Transcript Highlights:

• But we're out there to see a produced water facility that was being developed, a $35 million facility
• I know they're willing to invite anyone to visit that facility.
• I know they're willing to invite anyone to visit that facility.
• At another scrap metal facility.
• At another scrap metal facility.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Summary: The committee heard introductory remarks from the new chair and members, who emphasized Texas’ energy leadership and the committee’s focus on natural resources, regulatory certainty, private property rights, and stewardship. The first agency update panel included the Railroad Commission, TCEQ, and the General Land Office. The Railroad Commission reported record oil and gas production, low flaring rates, progress on orphan well plugging, implementation of SB 1150 on inactive wells, new federal primacy for Class VI carbon sequestration permitting, and work on petroleum theft through the STOP theft task force. TCEQ described its broad environmental permitting and enforcement responsibilities, including air, water, waste, emergency response, and implementation of SB 1145 transferring land application permitting for produced water to TCEQ. The GLO discussed management of permanent school fund minerals, lease compliance, orphan well coordination, and emerging opportunities such as lithium extraction from brine and rare earth mining. Members questioned the agencies about orphan wells, bankruptcy as a cause of orphaning, priorities for plugging wells, contested permits, data center oversight, water rights, and the division of authority between the Railroad Commission and TCEQ. A recurring issue was the need for clearer jurisdictional lines, especially for treated produced water and related treatment, discharge, and land application activities. TCEQ said it was using existing TPDES and T-LAP frameworks, conducting rulemaking, and relying on technical staff and consortium data to develop site-specific permits. The Railroad Commission said it wanted clearer legislative guidance on where its authority ends and TCEQ’s begins. The committee then took up monitoring charges for SB 1145 and HB 49 on the treatment and beneficial reuse of produced water. Witnesses from the Railroad Commission, TCEQ, the Texas Independent Produced Water Association, the Texas Produced Water Consortium, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association testified that produced water volumes are large and disposal capacity is tightening due to seismicity and pressure concerns. They argued that beneficial reuse, land application, and surface discharge could help sustain oil and gas production, but only if Texas creates prompt, predictable permitting pathways and liability certainty. TCEQ said it had received and was reviewing multiple discharge and land application applications, while consortium researchers reported that treated produced water can meet high water-quality standards and may be suitable for irrigation, river augmentation, and industrial use. Members pressed for faster permitting, clearer definitions, stronger standards, and more certainty about future capacity and agency roles.

Transcript Highlights:

• By nature of our access to the coast and Asian markets, there are several facilities across the state
• We support this bill because it will ensure that enormous, dusty, and dangerous bulk coal facilities
• now want to handle 10 to 12 million tons of coal per year, significantly more than any existing facility
• They have an MOU with one of our health facilities to have a health clinic on site.
• We talk about the need for more open facilities to have a health clinic on site.

Bills: AB40 , AB2674 , SB328 , SB344

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: AB 2674, financial abuse, financial deception, elder financial abuse, bank fraud, scam prevention, consumer protection, depository institution, bank, credit union, suspicious transaction, fraud hotline, trusted third party, power of attorney, guardianship, conservatorship, elder abuse, senior citizen, treble damages, civil action

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee heard several measures, led by AB 40, which would require a full CEQA environmental impact report before approval of any new or expanded large coal terminal and require updated review if the project changes significantly. The author and supporters, including West Oakland community advocates and environmental groups, argued the bill was needed because an outdated environmental review did not analyze coal at the scale now proposed for the Oakland terminal and because West Oakland already bears heavy pollution burdens. Opponents, including business and terminal representatives, argued the project had already undergone extensive review and litigation and warned the bill would set a precedent for reopening settled approvals. Members questioned whether the air district had already approved the project and whether the bill was targeting a single facility. The author responded that the air district still had to issue a discretionary permit and that the bill was narrowly tailored to large coal terminals. The committee ultimately concurred in the Senate amendments to AB 40 on a recorded vote, with the bill passing out of committee. The committee also heard SB 344, which creates a project-specific pathway for San Diego’s Midway Rising redevelopment, a large mixed-use project with thousands of housing units, including affordable housing, parks, and a new arena. Support came from labor, the city, and business groups, while members raised questions about whether the bill was effectively insulating the project from CEQA litigation. The author said the bill does not exempt the project from CEQA but confirms the final EIR’s sufficiency once certified. SB 344 received a due pass recommendation and passed the committee. Finally, the committee heard SB 328 for the Concord Reuse Project Area, which would streamline implementation of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse plan by creating an exemption within the Surplus Land Act and related disposition process for qualifying projects. The author and supporters emphasized decades of planning, extensive environmental review, a project labor agreement, and commitments to 25% affordable housing and open space. After questions about enforcement of affordability and tribal consultation, the bill received a due pass recommendation and passed. The committee also adopted a consent resolution and passed AB 2674, a transparency measure requiring CARB to post landfill temperature and monitoring data it already receives.

