Transcript Highlights:

• So here's what I want you to take away about this user research bit.
• Without user research, you are flying blind.
• Keep research and keep delivering, just like we see with user research; that same pattern, we want to
• First, you wouldn't want to conduct user research.
• They would conduct user research to validate that the agent.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Jessica Chikino, the Senior Vice President for Behavior and Infrastructure Research at the Insurance
• And also, based on research that the federal government did evaluating Utah's 0.05 BAC per se law, ..
• We're currently doing our own research at IIHS to look in more detail at the experience of Utah with
• I'm going to talk a little bit today about some of our research that involves reducing risky behavior
• And IIHS has kind of a one-page front-and-back document that summarizes some of that research.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on October 16, 2025, for a budget and revenue overview, a traffic safety presentation, and a discussion of potential transit and active transportation grant programs. Committee staff reviewed the adopted 2025-27 transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, the large share for WSDOT, and the mix of revenue sources including fuel tax, vehicle-related fees, federal funds, Climate Commitment Act revenue, and new 2025 revenues from SB 5801 and SB 5802. Staff said the 2025 session produced a balanced four-year plan, preserved major project schedules, maintained highway preservation funding, and added money for culverts, local preservation, and other priorities. They also described a September forecast showing lower motor fuel consumption than previously expected, but still enough revenue growth to keep the transportation plan balanced. For the 2026 supplemental, staff said agency requests were relatively modest overall, with most capital requests reflecting reappropriations and timing shifts rather than new projects, while WSDOT’s addendum identified much larger future needs for maintenance, preservation, paving, culverts, and safety work. Senators asked for more detail on how revenues are distributed by fund type and geography, how much of the maintenance and preservation request is actual maintenance versus equipment, whether paving needs could be supported through bonding, and how electric vehicle sales trends might affect forecasts. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chikino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She said U.S. traffic fatalities have risen sharply over the past decade, with especially large increases for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and argued that the U.S. lags other high-income countries in roadway safety. Her presentation highlighted IIHS’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce fatalities 30% by 2030 through safer speeds, stronger impaired-driving countermeasures, better pedestrian protection, and safer commercial vehicles. She discussed research linking higher speed limits to higher fatality risk, the benefits of lower urban speed limits, speed safety cameras, traffic calming, lighting, pedestrian beacons, and safer intersection design. She also described ongoing work with Bellevue on smart signal technology and pedestrian safety pilots. Committee members thanked her for the presentation and said they would share the materials with others. In the final work session, the committee revisited transit and active transportation grant concepts that had been included in the Senate budget proposal but did not advance in 2025. Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division explained how grant programs need runway, staff capacity, applicant readiness, and clear criteria, and compared program design to getting a plane off the ground. She discussed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting that some projects could be structured as funding-first programs while others would work better as project-line or project-first models. She said regional trail projects are already eligible under existing programs but often score lower because current criteria emphasize safety and population served. Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association then reviewed transit grant programs and argued that transit safety and security needs remain underfunded, including operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health coordination, and non-uniformed security staff. He said many transit capital programs are oversubscribed, that operator barrier retrofits alone could cost $20 million to $30 million, and that agencies face uncertainty about how recent sales tax changes apply to security-related contracts. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Transdisciplinary interactions through our academic programs and our research centers as well.
• You can see that illustrated in the research that our faculty engage in, which is very collaborative,
• Particularly at the graduate level, we have a number of programs that may have similar research.
• One on the quantitative research side, one on the qualitative research side.
• Early Childhood Studies research institute.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• My research focuses on evaluating the safety and efficacy of medication abortion.
• After 20 years, extensive research and data collection has repeatedly proven that increased access to
• I've been conducting research in epidemiology. My PhD is from UC Berkeley, both in epidemiology.
• Research shows that midwifery care improves birth outcomes.
• be used to preserve the research and guidance that we need to guide our medical providers.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 8 and heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 54 on medication abortion access. The author and supporters, including the Attorney General’s office and reproductive justice advocates, said the bill would protect California’s medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and manufacturers from civil, criminal, and professional liability. Opponents from the California Family Council argued the bill removes safeguards and increases risks. The bill was moved forward on a committee motion. The committee then heard several reproductive and public health measures, including AB 551 to create a pilot program supporting emergency departments in providing reproductive health services, AB 260 to protect medication abortion access and telehealth, AB 309 to remove sunset dates on laws allowing pharmacy syringe sales and lawful possession of sterile syringes, AB 536 to preserve colorectal cancer screening coverage if federal guidelines are challenged, AB 804 to make housing support services a Medi-Cal benefit, AB 594 to address student health insurance billing and transparency, AB 836 to study and expand the midwifery workforce, AB 1418 to collect data on health coverage for eligible employees, and AB 1500 to maintain and expand the abortion.ca.gov information site. Supporters emphasized access, preventive care, workforce shortages, and public health benefits, while opponents raised concerns about abortion, syringe distribution, and the focus of state resources. Most measures were advanced by committee vote, with roll calls showing broad support and a few no votes from members on some bills. The final bill discussed in the transcript was AB 1037, which would update substance use disorder laws to reflect evidence-based, harm-reduction approaches and remove barriers to treatment. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate response to overdose and treatment access problems, while law enforcement opposition argued it would encourage drug use and endanger communities. The transcript cuts off during testimony on AB 1037, so no final committee action on that bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health Force Center, Mathematica, and Association of American Medical Colleges for their research into
• The California Health Care Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016, known as Proposition 56,
• Given the need for ongoing medical research and physician education. Thank you.
• Health care claims data is regularly used in health services research and policy analysis.
• I'm assuming that the data used for research purposes is de-identified data, is that fair to say?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• L1, number one is Arkansas Rice Research Promotion Board, special revenue grant for $60,000 for research
• L1, number one is Arkansas Rice Research Promotion Board, special revenue grant for 60,000 for research
• Number 12 is $11,000 to Chico Insights for research grants for irrigation and aquifer stabilization.
• Does our extension not do similar research? I would say that they do.
• He is doing a research project.

