Transcript Highlights:

• This research was shared with the wildfire mitigation and resiliency standards work group and helped
• Insurers fund the research. We approve of the results that they come up with.
• tourism research company to tell us how we're doing.
• All of that research is in partnership with Washington State University.
• Every single research priority is set by our industry and funded by the assessment dollars.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering. Staff explained that the bill would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington colleges, but would continue to prohibit bets on the performance of individual college athletes. Tribal representatives from the Jamestown S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Kalispel tribes testified in support, saying the bill would keep wagering within the regulated tribal marketplace, protect integrity, and help smaller tribal casinos participate through a hub-and-spoke model. University of Washington and Washington State University representatives supported the ban on individual prop bets and emphasized student-athlete safety, while WSU also argued the bill would expand exposure to harassment and online abuse. No vote was taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes wildfire mitigation grant program. Staff said the bill would fund grants for wildfire-hardening homes to IBHS standards, authorize pilot projects, and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk to disqualify homes that meet the standards. Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuder and Senator Marcus Riccelli supported the bill, arguing that wildfire losses and non-renewals are increasing and that upfront mitigation is cheaper than recovery. Local officials and advocates from Medical Lake, Washington Realtors, and climate and wildfire groups also supported the measure. Insurance industry representatives supported the mitigation goals but objected to the bill’s requirement that insurers provide coverage based on IBHS designation and to using the commissioner’s regulatory account as a funding source, saying underwriting still needs to consider broader risk factors. No action was taken. The committee next held a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 6061, which would create a tourism self-supported assessment program. State of Washington Tourism, the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington Hospitality Association, the Brewers Guild, the Port of Seattle, and rural economic development representatives said the state’s tourism program is underfunded and that an industry-led assessment could provide a stable, competitive funding source. They said the model would be governed by a ratepayer oversight board, subject to ratification, and could generate significant visitor spending and tax revenue over time. Some testimony raised concerns about the scope of eligible businesses and the bill’s references to other industries, but supporters said friendly amendments would refine those details. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5844 on self-storage rental agreements, which would allow electronic agreements, clarify acceptance by continued occupancy, and create a uniform process for termination or nonrenewal for nonpayment or nonmonetary defaults. Self-storage operators supported the bill as a modernization measure that would improve safety and consistency, and no vote was taken on any of the bills heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the research analyst for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
• Paul Sorosia, our world-famous interventional cardiology researcher. Thank you, Dr. Rizek.
• Because we're in a place where we have a whole bunch of research universities.
• You're asking where do you find the results of that research, correct?
• A lot of research out there. There's a lot of information.

Bills: SB1001 , SB1011 , SB1016 , SB1052 , SB1072 , SB1100 , SB1112 , SB1113 , SB1116 , SB1118 , SB1120 , SB1121 , SB1122 , SB1123 , SB1124 , SB1125

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: appropriation, economic security, blind individuals, older adults, state funding, medical examiners, sudden infant death, autopsy protocols, forensic pathology, public health, religious exemption, employment practices, COVID-19 vaccination, accommodation, discrimination, assisted living, health care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, physician orders, informed consent

Transcript Highlights:

• Our bread and butter is really doing policy research, bipartisan evidence-based research for all 50 state
• We represent over 500 biotech companies, medical device companies, and medical research organizations
• We represent over 500 biotech companies, medical device companies, and medical research organizations
• According to a leading research analysis, 1,800 of these centers will be needed by 2030.
• According to a leading research analysis, 1,800 of these centers will be needed by 2030.

Bills: HB2145 , HB1828 , HB2155 , HB2437

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• research and evidence-based practices for justice agencies.
• research and evidence-based practices for justice agencies. justice and we've been conducting research
• Lawson and I who have come in and been doing this research. So we are not, it's not just Dr.
• Lawson and I who have come in and been doing this research.
• So we've delved into the research that's available on this topic.