Transcript Highlights:

• It contemplates 1,200 gaming devices at up to two gaming facilities.
• Just one small note on the location of a potential gaming facility.
• My understanding is that it has not previously built a gaming facility in California.
• This compact allows for up to 349 devices at up to three gaming facilities.
• This compact allows for up to 349 devices at up to three gaming facilities.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization held an informational hearing on seven tribal-state gaming compacts and amendments, with Chair Blanca Rubio noting that no formal vote would be taken because the Legislature cannot amend the compacts. The committee heard briefings from the Governor’s Office and tribal representatives on the Pechanga Band of Indians, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and the Urok Tribe. A recurring theme was updating compact terms in light of the Ninth Circuit’s Chicken Ranch decision, including narrowing or clarifying revenue-sharing, regulatory, labor, and liability provisions while preserving state and tribal interests. For the Pechanga, Agua Caliente, and Yocha Dehe amendments, witnesses described commitments not to sue over certain revenue terms, additional gaming-device flexibility, and continued or enhanced payments to the special distribution fund, revenue-sharing trust fund, and tribal nation grant fund. Pechanga and Yocha Dehe each sought flexibility for 1,000 additional devices, while Agua Caliente sought 500 additional devices and a restructuring of its trust-fund contributions. Tribal leaders emphasized economic development, government services, public safety, education, cultural preservation, and community investments, and local government representatives from San Bernardino County and other jurisdictions spoke in support of the agreements. The committee also heard two new compacts: Fort Mojave’s compact, which replaces an expired 2004 agreement and allows up to 1,200 devices at up to two facilities, including a future site near Needles subject to federal approval and gubernatorial concurrence; and the Urok Tribe’s compact, which replaces an expiring 1999 compact and allows up to 349 devices at up to three facilities. The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians sought a fifth amendment extending its existing compact while litigation continues, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians sought a second amendment extending its compact term and refining liability and insurance provisions. After hearing testimony and brief public comment, the chair closed the hearing and indicated the measures would move to the floor for formal consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The refund policy is the marketing tool which, without a time limit, benefits the facility and exploits
• Due to poor money management or management market conditions, many facilities across the country with
• Find other ways to raise money by using your facility creatively. Manage your money better.
• I think this should be a state guarantee fund that each facility offering a refund contributes money
• The fact that the independent living facility and the assisted living are both part of the same legal

Summary: The Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities held a public hearing focused on studying CCRCs in Massachusetts, including their financial viability, consumer protections, oversight, entrance fee and refund policies, advertising, and procedures for closure or ownership changes. Chair Rep. Tom Stanley and co-chair Sen. Pat Jehlen opened by explaining the commission’s mandate under Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024 and asked speakers to keep testimony brief. Several commissioners and staff also emphasized the importance of hearing directly from residents, providers, and advocates. Resident testimony largely centered on two themes: the need for stronger resident representation and the need for clearer, faster refund protections. Multiple residents urged the legislature to require resident seats on governing boards, including full voting rights on national or nonprofit boards, and to make board minutes and meetings more transparent. Several speakers described long delays in receiving entrance-fee refunds after leaving a community, with one family reporting an 18-month wait and financial hardship; they called for a one-year refund limit, vacancy-order systems, escrow or reserve protections, and state oversight or guarantee funds. One resident also argued that CCRCs should be more clearly defined in state law and possibly licensed or certified so only approved communities can market themselves as CCRCs. Providers and operators generally described CCRCs as valuable models for aging in place and emphasized transparency, resident engagement, and the benefits of nonprofit ownership. Speakers from nonprofit communities said residents often serve on boards or committees, participate in budgeting and planning, and benefit from integrated care, amenities, and financial stability. A for-profit operator also said residents receive disclosure and input, while noting that CCRCs vary widely and that consumer education is important. Commissioners echoed several recurring issues at the end of the hearing, especially the need to define what a CCRC is and to address refund timelines and information sharing. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with notice that the next virtual meeting would be on June 23 at 10:00 a.m., and written testimony was invited by email.