Committee: All JBC-PEER REVIEW

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of budget, appropriation, transfer, and contract items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests for several agencies, including the Auditor of State, Department of Education, and Labor and Licensing; ARPA return requests from Workforce Services; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests for State Police and Agriculture; restricted reserve transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic stimulus; a Commerce reallocation of positions and spending authority; cash fund, budget classification, overtime, and pay plan requests; and 17 methods of finance items for universities and other agencies. Most items were approved without objection after brief explanations from staff and agencies. Several items drew questions and were held or discussed further. A Department of Human Services discretionary grant package for the RSVP program was held over after Senator Irvin raised concerns about whether the grants were an effective use of state general revenue and asked for more information on administration costs and program operations. In the contracts section, Representative Richardson questioned a DHS sole-source contract with EMS Link for document management software and a DHS contract with Presidio; the EMS Link item was held for additional answers, while the Presidio item was clarified as not sole-source and was allowed to proceed. Members also asked for more information on a Department of Education mental health referral contract with Care Solace, which officials said is a statewide concierge/referral service connecting students to Arkansas providers and telehealth options. The committee also reviewed monthly reports, including the Medicaid Trust Fund. DHS and DFA officials said the fund was currently sufficient to finish the fiscal year, though it was being drawn down and would likely require a $100 million transfer from restricted reserves in FY27, with another $100 million set aside in the governor’s budget as a backstop. Members discussed the need to define a minimum reserve level and to better account for ongoing Medicaid costs in the budget. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And during her time at NMSU, she conducted health-focused research and served as the student body president
• He is currently pursuing his master's degree in political science at NMSU, where he has performed research
• employment impacts of over $300 million and over 8,000 jobs, and whereas the three major federal research
• Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, the Air Force Research
• Laboratory, story. ...Space, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, the Air Force Research Laboratory,

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the past decade, research dollars have stagnated in the U.S. at about $4 billion.
• And I talk about federal research dollars because that's very important to our state and to research,
• but it's very reflective of research dollars domestically here in Washington State.
• So think research, maintaining infrastructure, ensuring that we can continue to trade.
• Do you have any updates on our elk hoof rot disease research that goes on at WSU?

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the past decade, research dollars have stagnated in the U.S. at about $4 billion.
• China actually is investing three times what we invest in agriculture research these days.
• And I talk about federal research dollars because that's very important to our state and to research,
• So think research, maintaining infrastructure, ensuring that we can continue to trade.
• Do you have any updates on our elk hoof rot disease research that goes on at WSUI?

