Transcript Highlights:

• In a recent school collaboration, students learned about what it means to serve their community and the
• In a recent school collaboration, students learned about what it means to serve their community and the
• As an English teacher, he wants his students to practice these skills not only in the classroom, but
• We<01:40:49.199><c> work</c><01:40:49.520><c> in</c><01:40:49.920><c> collaboration</c><01:40:50.719>
• <c> with</c><01:40:50.960><c> the</c> We work in collaboration with the We work in collaboration with

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a statewide association of criminal defense lawyers in private practice and also working in public
• We are a statewide association of criminal defense lawyers in private practice and also working in public
• full-time legislator, and I have been for a long time at the local and state level, and I haven't practiced
• SB 1230 takes a practical and targeted approach to fixing this problem.
• She's not interested in trying to limit legitimate federal and local law enforcement collaboration.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Robin Ortenberg, and I'm a pediatric pulmonologist practicing in Washington State.
• I've been practicing as a pediatric pulmonologist since 2018.
• Robin Ortenberg, and I'm a pediatric pulmonologist practicing in Washington State.
• I've been practicing as a pediatric pulmonologist since 2018.
• I've been practicing as a pediatric pulmonologist since 2018.

Summary: The House Education Committee first heard House Bill 2246, which would update school discipline rules for firearm-related violations. Committee staff explained that the bill extends existing firearm expulsion and readmission provisions to charter schools, state tribal education compact schools, the School for the Blind, the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth, and educational service districts, and would allow governing boards to deny readmission or limit participation in activities after a firearm-related incident. Representative Lowe said the bill was prompted by a local incident and was intended to give districts more flexibility and clarity while still ensuring students continue receiving educational services. Committee members questioned how the bill interacts with constitutional rights to public education, whether it applies to imitation firearms or social media threats, and whether the school board or administration should make the initial discipline decision. OSPI testified “other,” noting concern about limiting appeals to one reconsideration and citing 48 firearm-related expulsions and 198 suspensions in 2023-24. Team Child testified in opposition, arguing the bill would make reentry harder and could unnecessarily exclude students from extracurriculars after they had served their discipline period. The public hearing on HB 2246 closed with 246 pro, 7 con, and 1 other signed in. The committee then heard House Bill 2360, which would allow public and private schools to maintain stock albuterol under a statewide standing order for use in asthma or other respiratory emergencies. Staff described the bill as authorizing trained school personnel or nurses to administer school-supplied albuterol in certain circumstances, including on school property, buses, and sanctioned excursions, with limited liability protections and a refusal option for employees not wishing to administer it. Representative Donaghy said the bill was meant to address life-threatening asthma attacks, especially when a student’s own inhaler is unavailable or when emergency response times are long. OSPI and the Washington State Nurses Association/School Nurse Organization of Washington testified in support, emphasizing the prevalence of asthma, the bill’s permissive nature, and the need for a standing order. The Department of Health had sent a letter asking to strike one section, and some witnesses raised concerns about administering albuterol to students without a prior prescription or diagnosis. Opponents, including a school nurse, argued the bill should wait until the state has clearer protocols, more training, and better staffing, and said nurses should not be asked to diagnose or medicate without physician orders. Supporters, including a pediatric pulmonologist and school nurses, said stock albuterol is safe, can prevent emergency room visits and deaths, and should be paired with parent notification and follow-up care. The public hearing on HB 2360 closed with 113 pro, 2 con, and 1 other signed in.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then our guests from RISD will carry the conversation from analysis to practice and we'll have the opportunity
• But these states also heavily rely on interventions and parent collaboration for 4th grade promotion.
• also trained 10,500 teachers and administrators in the science of reading, while also requiring to practice
• statutory amendment to educated preparation programs now requires the use of structured literacy practices
• So this is not to say that we don't have people who are highly informed in the practices teaching the

Transcript Highlights:

• But she shared something really important with me: that high school students should be treated and practice
• believe there's no cost to the cities and towns, embrace this amendment...” “...it will have no practical
• that provides further protections for 14- and 15-year-olds from the addictive nature of some of the practices
• But having seen the results, not in theory but in practice, I can say with confidence this works.
• Speaker, colleagues, this is a practical, tested solution to a real problem facing our schools.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first recognized several student athletes and teams, including East Bridgewater cheerleaders, Medway athletes and teams, and the Housatonic Valley basketball team, and adopted a resolution congratulating the William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps on its 25th anniversary. Members also suspended Joint Rule 12 to advance a petition concerning an extension of a lease authorization for conservation land. The chamber then took up Senate 2581, as amended, a major education and youth technology bill. The bill was rewritten to promote safe technology use and distraction-free education, including restrictions on personal electronic devices in public schools and limits on social media access for children. Members debated whether the policy should be bell-to-bell or allow more local flexibility, and several amendments were offered. An amendment from Attleboro to preserve district-specific policies was rejected, while a consolidated amendment tightening social media restrictions and related protections was adopted. The House also considered and passed several other bills, including measures amending the Sandwich charter, authorizing Springfield to help certain residents with local tax obligations, authorizing charity alcohol auctions, and directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for a specific police applicant. In addition, the House rejected concurrence on a Senate version of a higher education infrastructure bill and instead appointed a committee of conference. Later, the House accepted a conference report on modernizing cannabis laws after debate focused on regulatory streamlining, equity, ownership caps, and hemp regulation. The report was adopted by roll call, and the House then passed the amended education bill to be engrossed before adjourning to the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• is the natural next step to move the rate-setting formula out of statute and align it with best practices
• is the natural next step to move the rate-setting formula out of statute and align it with best practices
• and... ...step to move the rate-setting formula out of statute and align it with best practices in accounting
• on the employer's... step to move the rate setting formula out of statute and align it with best practices
• We think it is good practice, best practices for setting rates through math instead of statute, so happy

Bills: SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6188

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: unemployment insurance, UI benefits, striking workers, strike, labor dispute, retroactive wages, overpayment assessment, overpayment recovery, Employment Security Department, ESD, claimant notice, benefit recoupment, Washington unemployment law, worker notice, federal unemployment tax credit, state unemployment fund, workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• , with associated metrics to objectively And best practices with associated metrics to objectively measure
• But we will have policies, standards, and best practices that measure objective.
• Policies, standards, and best practices that measure objectively, and they will be reporting back to
• I'm just wondering, practically. The accountability ultimately sits with the legislature.
• I'm just wondering, practically.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and considered three items. First, it heard and passed SB 158, which eliminates cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations under the state employee health plan. Senator Berman described the bill as a way to remove financial barriers to early breast cancer detection, and several senators spoke in strong support, emphasizing the importance of follow-up screening and the life- and cost-saving value of early diagnosis. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then took up SPB 7024, a committee bill on state planning and budgeting. Senator Brodeur explained that the proposal modernizes and simplifies the state agency long-range planning process by focusing on key data points, removing stale measures, and improving how plans are presented to the Legislature. Senator Berman supported the bill, highlighting new provisions on implementation status and budget consequences if enacted laws are not carried out. The committee voted to submit the proposal as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7026, a major overhaul of state information technology governance. Senator Harrell described a transition from the current Florida Digital Service structure to a new cabinet-level Agency for State Systems and Enterprise Technology (ASSET), with enterprise-wide standards, interoperability, procurement oversight, cybersecurity coordination, technical debt tracking, a testing laboratory, workforce development, and annual IT expenditure reporting. Members raised questions about procurement authority, judicial branch inclusion, existing contracts, cybersecurity, and staffing; Harrell said agencies would retain final procurement decisions but would have to follow enterprise standards, the courts were not included, existing contracts would continue, and the bill would add significant state IT staffing. Several amendments were adopted, including changes on CIO selection conflicts, removal of the Northwest Regional Data Center from a definition, reporting on deviations from standards, and technical updates related to the data center and workforce positions. Public testimony strongly supported the bill as a needed modernization of Florida’s fragmented IT system. The committee then reported SPB 7026 favorably as a committee bill. The meeting adjourned after members recorded their votes on the three items.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's going to create the growth of the future of the production practices of the future that are gonna
• We found over lap and some in collaboration but not duplications of effort.
• And if we can help our community in our AG implement these best management practices to the best of their
• We try to do those test plots to help get education and and best management practices out there.
• That puts our best management practices at risk.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we also know, and from a message of hope and of practice, that when educators are engaged in the
• </c><00:41:21.760><c> that</c><00:41:22.000><c> when</c> of hope and of practice that when of hope and
• of practice that when educators<00:41:22.920><c> are</c><00:41:23.120><c> engaged</c><00:41:23.800><
• </c> appreciate the interagency collaboration appreciate the interagency collaboration here.<01:24:26.680
• This has to be a priority and that collaboration has to be a priority.

Bills: HF4213 , HF4198 , HF3930 , HF3585 , HF3451

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be to your your practices?
• testing, they would show their practice scores that they've either attempted the practice and have not
• c><01:52:44.480><c> been</c> attempted the practice and have not been attempted the practice and have
• </c><01:52:47.920><c> that</c> showed us a completed practice that showed us a completed practice that
• </c> collaboration and from other employees. collaboration and from other employees.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education heard testimony on HB 1895, which would add education-worker protections by expanding harassment-related offenses. The Department of Education, HSTA, HGA, and several school employees and principals testified in support, describing increased harassment and threats toward teachers and staff, especially since COVID, and saying the bill would help deter bad actors. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, saying the language was vague and overbroad, could criminalize ordinary parental advocacy or speech, and might not survive constitutional scrutiny. In response to questions, the public defender said existing statutes already cover threatening or assaultive conduct against educational workers, while DOE representatives said the bill was aimed at excessive and repetitive disruptive behavior. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up HB 1592, concerning protections for educational workers and sports officials. DOE, the Charter School Commission, HGA, HSTA, school principals, athletic programs, and many individual testifiers supported the bill, with several describing threats, harassment, and aggressive behavior at schools and athletic events. One principal said he had repeatedly involved law enforcement after threats and incidents on campus, and a teacher testified about the need to keep school environments safe and orderly. The Office of the Public Defender again opposed the bill, arguing that current law already enhances penalties for assaults and terroristic threatening against educational workers and sports officials, and that new offenses would have little deterrent effect. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be a separate statute and how to distinguish passionate advocacy from harassment; DOE said the line was crossed when conduct became excessive and repetitive, while the public defender urged clearer drafting and more emphasis on prevention, education, security, and de-escalation. No vote or final action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• To promote left-wing ideology, practice political advocacy, and propagandize school board members.
• I have my own private practice, and I represent 31 different teacher organizations.
• Thank you. to not having a practice, but it wasn't during the school day or written down.
• I had practice in the back hall. Thank you, Mr.
• We care very much about collaborating with parents, but this bill sets up a small...

Bills: SB 13 , SB 27 , SB 57 , HB1325 , HB1655 , HB3312 , HB5526 , SB13 , SB57 , SB207 , HB441 , HB591 , HB5019 , SB27 , SB843

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: lobbying, public funds, political subdivision, local government, county association, municipal lobbying, registered lobbyist, Texas Legislature, taxpayer lawsuit, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, government finance, county dues, state association of counties, sheriffs association, law enforcement officers, legislative advocacy, bill tracking, legislative alerts, Government Code Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• In practice, this will have less unintended consequences. With that, I am available for questions.
• install an elevator in a small apartment building, or actually really an apartment building of practically
• We appreciate the intent of the bill and the collaborative approach taken by the prime sponsor, Senator

Summary: The committee heard three housing-related bills. SB 5937 would regulate smart access systems in rental housing by requiring landlords, on tenant request, to provide non-biometric and non-app-based alternatives such as physical keys, key fobs, or key cards, and by adding privacy-policy and data-minimization requirements for smart access systems. The bill’s sponsor and a tenant testified in support, describing concerns about app-based entry systems tracking movement and collecting personal data. The Washington Multifamily Housing Association testified neutral, saying the bill had been improved through stakeholder work and amendments that allowed privacy-policy links and delayed implementation until January 1, 2027. The hearing on the bill was closed with no vote taken. The committee then heard ESSB 5156, which directs the State Building Code Council to allow smaller elevators in apartment buildings up to six stories and 24 units and creates a technical advisory group to review certain elevator safety requirements. The sponsor and several supporters argued the bill would reduce elevator costs, improve feasibility for small multifamily and middle-housing projects, and increase accessibility and age-friendly housing. The National Elevator Industry opposed the bill’s harmonization language in Section 2, paragraph 2, warning it could create ambiguity, multiple standards, and litigation, but said it would be neutral if that language were removed. Other industry and housing advocates supported the measure as a way to lower costs and expand housing supply. No action was taken during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard SB 6237, which would require landlords to disclose flood risk information to tenants for leases entered into after December 31, 2026. The disclosure would note whether a property may be in a flood hazard area, where tenants can find county flood information, and that the landlord’s insurance does not cover tenants’ belongings. The Washington Multifamily Housing Association testified neutral, saying the bill had been narrowed to a more manageable disclosure and that removing a requirement to recommend flood insurance addressed concerns about landlords acting as insurance advisers. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the chair announced the committee would meet again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have personally litigated burden shifts in a variety of different ways in my practice, and my private
• practice.
• I appreciate the prime sponsor's commitment to collaboration and working with all the folks that have

Bills: HB2548 , HB2453 , HB2640 , HB2095 , HB2386 , HB2239

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change, nonprofit conversion, for-profit conversion, health care acquisition, asset sale, Washington RCW, health care competition, price transparency, market oversight, premerger notification, antitrust revolving fund

Transcript Highlights:

• While WSDOT is supportive of the intent of this bill, encouraging collaboration with local utilities
• Our PUD's mission is high-value services at the lowest practical cost, and we believe that this bill
• we can move toward that goal and keep the impacts to utilities and their customers at the lowest practical

Bills: SB5750 , SB6148

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: electric vehicles, charging fees, state facilities, sustainability, infrastructure, regional transit authority, RTA, transit bonds, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, bond maturity, debt limit, 25-year cap, regional mobility grant program, public transit financing, transportation funding, Washington RCW, bond issuance, municipal finance, infrastructure finance

Transcript Highlights:

• While WSDOT is supportive of the intent of this bill, encouraging collaboration with local utilities
• Our PUD's mission is high-value services at the lowest practical cost, and we believe that this bill
• we can move toward that goal and keep the impacts to utilities and their customers at the lowest practical

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on several bills. Substitute Senate Bill 5690 would require WSDOT to give utility owners advance notice of fish barrier removal and other projects, seek federal funding for those projects when available, and report back to the Legislature; supporters said it would help small utilities plan for costly relocations, while WSDOT said the bill would not achieve its intended effect and that federal reimbursement for these costs is limited. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5746, which would create or continue an advisory process on EV charger infrastructure property crime; the sponsor and supporters said it would help address vandalism and theft affecting charging access, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor. Senate Bill 5750 would authorize state facilities to charge fees for privately owned EVs using state charging stations and deposit the revenue into the motor vehicle fund; the sponsor said this would make charging costs fairer and recover expenses, with broad support and some questions about whether the policy could be implemented administratively without legislation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6148, which would increase the maximum term for regional transit authority bonds from 40 years to 75 years, affecting Sound Transit. Sound Transit and transit advocates argued the longer term would better match debt to long-lived assets, help accelerate construction, and reduce near-term financial pressure without raising taxes, while opponents warned it would increase long-term costs and shift repayment burdens to future generations. Committee members asked about interest costs, asset values, and examples of eligible long-lived projects such as tunnels and bridges. No votes were taken during the hearing, and each bill closed with testimony counts recorded on the record.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the process can also foster collaboration between public agencies and private firms, encouraging
• Senate Bill 1113 ensures this long established process can continue by codifying the practice and statute
• It, it simply preserves a longstanding, uh, practice that's been in place for over 80 years.

Bills: SB 35 , SB 1113 , SB 1365 , SB 1394 , SB 2243 , SB 2245 , SB 2589 , SB 2199 , SB 2200

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• This enforcement mechanism is crucial for maintaining effective water management practices and ensuring
• It also outlines the collaboration with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the
• will help encourage compliance with Drought Contingency Plans and support better water management practices

Bills: HB143 , HB4530 , HB4931 , HB5559 , HB5560

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: election, bonds, authorization, financial governance, public funding, HB 143, bond election, debt authorization, November uniform election date, Texas Election Code, emergency election, voter approval, municipal bonds, local government finance, public debt, school bonds, special election, uniform election date, bond issuance, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill conforms the statute to current practices at DFS.
• The bill conforms the statute to current practices at DFS.
• This bill strengthens the school counseling profession from preparation to practice.
• Nothing in this bill changes patient practices.
• I'm an attorney licensed to practice in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Go through. >> Second, HRS1-1, uh, customary practice are preserved as a continuing legal practice principle
• Identify the practice, assess impairment, and mitigate.
• Mahalo wasteful practice to continue.
• I'm in strong customary practices.
• Uh we've tradition and practice here.

Bills: SB1406 , SB521 , SB3247 , SB1654 , SB1112 , SB1301 , SB2443 , SB2996

Committee: Senate Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: historic preservation, burial sites, DHHL, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, section 6E-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Hawaii Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places, cultural resources, archaeology, land use review, environmental review, state historic preservation officer, Hawaiian home lands, project permits, consultation, concurrence, nonconcurrence

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures affecting Hawaiian affairs, historic preservation, water access, and land governance. SB 1406 would let the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands assume historic preservation review for projects on lands under its jurisdiction, except for properties listed or nominated for the state or national historic registers. DHHL supported the bill, while a descendant testifier strongly opposed it, arguing that burial and preservation review protects ancestors and should not be streamlined or reduced. No questions were raised and the bill was moved on after testimony. SB 521 would require DHHL to work with county water boards or water departments to provide potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian homelands, with agreements made public. DHHL said it already works with counties but objected to the bill’s mandatory language, saying it could undermine the department’s discretion and independence. A public testifier supported the measure, and committee discussion focused on how water requirements could affect subsistence lots and infrastructure decisions. The committee then took up SB 3247, which would create a Royal Mausoleum Commission within DLNR to oversee preservation, operations, and outreach at Mauna Ala. State Parks said it valued existing collaboration with the aliʻi trusts but wanted clarity on roles, coordination, and funding if a new commission is created. The Royal Order of Kamehameha strongly supported the bill as a culturally grounded way to protect the site, while several other testifiers opposed it, saying the real issue is the curator selection process and warning that a commission could add bureaucracy and delay. The committee also heard SB 1654, authorizing transfer of certain state lands to DHHL, and SB 112, which would add the DHHL chair or designee to the Hawaii Community Development Authority; the Attorney General and HCDA offered technical and policy comments, with HCDA opposing the board change and DHHL supporting participation to protect beneficiary interests. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:51.040><c> with</c><00:40:51.280><c> the</c> years to work collaboratively with the years
• to work collaboratively with the people<00:40:51.680><c> in</c><00:40:52.000><c> community</c><00:40:
• > and</c><00:47:06.079><c> to</c><00:47:06.240><c> follow</c><00:47:06.480><c> to</c> be able to practice
• and to follow to be able to practice and to follow to make<00:47:06.800><c> sure</c><00:47:06.880><c
• ><c> solutions</c><01:10:08.320><c> that</c> implement real practical solutions that implement real practical

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house