Transcript Highlights:

• They want to build a two-story health facility with a 17-space parking lot on their campus.
• We run in the high 30s to low 40% state employee rate, direct care, in our two facilities.
• We run in the high 30s to low 40% state employee rate, direct care, in our two facilities.
• This is for an 18-bed female reentry facility located in Jonesboro.
• We'll get you that for all of our facilities, all seven. Great. Thank you.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:

• a couple of the facilities, a headquarters lobby remodel for security purposes.
• And then some other facility maintenance at the Lewiston and St. Anthony facilities.
• and the other has stuff going on at the Lewiston facility?
• going on at the Lewiston facility.
• So positions that are directly supervising youth in our facilities.

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Department of Juvenile Corrections budget. Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson outlined the agency’s funding sources, staffing, recent expenditure patterns, and several FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget requests, including substance use disorder treatment, youth assessment center funding, replacement items, IT upgrades, and a clinician services transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare. Members asked about the governor’s holdback, public works projects, vehicle replacements, and staffing. Director Ashley Dowell said the department’s census has declined due to strong county partnerships, prevention and diversion efforts, and youth assessment centers, and she explained that a staffing analysis found the agency understaffed by 12 positions, with six vacancies converted to direct care roles. She also described the holdback impacts as coming from contract reductions, internal efficiencies, travel and training cuts, and substance use disorder funding adjustments. The committee adjourned after the department discussion. The committee then reviewed the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources budget. Peterson described the office’s mostly federal funding, small staff, dedicated funds, prior energy resilience appropriations, and FY 2027 requests for personnel realignment, Idaho Orchestrating Nuclear (ION) support, and home energy rebates. Administrator Callie Younger said the office is focused on energy resilience, permitting coordination, hydropower relicensing, geothermal and mining projects, and a growing nuclear policy portfolio. She highlighted the new nuclear task force, the office’s request for information to industry, and work on a federal request related to a nuclear lifecycle campus. Members asked about nuclear development, spent fuel, modular reactors, permitting efficiency, and whether the office might merge with the Office of Species Conservation. Younger said the office is exploring a merger because of overlapping permitting functions and could reduce positions and save some general funds, while also improving its ability to handle nuclear and mining work. The chair closed by noting the committee’s alignment with several governor’s office recommendations and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Agencies cannot impose requirements on a coal facility in operation prior to 2011 that are inconsistent
• agreement, and can also not impose any additional greenhouse gas emissions requirements on such a facility
• that is inconsistent with the current greenhouse gas emission standard for baseload electricity facilities
• is a sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of coal used at a thermal electric generating facility
• So the goal of the bill is to eliminate that special treatment so that this location, this facility,

