Transcript Highlights:

• Our manufacturing and agricultural industries are second to none, and we need to make sure they have
• If confirmed, I will ensure that the ITA will be a chance champion for American workers and industries
• We've just updated the foreign pollution fee legislation assigning key roles to the departments under
• Do you support incorporating pollution intensity or carbon benchmarking into a trade enforcement as a
• Particularly in high-emission sectors like steel, cement, and aluminum, where these foreign polluters

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Commerce, International Trade, Tax Policy, Nominees, Inflation, Middle-class, Trade Practices, Economic Concerns

Summary: The committee convened to discuss various bills and nominees, including the critical nominations of William Kimmett for Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and Ken Keyes for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department. Discussions highlighted the nominees' roles in managing critical trade and tax policies amidst rising economic concerns, particularly focusing on inflation and its impact on American families. Members expressed both support and skepticism, emphasizing the significance of fostering fair trade practices and ensuring tax policies that benefit the middle-class amidst claims of an agenda favoring affluent individuals and corporations.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I've only seen that done on the industrial end.
• >> I've only seen that done on the industrial end.
• So, we deal a lot with the timber industry. That's the other side of what we do.
• That's the other side of uh industry.
• </c> before that's more of an industrial before that's more of an industrial thing<00:23:26.559><c> that

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then adopted the consent calendar without objection. On the regular calendar, it took up a Health and Human Services Medicaid rule on laboratory services. Committee members questioned why an expired rule was still needed and whether any fees, fines, or appeals had occurred during the lapse. DHHS staff said there were no fees or fines, the service remains in the state Medicaid plan, providers continued to be reimbursed under the billing manual, and there had been no known appeals. The committee then approved the rule. The next item was a Natural Resources rule package covering wood processing mills, wood concentration yards, forestry health, forest fire, and administrative fines. Representative Leon pulled the item from consent and objected to the rule’s repeated 5-inch diameter limit for burnable material, arguing that the statute authorizes permits for camp or cooking fires but does not clearly authorize a diameter limit, and that larger wood can be responsibly burned or otherwise managed in forested properties. DNCR’s forest protection chief responded that the 5-inch limit is intended to reduce smoldering and wildfire risk, align with DEES air rules defining brush as 5 inches or less, and keep backyard burning consistent with air-quality regulations. He said larger material can be handled through other permitting processes and that the rule is meant to educate the public and prevent unsafe burning. Members continued to debate whether the rule exceeded statutory authority and whether it was practical for landowners managing larger wooded parcels. One member suggested narrowing the 5-inch restriction in the category 4 permit language, while another noted the statute appears to speak in terms of small or large amounts of material rather than a specific diameter. The discussion ended without a final resolution in the excerpt, with the committee still considering possible amendments to the Natural Resources rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• of environmental justice is to improve outcomes for those communities that are overburdened with pollution
• , that have, you know, next to their residential housing, industrial sources of pollution or high-traffic
• that have an abundant like you know next communities that are overburdened with pollution that have
• an abundant like you know next to their the residential housing are industrial sources of pollution or
• This is one of the main hazards continuing to threaten Washington: wildfires and smoke pollution.

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• for returning water to its condition prior to pollution.
• Somehow the oil and industry got it passed.
• You're being used as a tool by industry interests.
• I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for many years, scaling processes from bench scale to industrial
• But here we are again, and this is an industry bill.

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it doesn't have any pollutive Thank you. extractive industries.
• He asked whether the renewable industry is still fledgling or whether it is a mature industry, perhaps
• He asked whether the renewable industry is still fledgling or whether it is a mature industry.
• If we're going to treat one industry one way, I think we should treat another industry the exact same
• And a lot of these industries, such as solar and wind, To the disparity between both the industries.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't mean to be cynical, uh, but what I don't do is introduce empty love letters to polluting industries
• ><00:31:44.919><c> toxic</c><00:31:45.279><c> pollutants</c> If industries want to inject toxic pollutants
• </c><00:41:58.280><c> over</c> prioritizes pollers polluters over prioritizes pollers polluters over
• it is polluters over people now.
• it is polluters over people now.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of that research highlights that Minnesota does have a strong and diverse industry base, where we
• </c> the charts the Minnesota Pollution the charts the Minnesota Pollution Control<00:08:23.840><c> agency
• They also grouped permits together by similar industries and types of projects to try to get that as
• the land that we we are not polluting the land that we live<00:37:43.200><c> in</c><00:37:44.359><c>
• I'd like to thank my colleagues from those industries for their support and input on the bill and for