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:

• We do education work for the sector and partners, and we do research and data work.
• With data and research, these are just some examples of who we partner with.
• The Independent Sector does a lot of regular research about the broader health of the sector.
• So I do want to share, this is the research, some of the results of our current Causes Count.
• So this was something that was done by a colleague, John Pratt, and some other researchers.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Money that has gone into research.
• That's allowed us then to have research and innovation.
• We continue to research this and, as my other colleagues have talked about, but what I would say is we
• have come so far in the last 20 years in terms of research and treatment, but we have a lot longer to
• We continue to research this and as my other colleagues have talked about, but what I would say is we

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several Senate bills, notices for committee hearings, and a successful motion to suspend rules so ACA 20 could be taken up later in the week. The chamber also recognized former Assembly Member Christina Garcia and later moved into a Pride Month observance. The main ceremonial item was House Resolution 115 recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Assembly Member Ward opened on the resolution, and multiple members from different caucuses spoke in support, highlighting Pride history, LGBTQ+ rights, and the contributions of LGBTQ Californians. Assembly Member DeMaio offered supportive remarks while noting policy differences, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 53 co-authors were added. The Assembly then held a Pride honoree ceremony recognizing 15 individuals and groups for contributions to the LGBTQ community. On the floor file, members also adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding co-authors: ACR 187 on Men’s Mental Health Month, ACR 157 marking the 50th anniversary of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, ACR 222 declaring Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month, and ACR 224 recognizing Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. Each drew personal testimony from members about the underlying issues, including suicide prevention, caregiving and dementia, mining reclamation, and harms to youth from social media. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 46 on mental health diversion by a 51-1 vote, and later adopted the consent calendar 66-0. The House adjourned until June 25, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just kind of want to better understand where the arbitrary number of 91 and 46 came from, the research
• So just kind of want to better understand where the arbitrary number of 91 and 46 came from, the research
• Research shows that early and repeated screening supports timely intervention, and states with strong
• proposed restrictions are counterproductive, run counter to the original intent of the bill and research
• The Governor's proposal is in alignment with research from UC San Francisco's Dyslexia Center that found

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So just kind of want to better understand where the arbitrary number of 91 and 46 came from, the research
• So just kind of want to better understand where the arbitrary number of 91 and 46 came from, the research
• Research shows that early and repeated screening supports timely intervention and states with strong
• I'm the Director of Research and Policy at Partnership for Los Angeles Schools and a proud one of your
• I'm the Director of Research and Policy at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools and a proud one of

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. On dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 investment to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, along with changes to make regional occupational centers eligible, add funding for justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, support teacher professional development, and reduce daily instructional minute requirements for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding as not clearly addressing implementation barriers, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Committee members and public commenters generally supported the expansion, with some asking for technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee also reviewed a $40 million one-time Proposition 98 proposal for reading difficulty screener implementation and related trailer bill language that would require screening after 91 school days for kindergarten and 46 school days for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align with evidence from preliminary data; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the funding and the general approach but acknowledged the need for local support and training. Several committee members and public witnesses raised concerns that the proposed timing restrictions were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the delay as a way to improve accuracy and avoid misidentification. For special education, Finance proposed ongoing Proposition 98 increases to adjust for COLA and enrollment changes and to raise the statewide special education base rate to $99 per ADA, equalizing rates across SELPAs. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be funded for less than the Governor’s figure. CDE and multiple local education representatives strongly supported the increase, citing rising special education enrollment, cost pressures, and large local funding gaps. The committee also heard a brief overview of the school facilities proposal, which continues $1.5 billion in Proposition 2 bond funding for the School Facility Program; OPSC reported significant remaining bond authority but also substantial pending demand, and explained that natural disaster school rebuilding draws from the broader new construction and modernization pools. Finally, the committee reviewed Commission on Teacher Credentialing proposals, including the already-funded $300 million Student Teacher Stipend Program, new state operations resources for misconduct investigations and grant administration, and a $250 million one-time continuation of the Teacher Residency Grant Program. CTC said its grants management system is ready and that it expects better data tracking; public testimony broadly supported the educator workforce investments and urged continued funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and additional support for rural and leadership pipeline programs. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Human Rights Watch research shows that 90% are working and paying taxes once they are released.
• Decades of research show adolescents are not deterred by the length of a prison sentence because young
• Research shows there is no single profile of a school shooter, and the cases often arise from the same
• It takes collaboration across every level of government and with our research partners to keep moving
• Research found that the estimated lifetime cost of rape was over $122,000 per survivor.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those remained intact, except for MU's research and doctoral.
• They still do increase under this model with what's left in the doctoral and research.
• But what about the research and development?
• So are we expecting tuition at that school to support the research and development?
• Well, again, their current research and development funding isn't based on FTE. Right.