Summary: House Finance heard several bills and took no recorded votes. HB 2367 would end special tax and emissions exemptions for the Centralia coal plant by limiting its Climate Commitment Act exemption to pre-2026 emissions, removing limits on additional greenhouse gas requirements, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. The sponsor, Rep. Fitzgibbon, said the bill would help keep the plant’s transition to cleaner natural gas generation on track; Climate Solutions supported it, while business and clean-energy groups raised concerns about allowance-market impacts and asked for amendments to adjust the cap-and-invest allowance budget. HB 1974 would authorize public housing authorities, public corporations, and nonprofits to operate as land banks for affordable housing, give them priority for tax-foreclosed properties, and provide property tax, leasehold excise tax, and REET exemptions for land bank transactions. Rep. Hill said the bill was narrowed to reduce fiscal impact and support existing land banking work in Spokane; supporters said it would lower land costs and speed affordable housing development, while questions focused on how public land would be used and whether affordability should be permanent rather than limited to 30 years. HB 2650, a Department of Revenue request, would standardize notice and effective dates for local REET and lodging tax changes and clarify documentation for an affordable housing sales tax deferral. DOR supported the bill as an administrative efficiency measure, and there was no opposition testimony. HB 2626 would raise the premium tax on health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements from 2% to 3%, remove a dentistry-related exemption, and add a new 1% tax on certain disability and group stop-loss insurers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help fund Apple Health and subsidies amid federal funding concerns; insurers and business groups opposed it as a cost increase likely to be passed on to consumers and employers, while patient and advocacy groups supported the revenue idea but urged that funds be dedicated to subsidies or other health care supports and that pass-through to consumers be prevented.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires all extraordinary medical placements to be made to health facilities located in Washington
• Do we all have an existing law, the physicians that work within these facilities?
• If an inmate is leaving the facility on one of these escorted leaves, they need to be wearing an ankle
• accounted for, and DOC does have a proven history of being able to escort individuals out of the facility
• If an inmate is leaving the facility on one of these escorted, they need to be having an ankle monitor

Bills: SB5873 , SB5895 , SB5911 , SB5940 , SB5942 , SB5945 , SB5957 , SB5966

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: incarcerated individuals, escorted leaves, criminal justice, rehabilitation, state law, healthcare, incarcerated, extraordinary medical placement, criminal justice reform, medical care, children, youth, financial stability, care services, department of children and families, housing assistance, foster care, pilot program, social services, accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• To or within 1,000 feet of a city-owned convention center facility.
• The qualified project is a convention center facility, venue, or a multi-purpose facility.
• These premier facilities welcome world-class performances, ranging from concerts and comedy to symphony
• South Padre Island welcomes over 7 million visitors annually, but its current facilities are outdated
• There may well be a need for more than just one authorization or one facility.

Bills: SB1071 , SB1444 , SB1483 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB1756 , SB1854 , SB2036 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2622 , SB2779 , SB2955 , SB2979

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• It wouldn't work for a custom, non-USDA facility. >> Um, follow-up. >> Go ahead.
• So, but I believe that there are some facilities that are USDA-inspected custom facilities, which means
• that the facility is inspected, but the processing is not inspected as it's happening.
• </c><00:14:42.639><c> in</c> a custom non USDA facility in a custom non USDA facility in &gt;&gt; um<
• </c><00:18:54.880><c> These</c> facilities in New Hampshire. These facilities in New Hampshire.

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee met in work session on retained House Bill 396, which would exempt meat and meat food products slaughtered and prepared in-state for in-state sale from certain inspections. The discussion centered on the bill’s conflict with federal law and whether any state action could help small farmers process and sell cuts of meat locally. Representative Comtois argued the current federal system unfairly burdens New Hampshire farmers and consumers, while committee members and witnesses repeatedly noted that federal action would likely be required. Mr. Johnson explained that the committee’s prior resolution asked USDA to allow small and very small slaughter plants to use custom-exempt criteria with a third-party inspector, and said discussions had been held with federal offices, but no change had been secured. Members and witnesses described the practical limits facing small producers, including the scarcity of USDA-inspected facilities in New Hampshire, long booking lead times, and the cost of shipping animals out of state. Representative German and others noted that slaughter schedules and seasonal grazing patterns make compliance difficult for smaller farms. Farm Bureau representatives said they were continuing to educate federal officials, but that the USDA secretary’s visit to a local operation had been rejected. They also explained that one local operation can process USDA-inspected meat, but that still involves federal inspection. Several members asked about possible exemptions, workarounds, or whether a state bill would be needed if federal relief were granted; the response was that a federal exemption or rule change would be sufficient and no state action would then be required. The committee also heard broader policy views. Senator Dan Innis said there was strong Senate support for helping small farms and that the issue is mainly federal overreach and economics, not food safety, while acknowledging the risk of federal enforcement against farmers. He compared the issue to other federal-state conflicts and said the current law reflects outdated concerns from the early meatpacking era. Members discussed whether the bill should be amended to include limits on the number of animals processed, similar to poultry rules, to make it more politically viable. No vote was taken during the work session, and the bill remained under discussion for possible amendment before the retained-bill deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