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met on January 12 and heard a presentation from Department of Correction officials and UMass Chan researchers on DOC’s objective point-based classification system. DOC described how the system, in place since 2007, uses standardized criteria to assign custody levels and is intended to balance public safety with reintegration. Officials reviewed the system’s initial and reclassification tools, the role of trained classification staff, and the use of non-discretionary restrictions and discretionary overrides. They said the current population is about 16% maximum security, 74% medium, and 10% minimum/pre-release, and that discretionary overrides remain within national guidance levels. UMass Chan presented findings from a multi-year NIJ-funded study using historical DOC data from 2019 to 2022, focused mainly on male reclassification cases. Researchers said the scored custody level predicted institutional misconduct well, with stronger separation between minimum, medium, and maximum groups. They reported violent misconduct in the sample was under 5% over the follow-up period, while general misconduct ranged from about 30% to 45%. When DOC’s override-informed final custody levels were analyzed, predictive accuracy declined somewhat, and researchers said the reduction was driven primarily by non-discretionary restrictions rather than discretionary overrides. They noted that removing the non-discretionary restrictions, especially Code C civil-commitment-related restrictions, improved the model’s performance. Commission members and guests questioned whether the system overclassifies people into medium security, whether the low minimum-security rate reflects infrastructure and risk tolerance differences from other states, and how much historical practice and subjective judgment still affect placement. DOC officials said the restrictions are designed around safety concerns such as flight risk, serious legal issues, and medical needs, and that the system has been revised over time through revalidation. UMass researchers said there is no compelling evidence that release from minimum security is necessary for successful community outcomes once risk level is accounted for, and they emphasized that comparisons with other states are difficult because Massachusetts’ correctional structure is different. The commission asked members to submit follow-up questions for additional data, and a public commenter argued that the data suggest overclassification to medium security harms incarcerated people.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did research on who the delivery people were. I could see their names.
• on the math about of the did research on the math about of the alcohol<00:07:32.599><c> she</c><00:07
• </c> doesn't feel right and I researched doesn't feel right and I researched Minnesota<00:08:36.320><
• </c><00:09:26.120><c> I</c> I after I did all this research I I after I did all this research I contacted
• <00:09:26.959><c> senator</c><00:09:27.480><c> putam</c> Obviously intoxicated, when you research that

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ranked in the top 100 in the nation in federal research expenditures, providing applied research that's
• </c> University's institutional research University's institutional research office<00:11:10.760><c>
• </c><00:12:33.519><c> we</c> through uh Innovation and research we through uh Innovation and research
• We need to do more research.
• We need to do more research.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This measure is aimed at preventing foreign influence on academic programs, research, and institutional
• When we have—and I've seen at various universities in the state of Texas—we work a lot on research, we
• work a lot on intellectual property, and that's everything from cybersecurity to genetic research to
• The pattern is clear: foreign entities target our cancer research, our... medical and our engineering
• We have incredible people doing incredible research in everything from cybersecurity to oil and gas,

Bills: HB173 , HB184 , HB484 , HB678 , HB 1211 , HB1507 , HB1705 , HB1868 , HB2290 , HB2851 , HB2856 , HB3041 , HB3204 , HB173 , HB184

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: foreign donations, higher education, public institutions, national security, funding, prohibition, Texas law, healthcare, insurance, affordability, access, public health, foreign influence, education policy, student loan repayment, prosecuting attorneys, border prosecution unit, financial assistance, tobacco, cigarettes

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, my son needed to get a public library card for a school research assignment.
• Recently, my son needed to get a public library card for a school research assignment.
• My students engage in a six-week-long research paper.
• The academic books needed for the research paper are not easily found through online retailers.
• Research consistently shows that students who have access to trusted adults at school are more likely

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think when I did a little bit of research on that, it was like looking at maybe $17,000.
• Caltrans and the CTC and CalSTA actually to do some research in that space on road user charge.
• Yeah, so our research includes some of that, those factors.
• So when the right time comes, we’re happy to provide all our research and the data that we have.
• What’s the time frame on when that research is going to be completed and when recommendations can be

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several items, beginning with gubernatorial appointments not required to appear. The committee approved multiple appointments on 3-2 and 5-0 votes, including members to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Contractors State License Board, and the Medical Board of California. Members also approved a bill referral item, a rule waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guests on the Senate floor during an adjourn-in-memory for former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgment items, all by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard the required appearance of Dina El-Tawansy for Director of the California Department of Transportation. In her opening remarks, she emphasized Caltrans’ priorities of safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of issues, including impacts from federal and state rules affecting immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal guidance, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate-related damage to infrastructure, and the future of transportation funding as gas tax revenue declines. El-Tawansy said Caltrans would prioritize emergency and safety projects, continue work on the Highway 58 corridor, and help DBEs through a reevaluation process and outreach efforts. She described ongoing climate adaptation work, including vulnerability assessments, vegetation management, and corridor studies such as Route 37 and LOSSAN, and said the department is researching road user charges through pilots and national collaboration. She also discussed small-business programs, local hiring, toll lane agreement consistency, and efforts to address litter and homelessness on Caltrans property through delegated maintenance agreements and new staff positions. After public testimony from numerous transportation, construction, local government, labor, and technology organizations in support of the nominee, the committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate floor for confirmation. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did do some research. I had a conversation yesterday actually with Dr.
• She works in the research professor for the Initiative for Healthy Schools. I also met with Dr.
• If we better have a good reason for withholding recess because of the research behind it.
• If we better have a good reason for withholding recess because of the research behind it.
• And again, I tried to do as much research as I could.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows 4-H is extremely valuable, not just to us but to our families.
• Research shows 4-H is extremely valuable, not just to us but to our families. 85% of 4-Hs report being
• have true relationships with adults, and not only speak for what they believe in and learn through research-backed
• More than just a project, these experiences can be entrepreneurial, they can be research-based, or simply
• However, through personal research, things like urban agriculture, which is one of my personal projects

Bills: S0806

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Keywords: right to repair, repairability, consumer repair, independent repair provider, authorized repair provider, portable wireless device, smartphone repair, cell phone repair, mobile device, agricultural equipment, farm equipment, tractor, combine, diagnostic information, repair manuals, parts availability, tools, embedded software, firmware, security module

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture took up SB 806, a consumer and agricultural equipment right-to-repair bill sponsored by Senator Truenow. The bill was described as expanding repair options for portable wireless devices and farm equipment while protecting trade secrets. Two amendments were adopted: one clarified that portable devices do not include motor vehicles, and another was a technical staff amendment. Testimony included support for the general goal of repair access, but opposition from a John Deere dealership representative, who warned the bill could weaken local dealer support, reduce parts inventory, increase downtime, and create emissions-compliance risks. The Consumer Technology Association also opposed the bill in its current form, citing concerns about a patchwork of state laws, a private right of action against manufacturers, and inconsistencies with other states’ repair laws. After closing remarks from Senator Truenow, the committee voted to report CS for SB 806 favorably. The committee then heard a presentation from Florida 4-H state officers and alumni, who highlighted 4-H’s role in youth development, leadership, agriculture, STEM, and healthy living. They described statewide participation of more than 216,000 youth, the impact of camps and hands-on programs, and efforts to raise funds for facility improvements, including Camp Cherry Lake and Camp Timpoochee. Members asked about how youth discover 4-H, what drives participation, and the organization’s growth goals, including reaching 300,000 youth. Next, Florida FFA state officers presented on agricultural education and FFA’s role in preparing students for careers in agriculture and related fields. They emphasized the three-part model of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and FFA leadership activities, and noted Florida’s membership growth to more than 65,000 students, supported by state funding that allows all agricultural education students to participate at no cost. Members discussed the need for technology and AI to help meet future food-production demands, and the presenters stressed innovation, urban agriculture, and efficiency as key to feeding a growing population. The meeting concluded with general comments of support and a request for a group photo with the students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Divides commercial aerospace growth while initiatives like the Texas Aerospace Research.
• The organization is committed to supporting research that extends and enhances the lives of those with
• millions of individuals and families nationwide and underscores the critical need for education, research
• Recognizing Kidney Month encourages awareness, early detection and policies to improve care and research
• Institution of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for the

