Transcript Highlights:

• And since then Washington State has also taken and I—” “Took this concept from Oregon.
• And since then Washington State has also taken this as an example, we stood up a pilot where we said,
• Not only do we have extremely expensive energy across the whole region, but in the state, but on top
• , energy codes, things that they feel are restrictive in terms of new development.
• , energy codes, things that they feel are restrictive in terms of. existing building codes, energy codes

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of California was the first in the nation to recognize Lunar New Year as an official state
• So if someone doesn't like what the state is doing, they can't sue the state.
• We need to look at our home and community and fix our state. We need to fireproof our state.
• . nothing to streamline the state building code so that the people who've been impacted by these fires
• Berman state your point.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Kimberly Wirtz, Communications Director for the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus.
• Another one that will specifically go after startups here in the state of Washington.
• of Washington because we ourselves as a state have not really addressed that energy issue and done it
• It's a bad idea for the state of Washington. That's what I'm hoping for.
• It's going to eventually hit every single person in Washington State.

Summary: Washington Senate and House Republican leaders held a media availability focused on affordability, taxes, and government accountability as cutoff day approached. Senator John Braun and Representatives Peter Abbarno and April Connors criticized the Senate-passed income tax bill, arguing it is unconstitutional, would eventually expand beyond high earners, and should be stopped in the House. They also warned about a range of other tax proposals they said would raise costs for groceries, prescription drugs, data centers, startups, and businesses that employ people on Apple Health or Medicaid. The lawmakers also highlighted concerns about energy policy, saying past decisions have driven up utility costs and forced more spending on low-income energy assistance. Abbarno criticized a bill affecting L&I funds and said money was diverted to CCA instead of education or health care. They also objected to several agency-expansion and enforcement bills, including an environmental crimes bill and an Attorney General investigations bill, saying they would centralize power in Olympia and discourage investment. A major portion of the discussion centered on child welfare and DCYF accountability. Republicans said House Democrats blocked motions to bring child welfare bills to the floor, including measures tied to the Keeping Families Together Act and a bill to clarify “imminent harm,” and argued the Legislature should focus on child safety rather than process objections. In closing, Braun noted that a bipartisan fentanyl/endangerment bill, HB 5071, remains alive in the House, while Republicans said they would continue trying to stop tax increases and other bills they view as harmful before the cutoff deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

• Western United States.
• It's been stated...
• Do we envision having enough energy potential in the state of New Mexico to achieve these goals to open
• state?
• as an energy state to say we are going to step back and look at all the opportunities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we eventually built University Boulevard with the state, the city, and the state in cooperation.
• But this is truly a bi-state, and I would argue a three-state organization. What's the basics?
• State line going east to I-10.
• Not only do we need a lot of energy, but we need clean energy in order to meet those goals.
• Now is the time to start to think about modular nuclear for states that want to invest in clean energy

Transcript Highlights:

• You, in passing AB 2019, set the standard across state government for all state agencies and departments
• These are not just state standards.
• And the CEC's goal is to reach energy goals. consumers and the CEC's goal is to reach energy goals, regardless
• , as you know, ...as we look at our state budget.
• As well as state and local governments.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote. Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, the recent state interpretation of the Business Professions Code, definition of contractor, and
• , but the bill also provides a path if other states, California-like states wanted to form a different
• In addition to state fees, we pay outside the state. legal counsel to review our documentation, we pay
• I know Washington State has expressed interest.
• Even the state of Washington, one senator has introduced a bill to create such a thing, but even Washington

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A state-by-state patrick of ingredients, beverages.
• A state-by-state patrick of ingredients, restrictions or bans will only great confusion for consumers
• that feel and product with different states.
• But the administration and not to individual states.
• Chair and bar Code 6, 7, 8, 7, 3, year.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So how does Washington compare to other states?
• So how does Washington compare to other states?
• I'm representing the Washington State Association for Justice.
• So focusing on Washington State.
• We work exclusively in Washington State.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• out of Washington, D.C.
• There have been no guidance from the state in the permitting, whether it's state or local.
• During our state climate goals.
• support the State Park system.
• Specifically, this bill addresses a discrepancy between the state Elections Code with Proposition 218

