are not yet commercially viable at scale. Several speakers pointed to recent plant closures and job losses in pulp and paper, food processing, and metals as evidence that leakage is already occurring, and urged the committee to preserve flexibility, protect confidentiality, and consider targeted funding or other incentives rather than new mandates alone.