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

Transcript Highlights:

• Rosen started a foundation and donated $12 million to cancer research.
• One is data: doing the research to understand what's going to be needed, what's needed today, what's
• So if you look at the data and research, 45% of transportation workers nationally are 45 and over.
• World-class talent is having world-class research that is conducting and developing research projects
• We do not yet have in the state of Florida a research institute comprehensively for the whole state.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee met and first considered SB 88, which would allow local governments to authorize utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain low-speed county roads and municipal streets, with limits on who may operate them and where they may travel. An amendment from Sen. Wright was adopted to require minimum motor vehicle insurance, keep a registration certificate in the vehicle, and delay the effective date to January 1, 2026 for implementation. The bill drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would create a safe, locally controlled path for UTV use and reflect how the vehicles are already being used, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Florida Justice Association argued UTVs are designed for off-road use and lack the safety features needed for public roads. After debate, the committee reported CS/SB 88 favorably, with Sen. Davis voting no and several members expressing support while noting safety concerns for future work. The committee then heard SB 274, which designates a portion of International Drive in Orlando as Harris Rosen Way in honor of the late hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen. Sen. Arrington described Rosen’s business success and extensive charitable work in Central Florida, and the bill received supportive comments from committee members and a representative from UCF. The committee voted the bill favorably without opposition. The final item was a discussion on transportation workforce issues led by FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue, with remarks from Florida Transportation Builders Association president Dan Hurtado. Perdue said Florida’s growing transportation needs, an aging workforce, and projected retirements require a broader workforce strategy, including a proposed Transportation Academy, craft and trade programs, learning labs, and a transportation research institute. He said FDOT has already reduced vacancies through recruit-and-retain efforts and hiring events, but still needs more skilled workers. Hurtado said FTBA supports expanding workforce development efforts and noted the industry’s own Florida Connect Academy. No vote was taken on the workforce discussion, and the committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> The chance with spinal cord research, The chance with spinal cord research, Mr.<00:58:14.720><c
• We deal with institution for that research is not institution for that research is not transferred<02
• Emily Spatara, our DFL research person, Bryce Hinst, our GOP research person, Khloe Adday, community
• way inhibit their research?
• </c> prevent the purpose of uh researching prevent the purpose of uh researching autism<03:26:12.640>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have with us Fiona Bruce Baden, a research director; Eloise Bridgers, a researcher; and Grace
• Tierney, another researcher for the committee.
• Thank you. ...another researcher for the committee. Did I miss anyone? Oh, Jesse Foley here.
• I live in Petersham, and I'm a senior researcher in education at Harvard.
• Research shows bus drivers have limited understanding of disability.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its 13th hearing, chaired by Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Gordon, and heard testimony on a large slate of bills covering personnel and miscellaneous education issues. The first major topic was House Bill 711 and Senate Bill 327, the “So All Students Thrive” proposal, which would change reduction-in-force rules so districts could consider teacher effectiveness, student impact, staffing needs, and diversity-related factors alongside seniority. Supporters from Educators for Excellence, including teachers and a former school committee chair, argued that current seniority-based layoff rules can push out effective early-career educators and harm efforts to build a more diverse workforce. Committee members raised questions about tenure, union involvement, and how the bill would interact with the Educator Diversity Act and local contract negotiations; members generally said they shared the goal of diversifying the educator workforce and encouraged continued collaboration and feedback. The committee then heard testimony on House Bill 658, which would require educator training on gifted and advanced learners. Parents, teachers, researchers, and advocates said Massachusetts lacks required preservice or professional development on gifted education, leaving many advanced students unchallenged and underserved. Witnesses described students who are bored, under-identified, or even discouraged in school, and argued that training would help teachers recognize and support gifted students, including students of color, multilingual learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities. Testimony also supported related prior bills on advanced learners and emphasized that the state should act on a 2019 DESE report recommending such training. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 736 and Senate Bill 435, which would establish de-escalation training for school transportation. The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council said the measure would improve safety for students and bus operators, fill a gap in current school bus driver certification requirements, and better support students with disabilities. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4720, concerning the Athol-Royalston Regional School District’s state bailout-related reserve requirements; the superintendent said the district has long maintained fiscal stability but is still forced to leave over half a million dollars unspent each year, limiting resources for a high-poverty student population. After testimony concluded, the chairs read the full list of bills on the agenda, thanked the committee and staff, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The opportunity to research textbooks and incorporate my work experience in the classroom was very rewarding
• Initiative, earning recognition as a top 100 public university, and achieving the prestigious R1 research
• Linda Stock said FAU has built momentum and has the opportunity to expand research, strengthen academic
• has achieved R1 status, calling it a major step forward as regional universities move more into research
• FGCU is not interested in research for its own sake.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to continue confirmation hearings, but the chair announced the committee would not present its budget that day and would instead roll it out the following week in coordination with House partners and Senate notice requirements. After a quorum was confirmed, the committee discussed how it would handle a large number of university board appointments, noting that some reappointments would be grouped for a block vote while others could be heard individually if members requested it. The committee then heard testimony from a series of appointees and reappointees to university boards. Florida A&M University nominees Roderick Harris, Victor Young, and Rafael Vasquez emphasized service to FAMU, student success, and support for the university’s national standing; Harris highlighted his FAMU background and faculty experience, Young cited his business and health care leadership, and Vasquez described scholarship support through his company. Florida Atlantic University appointees Linda Stock and Thomas Mersh focused on servant leadership, research growth, entrepreneurship, and FAU’s recent R1 designation and quantum computing initiatives. University of Central Florida reappointee Alex Martins discussed UCF’s preeminence goal, workforce needs, and strong nursing outcomes. The committee also heard from Florida Gulf Coast University appointees James Gris-Mall, Douglas Van Orte, Robert Rommel, Sarah Partial Perry, and reappointment Joseph Fogg, who spoke about workforce development, affordability, student success, water and nursing programs, and FGCU’s role in regional economic growth. University of South Florida reappointee Rogan Donnelly highlighted USF’s AAU status, research growth, and workforce-focused programs. Members and the chair responded positively throughout, praising the universities’ achievements and the nominees’ qualifications. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted by block on all nominees in tabs 2 through 13 and recommended them for confirmation without objection. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am with the UCLA Labor Center, and we focus on conducting research really to lift up worker voices
• One of the things we found in that research was that are for the future of California's workers.
• , which is really to center workers themselves in capturing the data in guiding our research.
• And so I'm really... really excited to have here, from our Labor Summer Research Program, our alumni
• who... our alum who was able to conduct research last summer on... workers and learners.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If occupational therapy has a compact, I'll have to research that and get back to you.
• It is a great addition to our state's biomedical research program.
• Another component of House Bill 7885 is the sickle cell disease research and treatment grant program.
• This program awards grants to community-based treatment, medical, and research centers.
• The department contracted last fiscal year, Research.

Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met for an introductory and oversight briefing from the Florida Department of Health on implementation of several 2024 laws. The committee heard first from Jennifer Winhold on practitioner-regulation measures, including SB 1716 and SB 1600, which expanded workforce pathways through foreign-trained physician licensure, area-of-critical-need temporary certificates for APRNs and physician assistants, graduate assistant physician licenses, interstate compacts, and a new universal licensure-by-endorsement process. She also reviewed HB 197 on massage therapy enforcement, HB 975 on broader background screening, HB 1561 on office-surgery and liposuction safeguards, HB 159 on pharmacist HIV post-exposure prophylaxis certification, and HB 1063 on chiropractic dry needling and foreign degree licensure. Members asked about compact scope, foreign graduate requirements, massage enforcement overlap with DBPR, and registration thresholds for liposuction procedures. Dr. Emma Spencer then outlined implementation of SB 76 and related programs, including changes to the FRAME and dental loan repayment programs, the volunteer health care provider program, the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, the Health Care Innovation Council and revolving loan program, and the Andrew John Anderson Pediatric Rare Disease Grant Program. She said the department had updated portals, posted forms, launched or was developing public search tools, and submitted required reports and contracts. Members questioned whether loan repayment funds were reaching rural and underserved areas, how nonprofit applicants were being informed about the Alphonse screening grant program, the short application window for that grant, and how the department would evaluate whether the programs were improving recruitment and retention. A third presentation, delivered by Mike Mason standing in for Shea Holloway, covered maternal and child health and other public health initiatives. He reported on the telehealth maternity care program’s expansion from a pilot in Duval and Orange counties to 23 counties, the pregnancy-and-parenting resources website required by HB 415, CMV newborn screening requirements under SB 168, sickle cell registry and research grants under HB 7085, and the swim lessons voucher program under SB 544, which received nearly 10,000 requests for 3,500 vouchers and enrolled 86 facilities. Members asked about utilization, marketing, website launch timing, and how the department was promoting these services. No bills were voted on; the meeting concluded with the chair noting that more committee presentations and bills would follow and that briefing materials would be distributed to members.

Transcript Highlights:

• As Siva Rodniewski from Pew Research will demonstrate, research shows that modern...
• As Siva Rodniewski from Pew Research will demonstrate, research shows that modern buildings with similar
• So first, I want to go to Zoom, where we have Sava Radniewski, who is the research manager for the Housing
• According to a fire engineering research released late last year as part of the State of Minnesota's
• residential fire deaths by building type and building age, and this further buttresses our earlier research

Committee: Senate Housing and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services met with a quorum, adopted the June 16, 2026 minutes, and then unanimously adopted S-1 substitutes for House Bills 5570 and 5571. The chair said the committee would take testimony and likely not move to final passage that day, in order to allow more discussion and questions. The bills, as substituted, would allow local governments to permit certain multifamily buildings up to four stories to be built or converted with a single staircase, subject to conditions such as limits on units per floor, floor size, and existing fire safety requirements. A sunset provision was described as ending the statute once LARA adopts corresponding building code rules. Representatives Fairbairn and Wooden testified in support, saying the bills are intended to address Michigan’s housing shortage by making smaller infill and “missing middle” projects more feasible and less costly. They argued the current two-stair requirement drives up costs, makes land assembly harder, and limits development on narrow or irregular lots. Senators asked about stair width, emergency safety, the choice of four stories instead of six, and why the American Institute of Architects opposed the approach; the sponsors said the 48-inch stair width was intended to allow two-way movement, four stories was a compromise aligned with expected code changes, and the architects preferred rulemaking over statutory change. Supportive testimony came from Pew Charitable Trusts, which said research from New York City, Seattle, and other places found fire death rates in modern single-stair buildings to be indistinguishable from other multifamily buildings, and that modern safety features such as sprinklers, alarms, and fire-rated construction make these buildings safe. A developer from Ann Arbor and the Michigan Home Builders Association said the reform would improve floor-plan efficiency, reduce wasted circulation space, lower construction costs, and help smaller projects pencil out. Abundant Housing Michigan also supported the bills, estimating they could reduce apartment construction costs by nearly 13%. The clerk read in numerous written cards in support from business, housing, municipal, and advocacy groups, while the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union were listed as neutral. The committee adjourned without further business.