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• While we still rely on oil and gas and other industries, while transitioning over. environmental industry
• Industry itself is diversifying. Co-stability. Industry itself is diversifying.
• Does this bill do anything to industry, or is it any more stringent, Do anything to industry, or is it
• And things change in the industry.
• And things change in the industry.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you try to investigate more, and it seems kind of depressing the way the whole industry and
• Our industry is constantly evolving with new technologies.
• It also addresses refrigeration systems, which are a huge part of our industry.
• The green industry generated about $5.2 billion, and the golf industry was about $2.6 billion, and they
• industries.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure opened with logistical remarks about testimony procedures, time limits, accessibility supports, and the large number of witnesses. The first bill discussed was H. 451, which would allow professional license applicants who do not have a Social Security number to use an ITIN instead. Supporters said the bill would help qualified workers, especially immigrants, enter licensed trades and professions without lowering training or testing standards, while addressing workforce shortages. Committee members asked a few questions, and the bill was framed as a uniform statewide licensing reform. The bulk of the hearing focused on S. 210 and H. 1278, two bills aimed at improving wheelchair repair and warranty protections. Supporters included the Attorney General’s Office, disability advocates, wheelchair users, clinicians, and legislators, who described long repair delays, missed work and medical appointments, loss of independence, hospitalizations, pressure injuries, and other harms caused by broken wheelchairs and slow service. They argued for stronger timelines, two-year warranties, required parts availability, loaner chairs, and enforcement mechanisms, with H. 1278 modeled on a Connecticut-style repair deadline and S. 210 focused on warranty protections. Several witnesses emphasized that wheelchairs are essential medical equipment, not ordinary consumer goods. Opposition came from NCart, which said it supports solutions but raised concerns that the bills, as written, could be difficult to implement for complex rehab technology. NCart said some warranty provisions may not fit wear-and-tear components and noted that MassHealth has already taken steps such as preventive maintenance, reduced prior authorization, and transportation support. Other witnesses and advocates countered that the current market is dominated by a few profitable companies and that the legislature needs to impose clear standards because voluntary fixes have not worked. The committee also heard testimony on S. 195, a toxic-free kids bill from Senator Comerford and Representative Hawkins, which would restrict PFAS and other toxic chemicals in children’s products and create disclosure and phase-out requirements. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As regulators, we view the surplus line industry really as a safety net.
• They're typically only allowed their participants to be of the same industry group.
• Only allowed their participants to be of the same industry group.
• An insurance-industry-related entity to be used by its own clients.
• Is there potential pollution risk and requiring pollution remediation? Next slide, please.

Summary: The committee heard a work session on earthquake insurance, beginning with background from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. OIC staff explained that earthquake and earth movement are generally excluded from standard property policies, that earthquake coverage is usually purchased through endorsements or standalone policies with high deductibles and relatively high premiums, and that surplus lines are a limited backstop market not covered by the state guarantee fund. They also described parametric insurance and captive insurance as more specialized products generally suited to commercial or governmental buyers rather than ordinary consumers. A second panel of insurance and banking experts focused on commercial earthquake exposure, especially for older buildings, collateralized loans, and potential knock-on effects to banks and consumers if a major quake caused widespread damage. Members asked about consumer impacts, mitigation incentives, inventories of vulnerable buildings, and whether legislation such as prior work on unreinforced masonry could help reduce risk. The Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is expensive and that affordability is a major concern, while also noting banks participate in disaster-recovery planning and would be affected by major regional losses. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy on its cannabis and Initiative 502 research. WSIPP staff described the agency as a nonpartisan research institute that conducts legislative-directed studies and explained that its long-term I-502 assignment includes periodic reports leading to a final benefit-cost evaluation in 2032. Staff summarized findings from a 2023 report showing that cannabis possession convictions fell sharply after legalization, though some racial disproportionalities persisted, and that closer retail access was associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving drivers from nearby areas, and higher rates of cannabis use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. A 2023 youth-focused report found that students attending schools near retailers were more likely to report cannabis use, had more unexcused absences, and were less likely to graduate on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, staff said retail access was associated with higher probabilities of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, related hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, with event-study analysis suggesting the increases appeared after retailers opened rather than before. Members asked about racial disproportionality, the meaning of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, THC and impairment, whether the findings reflected medical versus recreational use, and how the results should be interpreted in light of broader trends and data limitations. No formal committee action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget proposes a one-time $166 million total transfer from the Air Pollution Control Fund and Greenhouse
• I want to ask: Air Pollution Control Funds, have you ever used those before for the MVA account?
• And now we have: Have we ever used the Air Pollution Control Funds to balance this?
• The fact that when we had the industry day, like Mark was mentioning, a lot of interest came to us because
• of the vision that's being painted by the industry day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also have with us today Hannah Rice, the Director of the New Mexico Industry Stream Commission, and
• If we have about 70,000 wells, that's 49,000 wells polluting beyond the legal limits.
• In New Mexico, we face a serious series of emergencies because of environmental pollution accumulating
• We see the imbalance of state policy favoring a polluted industry over public health in our communities
• This bill will protect people and rebalance the current imbalance that favors the oil industry.

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• If it's the Texas oil and gas industry, thank you for your time. Appreciate it, sir. Any questions?
• Texas will be unusable by high-tech industry.
• Again, children are also particularly vulnerable to air pollution, and so funding and cleaner options
• Additionally, this can also support green spaces that could absorb the pollutants. ... and improve air
• We work to reduce pollution and protect vulnerable communities.

Bills: HJR58 , HJR63 , HB263 , HB542 , HB905 , HB 1288 , HB1402 , HB2003 , HB2262 , HB2323 , HB2429 , HB2876 , HB3019 , HB263

Committee: House S/C on Transportation Funding

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Sylvia, on behalf of the California Building Industry Association, in strong support.
• Brendan, too, and on behalf of the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association in support.
• California Air Pollution Control Officers Association in support. Good afternoon, Mr.
• Trees and vegetation reduce dust, extreme heat, and polluted runoff.
• This is a polluter pay model.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• in cutting pollution and helping people lower energy costs.
• in cutting pollution and helping people lower energy costs.
• So our industry is on track to hit the New Jersey rates.
• That assumes a high level of industry compliance.
• That assumes a high level of industry compliance.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several bills. HB 2675 would eliminate a number of state accounts and transfer remaining balances from two accounts to the general fund, while also changing how revenues in the Salary Insurance Contribution Increase Revolving Account are deposited; OFM testified in support and there was no public opposition. SHB 1903 would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce, funded by the general fund and Climate Commitment Act revenues; supporters said it would address Washington’s underfunded and uneven energy assistance system, while utilities and rural co-ops raised concerns about cost, reporting burdens, utility authority, and implementation details. SHB 2384 would require actuarial reviews for certain continuing care retirement communities with prepaid life care contracts; residents and consumer advocates supported the added transparency, while providers opposed the added review costs and said they already pay for actuarial work. SHB 1982 would expand the ability of tribal members to vacate convictions tied to treaty rights, add OPD representation and a tribal liaison position, and then an amendment was described that would remove the liaison position and eliminate the fiscal impact; the sponsor and OPD supported the bill, and testimony emphasized correcting past treaty-rights convictions. The committee also heard SHB 2389, a broad juvenile justice bill that would expand suspended disposition options, create midpoint review hearings, reduce some robbery ranges, and address juvenile rehabilitation capacity and transfers. Supporters argued it would reduce racial disparities, favor community-based rehabilitation when safe, and improve outcomes, while prosecutors, sheriffs, counties, judges, cities, victim advocates, and some tribal law enforcement warned it would weaken accountability for serious violent offenses, increase court and local government burdens, and shift costs without funding. Several witnesses and the bill sponsor discussed proposed amendments, including removing presumptions and the mid-sentence review. The committee then heard SHB 2439, which would raise tobacco and vapor product license fees, create a responsible vendor program, add manufacturer certification and enforcement provisions, restrict certain products and sales practices, and redirect tobacco tax revenue to public health, cancer research, and youth prevention accounts; public health and prevention groups supported it, while retailers and industry representatives opposed the fee increases and some of the new restrictions. Finally, HB 2681 would sharply increase cannabis license fees and index them to inflation; OFM supported the change as aligning fees with program costs, while cannabis businesses and associations opposed or sought changes to the fee structure and CPI indexing. The committee also heard a briefing on SHB 2215, which would require the Caseload Forecast Council to forecast SNAP and state food assistance caseloads in light of upcoming federal cost-sharing changes; no questions were raised at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a solution, the budget proposes a one-time $166 million total transfer from the Air Pollution Control
• And now we have—have we ever used the air pollution control... The answer is no.
• And now we have—have we ever used the air pollution control funds to balance this?
• That should... ...funding, using air pollution control district fund transfers.