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on August 20, 2025, and considered a large number of bills, with most of the discussion centered on election redistricting and several health, labor, environmental, and government-operations measures. The first major item was ACA 8, a constitutional amendment tied to a proposed November special election and temporary mid-decade congressional redistricting in response to partisan redistricting efforts in other states. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a 2020 redistricting commissioner, labor groups, and allies of the measure, argued it was necessary to defend democracy, protect representation, and respond to federal actions affecting California. Opponents, including Assemblymember Tom Lackey reading a statement for Assemblymember Gallagher and Assemblymember Dixon, argued the measure would undermine the independent redistricting commission, amount to a partisan power grab, and cost taxpayers roughly $230 million. Committee members also focused heavily on fiscal questions, including litigation costs and county election funding, and Department of Finance staff said counties would be made whole and funding would be advanced. The committee ultimately voted the measure out on a B roll call. The committee then heard SB 280, the implementing bill for the special election and related redistricting process. Supporters repeated the argument that California needed to respond to Texas and other states, while opponents again emphasized the cost, the strain on county budgets, and the state’s broader fiscal pressures. Department of Finance witnesses said the election funding would be provided in advance and that the state would work with counties and the Secretary of State. The bill was moved out on a roll call after extended debate. The committee also advanced several other bills, including SB 283 on battery storage safety standards, SB 470 extending remote participation and open-meeting flexibility for state boards and commissions, SB 697 modernizing stream adjudication procedures, SB 513 requiring more accessible employee training records, SB 30 restricting transfer of older diesel locomotives, SB 841 and SB 81 creating protections for vulnerable facilities and health care spaces from immigration enforcement, SB 358 revising traffic impact fee standards, and SB 630 streamlining state parks land acquisitions. Other measures discussed included SB 62 expanding health coverage benefits, SB 68 requiring restaurant allergen disclosures, and the committee heard both support and opposition on SB 68 from the California Restaurant Association and consumer advocates. Supporters of the health and immigrant-protection bills emphasized patient safety, reproductive health, immigrant rights, and access to care, while opponents on the restaurant bill warned of added mandates and litigation risk for small businesses. Across the hearing, committee members frequently returned to fiscal impacts, county implementation burdens, and whether the bills would save money, cost money, or shift costs to local governments. Several bills were reported out of committee, often on A or B roll calls, with some members not voting on particular measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think whether it's a blue state or a red state, it should not be done on either side.
• We have high energy and high water use by crypto and AI all over the state.
• The state legislature and the State Board of Education districts were completed by Texas lawmakers during
• State Senator John Kuffman, who chaired the Senate Redistricting Committee, stated during a legislative
• This is Washington, D.C., trying to tell Texans how to run their state.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Million dollars under our Energy Smart program provides energy efficiency retrofits and savings to the
• We do leverage these funds with some Department of Energy energy funds, some LIHEAP funds that we get
• from the state that are federal funds.
• Get the funds across the state.
• Next up, Board of Nursing, Agency Code 449.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were all, as well as other states, in Chicago last week at an Energy Communities Alliance meeting
• Each state that is pursuing nuclear energy is going to need to do their part to find out which communities
• Nebraska does not have a designated state energy office or authority, but they do have utilities in the
• , the residents of all the state understand the benefits, the costs, the pros, the cons of nuclear energy
• It is at the state library, but I couldn’t crack that code.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 46 amends the California Elections Code to ensure that the California Secretary of State
• of the Judiciary, stated: ...in the State of the Judiciary, stated, "Making courthouses a focus of immigration
• versus other states all the time.
• this in the state.
• Thank you. ...in the state of California, and we cannot accept this in this state, so I respectfully

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As most of you know, I'm a lifelong resident of the state of Delaware.
• Completed and initial tax bills were mailed across our state.
• As others are likely to state or have stated, the changes in this bill will lead to direct revenue losses
• And a lot of states and counties around the country are way ahead of us.
• We had an energy bill and an energy drink bill in the education committee.

Bills: HB371

Committee: Senate Executive

Keywords: HB371, Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Act, farmland preservation, agricultural lands, agricultural preservation district, Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, county advisory board, Delaware Foundation, Department of Agriculture, DNREC, planning and zoning, growth zone, open space, land use, farmland protection, rural land preservation, agribusiness, active farmers