Committee: House Utilities

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe, because I was curious, so I did a little bit of quick research. When did this happen?
• They're relatively new, and a lot of research is needed to learn more and effectively regulate these
• And so we need to do some serious research and figure out what guardrails are going to be necessary.
• And other states are just beginning to step into the research and regulatory space.
• We could be on the front lines of protecting consumers by researching and regulating these products.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a work session on buy now, pay later (BNPL) transactions, focusing on how the products work, how they are used in Washington, and whether existing state law adequately protects consumers. Department of Financial Institutions staff described BNPL as short-term, usually no-interest installment financing offered at checkout, often with automatic payments, late fees, and varying credit-reporting practices. Members asked how BNPL compares with payday lending and earned wage access, whether it is effectively a loan or credit product, and whether Washington law already covers it. DFI explained that some BNPL structures may fall into a legal gray area under the Retail Installment Sales of Goods and Services Act because pay-in-four products may not meet the statute’s “more than four installments” language, while other structures may be covered; they also noted the Attorney General can enforce the act. DFI and committee members discussed consumer risks such as overextension, automatic debits, and lack of standardized disclosures, and DFI said it would follow up with additional data on defaults and related issues. Molly Gallagher of the Poverty Action Network and Nadine Chabrier of the Center for Responsible Lending argued that BNPL can help consumers but also poses significant risks, especially for lower-income consumers and consumers of color who already carry debt or use other alternative financial products. They said BNPL use has grown rapidly, often involves multiple simultaneous loans across providers, and can lead to overdrafts, late fees, and difficulty tracking obligations because payments are spread across different schedules. They emphasized concerns about weak disclosures, limited dispute protections, automatic payment structures, credit reporting inconsistencies, consumer overextension, and data privacy/dark-pattern marketing. They also described federal retrenchment, including the CFPB’s withdrawal of an interpretive rule that would have treated BNPL like a digital credit card, and pointed to state responses in places like New York, California, and Maryland. Committee members signaled interest in possible Washington legislation and stronger state oversight. Retail and business witnesses offered a more favorable view of BNPL as a cash-flow and sales tool. A Washington Retail Association representative described BNPL as an evolution of layaway and credit-card-style installment purchasing, noting that merchants receive payment up front minus fees while consumers get goods or services immediately and repay over time. A representative from a business using deferred-payment financing said the tool helps customers obtain equipment and helps the business manage inventory and cash flow, while NFIB said small businesses also use BNPL to bridge expenses and avoid higher-interest credit card debt. Members asked about merchant fees, consumer education, and whether BNPL is being used for impulse purchases or essential expenses like rent, car repairs, medical care, and travel. The chair concluded by saying the committee intends to pursue regulatory language and continue working with stakeholders, while also hearing from retailers to avoid eliminating legitimate financing tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• and funding investments to prevent, detect, and treat cancer, along with the advances made through research
• and funding investments to prevent, detect, and treat cancer, along with the advances made through research
• /c> with the advances that we've made with the advances that we've made through<00:19:14.480><c> research
• <c> These</c><00:19:15.919><c> shoes</c><00:19:16.240><c> are</c><00:19:16.400><c> a</c> through research
• These shoes are a through research.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this research is to highlight the strengths of the Structured literacy initiative, but
• Now, Excel and Ed is a nonprofit organization that conducts research on how state policies translate
• Further research also reveals that some indication.
• You know, other countries, of course, have looked at our research.
• Uh, and I, I just point out there is lots of research about retention and that it is ineffective and

Transcript Highlights:

• Sitting next to me is Ashley Kalina, research analyst of the Research Division of the Legislative Council
• Assembly Member Cole, Julian King, LCB Research Division, for the record.
• Assembly Member Cole, Julian King, LCB Research Division, for the record.
• Julian King, LCB Research Division, for the record.
• Julian King, LGB Research Division for the record.

Bills: SB60 , SB85 , SB323

Committee: Assembly Judiciary

Keywords: elderly, vulnerable persons, criminal penalties, theft, civil penalties, criminal justice reform, traffic stops, law enforcement, data recording, public safety, racial profiling, SB323, Nevada, Department of Corrections, offenders, inmates, incarcerated people, prison phone calls, free phone calls, family communication

Transcript Highlights:

• We can research our system. to see what those numbers were and get the numbers back to you.
• Quickly to slide five, these are our research emphasis areas, they are not technical areas.
• But these are big buckets where the majority of our research falls and the benefit is in our ability
• over We are the largest and most comprehensive transportation research institute in the country.
• So, we're an applied research agency, meaning real-world solutions for real-world problems.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 1184, house, all