• Qualifying facilities that began operation before that date are subject to section 216B.164, which is
• </c> in peaking facilities as carbon-f free. in peaking facilities as carbon-f free.
• , including peaking facilities.
• Thank you. peaking facilities. Changes to the law peaking facilities.
• </c><00:43:23.520><c> And</c> energy generating facilities. And energy generating facilities.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• We're looking at the generation, collection, and transportation of a raw feedstock to a facility to be
• As the chair said, this bill allows the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project toll facility bond retirement
• By funding bicycle facilities to be part of the oil crisis solution, and I think we've moved past that
• According to TIB criteria, all arterial projects require bicycle facilities or pedestrian facilities
• As the chair said, this bill allows the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project toll facility bond retirement

Bills: HB2111 , HB2495

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: Interstate 5 bridge, toll facility, bond retirement, transportation, state funding, vehicles, streetcar operation, public safety, urban regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a privately funded industrial computing facility that's fully behind the meter.
• It's a privately funded industrial computing facility that's fully behind the meter.
• that we think of, like the 50- to 100-megawatt facilities.
• But none of those are the hyperscale facilities that we think of, like the 50- to 100-megawatt facilities
• And how many square feet is the facility? Mr. Brown: Oh, it’ll be millions. Mr.

Bills: S0408 , S0986 , S0678 , S0800 , S1050 , S0484 , S1118

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries considered several bills and took final action on each. SB 986, by Senator Gruters and presented by Senator Rodriguez, would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana in public places and in certain indoor spaces; restaurant and lodging representatives supported adding marijuana and vaping to clean indoor air rules but asked to preserve designated smoking areas on private property, while cannabis advocates warned the bill was overly broad and could affect patients and property rights. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 678, by Senator Mayfield, would restore statutory authority for DBPR to continue allowing alcohol distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise tax calculations; the committee adopted a strike-all amendment and reported the committee substitute favorably. SB 800, also by Senator Mayfield, increases penalties for repeated unlicensed engineering practice and creates an engineering student loan assistance program for engineers working for state agencies and water management districts; after adopting an amendment clarifying eligibility, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard SB 408, by Senator Grall, which would create a Florida cause of action against vaccine manufacturers that advertise in the state, allowing injured individuals to sue in Florida courts. Supporters argued the bill would rebuild public trust and hold manufacturers accountable, while opponents from the Florida Justice Reform Institute, American Tort Reform Association, BIO, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, and several medical and business groups argued the field is largely preempted by federal law, that existing federal compensation programs already address vaccine injuries, and that the bill raises First Amendment and policy concerns. After debate focused on vaccine injury data, compensation rates, and liability, the committee voted SB 408 favorably. The committee also considered SB 484 and SB 1118, both by Senator Avila, dealing with data centers. SB 484 would preserve local planning authority, bar nondisclosure agreements that prevent disclosure of potential data center development, require the PSC to set large-load tariff requirements so data centers pay their own costs, and limit consumptive use permits for large-scale data centers absent no harm to water resources and compliance with local zoning; supporters emphasized ratepayer protection and economic development, while some witnesses urged flexibility for behind-the-meter projects and confidentiality in negotiations. The bill was reported favorably. SB 1118 would create a time-limited public records exemption for county or municipal information about data center siting and protect proprietary business information; Senator Pizzo raised concerns about how the exemption would affect disclosure of competing projects and local officials’ ability to speak, but the sponsor said he would work on clarifying the language. The committee also passed SB 1050, by Senator Calatayud, which requires veterinarians to provide pet owners with written prescriptions and information about pharmacy choice while preserving veterinary judgment and emergency dispensing authority. The meeting concluded after all bills were reported favorably and members recorded additional votes on prior items.

Transcript Highlights:

• The refresh program has helped make Washington competitive for these facilities.
• engineer too, responsible for facility technicians on our site.
• When a facility refurbishes, do they need more electricity, or is it about the same?
• When a facility refurbishes, they will get new and modern technology that is more energy efficient.
• facility itself.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult family homes, and ambulatory surgical facilities
• is a facility first, a home second.
• We support clear badging in large facilities, but the reality is that many health care practitioners
• We support clear badging in large facilities, but the reality is that many health care practitioners
• And inter-facility transports are a big part of that rural health care service.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2261, which would require health care providers to wear badges showing name, credential, and relevant degrees, require similar disclosure in advertising, and restrict use of the title “physician surgeon” to certain physicians and osteopathic physicians. Supporters, including the Washington State Medical Association and patient advocates, said the bill would improve transparency and informed consent. Opponents from nurse, naturopathic, and adult family home groups argued it was overly broad, burdensome, confusing, and could harm access to care or residential home settings; several also said existing disciplinary laws already address misrepresentation. No vote was taken on HB 2261 during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2283, which would raise the medical loss ratio for fully insured individual, small group, and large group health plans to 90 percent. Supporters, including small business, patient, and physician groups, said the bill would push more premium dollars toward patient care and lower costs or increase rebates. Insurers and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner warned it could destabilize the market, reduce flexibility for administrative services, and lead to carrier exits, though OIC said it was working on amendments. The bill was not voted on in the hearing. House Bill 2425, an agency-request bill on nurse delegation, would broaden what tasks registered nurses may delegate, remove some setting and training restrictions, expand emergency medication authority, and adjust liability and retaliation protections. The Board of Nursing, long-term care providers, and skilled nursing/assisted living representatives supported the bill as a modernization that could ease workforce shortages and improve care access, while the Washington State Association for Justice opposed the immunity provisions and raised patient safety concerns. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 2425. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. HB 2110, with an amendment clarifying ambulance staffing and RN scope, passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2113 passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2122, as amended to require hospitals to offer flu vaccines with several flexibility and critical-access-hospital exemptions, passed 15-3 with one excused. HB 2152, as amended to require certain facilities to allow medical cannabis use for qualifying terminal patients and to add related exemptions and protections, passed 17-1 with one excused. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• How much comes out of a facility in pounds or grams or however they do it? Yes.
• How much comes out of a facility in pounds or grams or however they do it?
• eight community facilities, and community transition services.
• the facility?
• We do intend to be looking at individual facilities and characteristics associated with those facilities

Summary: At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses. JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those two Senate provisions relate to the licensing for the testing facilities.
• There's been some concern facilities.
• to testing facilities when the testing<00:03:22.319><c> facility</c><00:03:22.720><c> makes</c><00:03
• :23.040><c> certain</c><00:03:23.440><c> certain</c> testing facility makes certain certain testing facility
• As noted, we create a licensing variance for testing facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Facility, yeah.
• and the small facilities alike.
• and the small facilities alike.
• I guess the facilities weren’t proper.
• I guess the facilities weren’t proper.

Bills: SF0007 , SF0008 , SF0009 , SF0010

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It will be the only facility of its kind in the South Metro, with the closest comparable facilities being
• It will be the only facility of its kind in the South Metro, with the closest comparable facilities being
• It will be the only facility of its kind in the South Metro, with the closest comparable facilities being
• It will be the only facility of its kind in the South Metro, with the closest comparable facilities being
• It will be the only facility of its kind in the South Metro, with the closest comparable facilities being

Bills: HF1833 , HF148 , HF1127 , HF1227 , HF1681 , HF1974 , HF1106 , HF1016 , HF2197

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: sales tax, education funding, construction, Aitkin Public Schools, tax exemption, refundable credit, HF148, use of force training, deadly force, peace officer training, police training, law enforcement, POST Board, Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, scenario-based training, de-escalation, defensive tactics, force-on-force training, stress management, officer wellness

Transcript Highlights:

• We even have, for that facility, the CNAs that work there, we've had to put in a $5-an-hour facility
• than the other HHSC facilities.
• ><c> share</c> the other hhsc facilities um we share the other hhsc facilities um we share the<00:59:
• </c> fing the Clos facil fing the Clos facil where<01:02:01.520><c> correct</c><01:02:01.839><c> so</
• CMS right now limits us to $5,000 per facility that has an SNF, Skilled Nursing Facility, unit.

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years. For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations. Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need. HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.