Transcript Highlights:

• In a study by Pia Arehenius and Madele Zabbodny completed in 2016, researchers found that the number
• So, would it surprise you that it's only catching the research I found about 54% of those?
• The research that I have seen and that I've done shows that the success rate is actually higher than
• And the research I've done, I've talked to you about this as well.
• Workforce. 18,600 ITINs are being used based on the house research staff that we have available to us

Bills: HB3725 , HB3260 , HB3660 , HB3369 , HB3370

Committee: House Business

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Transcript Highlights:

• Research and education, we put a lot of money into seed varieties, new varieties, storage, disease prevention
• But it's, in most of the world, that type of research is done by private companies.
• And so there are, because you want to pay for it, you want the research to pay for itself.
• The latest research that we have seen shows that, and it's hard to get a gauge on it, but between 8 and
• One of the things that I've mentioned before is that one of the new research on potato consumption is

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from January 26, 2026, and announced a brief follow-up meeting on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. with one agenda item and a public hearing. The main presentation was from the Idaho Potato Commission, with Jamie Hyer and chairman Darren Bitter introducing the commission and reviewing its finances, promotion efforts, research spending, and export activities. Hyer said the commission is financially sound, described its budget categories, and noted strong revenue from the new Idaho potato license plate, which he said has already generated about $2 million for the highway fund. Members asked about research partnerships with the University of Idaho, the potato seed building, and the value of public-domain breeding versus private control. Hyer explained that new potato varieties can take 10 to 12 years to develop and that public research helps keep seed access broad while still supporting royalties to fund future work. He also discussed market pressures, including rising competition from China and India, labor and input costs, weather, disease, farm succession, and the effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and changing dietary trends on potato consumption. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on trade and exports. Hyer said Mexico and Canada are the commission’s primary export markets, with Japan seen as the best potential new market, while Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and some Southeast Asian markets remain important but challenging. He said tariffs have had limited direct effect on potatoes because of USMCA, though they affect inputs and some other markets. Members also asked about quality control and mislabeling in stores; Hyer said the commission has staff across the country monitoring retail and food service quality and that many problems stem from poor store handling rather than intentional shipping of bad product. The meeting ended after a promotional video and closing remarks, with no votes other than approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• expansion of monitoring networks and networking capabilities in the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Research
• region, in that area, and MTSO provides detailed, public-accessible earthquake catalogs used by researchers
• We are the state geological survey and a research division of New Mexico Tech.
• It’s for dedicated permanent IT and research support, expanded computing capacity, and machine learning
• We record everything we can and then produce it so researchers and regulators can use it in the best

Bills: SB29 , SB64

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• fund and hold over the balance for the following fiscal year. ...authorizing the Florida Panther Research
• and Management Trust Fund to be used for research and monitoring of feline diseases, as well as acquisition
• trust fund and hold over the balance for the following fiscal year, authorizing the Florida Panther Research
• We ended up, actually, over months of research, pairing with Representative Casello, and being a part
• Red tide research at $9.6 million.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met to consider three bills before moving to its budget presentation. HB 843, relating to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trust funds, was explained as a set of clarifying changes to improve budget flexibility, including use of certain trust funds for law enforcement and other conservation-related purposes. After questions about whether the bill would shift resources away from conservation, an amendment removed the sections dealing with the Administrative Trust Fund and the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund. The amended bill received support in public testimony and was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 295, which directs the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by 2026 based on prior recycling recommendations. Supporters, including students involved in an “Ought to Be a Law” program and representatives from the waste and recycling industry, said the bill would create a roadmap for improving recycling and waste diversion. An opponent argued the state should instead enact more direct statutory changes on issues such as food waste, yard waste, and manure handling rather than study them further. Members praised the student participation and the bill passed. HB 339, creating a temporary alternative credentialing pathway for surveyors and mappers, was presented as a response to workforce shortages and an aging profession. The sponsor said the bill would help meet demand while preserving oversight, and an amendment added a four-year work requirement and adjusted renewal provisions. After brief supportive debate, the amended bill passed. The subcommittee then received its Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget proposal, which emphasized spending reductions, vacant-position cuts, and a smaller overall budget than the current year while still funding water resources, Everglades restoration, resiliency, land management, cleanup programs, agriculture facilities, and other projects. Members closed by thanking the chair for an inclusive budget process, and the meeting adjourned after a motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• simulations, creating multimedia projects, design, interaction with experts, peer collaboration, and research
• review its prior recommendations. experts, peer collaboration and experts, peer collaboration and research
• Number</c><00:03:32.879><c> seven,</c><00:03:33.680><c> the</c><00:03:34.159><c> exceptions</c> research
• Number seven, the exceptions research.
• Well, from the bill, but it won't be, you know, it will be researched and put into the standards that

