Transcript Highlights:

• When systems function, they support stability, growth, and opportunity.
• When systems fail, local government becomes the point of continuity.
• Pierce County is responsible for a large and complex bridge system in total.
• Pierce County is responsible for a large and complex bridge system in total.
• This is not how the system is supposed to work.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee began with a work session on the Fairfax Carbon River SR-165 Bridge closure and replacement. Wilkeson Mayor Jamie Pololi described the bridge as a long-neglected state asset whose closure cut off a gateway community from Mount Rainier access, hurt local businesses and municipal revenue, complicated emergency response, and severed access to public lands. Pierce County’s Melissa Littleton emphasized that the Fairfax closure, along with recent bridge closures from other causes, shows the need for stronger preservation and modernization funding. WSDOT’s Steve Rourke explained that the 105-year-old bridge was permanently closed after structural failure, that a detour route on private property is now the only access for some residents, and that the agency’s planning study considered seven alternatives; the current recommendation is to continue geotechnical work and NEPA review, with construction likely taking 24 months or more once a design is finalized. Committee members asked about detour distance, speeding up the project, emergency authority, historic-preservation issues, community mitigation, and funding needs; WSDOT said about $7 million in existing preservation funds has already been used and more will be needed. The committee then heard public testimony on proposed substitute Senate Bill 5987, which would declare the Fairfax Bridge closure an emergency, direct WSDOT to restore SR-165 access as soon as possible, and give the transportation secretary some emergency authorities. Supporters, including the mayor, residents, recreation advocates, and trail groups, said the bill is needed because the closure was foreseeable, has harmed local economies and recreation access, and lacks a current emergency response pathway. WSDOT testified in opposition, warning that the bill could create false expectations because most of the timeline is driven by federal environmental review and historic-preservation requirements that the secretary cannot waive. The bill drew strong support in testimony, with 606 pro, 1 con, and 2 other recorded on the sign-in tally. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6170, which would raise dollar thresholds for state highway work performed by state forces and for certain contracting rules that help small and disadvantaged businesses compete. Staff said the limits have not been updated since 2005 and the bill would increase the normal state-force threshold from $60,000 to $100,000 and the emergency threshold from $100,000 to $160,000. Senator King, the prime sponsor, said the change would better match inflation and help keep maintenance work in-house when appropriate. Washington Federation of State Employees and WSDOT supported the bill, saying it would help maintenance workers do more timely work without harming existing equity and small-business contracting programs; the committee noted 55 pro and no con on the sign-in tally. The chair then reminded members that amendment requests for the upcoming executive session were due the next day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You are talking about systems that will cost less than $5,000.
• And we do know that most of our large system hospitals have this evacuation system already.
• So we have a small system, a medium medical system, as well as a large hospital system.
• Hospitals have a system.
• Within the hospital systems, within surgery, I remember when eye protection was not required.

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and considered several health-related bills, most of them focused on drowning prevention and public safety. SB 428, by Senator Yarborough, would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7. The sponsor and supporting testimony from a pediatric emergency physician and YMCA representatives emphasized Florida’s high drowning rates, especially among very young children, and argued that swim lessons can significantly reduce risk. Senator Harrell noted the need to revisit the funding allocation as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 606, by Senator Smith, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing practices to postpartum education provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and, after amendment, no longer requires home birth providers to maintain proof of compliance. A parent who lost a child to drowning and Senator Berman spoke in strong support, stressing that the bill would educate new parents at a critical time. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. SB 162, by Senator Davis, would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively low-cost and already used in many facilities, while several witnesses supported the bill as a worker-safety measure. Other senators raised concerns about the lack of data, possible rural hospital impacts, and whether the mandate could add costs without clear evidence of harm. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 340, by Senator Harrell, requiring nursing students to complete a two-hour human trafficking course before licensure, after amending the bill to shift the requirement from nursing programs to the students themselves. Testimony from a trafficking survivor and nursing advocates supported the measure, and it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. Finally, SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull on behalf of Senator Martin, removed the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; chiropractic industry representatives supported the change, and the bill was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• WHAT CHANGES IS THAT POLICYHOLDERS ARE NO LONGER PLACED INTO A SEPARATE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE SIMPLY BECAUSE
• YEARS AGO I WAS IN FRONT OF COMMITTEES AS WE TRANSFERRED THE MANAGEMENT FROM BIOSOLIDS FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS
• TAKE THOSE BIOSOLIDS WHILE 30 PERCENT OF THE FLORIDA HOMES ARE SERVICED BY THE SYSTEMS.
• IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA TO MODIFY ILLEGAL MODIFICATIONS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS.
• IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA TO MODIFY EXHAUST SYSTEMS THE PROBLEM IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT REALLY

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provide security at the library system provide security at the library system and<01:19:14.320><
• The system that DEHRD is using, NeoGov, is a sister system.
• NeoEd is also using a similar system too. system it would be really difficult to system it would be really
• </c><03:49:27.319><c> called</c> support licensing for a system called support licensing for a system
• </c><03:49:32.399><c> that</c> system it's a substitute system that system it's a substitute system that

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The open systems are meant to be reused.
• You heard yesterday about our revenue information system; that would have been the old system.
• </c> reflects change in the gaming systems reflects change in the gaming systems the<01:52:27.400><c>
• Chamber of Commerce reinforced the role of the education system by saying our educational system is the
• </c> system by saying our educational system system by saying our educational system is<03:56:48.239>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing focused on HB 290, which would raise cigarette and e-cigarette/vaping taxes and create a committee to study tobacco and nicotine tax policy. Representative Jerry Stringham introduced the bill as both a public health and revenue measure, arguing that nicotine use causes health harms and public costs, and that New Hampshire’s cigarette tax has been unchanged at $1.78 per pack since 2013. He said the bill would raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack to $2.78, still below most New England states, and would also adjust vaping taxes, which he described as having been set as placeholder rates in 2019. He said the bill would also establish a study committee to review broader tobacco and nicotine taxation, including products such as premium cigars. In response to questions, Stringham said the proposed cigarette tax would be roughly equal in real dollars to the 2008 rate after inflation, and he suggested that a smaller annual increase could be considered, though he believed a larger increase would have a stronger public health effect. He explained that the vaping tax structure differs between closed and open systems because one taxes a fixed hardware product while the other taxes reusable liquid, and he said the proposal would move the rates toward a more uniform approach. He also said New Hampshire would remain below neighboring states even after the increase, though members raised concerns about cross-border shopping, business impacts, and preserving the state’s competitive advantage. Several members questioned whether the bill’s main purpose was revenue or reducing smoking and vaping. Stringham said he viewed it primarily as a public health bill, but also as a revenue measure, and said he would consider it successful even if consumption fell enough to reduce revenue. Other members emphasized personal freedom and argued the committee should focus on taxation rather than cessation, while some supported the bill as a way to capture revenue from out-of-state buyers and keep New Hampshire’s rates below surrounding states. The hearing consisted of testimony and questions only; no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have other costs in the system, particularly costs because of the aging distribution system in this
• We have other costs in the system, particularly costs because of the aging distribution system in this
• We have other costs in the system, particularly costs because of the aging distribution system in this
• </c> vital part of the electric system. vital part of the electric system.
• . system. system.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've got a uh election net system.
• </c><01:06:33.920><c> Uh</c> the old system if you would. It does. Uh the old system if you would.
• , um the new system in in particular, um the new system<01:06:51.359><c> has</c><01:06:51.520><c> it<
• </c><01:26:14.960><c> They</c> access to some of our systems. They access to some of our systems.
• </c> party in the way the system party in the way the system is. is. is.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• what this bill does allows the system what this bill does allows the system what this bill does allows
• is caused an into the system is caused an into the system is caused an unnecessary uh storage fees and
• for 48 hours but no longer the system for 48 hours but no longer the system for 48 hours but no longer
• have five days to get it in the system have five days to get it in the system if you got possession
• system but these these folks retirement system but these these folks retirement system but these these

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Creem: Mass Bay HVAC system. Senator Comerford: Thank you so much, Mr. President.
• actually add an additional $2,200,000 for Mass Bay Community College for the replacement of its HVAC system
• And the results show we consistently have the number one K-12 education system in the country.
• Support to our local communities for their K-12 school system.
• So we already dedicate significant resources from the surtax in the K-12 system.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many different states have a similar support system in place. We see it in Texas.
• Many different states have a similar support system in place.
• One of the good systems-thinking questions to ask is: Are incentives in line?
• Good systems run on real numbers, not assumptions.
• And so what Aristotle did is he came up with an education system and a system of virtues that really

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State Patrol, DOL, and the community and technical college system estimate no additional expenditures
• Although the technology exists today, the systems to do it don't yet exist today.
• And in a real system, you would probably be able to rectify that through business rules.
• Interestingly, the app detected 31 transactions that were not captured by the Good To Go system.
• that could be a standalone system that actually can replace a system like we have on the Tacoma-Arias

Bills: HB2347, HB2410

Keywords: luxury aircraft tax, tax reduction, economic impact, business aviation, state revenue, HB2410, commercial truck safety, commercial vehicle safety, trucking industry, truck driver training, driver education, highway safety, traffic safety commission, Washington State, commercial motor vehicles, vehicle registration fee, IRP fee, state patrol highway account, safety enforcement fee, public-private partnership

Transcript Highlights:

• This is unmanned aircraft systems. This is advanced in mobility.
• So now I want to talk about our impacts to what this money has done to the system overall.
• Infrastructure management system, a new electronic infrastructure management system that will be up in
• The radar systems are mobile on trailers. They are...
• , and some other neat things to bring us up to the 21st century with our electrical system.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it a specific provider type that something happened within the system?
• You you think that the system in Tallahassee is such that you all are outnumbered?
• very similar to Bill related to managing entities system very similar to managed care.
• The managing a model is to administer the behavior health system recently.
• And the system is responding quickly and effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• Which could also be addressed with some of these quantum systems.
• But also, we don't expect to have these massive water-cooled systems.
• Systems like you would see in AI and data centers.
• , advanced energy technologies, and aerospace and defense systems.
• That can get validated and put into active systems like PNM's more quickly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eligibility determinations are made by the counties and tribal workers with system support from DHS.
• And additional challenges on our existing technology system between Maxis and Mets and other systems
• Additionally, looking at administrative... ...burden of changes and complexity in our system.
• With downtime, it is a system that the state should have invested in upgrading a long time ago.
• Right now, it's very cumbersome, time-consuming, and staff-intensive to make systems changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• of American Universities, we are the fifth youngest school invited, one of only two in the state system
• This is not medicine being put into the water system.
• This bill is simply prohibiting anyone from putting any medicines in the water system.
• The underlying bill is to prevent us from putting medicine in the water system.
• The language that was given to me was to take health concerns out of the water system.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions recognizing guests, family members, and a USF Day at the Capitol presentation. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar, where it first passed two Open Government Sunset Review bills: CS/SB 7010, preserving a public records exemption for certain Department of Financial Services receiver information, and SB 7008/HB 7003, preserving confidentiality for financial technology sandbox application records. Both measures passed unanimously. The Senate also passed CS/SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings relating to terrorism, a bill intended to help victims enforce judgments against terrorist entities, and CS/CS/SB 910 on veterans benefits assistance, aimed at improving veterans’ access to benefits and transition support. Additional measures passed included CS/CS/CS/SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, SB 796 on general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems, CS/CS/CS/SB 700, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, and several claims bills, including relief for Darlene Angerville and J.R., Eric and Jennifer Miles on behalf of EEM, and Marcus Button. SB 994 on driver’s license education requirements also passed after an amendment making texting while driving a moving violation with points and a distracted-driving course requirement. The most extended debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 700, where senators discussed provisions on fluoride in drinking water, labeling of plant-based products, drone penalties, charity registration, agricultural housing, and other agriculture-related policy changes. Several amendments on fluoride were offered and defeated, while a technical amendment on financial institution definitions was adopted. Senators also briefly discussed the policy implications of the bill’s fluoride language and its relationship to local control and public health. Several other bills on the calendar were temporarily postponed, and at the end of the session the Senate adopted motions to certify passed bills to the House, retain postponed bills on the special order calendar, and remove CS/SB 7016 from the special order calendar. The Senate then adjourned until April 16.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disparities in our child welfare system disparities in our child welfare system and<00:15:10.000
• </c> county, would you rather keep the system county, would you rather keep the system as<01:13:28.360
• ><01:33:45.200><c> information</c> system would provide clearer information system would provide clearer
• It does not change the system.
• </c> an already struggling system. an already struggling system.

Bills: HF4407, HF4382

Keywords: child welfare, African American children, racial disproportionality, family preservation, reunification, foster care, kinship care, relative placement, noncustodial parent, guardian ad litem, ombudsperson, Department of Human Services, county social services, active efforts, reasonable efforts, child protection, placement, out-of-home placement, Northstar kinship assistance, data disaggregation

Transcript Highlights:

• the beautiful country now passing system the beautiful country now passing system the beautiful country
• already have a policy in their system already have a policy in their system I'm not all of them they
• bill it emphasizes to the school system bill it emphasizes to the school system that if this is not
• so I think we need to have school system so I think we need to have school system so I think we need
• or for the teachers or something system or for the teachers or something system or for the teachers

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:54.000><c> level</c> with stakeholders at the systems level with stakeholders at the systems
• Sometimes you need the law to force systems to do what's right.
• Sometimes you need the law to force systems to do what's right.
• That's not a system. You got to fix the workarounds; they have to be consistent.
• The more we can divert people out of the system, the more we can save our taxpayers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• so this is the Electric Energy System so this is the Electric System<00:10:05.040><c> in</c><00:10:05.240
• Affordable and cleanest system we can.
• We collect data on how big the systems are and their production.
• <01:26:23.520><c> coordination</c> System coordination System coordination to<01:26:25.119><c> ensure
• </c><01:41:00.560><c> and</c> circumstances of the energy system and circumstances of the energy system

Keywords: 1187, senate, all