Transcript Highlights:

• representatives from Oʻahu think there should be no additional geothermal expansion on Hawaiʻi Island in general
• We have incredibly high cost of electricity, higher than here, and could also expand a lot of economic
• We have incredibly high cost of electricity, higher than here, and could also expand a lot of economic
• We have incredibly high cost of electricity, higher than here, and could also expand a lot of economic
• We have incredibly high cost of electricity, higher than here, and could also expand a lot of economic

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and with those, those bigger facilities and with those, those facilities<01:21:47.960><c> have</c><01
• </c> agency of this size, we have our general agency of this size, we have our general general<01:27:
• </c><02:25:44.160><c> funded</c> fully generally funded fully generally funded uh<02:25:45.680><c> in
• </c> out of the general fund. out of the general fund. Follow<02:32:04.840><c> it?</c> Follow it?
• </c> generating, which makes us very nervous. generating, which makes us very nervous.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that'll be a 600-bed facility.
• We have the 600-bed minimum-custody men's facility. We have a 300-bed women's facility.
• You're in any one of our facilities, a county jail facility, a private facility, and in a treatment facility
• Mandan, Fargo facility.
• Deputy Attorney General Ness.

Summary: The Judiciary interim committee met with a full quorum and approved the June 17 minutes. The main discussion centered on a detailed Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation presentation about prison population, placement authority, classification, recidivism, and the role of transitional facilities. Director Colby Braun emphasized that DOCR’s job includes incarceration, supervision, victim services, and reentry, and said the department is operating over capacity, with people waiting in county jails and deferred placements. He described current and planned bed expansions, including added beds at MRCC, a proposed 600-bed minimum-custody men’s facility, and broader campus studies, while stressing that minimum, medium, and maximum custody are different security levels and that transitional facilities are tightly controlled placements, not releases. Committee members questioned the meaning of “release” versus “placement,” the use of terms like inmate and resident, and whether state law should be clarified to distinguish incarceration from supervision or placement in community-based settings. Braun said the parole board controls release authority, while DOCR controls placement, and explained that people who reoffend while in community placement are generally returned to prison after due process. He also reviewed data showing lower one-year recidivism in recent years, the impact of GPS monitoring, and statistics indicating that most people released never get a transitional-facility placement, while those who do generally have better outcomes. Members also discussed whether transitional facilities and work-release programs should be considered halfway houses and how much freedom and security they involve. The committee then heard a report from the Attorney General’s office on House Bill 1193 funding for law enforcement retention bonuses and tuition assistance. The office said all funds had been distributed, 73 of 101 recipients had reported back, 1,490 officers had received bonuses, and the average bonus amounts differed by agency size. Members generally viewed the program positively. Representative Steve Vetter also presented a pretrial services report, describing constitutional and statutory limits on pretrial detention, the use of risk assessment tools, court reminders, victim-notification practices, and North Dakota’s pilot pretrial programs. He suggested possible future legislation to expand detention authority for certain serious offenses and to require the Judiciary Committee to receive updated jail-population data before sessions. Finally, Megan Gordon from Legislative Council began her annual technical corrections bill presentation, outlining a series of non-substantive Century Code fixes such as cross-reference corrections, punctuation changes, and obsolete-reference removals.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said the fiber investments made through the BEAD program are expected to last one to two generations
• with the folks working on both NEPA and SEPA processes or, I guess, efficiencies from the power generation
• But hopefully the next generation or two of legislatures can work on getting a lot more fiber to a lot
• When we're talking about Middle East and North Africa, it's a very broad and generalized population.
• This amendment generally requires that rules adopted by the Office of Women and Business Enterprises

Bills: HB2684 , HJM4012

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: social disadvantage, business certification, state guidelines, economic equity, minority-owned businesses, combat veterans, support, military service, injury compensation, veteran affairs, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• about the Medi-Cal population, but lower percentages are due to the fact that Medi-Cal has much more generous
• I think in general, just even kind of looking at the landscape, the Department of Social Services (DSS
• In general, in closing, I want to stress looking at the data.
• California Food Assistance Program, General Assistance, General Relief, Welfare to Work Employment Programs
• These organizations are generally involved in the administration of other forms of low-income supportive

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that'll be a 600-bed facility. That'll be a 600-bed facility.
• We have the 600-bed minimum-custody men's facility. We have a 300-bed women's facility.
• You're in any one of our facilities, a county jail facility, a private facility, and in a treatment facility
• Every one of our facilities.
• Mandan, Fargo facility.