Bills: HB584 , HB604 , HB584 , HB604

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: marriage, religious solemnization, probate court, marriage license, traditional practices, HB604, Alabama veteran tag program, distinctive license plate, veteran license tag, radiation-exposed veterans, atomic bomb testing, ionizing radiation, World War II veterans, nuclear weapons cleanup, veterans affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, motor vehicle tag, special license plate, military and veterans affairs, Cold War veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• An analysis by researchers at UC Berkeley found that criminal court debt can cause families to spend
• An analysis by researchers at UC Berkeley found that criminal court debt can cause families to spend
• In recent research, artificial intelligence has even been used to recreate facial images from genetic
• A wide body of research... ...criminal prosecution of children does not increase public safety.
• I have a graduate degree in public health and a research background in adolescent development.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to facilitate that research and innovation across the state.
• And so that research, that innovation is needed by the SEP program.
• It's a very well thought out program that prioritizes the product research, rulemaking.
• But as a result of the research and innovation from the plan, we may come up with new ways to regulate
• in terms of workload. ...all of its own research.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on DTSC’s implementation of SB 158 reforms, including enforcement, community engagement, fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, permitting backlogs, and the Safer Consumer Products program. Senators and Assembly members emphasized protecting overburdened communities and asked how DTSC and the Board of Environmental Safety are using their authority to improve accountability, reduce delays, and address hazardous waste facilities and consumer product chemicals. The hearing also included discussion of extended producer responsibility programs and whether DTSC can support them more efficiently, including through coordination with CalRecycle. DTSC Director Katie Butler said the department is now more transparent, accountable, and fiscally stable, citing stronger enforcement actions, an interactive inspections map, expanded community outreach, and emergency response work on the Los Angeles wildfire cleanup. She said DTSC has made progress on fee reform, the hazardous waste management plan, cleanup grants, permit renewals, and safer consumer products rulemaking, including adding microplastics to the candidate chemical list. Board Chair Andrew Rakestraw said the board has held multiple public meetings and hearings, is working on fee rates and performance metrics, and is revising the hazardous waste management plan after public comment, including removing a proposal to send certain contaminated soil to municipal landfills. He also noted remaining concerns about fee structure, permit delays, and the pace of the safer consumer products program. Public witnesses offered sharply different views. A representative of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance said SB 158 reforms have improved permitting and transparency, but urged more attention to risk-based decision-making, reduced duplication, and possible General Fund support for plan implementation rather than relying only on fees. Earthjustice argued DTSC remains too slow and that communities continue to suffer from long-delayed permits and weak protections, urging the Legislature to take a more active role and to prioritize eliminating hazardous substances rather than minimizing costs. Committee members pressed the witnesses on permit renewals, community impacts, and the pace of the safer consumer products program, while DTSC defended its progress and said further legislative collaboration may be needed on hazardous waste management and emerging waste streams.

Transcript Highlights:

• Research states that 86% of farms across America are small family farms, just like ours.
• Funding is published or otherwise becomes available to the larger research community.
• I also know that we are currently doing research; I know there's research mentioned earlier through Texas
• Research was actually the impetus for them getting that grant.
• However, there is research to support this. Thank you, I appreciate that. You're welcome.

Bills: HB1341 , HB1674 , HB4028 , SB2321

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions