Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to thank the committee staff for their work.
• I really appreciate the committee staff for their hard work.
• That is no access and no equity.
• That is not equity. That isn't access. We can do better.
• That is not equity. That isn't access. We can do better.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the private equity restrictions bill that Senator Boldon carried that prohibits private equity companies
• </c> preventing wealthy private equity preventing wealthy private equity investors<00:01:54.280><c> from
• And the private equity restrictions bill that Senator Boldon carried that prohibits private equity companies
• </c><00:20:20.400><c> They're</c> equity, I'm fine with that. They're equity, I'm fine with that.
• The rest are non-sworn staff.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to consumer equity, right?
• I'm a social equity operator as well. I'm in the social equity program.
• So social equity operators need more help.
• Support that fair share for social equity operators for the social equity trust fund, and I really appreciate
• , city areas, community organizations, municipal equity efforts, and the CCC Social Equity Program.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis held a hearing on a package of cannabis bills focused on equity funding, delivery expansion, advertising restrictions, medical use, first responders, and ownership limits. Testimony strongly supported S. 87/H. 184 to direct a larger share of cannabis revenue into the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund and related equity programs, with speakers arguing the current funding is insufficient and that automatic transfers would better support businesses and communities harmed by the war on drugs. Several witnesses also backed H. 145/S. 89 to allow licensed cannabis delivery into municipalities that ban retail sales and to hotels, saying current rules unfairly limit social equity delivery operators and consumer access. There was also support for H. 176 on medical cannabis eligibility and S. 76 on cannabis use by first responders, while H. 177/H. 178 on new taxes drew opposition from several business owners who said the industry is already heavily burdened and overtaxed. A major point of debate was S. 94/H. 157, which would prohibit billboard advertising for non-prescription marijuana. Public health advocates, parents, and neuroscientists argued that cannabis billboards normalize use, are seen by youth, and are difficult to regulate effectively under the current 85% adult-audience standard. They urged a public health approach similar to tobacco restrictions. In contrast, several industry witnesses opposed further advertising limits, saying cannabis businesses already face strict marketing rules, billboards are privately owned, and additional restrictions would hurt small operators and raise First Amendment concerns. Some witnesses also criticized the proposed increase in ownership caps and consolidation provisions in the broader cannabis bill, warning they would favor large multistate companies over small and social equity businesses. Committee members asked questions about billboard ownership, enforcement of the current advertising rules, and the legal basis for restricting sign content. Witnesses and members also discussed the Cannabis Control Commission’s role, the difficulty of enforcing audience-composition standards, and whether delivery should be treated more like alcohol. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you let the staff do a roll call first? Mr.
• Our staff, please conduct a roll call vote.
• Do we have any questions for our staff?
• We are staff to the committee.
• We are staff to the committee.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, I would like to thank my staff for their dedication in crafting this legislation.
• This has manifested itself in the development of the CCC's social equity program and the Social Equity
• program and the Social Equity Trust Fund to fund the legislator created in 2022 to grant, to provide
• I want to thank the gentleman from the North End and his staff for all their work on this bill.
• I want to thank his committee and staff.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed students from the Frederick C. Murphy School in Weymouth, along with other guests introduced by members. The chamber then suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow several petitions to be referred, including proposals on alcohol labeling for beers consumed on premises, parity in funding for regional vocational and traditional public schools, and legal protections for victims of childhood sexual abuse. The main floor business was House No. 4187, An Act Modernizing the Commonwealth’s Cannabis Laws, reported by Ways and Means as a substitute bill. Members speaking in support described it as a comprehensive overhaul of the Cannabis Control Commission and the state’s cannabis and hemp regulatory framework. The bill would reduce and restructure the CCC, expand options for cannabis businesses and social equity operators, raise license and ownership caps, remove the vertical integration requirement for medical marijuana, and create stronger rules for hemp and CBD products, including a ban on unregulated intoxicating hemp products and a new regulatory structure for allowable hemp beverages and CBD items. Several amendments were offered and adopted by roll call, including changes narrowing the hemp beverage ban from 11 ounces to 7.5 ounces, requiring out-of-state testing labs to be certified in good standing with the commission, and other technical revisions. After debate, the House passed H. 4187 to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 153-0. The chamber also passed to be engrossed two sick leave bank bills, for Andrew Satara and Dana Johnson, and ordered House No. 1590, establishing a sick leave bank for Eric J. Wenaka, to a third reading. The House then adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of 57, not a staff of 30.
• We have a staff of... three right now who are wholly responsible for all of national private equity and
• And this private equity fund that we invest in.
• Private equity can also generate a lot of benefits.
• Equities, this is the stocks, $135 trillion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:19.520><c> fund</c> For this reason, private equity fund For this reason, private equity fund
• ,</c> is currently owned by private equity, is currently owned by private equity, that<00:03:46.560><
• Lynch, and KKR, private equity giants, Lynch, and KKR, private equity giants, for<00:04:06.560><c> $33
• </c><00:07:52.639><c> demons</c> We will not let private equity demons We will not let private equity
• </c> private equity. private equity.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> they're selling to a private Equity they're selling to a private Equity company<01:36:46.520><c>
• 48.159><c> being</c> company the private Equity company being company the private Equity company being
• staff staff for members places to live staff staff for members of<01:42:51.920><c> the</c><01:42:52.040
• </c><02:01:00.000><c> you</c><02:01:00.119><c> have</c><02:01:00.199><c> a</c> equity private Equity
• a per you have a equity private Equity a per you have a series<02:01:00.520><c> of</c><02:01:00.679><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been informed by our esteemed staff director that the PSP.
• From the utilities that operate in our state, is that reflected in the return on equity?
• The Commission has to weigh in every proceeding where it assesses return on equity.
• So that's very understandable by the staff.
• Let's see that impact on a return on equity. Let's talk about affordability.

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and took up four bills. SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives was presented as a negotiated glitch bill to narrow statutory language so co-ops can choose generation and power purchases based on cost and reliability without exposure to special-interest litigation, while preserving consumer protections. A representative from the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 364 on public accountancy, which was described as a modernization and efficiency measure to expand CPA licensure pathways without lowering standards. An amendment correcting a drafting error and restoring automatic mobility language was adopted without objection. Jason Harrell of FICPA waived in support, while one speaker appeared to discuss a utility issue unrelated to the bill. CS for SB 364 was reported favorably. Chair Bradley’s SB 200 on utilities addressed utility-scale solar decommissioning and storm protection plans. The bill would authorize counties to adopt solar decommissioning ordinances, direct DEP to develop best practices, and require the PSC to consider whether storm protection plan benefits exceed costs. County and AARP representatives waived in support, and the Small County Coalition spoke favorably, saying the bill was a needed step that did not restrict solar development. SB 200 was considered favorably. The committee also heard SB 126 on the Florida Public Service Commission, a strike-all bill focused on PSC reform and utility affordability. The amendment would add CPA and financial analyst expertise, require stronger PSC order support, tighten intervention standards, set return-on-equity and review criteria, require consideration of executive compensation and affordability, and direct the PSC to weigh risk from storm and cost-recovery mechanisms. PSC staff answered extensive questions about utility hardening, storm recovery, and rate-setting. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability and affordability, while others urged stronger enforceable affordability standards and restoration of the return-on-equity cap. Despite concerns, the bill was reported favorably as CS for SB 126.

Transcript Highlights:

• the staff that will be asked to carry out these executions.
• The problem that took place with the social equity program: there were 26 social equity licenses that
• Payne, but also to your staff.
• Payne, but also to your staff.
• They turned to equity partners.

Bills: SB1071, SB1315, SB1317, SB1416, SB1493, SB1537, SB1542, SB1584, SB1626, SB1740, SB1751, SB1804, SCR1047, SCR1049

Keywords: Arizona Rangers, statutory repeal, security, state law, regulatory changes, school safety, interoperable communications, law enforcement, emergency response, funding, reentry programs, criminal justice, grants, recidivism, attorney general, missing children, kidnapping, reporting requirements, child safety, training

Transcript Highlights:

• But John, you want to talk about the equity?
• As they go through the application process, either... ...through their staff or our staff at the Finance
• No, Madam Chair, we have our own top-notch IT staff.
• Of the equity that they could bring in, as we mentioned, it could be cash equity; it could be land that
• Staff, please take a lunch to go.

Transcript Highlights:

• Multilingual case managers and culturally competent staff will be laid off.
• And so... ...as well as when we were debating the API equity budget.
• We have such a diverse group of staff at our agency.
• Our own staff and our patients experienced violent attacks and racism.
• The AANHPI Equity Network, known also as Mosaic, I think.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The board of accountancy has worked with both our staff and committee staff and did not raise any concerns
• I want to make clear the bill is not an attack on private equity generally in health care.
• But as private equity and health care has been growing in the health and dental sectors by five-fold,
• Years ago, I partnered with private equity investors in my pediatric practice, thinking that it would
• Making hiring decisions favoring less competent and less costly a medical staff.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How's your staff? How are you doing?
• And then our last panel is going to be from the Racial Equity Commission.
• leaders across the country, to learn about their efforts to advance equity.
• The Racial Equity Commission framework, as I shared, will be...
• I want to thank staff Latifah for putting this together.

Summary: The Select Committee on Hate, Racism, and Xenophobia met to examine the scope of hate activity in California and hear from state agencies, commissions, and community organizations. The chair opened by framing hate as a persistent crisis affecting many protected groups, and Assembly Member Gonzalez briefly joined the committee. The first panel included the California Department of Justice and the California Commission on the State of Hate, both of which presented recent data and policy recommendations. The Department of Justice reported that in 2024 California saw 2,023 reported hate crime events, 2,568 hate crime offenses, and 2,491 victims, with anti-Black bias remaining the most common category, followed by anti-Jewish and anti-Latino bias. DOJ also said referrals for prosecution increased, and it described its hate-crimes guidance, rapid response protocol, and multilingual resources. The Commission on the State of Hate said hate is undercounted in law enforcement data and cited a survey suggesting about 2.6 million Californians experienced at least one hate act in a year, including more than half a million potentially criminal incidents. It recommended permanent data infrastructure, mandatory law enforcement training, and continued funding for community-based prevention and victim support. The committee then heard testimony from representatives of the NAACP, LULAC, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California, CHIRLA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, CARE, Equality California, and the Racial Equity Commission. Witnesses described systemic racism, anti-immigrant enforcement, antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Asian bias, and anti-LGBTQ+ hate, often linking these harms to political rhetoric, social media, and federal actions. They urged the Legislature to fund programs such as California vs. Hate, Stop the Hate, nonprofit security grants, language access, school and mental health supports, and legal assistance, while also protecting civil rights, due process, and free speech. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing, but members indicated they would request additional recommendations and continue the discussion in future hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the largest institutional private equity the largest institutional private equity investors,<00:
• </c> rights and the limits on private equity rights and the limits on private equity purchasing<00:15
• </c> off of this floor saying private equity off of this floor saying private equity cannot<00:17:05.120
• </c> would agree that private equity would agree that private equity shouldn't<00:17:17.120><c> be</c
• </c> well as the hard work of our staff. well as the hard work of our staff.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Comerford, Chair Rogers, Vice Chair Gentile, committee members, and staff.
• Good afternoon, Chair Comerford, Chair Rogers, esteemed members of the committee and staff.
• My company employs over 80 staff now and in two... ...employees over 80 staff now in two states, so I
• We want to also highlight the important equity issue that this presents.
• But this bill isn't just about climate; it's about equity.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its first hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including hunger-free campuses, FAFSA completion, early college/college-in-high-school programs, banning legacy preferences, AP credit consistency, and tuition equity for the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Committee leaders opened by outlining the hearing process and noting the three-minute testimony limit. Legislators and advocates generally framed the bills as equity and access measures aimed at improving college affordability, student success, and workforce development. Representative Vargas testified for H. 1466 and H. 1467, arguing that hunger-free campus should be codified because many public college and community college students face food insecurity, and that FAFSA completion should be improved through individualized outreach and an opt-out or completion requirement. Senator Lovely, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and other advocates supported the hunger-free campus bill, citing data that 44% of public university and community college students experienced food insecurity in 2023 and that food insecurity harms graduation rates. Femi Stoltz and Shanti Lopez Toro backed the FAFSA bill, saying many students miss out on Pell grants and need direct support; they pointed to state examples such as Louisiana and to recent state action requiring FAFSA awareness. Committee members asked about the federal FAFSA rollout, regional equity in food access, and the need for long-term funding and data collection. A large panel supported H. 1455 on college and high school/early college, including former Chair Roy, the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, a student graduate, MBAE, and Tripp Jones. They described early college as a proven model that helps low-income and first-generation students, improves degree attainment, and supports workforce needs; witnesses said the goal is to scale from about 9,000 students and 55 partnerships toward 22,000 to 25,000 students by 2030, with possible future growth beyond that. Members raised questions about funding, public-private partnerships, parental involvement, faculty development, and whether the bill should include data review and more standardized policies across institutions. Representative Garcia also testified for H. 1432 on AP credit, saying students should receive consistent credit for AP scores of 3, 4, or 5. Senator Edwards and James Murphy testified for the legacy preference ban, arguing it is unfair and rooted in exclusionary history; they said some states have already banned legacy preferences in public and private institutions. Finally, UMass Dean Michael Fox, alumnus Dan Mayer, and student Jake Rasmussen supported S. 920 to include Stockbridge associate degree programs in MassEducate, saying tuition equity would help enrollment and support Massachusetts agriculture and green-industry jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Greg Vogel, committee staff.
• Any questions for staff? Seeing none, on to House Bill 2632.
• Any questions for staff? Seeing none, on to substitute House Bill 2475. Staff.
• Any questions for staff? Seeing none on now to substitute House Bill 249. Staff.
• Any questions for staff?

Summary: The State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee met on February 24, 2026, for what was described as its last regular meeting of the session. The committee reviewed a large slate of bills and gubernatorial appointments, with staff briefing measures on voting rights, voter registration challenges, military justice victims’ rights, terminology changes from “alien” to “non-citizen,” shared leave for hate-crime and immigration-enforcement-related absences, civil service coverage for Washington Technology Solutions security staff, language-access services, small works roster limits, deceased candidates on ballots, postgraduate degree requirements, foreign national participation in elections, public records exemptions, and personal information protections. Several amendments were discussed, including changes to voting-rights language, county-residency requirements for voter-registration challengers, and a proposal on foreign national certifications; a satirical amendment to the terminology bill referencing “extraterrestrial” was also presented and later withdrawn. After caucus, the committee moved into executive session and took action on four gubernatorial appointments, recommending confirmation for Megan Matthews, Reedy Mukapade, Kiana Daniels, and Gauri Shratria, all subject to signatures. The committee then voted out the bills, generally on unanimous voice votes, sending most to the Rules Committee and several fiscal measures to Ways and Means. Amendments were adopted on HB 1710, HB 1750, HB 1916, and HB 2123, while the amendment to HB 2632 was withdrawn. HB 2574 and HB 2637 were noted as not being moved that day. The chair and members closed by thanking staff for their work and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:08.639><c> They</c> professional staff over there. They professional staff over there.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• ,</c><00:10:49.120><c> and</c> classrooms. diversity, equity, and classrooms. diversity, equity, and
• </c> for educational equity. for educational equity.
• ,</c> commitment to diversity, racial equity, commitment to diversity, racial equity, and<00:15:29.199

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and did not approve minutes, but heard testimony on budget line items for Data Seam and Teach for America. Andrew McNeel of Kentucky Free and representatives from the Commonwealth Policy Center argued that both programs rely heavily on recurring taxpayer support and should be re-evaluated. McNeel cited a 2020 Office of Policy and Audit examination of Data Seam, saying the program had received more than $30 million in state support since 2006, including $3.5 million in the current budget, and that the audit raised concerns about administrative overhead, alleged threats to districts, and the use of line-item language to justify sole-source contracting. He recommended suspending Data Seam funding this biennium, directing a new special audit, and requiring reimbursement of audit costs. The witnesses also urged the committee to withhold funding for Teach for America, saying the organization’s materials and history showed a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that they opposed. They pointed to past statements, leadership titles, and program language as evidence that DEI concepts remained embedded in the organization, and suggested any funding should be redirected directly to school districts instead. Mike Harmon and Richard Nelson echoed those concerns, while also saying long-running programs should be periodically reviewed for efficiency. Teach for America Appalachia representatives then testified in support of the program. Executive director C.D. Morton described the organization as a teacher-preparation and leadership-development program serving rural eastern Kentucky, saying it had recruited and supported more than 325 teachers since 2011, with about 30 current core members in several counties and roughly 2,800 students impacted daily. He said the program helps fill hard-to-staff vacancies, that about 80% of teachers stay for a third year, and that many alumni remain in education. In response to questions from Representative Bojanowski about retention and cost, Morton said more than 60% of alumni are still in education, but he could not give a precise classroom-teacher retention number beyond the program’s broader alumni data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Equity equity as addressing at the word Equity equity as addressing the<00:38:59.119><c> health</c><00
• Health equity impacts all of us.
• Health equity impacts all of us.
• Health equity impacts all of us.
• Health equity impacts all of us.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay. of our equity budget.
• As well as when we were debating the API equity budget.
• We have such a diverse group of staff at our agency.
• Our own staff and our patients experienced violent attacks and racism.
• The AANHPI Equity Network, known also as Mosaic, I think.

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee held an informational hearing with members of the API Legislative Caucus on California’s Stop the Hate Program and broader efforts to address hate incidents. Opening remarks emphasized the rise in hate during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of culturally and linguistically competent services, and the program’s role in serving not only AAPI communities but also Latino, Black, Jewish, Muslim, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and other impacted communities. Legislators and presenters repeatedly highlighted the value of trusted community-based organizations (CBOs) in reaching people who may not report to law enforcement or seek traditional services. The first panel included the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, the Department of Social Services (CDSS), and the Commission on the State of Hate. They described the program’s origins in the state’s equity budget, its funding structure, and its service model: direct victim services, prevention, and intervention. CDSS said 180 organizations statewide have participated, with grantees selected based on experience, capacity, and service to priority populations. The Commission on the State of Hate reported that hate remains widespread and underreported, citing survey data showing about 3.1 million Californians experienced at least one hate act in a year and that many victims need mental health, legal, and other supports beyond police response. Members asked about best practices, youth impacts, administrative costs, and the role of regional leads; CDSS said it would provide more detail on funding distribution and that the final evaluation is still in progress. The second panel featured grantees from Jewish Family Service San Diego, Inland Chinese American Association, Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants, and Equality California. They gave examples of how Stop the Hate funding supported culturally specific response teams, counseling, language-access services, self-defense and safety workshops, youth and elder programming, legal navigation, and reporting tools. Several speakers said the program helped build trust, reduce isolation, and connect people to services they otherwise would not use. Legislators pressed the panel on lessons learned, whether the model should be reauthorized, and what would be lost if funding ends. Panelists emphasized that the program’s flexibility, regional convenings, and support for small, trusted organizations were key strengths, while also noting the need for more direct funding to frontline providers and more data on what interventions work best.