• We had actually kicked off an industry forum in late January.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on transportation agency budget proposals and did not take any votes. The first major discussion focused on the Motor Vehicle Account shortfall and a proposed one-time $166 million transfer from the Air Pollution Control Fund and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to offset California Air Resources Board mobile source costs. Department of Finance and the LAO described the account’s long-running structural deficit, driven largely by employee compensation growth and REAL ID-related workload, while members criticized the use of Proposition 4, GGRF, and other one-time or redirected funds as backfills and urged a longer-term solution that addresses both revenues and expenditures. The committee then heard Caltrans’ request for $25 million in General Fund support to create a Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Program. Caltrans said the program would build on the prior Clean California effort by funding local litter and graffiti cleanup, community engagement, and workforce pathways for vulnerable populations. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that local litter abatement is not a core state responsibility and that one-time funding is unlikely to solve persistent local cleanup needs. Several members echoed those concerns, while public commenters split between support for the cleanup/employment model and calls to instead restore funding to the Active Transportation Program and transit operations. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requested that California administratively recognize Tahoe’s federally designated population figure for state formula-based transportation funding, which would raise the population count used in formulas from 40,000 to 145,000. The agency said the change would not request new money but would better align state formulas with federal law and support a shared regional funding framework; members appeared generally supportive, though they noted the need to phase in the change to reduce impacts on other regions. The final presentation was on High-Speed Rail. The LAO reviewed the authority’s project update report, noting that it did not fully meet statutory requirements and that key details are still pending in a supplemental report expected later in the summer. The LAO said the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment still shows an estimated roughly $7 billion funding gap, with no specific plan to close it, and highlighted risks from federal review, inflation, and uncertain GGRF revenues. High-Speed Rail Authority staff said they are conducting a bottom-up review of scope, schedule, ridership, and costs, expect to provide updated information by late summer, and are exploring public-private partnerships and other financing strategies. Members stressed that no further funding commitments should be made until the updated analysis is available.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the plastics pollution prevention and packaging producer responsibility program. Thank you.
• We've had this normal tension that's been out there between industry and the people that have advanced
• So is it safe to say that industry opened some issues that you now feel like you need more time to be
• So it won't be just industry. The regulations process is open to all of the stakeholders.
• There is a focus in communities that experience pollution burden from multiple sources.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Rainy Day Fund is built up of dollars. from the oil and gas industry.
• Industry through the value chain has contributed significantly.
• The energy industry has been a critical driver of this success.
• Let's talk about air pollution. There is air pollution.
• I think the oil and gas industry would agree. There is air pollution.

Bills: HB188 , HB265 , HJR35 , HJR47 , SB1901 , HB188 , HB265 , HJR35

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Texas STRONG defense fund, severance tax revenue, oil and gas revenue, constitutional transfers, rainy day fund, economic stabilization fund, state highway fund, oil and gas production, qualifying county, county grants, water infrastructure, first responders, public safety, DPS staffing, commercial motor vehicle safety, gang violence prevention, human trafficking prevention, economic development, TxDOT grants, school districts

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we have the School of Travel Industry Management with comments.
• First up, we have the School of Travel Industry Management with comments.
• First up, we have the School of Travel Industry Management with comments. Yes.
• </c><00:17:42.320><c> management</c> for the travel industry management for the travel industry management
• The lodging industry has really moved substantially toward bulk dispenser usage.

Committee: House Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Pollution<00:03:31.160><c> control</c><00:03:31.560><c> and</c><00:03:31.680><c> environmental</c> Pollution
• industrial industrial applications,<00:31:54.520><c> too.
• ,</c><00:36:25.320><c> our</c> brought together labor, industry, our brought together labor, industry
• the recycling industry itself.
• the recycling industry itself.

Bills: HF4211 , HF3426 , HF4819 , HF3466 , HF3793 , HF3339

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy