Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, sir, and the community thanks you.
• Yes, sir, and the community thanks you.
• There was a lot of fear in the community.
• And they're amazing members of our community up there.
• Community Creamery, and it has just grown.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Senate first handled routine business, including approving the previous day’s journal, receiving House messages transmitting House Bill 73 and Second Substitute House Bill 1784, and referring Senate Bill 6353 to the Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs, and Elections. It then moved to resolutions. Senate Resolution 8687, commemorating the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and acknowledging the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, drew extensive remarks in support from several senators. Speakers emphasized the injustice of the internment, the contributions of Japanese American veterans and civil rights activists, the importance of remembrance, and the need to prevent similar abuses in the future. The resolution was adopted by voice vote. The Senate also considered Senate Resolution 8688, recognizing Washington’s dairy farms and the role of dairy producers in the state’s economy and communities. Senators shared personal ties to dairy farming and praised the hard work of family farms, dairy workers, and industry representatives. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and visiting members of the Washington State Dairy Council, Dairy Women’s Organization, and Dairy Ambassadors were recognized in the gallery. At the close of business, the Senate agreed to adjourn until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• and communities of color.
• and the air pollution in our communities as well.
• It's borne by workers in the street and entire communities.
• And as you will hear soon, they're an integral part of community building and community events as well
• building and community events as well.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• community community uh,<00:02:27.680><c> both</c><00:02:27.920><c> with</c><00:02:28.040><c> the</c>
• </c> serve the community that raised me. serve the community that raised me.
• ,</c><00:10:37.480><c> never</c> responsibility to my community, never responsibility to my community
• I think it's just entire community.
• </c> individual dedicated to his community individual dedicated to his community and<00:31:39.960><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Messages 796 and 797, both judicial confirmation nominations, but announced at the outset that no votes would be taken that day. The committee said it would hold the vote the next day in Room 225. For GM 796, Annalisa M. Bernard Lee was nominated to serve as circuit court judge for the Second Circuit (Maui) for a 10-year term. Supporters included former Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, former judges, attorneys, and the Hawaii State Bar Association, all describing her as fair, hardworking, experienced on both criminal and civil matters, and active in the legal community. Judge Lee testified about her background as a Maui native, former public defender and prosecutor, and current district court judge, and said her experience on all sides of the courtroom shaped her commitment to fairness and access to justice. Senators asked about diversion, sentencing repeat offenders, and the role of a circuit court judge; Lee said she would consider cases individually, support diversion and pretrial collaboration where appropriate, and use judicial power to address underlying problems when possible. For GM 797, Michael K. Soong was nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court for Kauai and Niihau. Former Chief Justice Recktenwald and other supporters praised his long legal career, including service as a prosecutor, district court judge, and acting chief judge during a period when Kauai lacked a full-time circuit judge. They emphasized his courtroom control, common sense, community ties, and willingness to take on extra judicial committee work. Soong testified that he had served as a district court judge since 2017 and had recently been handling circuit court duties, including civil, criminal, and jury trial matters. He described the differences between district and circuit court, his experience presiding over complex trials, and his support for specialty courts such as drug court, veterans court, and mental health calendars. The Hawaii State Bar Association said it found him qualified after its review. No votes were taken on either nomination during this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they include cities, they include largely suburban communities, and they include rural communities
• And they include cities, they include largely suburban communities, and they include rural communities
• In L.A. you have 88 cities, you know, rural communities.
• I live there, I work there, and I'm in the community every day.
• It's the only funding source for them across all communities.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, you have to have the community providers out there.
• But again, you have to have the community providers out there.
• So those are more community-based. They're not secure settings.
• Our community-based providers, this is a big part of what we do.
• So our community-based providers are a big piece of that.

Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth met to approve prior minutes, confirm Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee, and receive several presentations. The Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review team reported on unexpected child deaths in Arkansas, saying its 2023 review covered 148 of 170 non-natural deaths, with the remainder unavailable due to criminal investigations or missing records. Of the reviewed deaths, 69 were accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined, and members discussed how the report’s recommendations could be used by agencies and nonprofits for prevention work and grant applications. Committee members also asked about age breakdowns and how the data could be shared without identifying individual cases. The committee then took up HCR 1010 and a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Representative Shepard said the resolution was intended to confront data on juvenile incarceration and system outcomes. Senator Missy Irvin, judges Troy Braswell and Kathy Hess, and AOC Juvenile Division Director Burke Steen described the state’s long-running reform efforts, including the SAVRY risk assessment, diversion programs, and efforts to keep more youth in their communities. They said the reforms have reduced delinquency filings, DYS commitments, and revocations, while increasing diversions, but also emphasized ongoing gaps in mental health, substance abuse, and school-based supports. Members raised concerns about school data sharing, behavioral health access, and how to better identify youth with disabilities or trauma earlier. Judge Braswell and others stressed that many youth in the system have significant trauma, family instability, or unmet treatment needs, and that judges need individualized information to make decisions. Several members discussed the role of schools, the school safety dashboard, and the need for stronger community providers, especially in rural areas. The committee then heard from DYS Director Michael Crump, who provided data on commitments, facility use, demographics, offense levels, length of stay, education outcomes, recidivism, dual DCFS/DYS custody, and costs. He said commitments rose after the pandemic and then began to decline, while secure and detention costs increased with the need for more beds; he also noted that most youth in custody have behavioral health needs and that DYS works closely with DCFS, courts, and providers. No final action was taken on HCR 1010 during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, you have to have the community providers out there.
• So those are more community-based.
• So those are more community-based.
• Our community-based providers, this is a big part of what we do.
• So our community-based providers are a big piece of that.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then approved Representative Bentley’s appointment to the Child Maltreatment Oversight Committee. Members then received the Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review annual report, which covered unexpected child deaths in 2023. Reviewers said 170 non-natural deaths were identified, but 22 could not be reviewed because of criminal investigations, prosecutions, or missing records. Of the 148 reviewed deaths, 69 were accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 were undetermined causes, including sudden unexpected infant death. Members asked how the report’s recommendations could be used, and presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies, nonprofits, and others; they also noted that child abuse prevention grant applications are being shaped by the report’s recommendations and offered to share the RFP with the committee. A question about suicide and homicide data by age was answered by pointing members to the age breakdown in the report, with most of those deaths concentrated among 15- to 17-year-olds. The committee then took up HCR 1010 and a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Representative Shepard said the resolution was meant to confront data on juvenile incarceration and the cost of the system, while Senator Irvin, Judge Troy Braswell, Judge Kathy Hess, and AOC Juvenile Division Director Burke Steen described years of reform efforts built around validated risk assessments, diversion, and community-based services. They said Arkansas adopted tools such as SAVRY, the MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening to individualize juvenile court responses, and they emphasized that the goal is to keep children at home and in their communities when safe to do so. Members discussed the need for more mental health and substance-abuse services, better school collaboration, and the role of school safety dashboards and FINS/truancy cases in identifying problems earlier. Judges and staff said the reforms have reduced delinquency filings, DYS commitments, and revocations, while increasing diversions, though they noted data gaps in some counties and the need for better reporting. They also stressed that some serious offenses still require detention or commitment, and that judges must balance public safety with rehabilitation. Representative Barnes and others asked whether the numbers might be worse without judicial discretion and community programs, and the presenters agreed that individualized decision-making and graduated sanctions matter. Representative Inatt asked about tracking youth with disabilities, and the presenters said that specific diagnoses are not currently tracked but that national court data efforts may soon add behavioral-health data points. The committee then heard from DYS Director Michael Crump, who provided detailed data on DYS commitments, secure and community-based placements, detention-center use, demographics, offense levels, average length of stay, education outcomes, recidivism, dual DCFS/DYS custody, costs, and interagency coordination. He said commitments fell sharply during COVID, have since risen and then begun to decline, and that the system is working to reduce detention use, improve education and treatment, and expand community-based providers statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a small community. It is a tight-knit community.
• pace with how the public communicates today.
• pace with how the public communicates today.
• communicated with.
• community hesitant to move forward.

Committee: House Emergency Management

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> flourishing to their communities. flourishing to their communities.
• also for the local community and the local community college.
• also for the local community and the local community college.
• But this I know in my community has such great value to the community.
• But this I know in my community has such great value to the community.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Chuck Bonham was going out to those communities.
• But if you have this livestock and this wildlife in your schools, in your communities, in those communities
• Communities in these communities that you guys represent, your constituents would be all over you to
• "These harms disproportionately impacted poor communities and communities of color.
• It's hard for me to go back to my community.

Summary: The committee heard SB 1135, which would reestablish the California Wildlife Coexistence Program to reduce human-wildlife conflict through nonlethal strategies such as deterrents, conflict reporting, and outreach. The author and supporters said the program had been effective but lost funding in 2024, and they argued it would help communities, ranchers, and wildlife by preventing conflicts before they escalate. Support came from conservation, animal welfare, local government, and county groups, while the California Cattlemen’s Association and California Farm Bureau opposed unless amended, saying the bill needed clearer limits on when nonlethal measures are practicable and protections so compensation funds for livestock losses are not reduced. Members discussed wolf-livestock conflicts, compensation, and the need for continued collaboration. The committee voted 2-0 on call to send the bill to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1085, which would preserve water supply assessments for large housing and development projects even when those projects are exempt from CEQA. The author and sponsor EBMUD said the bill is needed to keep water planning tied to land-use planning and avoid “paper water” problems, especially as climate and drought conditions worsen. Supporters included water agencies, environmental groups, labor, and local governments. The California Building Industry Association opposed the bill, arguing that current law already requires verified water supplies, that the bill could add unnecessary process and litigation risk, and that it could slow housing production. Members raised concerns about duplication in cities that also operate their own water systems, but the author said the goal was better coordination, not more bureaucracy. The committee voted 4-1 on call to send the bill to Local Government. The committee also heard SB 1270, which would expand the state wildfire mitigation home-hardening pilot to the top 10 counties by wildfire risk and social vulnerability, adding Riverside, Calaveras, Los Angeles, and Tehama counties and prioritizing future funds for those areas. The author said the bill responds to recent destructive fires and aims to extend home-hardening assistance to more high-risk communities. There was no opposition, and members discussed how to scale funding, whether the program should be broader than the listed counties, and how to focus on cost-effective mitigation. The committee voted 5-0 on call to send the bill to Emergency Management. Finally, the committee heard SB 895, a major science funding measure that would place a $23 billion bond on the ballot and create a California Foundation for Science and Health Research to support research in the state. The author and supporters said California’s research sector is a major economic engine and that federal funding cuts and instability threaten jobs, talent retention, and scientific progress. There was broad support from UC, CSU, labor, health, and research organizations, with no formal opposition. Some members raised concerns about the role of sponsoring unions and the potential for politicization, but the author said the new foundation would operate under California law and that the measure is meant to protect science funding and collaboration. The committee discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on SB 895.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if we're community to bear."
• </c> throughout the whole community. throughout the whole community.
• affect a community downstream.
• How do we serve our community? How do we protect our communities?
• . communities. communities.

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:40:11.679><c> I</c> deaf community. Everything's good." I deaf community.
• Nobody in the deaf community is asking for a study. The deaf community wants the resources.
• community.
• community.
• </c> actually want these communities to do. actually want these communities to do.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I ask for your support on behalf of my community.
• </c> on behalf of my community. on behalf of my community. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:05:19.120><c> you.
• We are just asking to get the word out to keep our communities safe.
• </c> our community safe from gun violence. our community safe from gun violence.
• I'm a resident and community advocate. Mahalo for being here.

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs took up several measures, beginning with House Bill 2413 on pre-trial reform, which had been deferred from a prior agenda. The chair said the committee would incorporate judiciary recommendations and other technical, non-substantive amendments to continue discussion, and the measure was adopted with amendments by a 2-1 vote, with one member excused. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2062, which appropriates funds for gun violence prevention efforts, including processing temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders and funding public awareness campaigns. Supporters, including county, advocacy, law enforcement, and student witnesses, said the bill would improve implementation of an existing law, save lives, and reduce suicides and violence. Opponents argued red flag laws can be abused, raise due process concerns, and may create dangerous enforcement situations. Written testimony was reported as 60 in support, 47 in opposition, and one comment. The committee later passed HB 2062 with amendments, including a corrected effective date, by a 3-1 vote with one member excused. The committee also considered House Bill 1957 on safe entryways, which would establish enforcement procedures in larger cities to prevent blocking of private doorways and entrances. Written testimony included support and opposition, but no oral testimony was offered, and the bill was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. House Bill 253 on fireworks, which expands civil asset forfeiture for felony fireworks offenses and clarifies air-delivery provisions, was also passed with an amended effective date. House Bill 2581 on emergency management, which would narrow the definitions of disasters and emergencies, drew testimony both supporting the bill as a check on emergency powers and opposing it as incomplete or too broad in its current form; decision-making on that measure was deferred to the committee’s March 23 meeting. House Bill 2498 on a care home resilience pilot program was also deferred to March 23 after no testimony was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• brought to me by a local homeschool mother and leader in that space, as well as a leader in the community
• This promotes cultural integration among communities, and I think it's really important in a day and
• If community building is the goal, legislating it seems counterproductive.
• We talk to... ...the homeschool community as you know is very heterogeneous.
• integration, and I think that's good for everybody—our communities, our state in general.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved unanimous-consent requests to print two RS measures, including RS 33-510, a resolution asking the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop proposed school funding formula legislation, and RS 33-484. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1290, the PROM Act, which would let homeschool students voluntarily obtain a social access pass to attend certain school-sponsored social events such as dances and college fairs without enrolling in public school. Supporters said it would improve community integration and expand opportunities for homeschool families, while opponents from Homeschool Idaho argued it was unnecessary, could create administrative burdens, and might blur lines between homeschool and public-school systems. Committee members raised concerns about fees, liability, discipline, and whether the bill could be used for field trips or other activities; after discussion and proposed amendments, the bill was not advanced immediately but was held at the call of the chair for further work. The committee next considered House Bill 608, which clarifies and revises the school facilities cooperative funding program created to address unsafe school buildings. The sponsors explained that the bill streamlines prior law, adjusts when districts must run bonds before seeking state assistance, clarifies supervision and repayment provisions, and ensures unused funds can still be used for safety-related projects. No one testified against the bill, and it was sent to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. House Bill 635 also passed with a due-pass recommendation; it requires the Professional Standards Commission to report complaints involving suspected criminal behavior to law enforcement while leaving its existing licensing and disciplinary role unchanged. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 636, which would allow school districts and charter schools to use remaining school district facility funds for lease-purchase agreements after bond and levy obligations are met. The sponsor and West Ada Superintendent Derek Bubb said the change would align the statute with existing facility-funding language, support debt reduction, and give districts more flexibility for future facility needs. The committee approved the bill and sent it to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation before adjourning and announcing the next meeting for Monday at 3 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, Senator in his community.
• </c><00:31:36.720><c> Senator</c> build a stronger community. Senator build a stronger community.
• I'm proud of knowing people in my community. It is my job to know people in my community.
• I'm proud of knowing people in my community. It is my job to know people in my community.
• </c> that he does in his community as as Mr. that he does in his community as as Mr.

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . community. community.
• </c> with disabilities community jobs. with disabilities community jobs.
• </c> people to engage with their community. people to engage with their community.
• </c> in our community about this. in our community about this.
• </c> in the community. in the community.

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Chuck Bonham was going out to those communities.
• And Chuck Bonham was going out to those communities.
• But if you have this livestock and this wildlife in your schools, in your communities, in those communities
• These harms disproportionately impacted poor communities and communities of color.
• It's hard for me to go back to my community.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> student and active community member. student and active community member.
• </c> exists within the disability community. exists within the disability community.
• And I came to Congress to bring those communities with me, particularly the disability community, a community
• And I came to Congress to bring those communities with me, particularly the disability community, a community
• </c> Jewish community. And I yield back. Jewish community. And I yield back.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis Incorporated is a unified voice of our civic-minded business community.
• small businesses in those communities that will thrive due to this bill.
• There's enforcement at the local level from many communities.
• There are communities. I could just stop you right there.
• This is stopping the local communities from enforcing.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> build thoughtful connected communities build thoughtful connected communities in<00:15:37.920><c
• They spread largely through duplication of other communities' codes to any community that insists upon
• </c><01:14:30.639><c> these</c> want to serve their communities these want to serve their communities
• </c> common interest community common interest community on<01:15:55.400><c> page</c><01:15:55.880><c
• </c> buckets of common interest communities buckets of common interest communities these<01:19:02.760

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in no way do I want to get in the way of community taking care of community.
• What I do want is that when your community, you're a community...
• I want to get in the way of community taking care of community.
• It's partnerships with people and communities.
• We have deep ties in our community.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee opened its first formal public hearing agenda of the session with House Bill 2238, which would direct the Department of Agriculture to coordinate statewide food security efforts and develop a food security strategy due to the Legislature by December 1, 2027. Staff explained the bill would add food security coordination and food system monitoring to the department’s duties and require collaboration with state agencies, nonprofits, experts, and tribes. Prime sponsor Rep. Christine Reeves described the bill as a way to codify and continue work the department had done under COVID emergency authority, while also addressing food insecurity, farm viability, food access, and supply chain resilience. She and several testifiers emphasized rising food costs, food deserts, and the need for a coordinated statewide approach. Testimony in support came from Second Harvest of Spokane, Northwest Harvest, Washington wheat, potato, onion, and cattle groups, the Washington State Farmers Market Association, Harvest Against Hunger, Pierce County Councilmember Brian Yambay, the Washington Food Industry Association, Food Lifeline, the Coalition of Accountable Communities of Health, and small producers, many of whom stressed the importance of coordination, affordability, data, and including people with lived experience and small farmers in the process. No one testified in opposition during the hearing, though the sign-in record showed 137 pro and 166 con positions overall. The committee then moved into executive session on several 2025 bills, including measures on gray wolf management (HB 1311), farmed octopus (HB 1608), force-feeding birds and foie gras (HB 1735), grizzly bear management (HB 1825), invasive species education for pet sales (HB 1976), and maple syrup processing operations (HB 262). Staff briefed each bill, and members discussed proposed amendments on HB 1735 and HB 1976, but the committee deferred action on all bills except HB 1608. During caucus, members indicated HB 1608 was the only bill to be voted on that day. On HB 1608, which would ban knowingly possessing, transporting, or distributing farmed octopus and authorize a civil penalty, members debated animal welfare and the bill’s policy merits. Rep. Birnbaum supported the measure as a humane step, while Rep. Dent said he had concerns and was not ready to support it. The committee then voted 6-5 to report HB 1608 out of committee with a do pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned after that vote.