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fourth, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to investigate violations and bring enforcement actions
• One of the things, obviously, I came from a generation where we didn't have that luxury of sitting on
• Maybe we don't have enough money for electricity.
• The Attorney General can set these standards at any time without legislative approval.
• He proposed to put a similar ...cancer,” as ex-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 5976 would revise the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by narrowing liability for misleading email subject lines and changing damages and Consumer Protection Act claims. Business, retail, hospitality, and e-commerce witnesses supported the bill, saying recent litigation has created uncertainty and exposed routine marketing emails to excessive penalties. Consumer advocates and the Washington State Association for Justice opposed it, arguing the current law protects consumers from deceptive marketing and that the bill would weaken enforcement and class actions. SB 6111 would require age verification and parental consent for minors creating social media accounts, restrict providers’ use of minors’ data, and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General and a limited private right of action. The sponsor and several parents, medical professionals, and advocacy groups supported the bill as a response to social media harms, including addiction, depression, cyberbullying, eating disorders, and exposure to harmful content. Technology and civil liberties witnesses opposed it, warning about privacy, data security, constitutional concerns, and the difficulty of implementing reliable parental consent and age verification. The committee also heard SB 6250, which would raise the maximum small loan amount from $700 to $1,200 and index it to inflation. The sponsor and a lender representative said the change would update an outdated limit and preserve existing consumer protections. Opponents, including legal aid, poverty, housing, labor, AARP, and community advocates, argued the higher cap would increase debt burdens and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. Staff also briefed SB 6257, which would allow illness-related tolling for trainee real estate appraiser licensing timelines, and SB 6289, which would direct Commerce to create a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan; SB 6289 drew supportive testimony from Commerce, ports, economic development groups, and business interests. The committee also held confirmation hearings for several Gambling Commission and Lottery appointees, who described their backgrounds and service, but no votes or final actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a general rule, or a general policy, the banks don't like to see fixed numbers in statute because
• They will be generally know nothing.
• </c> importance to Attorney General Formela. importance to Attorney General Formela.
• there's only a few generators. So the there's only a few generators.
• of generators triples price of generators triples uh<03:43:38.720><c> on</c><03:43:38.880><c> a</c><

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, nearly 11,000 youth were detained in secure facilities.
• and light, but generally no physical projectile or shrapnel.
• He uses water from the sink, and he uses some electricity to charge his phone.
• AI-generated child pornography is a crime, but it's not reportable under CANRA.
• The Attorney General already... ...actions have created fear in communities.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took testimony on each, with members often noting amendments and continuing negotiations. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require juvenile courts to find that less restrictive alternatives are unsuitable before ordering detention, and would require periodic review of continued detention and consideration of alternatives at disposition. Supporters argued it would reduce unnecessary youth detention and improve transparency; probation, judges, and police groups opposed it as an undue limit on judicial discretion and potentially unsafe in serious cases. The chair said he would recommend an aye with amendments, but the bill was held pending quorum and later remained on call. SB 1130 by Senator Gomez Reyes would update privacy law for wearable recording devices such as smart glasses, requiring consent before recording in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and banning devices or accessories designed to defeat recording indicators. Supporters said the bill addresses secret recording and invasive surveillance; opponents from tech and hospitality groups sought clarification to avoid unintended liability for businesses and exempt workplace communication devices. Members discussed those exemptions, and the chair recommended an aye, but the measure also remained on call. Senator Blake Spear presented SB 99, which would let courts consider military protective orders in domestic violence proceedings and require better communication between civilian law enforcement and military authorities. Supporters from the Department of Defense, local officials, and military representatives said it would close protection gaps for military families; the ACLU opposed it on due process grounds because MPOs are issued without judicial process. The chair and author emphasized that the bill only allows consideration of MPOs and does not require civilian enforcement of them. The bill passed out on a vote, though it remained on call for additional members. The committee also heard SB 937 by Senator Gonzalez, restricting flashbang use for crowd control and banning flashbangs and explosive breaching charges in immigration enforcement, and SB 1022, creating a statewide anti-trafficking task force. SB 937 drew support from civil rights and community groups and opposition from police and sheriffs over the use-of-force standard and limits on tactics; it passed out on a vote but remained on call. SB 1022 was supported by survivor and faith groups and opposed by public defenders and sex worker advocates who raised concerns about racial disparities and enforcement harms; it also passed out on a vote. Later, SB 1395, extending criminal protective orders for certain felony sex offenses against minors up to 20 years, and SB 1230, increasing penalties for repeat illegal dumping, were both heard with mixed testimony and were held on call after committee votes. The committee also adopted a consent calendar and several bills were moved forward with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to supporting the next generation to supporting the next generation through<00:47:46.800><c> her
• <00:52:37.920><c> ago</c> generations ago generations ago have<00:52:40.079><c> now</c><00:52:40.319>
• </c> access to proper facilities. access to proper facilities.
• . facilities. facilities.
• I think giving the the facilities<05:08:42.320><c> the</c> facilities the facilities the uh being<05:

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here on behalf of the 350 general and specialty contractors that make up Associated General Contractors
• I'm here on behalf of the 350 general and specialty contractors that make up Associated General Contractors
• I'm here on behalf of the 350 general and specialty contractors that make up Associated General Contractors
• We really didn't talk about the fiscal note, and my observation in general is we already have a significant
• We really didn't talk about the fiscal note, and my observation in general is we already have a significant

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is retired General Jack Fox.
• This is General Jack Fox retired.
• Whereas Major General Patrick J.
• President, generally.
• President, generally.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Included in those redactions were areas with the general titles of general vulnerabilities and policy
• those redactions were areas uh<00:13:28.240><c> with</c><00:13:28.959><c> the</c><00:13:29.680><c> general
• </c><00:13:30.000><c> titles</c><00:13:30.480><c> of</c><00:13:30.800><c> general</c> uh with the general
• titles of general uh with the general titles of general vulnerabilities<00:13:32.160><c> and</c><00:
• Solar energy is now the cheapest energy available and last year provided enough electricity to power

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the 95th General Assembly of the state of Arkansas that
• And these are locally generated tax dollars that come to Little Rock and returned.
• It goes either into general revenue or some of it goes to the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
• No, the sales tax would go into this fund out of general revenue.
• We've got to raise rates and we got to make people pay more for new generation. Two years ago.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No. 3997, which is a resolution authorizing the use of the House to the Association of Missouri Electric
• The resolution authorizes the use of the House to the Association of Missouri Electric Co-ops, which
• I'm Mike Sutherland, Vice President of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, and I'll be
• So just be wary of the electrical components, I guess, around the dais.

Committee: House Consent and Procedure

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard several House Resolutions authorizing use of the House chamber for youth civic and recognition programs. House Resolution 3997 would allow the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ CYCLE program to hold a mock legislative hearing and floor discussion on July 16; House Resolution 4061 would allow the YMCA Youth and Government program to use the chamber for mock sessions across three weekends; and House Resolutions 4062 and 4113 would reserve the chamber on April 17, 2026, for separate Glory Awards presentations involving local schools. Sponsors described each event as educational, well-supervised, and respectful of the chamber, and committee members asked brief questions about attendance and scheduling overlap. The committee then moved into executive session and voted do pass on the resolutions. HR 3997 passed 7-0, HR 4061 passed 8-0, HR 4062 passed 8-0, and HR 4113 passed 8-0. The committee also took up House Bill 1940 on consent and voted it do pass 8-0 after brief discussion about why it had not advanced elsewhere, with the sponsor noting it had repeatedly passed committee and floor consideration in prior years. House Bill 2395 drew the most discussion. One member argued it was not appropriate for the consent calendar because it made substantive policy changes and raised fiscal concerns, while the sponsor explained that the bill mainly standardizes septic system testing by replacing perk tests with soil analysis and does not create a new program. After questions about fees and the consent process, the committee voted 7-1 to do pass HB 2395 on consent, with one dissenting vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like every member of the General Assembly, I would like you to TAFP my bill and take one vote and not
• There's typically four or so in that set: electrical codes, building codes, mechanical codes.
• There's typically four or so in that set, electrical codes, building codes, mechanical codes.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session with 12 members present and 4 absent, establishing quorum. Members considered Senate Bill 937, adopted a House committee substitute and one amendment, then voted the substitute do pass by a roll call of 12 yeas, 0 nays, and 1 present. The bill was then moved out of executive session. In open session, the committee heard Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 890 from Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman. The bill is a cleanup measure to remove obsolete boards, commissions, and panels from statute, based on long periods without appointments or because duties have been reassigned elsewhere. Coleman also described a workforce development reorganization and noted that some panels were removed at the request of state agencies. Members asked about whether any of the bodies were still meeting, the fiscal note, and whether adding or extending a committee such as the joint committee on child abuse and neglect would fit under the bill’s title; Coleman said the legal question was uncertain but that the bill was intended to address obsolete entities. No one testified in opposition or for information, and the hearing closed. The committee then heard House Bill 1829 from Representative Terry Violet, which would let municipalities that publish their codes online keep one physical copy instead of three. Violet and supporters said the change would save cities money and improve public access to ordinances. Members asked about how quickly ordinances appear online, whether there was any penalty for not maintaining three copies, and how the current system works; witnesses said online posting is typically fast and that the hard-copy requirement is outdated. The Missouri Municipal League testified in support, saying the bill would reduce unnecessary costs for municipalities. There was no opposition or informational testimony, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• collect license fees and put that into our operating fund, gives us an appropriation of $99,500 of general
• standards, with the American National Standards Institute standard A300, Part 7, and the 2023 National Electric
• National Standards Institute standard A300 Part 7 and the 2023 National Electric Safety Code is what

Committee: House Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills, beginning with Senate Bill 2267 on on-site wastewater systems. DEQ testified that the bill would make DEQ the sole agency responsible for developing statewide wastewater code and licensing installers, replace local public health unit codes, create enforcement authority and civil penalties, and provide a $99,500 general fund appropriation for implementation. Members discussed whether the bill and proposed amendments adequately protected existing functioning or nonconforming septic systems, and DEQ said it would compare the Senate amendment with the committee’s draft and return the next day with feedback. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2339, a wildfire mitigation plan bill, and adopted amendment 02001 with a change from “Shell” to “May” on one line. After amendment, the bill passed 9-3 on a do pass as amended vote, despite opposition from members who argued it created a utility carve-out, reduced liability exposure for utilities, and incentivized safety without requiring compliance. The companion study bill, Senate Bill 2340, on fire service operational response needs also received a do pass recommendation, and the committee later agreed it should be handled on the floor before the mitigation bill so the two measures could be explained together. The committee also approved Senate Bill 2210, a study bill on watershed boundaries, with members noting it would help inform ongoing work on related water legislation. Finally, Senate Bill 2325, dealing with ordinary high watermark determination, received a unanimous do not pass recommendation after members expressed concern that high-water-mark language is difficult to define and may be better addressed in a separate study or resolution. The committee adjourned after noting that DEQ would return the next day with proposed amendments and that work on Senate Bill 2276 would continue with interested parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, an armory in Stillwater, a storage facility in Moorhead, State Hospital buildings in Fergus Falls
• Plumbing</c> for major renovations upgrading Plumbing for major renovations upgrading Plumbing electrical
• ><c> HVAC</c><00:10:31.640><c> systems</c><00:10:32.000><c> along</c><00:10:32.240><c> with</c> electrical
• and HVAC systems along with electrical and HVAC systems along with critical<00:10:32.839><c> infrastructure
• I'm the senior director of community development and corporate facilities for Digikey Electronics and

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally speaking, warranties are not subject to regulation under the insurance code. Okay.
• And right now, we have missed that entire generation. We don't have the opportunity.
• And right now, we have missed that entire generation.
• So we've left that entire generation of homeowners with no option but to rent.
• So we've left that entire generation of homeowners with no option but to rent.

Bills: HB2239 , HB2304 , HB2095 , HB2248

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: interment, location choices, remains, Washingtonians, funeral services, condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, public safety, vulnerable users, pedestrians, protected classes, transportation, corporate filings, secretary of state, business entity filings, annual reports, foreign corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally speaking, warranties are not subject to regulation under the insurance code. Okay.
• And right now, we have missed that entire generation. We don't have the opportunity.
• And right now, we have missed that entire generation.
• So we've left that entire generation of homeowners with no option but to rent.
• So we've left that entire generation of homeowners with no option but to rent.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2239, which would allow family burial grounds on privately owned land and exempt them from private cemetery requirements, while imposing limits such as recording burials with the county auditor, setbacks, and a cap on the burial ground covering no more than 10% of the parcel. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help rural landowners and families, including Native communities, keep burials on land with family and cultural significance. Testimony from a farmer and the Washington Cattlemen’s Association strongly supported the bill as a way to honor family ties to land. A question was raised about what happens if a later property owner wants to disturb an existing burial ground; staff said the bill requires notice but is silent on that issue. No action was taken on HB 2239 in the transcript. The committee also heard House Bill 2304, a follow-up to last year’s condominium liability reform, expanding the option for declarants to use a 2-10 warranty for stacked-flat or mid-rise condominium buildings up to four stories. Supporters from housing, real estate, builders, AARP, Habitat for Humanity, the City of Seattle, and others said the bill would reduce liability barriers, increase condo production, and create more attainable and accessible homeownership options for first-time buyers, older adults, and people with mobility challenges. The Office of Insurance Commissioner supported the bill but suggested technical language changes to avoid referring to the warranty as insurance. Members asked about consumer protections and the distinction between warranties and insurance, and staff and testifiers noted existing layers of protection. No vote was taken on HB 2304 in the transcript. In executive session, staff summarized House Bill 2095 on vulnerable users of public ways and House Bill 2248 on Secretary of State filing processes. For HB 2095, staff described a proposed substitute and several amendments, including changes to education requirements, civil liability language, protected areas, punitive damages thresholds, and liability rules. For HB 2248, staff said the proposed substitute made cleanup and consistency changes to corporate filing provisions. The committee then moved the proposed substitute for HB 2248 out of committee with a due pass recommendation, and it passed 11-0 with two excused members. Action on HB 2095 was deferred to a later date.