Summary: The Senate Executive Committee met in hybrid format, approved the minutes from its June 17 and June 18 meetings, and considered several nominations and bills. The committee heard testimony from Michael T. Skeuse for the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission and Jay Eric Fearwald for the University of Delaware Board of Trustees; both nominees described their backgrounds and qualifications, and no objections were raised. The committee then moved to legislation focused largely on property tax reassessment and related school-tax issues, along with a technical constitutional corrections bill, an agricultural lands preservation cleanup bill, and a child-safety/service-letter bill. A major portion of the meeting centered on Senate Bill 350, which would create a third multifamily residential tax classification at 1.2 times the residential rate. Supporters argued apartments are housing and should not be taxed as commercial property, emphasizing relief for renters and fairness after reassessment. Opponents, including county and school officials, warned the bill would reduce local revenues, complicate tax administration, and create unintended consequences for counties, municipalities, school districts, and agriculture. Similar themes carried into House Bill 462, which would make the split-rate school tax structure permanent and lower the nonresidential cap to 1.85, and House Bill 463, which would align New Castle County senior school-tax exemptions with county exemption rules; both bills drew discussion about shifting burdens, fiscal impacts, and timing. The committee also heard House Substitute 1 for House Bill 320, a technical corrections bill to the Delaware Constitution, with one public commenter objecting to charter-related changes being included in a correction bill. House Bill 371, which removes the requirement for county farmland preservation advisory boards under the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Act, was presented as a streamlining measure and had support from the Department of Agriculture and public comment in favor. House Bill 438, expanding service-letter requirements to a broader set of child-serving facilities and requiring reporting when employers fail to respond, was described as a cleanup bill closing a safety loophole. After public comment and committee discussion, the meeting ended with a motion and unanimous adjournment; no recorded votes on the bills were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Economic stability: we are an energy state.
• I appreciate the opportunity to be here representing the oil and gas and energy companies of our state
• Last summer, the United States Department of Energy, the DOE, contacted LSU to perform a study of what
• But to say that a United States senator is going to go to Washington and remove 45Q tax credits, what
• I go back to businesses and companies are investing in this state, enter the energy economy in CCS, because

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho Code Section 33-101 creates the State Board of Education for the general supervision, governance
• Idaho Code Section 33-101 creates the State Board of Education for the general supervision, governance
• Falls, at Idaho State University in Pocatello... ...Caldwell and Twin Falls, at Idaho State University
• state is under budget constraints.
• state is under budget constraints.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of budget presentations from the Legislative Services Office and agency leaders on higher education and health education programs. Kevin Campbell first reviewed the Office of the State Board of Education budget, noting staffing growth tied to added responsibilities, the end of federal COVID/ARPA funding, a governor-recommended supplemental reversion for the sunsetted Empowering Parents grant, and FY 2027 requests including a Canvas LMS renewal, a risk-manager transfer back to institutions, and a one-time federal AI grant. Jennifer White, OSBE executive director, defended the Canvas contract as a cost-saving centralized arrangement, discussed budget pressure on colleges and universities, and said the board is developing an outcomes-based funding model that would shift emphasis from enrollment to progression, completion, and workforce outcomes while phasing in changes to avoid destabilizing institutions. Members asked about cuts, tuition, private donations, rainy-day funds, the longitudinal data system, CETL Now usage, and whether programs should be evaluated or eliminated based on outcomes. White said the board is still gathering data and expects at least another year before a workable funding proposal is ready, and she emphasized that unearned funds under the new model would be returned to OSBE for targeted intervention rather than simply removed. The committee also discussed risk-management centralization, with White explaining that moving risk managers back to institutions would improve day-to-day efficiency while OSBE retains enterprise risk oversight. The committee then turned to health education programs, beginning with Family Medicine Residencies. Campbell outlined the program’s funding and recent growth, and residency leaders said the 3% holdback affected both ISU-based and hospital-affiliated programs but would not force immediate reductions. They stressed the importance of continued legislative support, noted that residency training helps retain physicians in Idaho, and said the programs rely on a mix of state, federal, and patient-care revenue. Members also raised concerns about clinical placement capacity, rural access, and whether federal rural health funds could help support expansion. Additional presentations covered the Eastern Idaho Medical Residencies and the University of Utah medical program. EIMR leaders said Idaho remains far short of needed psychiatrists, especially child psychiatrists, and that training residents in-state helps keep physicians in Idaho; they also described private hospital support as part of the funding model. For the University of Utah program, Campbell said the state supports both medical students and psychiatry residents, and the program requested funding for three additional child psychiatry residents. Dr. Beth Botz, the training director, attributed rising child psychiatry need to increased stress, social media, COVID-era effects, and broader awareness of mental health issues, and said placing residents in southeast Idaho has already improved access and reduced wait times.

Transcript Highlights:

• For this state, for the world, and for everyone in this room.
• Commission through California's self-made energy crisis.
• clean energy.
• I rise today in memory of former state and United States Senator John Seymour.
• I rise today in memory of former state and United States Senator John Seymour.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Secretary of State this morning.
• It has to be coded manually.
• And it is the only county in the state that has Secretary of State oversight.
• , out of the state of Texas.
• So it helps secure the entire state, including state agencies. I can appreciate that.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state owns it. So the State Fair Commission is under the state. The state owns it.
• The state owns the State Fairgrounds, and that...
• President, it's the state. This will be state-owned land. Mr.
• State Fair.
• I tell you what this state needs. This state needs a city.

Keywords: 996, all