Transcript Highlights:

• Under the sheriff, a review of claims in the sheriff's office revealed over $4,300 in questionable credit
• Under the sheriff, a review of claims in the sheriff's office revealed over $4,300 in questionable credit
• Balances remaining at year-end for the district court accounts — city, county, circuit, and small claims
• Balances remaining at year-end for the district court accounts, city, county, circuit, and small claims
• in the amount of $61,000, $18,000, $44,000. circuit and small claims in the amount of 61,000, 18,000

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee first approved a motion by voice vote, then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. For the 2012 reports, staff said five additional 2024 reports had been received since the December meeting, bringing the total to 17 with escrow funds released and 26 still escrowed. For the 2023 delinquent reports, two more had come in, leaving five outstanding; both reports were filed without objection. The committee then focused on Act 709 repayment issues for the town of Daisy. Audit staff said Daisy had made unauthorized payments to a nonprofit and had used restricted street funds for fire-related expenses, and that the town had not yet adopted the required repayment ordinance. Mayor Lisa Cogburn said the council had not approved repayment because members disputed the amount, though she said the town had funds to pay. After discussion about the audit calculations and statutory repayment requirements, the committee adopted a motion requiring 10% repayment of the street fund under the statute and providing that failure to comply would result in withholding turnback funds. The Daisy report was then filed. The committee reviewed numerous additional audit findings from cities, counties, and water departments. Several local officials appeared and described corrective steps, including reconciliation work in Harrison and Carroll County, revenue-code corrections in Izard County, monthly bond-pending reviews in Alexander, fixed-asset documentation and receipt procedures in the town of 56, and bookkeeping/receipt improvements in Ozan and Lee County. Some matters were deferred, including several private water and sewer reports and Green Forest, while others were filed. Reports involving more serious issues were referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General, including Bull Shoals, Lone Oak County, Beaver, Central City, Gravette, Ralston Water Department, Thornton Waterworks, and others. The committee also filed 19 reports with resolved findings and 53 reports with no findings, and adjourned with the next meeting set for February 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• They say things like, "Well, Isaac, you're a politician and there's a disagreement and you claim to be
• So moments ago, hours ago, members, you made claims that you wanted to support the farmers across the
• 00:16:39.199><c> members,</c><00:16:39.680><c> you</c><00:16:40.160><c> made</c><00:16:40.399><c> claims
• </c> ago, hours ago, members, you made claims ago, hours ago, members, you made claims that<00:16:40.959

Transcript Highlights:

• Anslinger weaponized Americans' prejudice with claims like, there are 100,000 marijuana smokers in the
• Against African American people, he claimed that reefer makes them think they're as good as white.
• Proponents of Senate Bill 12 claim that banning taxpayer-funded lobbying increases transparency and protects
• It stated, "It is a false claim that taxpayer-funded lobbying works against the interests of taxpayers
• overlook rural needs when rural leaders are absent from the conversation, and it becomes easier to claim

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

Transcript Highlights:

• and inserting the following: A health insurance issuer shall not implement or utilize a copayment adjustment
• program, including but not limited to an accumulator adjustment program, maximizer program, or similar
• benefit design that adjusts, reduces, excludes, or... ...program, maximizer program, or similar benefit
• design that adjusts, reduces, excludes, or otherwise fails to credit the value of any manufacturer-sponsored

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The Senate Insurance Committee met on May 20, confirmed a quorum, and approved the May 13 minutes. The first bill heard was House Bill 591, which would create the Paid Family Leave Insurance Act as a voluntary private-market insurance option for employers, with no mandate, state program, or taxpayer cost. Senator Bass presented the bill, offered technical amendments, and after brief questions about why the framework was needed, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably with amendments. The committee then took up House Bill 76, dealing with coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications. Representative Amy Freeman and former Representative Julie Stokes explained that the bill updates Louisiana’s oral chemotherapy coverage law, which had not been revised since 2012, and addresses insurer rejection of newer oral cancer drugs. They also explained Amendment Set 4063, which was intended to restore the bill to the proper posture after changes made in the Appropriations Committee and to prohibit copayment adjustment programs such as accumulator or maximizer programs from reducing credit for manufacturer assistance toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Senator Bass raised a concern about prior authorization language and possible ERISA litigation, and department staff responded that the bill would not alter ERISA enforceability and that the fiscal note already reflected about $67,000 in OGB costs. After the amendments were adopted, Senator Bass moved to report HB 76 favorably with amendments, and the committee did so without opposition. Senator Carter thanked the bill authors for their advocacy on cancer-related issues and offered to help during the interim. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and inserting the following: A health insurance issuer shall not implement or utilize a copayment adjustment
• program, including but not limited to an accumulator adjustment program, maximizer program, or similar
• benefit design that adjusts, reduces, excludes, or... ...program, maximizer program, or similar benefit
• design that adjusts, reduces, excludes, or otherwise fails to credit the value of any manufacturer-sponsored

Bills: HB591 , HB766

Committee: Senate Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• We are still drafting the CD1 on this, working with stakeholders to make last-minute adjustments.
• 13.440><c> minute</c> stakeholders to uh make a last minute stakeholders to uh make a last minute adjustments
• 14.879><c> we'll</c><00:03:15.120><c> get</c><00:03:15.200><c> that</c><00:03:15.360><c> over</c> adjustments
• Uh so we'll get that over adjustments.

Transcript Highlights:

• about, physicians are incredibly frustrated with all the paperwork they have to do, and you know, claims
• So there are a lot of med spas out there that claim that there could be doctors present, but that's not
• Thank you. been aggressive on going after people who claim to be doctors.
• No, just wanting to adjust.

Bills: HB3000 , HB2622 , HB2283 , HB541 , HB1776 , HB1803 , HB1669 , HB2588 , HB220 , HB3415 , HB50 , HB1314 , HB 107 , HB220 , HB50 , HB107

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• To claim asylum in the United States of America, you truly have to be in fear of your life.
• To claim<04:21:06.239><c> asylum</c><04:21:06.640><c> in</c><04:21:06.800><c> the</c><04:21:06.960><c
• </c> last four years, most of them claiming last four years, most of them claiming asylum<04:21:37.520
• </c><04:22:07.279><c> are</c> of 10 of these asylum claims are of 10 of these asylum claims are illegitimate
• </c> my opinion the last four years claiming my opinion the last four years claiming asylum<04:22:27.520

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three transportation bills. SB 154 would add the Snow Traveler Foundation to the list of charitable organizations authorized to offer multi-use decal plates through the existing Department of Safety program. Senator David Roford said the bill would create a non-tax funding source for snowmobile trail maintenance, especially after flood damage, and Dan Gold of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association said the foundation would accept tax-deductible donations for projects such as upgraded trail signage. He explained that the association’s 96 volunteer clubs maintain about 7,000 miles of trails and that the sign program is costly. No opposition was presented, and the hearing was closed after questions from members about the foundation’s status and fundraising goals. SB 271 would expand eligibility for veteran license plates to include veterans with a general discharge under honorable conditions. The sponsor’s representative said the change would recognize service members who are already eligible for many veterans benefits but are excluded from plates under current law. Supporters included Phil Grizzo, who argued that general discharges often reflect service that was otherwise honorable, and Kevin Grady of the State Veterans Advisory Committee, which said it strongly supported the bill and was also considering broader statutory cleanup to standardize the definition of veteran across state law. Committee members asked whether the change should be limited to plates or applied more broadly, but the sponsor said broader changes would be a separate policy question. The public hearing was then closed. SB 273, titled “Cheryl’s Law,” would update New Hampshire’s move-over requirements for motorists approaching stopped or standing vehicles on the roadside, including stranded vehicles and those with warning signals. Senator Donovan Fenton said the bill was intended to save lives and honor Staff Sergeant Jesse Cheryl and Brigadier General John Pogo, both of whom died in roadside incidents. He said the measure would require drivers to slow down, change lanes if safe, and move over for roadside vehicles, with the intent of education rather than punishment. Committee members asked about enforcement, the lack of a fiscal note, whether the bill applied statewide, and whether the language could be read as weakening the move-over requirement; the sponsor said it applied to all roads, did not change fines, and was meant to clarify and broaden safety obligations. The hearing continued with additional questions, and the sponsor said state police and other safety stakeholders supported the approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we were able to add money to their bases with these base adjustments.
• adjustment uh base adjustment uh<00:05:12.000><c> that</c><00:05:12.240><c> the</c><00:05:12.960><c>
• And due to the these base adjustments.
• And it also leaves in the funding with my amendment and with the adjustments I'm making.
• from the government operating adjustment from the government on<00:13:28.000><c> this.

Bills: HF3874 , HF962

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Cupps said that the devices he is familiar with do not adjust the governed speed based
• Representative Cupps continued, saying that if the device were GPS-adjusted, he is concerned about the
• And so I don't know the devices that I'm familiar with, they don't adjust what that God.
• I don't know the devices that I'm familiar with, they don't adjust what that govern speed is based off
• So if we had a device that adjusted that based off of a GPS coordinate, I'm a little bit concerned with

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• the same time, we have to balance that with the ability for the regulators to be nimble enough to adjust
• Now, any adjustments to the CalWATRS process, for them to take multiple years to do that, will create
• Or they could say, we're changing the regulations, we're going to give you 18 months to adjust to this
• Or they could say, we're changing the regulations, we're going to give you 18 months to adjust to this
• They can do things like adjust boundaries of GSAs.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• But this was, yes, not adjusted for inflation. Thank you.
• The adjustments are based on caseloads established by the Caseload Forecast Council.
• So the purchasing power of the dollar has been adjusted.
• All of these numbers have been adjusted using fiscal year 25.
• There was an adjustment to the statute in the back of the budget to make that move legal.

Bills: HB2148 , HB2132

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: education, pay it forward program, tuition, student loans, financial aid, state financial aid, financial aid application, postsecondary education, higher education, student aid, Washington Student Achievement Council, public records exemption, privacy, student records, personally identifying information, financial information, data sharing agreement, enrollment assistance, institutional records, FERPA

Transcript Highlights:

• Not adjusted for inflation. Thank you.
• And the adjustments are based on caseloads established by the Caseload Forecast Council.
• So the purchasing power of the dollar has been adjusted.
• All of these numbers have been adjusted using fiscal year 25.
• There was an adjustment to the statute in the back of the budget to make that move legal.

Summary: The Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee held a work session on higher education funding and then public hearings on House Bill 2148 and House Bill 2132. In the work session, OPR staff Kate Henry reviewed enrollment trends, tuition policy, financial aid programs, and funding sources for Washington’s public colleges and universities. Members asked about FTE versus headcount, tuition growth, the Washington College Grant, College Bound, and the Workforce Education Investment Account. Henry explained how state appropriations, tuition, and financial aid interact, and noted that higher education makes up a significant share of the state budget. No votes were taken during the work session. House Bill 2148 would create a “pay-it-forward” graduate student aid program administered by the Student Achievement Council, allowing students to receive tuition support and later make income-based contributions for up to 15 years to fund future students. Sponsor Rep. Reid said the bill is intended to offset the loss of federal graduate loan options and support workforce needs in fields like nursing, teaching, and research. Committee questions focused on repayment terms, possible caps, interest, and program capitalization. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with students and advocates arguing the bill would expand access to graduate education and avoid predatory private debt. House Bill 2132 would limit disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information from WASFA applications, generally requiring the Student Achievement Council and institutions to stop retaining that information after one year following the award year unless needed for an audit or appeal. Rep. Leavitt said the bill is meant to reduce unnecessary long-term retention of sensitive student data and improve privacy and security. Supporters, including student leaders and immigrant-advocacy groups, said the bill would protect vulnerable students and increase trust in the aid process. Some members raised concerns about whether shorter retention could affect future record needs, including immigration-related documentation, but the sponsor said students can keep their own records and that the bill preserves audit authority. The hearing ended without a vote, and the chair noted an upcoming busy schedule and cutoff deadlines.

Transcript Highlights:

• How can this bill be adjusted to ensure it doesn't perpetuate existing issues within those systems?
• This introduces additional complications for utilities looking to make necessary adjustments while remaining
• to upgrade its infrastructure and the customers facing sudden increases after many years without adjustments
• . to adjust for infrastructure, labor, and all of those added costs that we've experienced due to inflation
• If costs go up, et cetera, inflation, or any factor, then we would come in and adjust the rates.

Bills: HB29 , HB685 , HB1633 , HB1689 , HB1690 , HB1918 , HB2010 , HB2500 , HB2608 , HB2626 , HB29

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• anti-abrogation clause of Article 18, Section 6 of the Arizona Constitution, because it could cut off a claim
• Section 6 in the Arizona Constitution, because it could cut off a claim of ordinary negligence against
• that Dram Shop fact pattern, but instead describes immunity for what could be an ordinary negligence claim

Summary: The Rules Committee considered several Senate bills and heard constitutional/form reviews from rules attorneys. Senate Bill 1012, which would loosen restrictions on carrying concealed weapons in restaurants and adjust liquor licensing/Dram Shop liability, was flagged for a possible anti-abrogation issue but was still recommended constitutional and in proper form by a 5-2 vote. Senate Bill 1573, barring courts from relying on religious sectarian law, was flagged for a possible First Amendment Establishment Clause challenge under the Larson test and was also recommended by a 5-2 vote. Senate Bill 1613, the annual reviser’s technical corrections bill, was described as fixing drafting defects such as title problems and conflicting effective dates and was recommended unanimously. Senate Bill 1683, restricting property rights and certain equipment use by foreign adversary nations or their agents, was flagged for possible conflict with federal foreign-relations law and FIRRMA but was recommended by a 5-3 vote. Senate Bill 1725, defining excessive marijuana smoke or odor as a nuisance, was flagged for possible conflict with voter-protected marijuana initiatives and a potential VPA issue; it was recommended by a 5-3 vote. At the end of the meeting, the committee took a mass motion on a long list of additional Senate bills, with one correction made to change a bill reference from SB 1444 to SB 1445. The Rules Office said the measures in the mass motion were constitutional and in proper form, and the committee approved them unanimously, 8-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number two, the phrase 'new and recurring claims' is changed to 'initial and additional claims' to be
• TWC currently conducts ID verification on a risk basis, 10 to 15% of initial claims, but increasing the

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, with limited options available for the agency to adjust, uh, we were still able to come
• As you know, with limited options available for the agency to adjust, uh, we were still able to come
• </c><00:36:19.200><c> gross</c> recipients have a family adjusted gross recipients have a family adjusted
• And I think we're all glad to see that they're bouncing back and adjusting as well.
• The only other thing adjusting as well.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• District Court, and they claimed that enough states have passed resolutions for the convention.
• Critics falsely claim there is no legal precedent or clear process for an Article 5 convention.
• They claim that it could be limited to issues like a balanced budget or term limits.
• There's also no one for him to reach out to about his Camp Lejeune claim.
• Claim control over their life and their future.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs was opened by Chair Joe McGonagle and Vice Chair Senator Mike Rush, who noted that Chair John Velis was deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard. The chairs explained the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, live streaming, and filing deadlines, and said the committee would hear 11 House bills and eight Senate bills dealing with federal and overseas issues. Much of the hearing centered on competing resolutions about Article 5 constitutional conventions, along with related resolutions on D.C. statehood, child labor, Citizens United, and Cambodia. Supporters of H. 4692 and S. 284, a joint resolution to rescind all prior Massachusetts Article 5 convention applications, argued that old resolutions from the 1930s and 1970s could be used to count Massachusetts toward the 34-state threshold for calling a federal constitutional convention. Testifiers from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, Reproductive Equity Now, labor groups, and others warned that a convention would have no clear rules, could not be reliably limited to specific topics, and could put civil rights, reproductive rights, labor protections, and other constitutional protections at risk. Several speakers also cited a recent federal lawsuit and said the safest course was to remove outdated applications from the books. A large opposing panel testified in support of H. 3888, a resolution calling for a Convention of States to propose amendments limiting federal power, imposing fiscal restraints, and establishing term limits. Supporters argued that Article 5 provides a lawful way to address federal overreach, debt, and congressional stagnation, and said the process would be limited by state applications and ratification by 38 states. Some committee members and witnesses raised concerns about a runaway convention, broad language in the resolution, and whether Congress could or should set rules for such a convention. Representative Gentile also testified in support of several related resolutions on overturning Citizens United, D.C. statehood, and the child labor amendment, while Representative Howard and Representative Tongue supported a Cambodia resolution condemning political oppression and urging free and fair elections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• At GBLS, we continue to see many workers facing months-long delays in processing their claims, facing
• That individual cannot bring a claim under Massachusetts law.
• In 2015, data shows about 7% of claims were in the highest wage category. In 2025, it's over 22%.
• Nearly a quarter of all claims at the max benefit for 30 weeks.
• Nearly a quarter of all claims at the max benefit for 30 weeks.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid public hearing with testimony on a wide range of labor, workforce, unemployment insurance, apprenticeship, disability services, farm labor, hospital staffing, and workplace harassment bills. Chairs Jake Oliveira and Paul McMurtry outlined hearing procedures, limited testimony to two minutes, and noted written testimony would be accepted after the hearing. Committee members and staff were introduced throughout the session as witnesses arrived in person or remotely. A major portion of the hearing focused on unemployment insurance legislation. Greater Boston Legal Services, the AFL-CIO, and Rep. Joan Meschino supported bills to adjust UI eligibility for workers with fluctuating schedules and to streamline waivers and write-offs for non-fault overpayments, arguing the current system unfairly denies benefits or burdens workers who were not at fault. They also backed bills calling for more oversight and resources for the Division of Unemployment Assistance, citing persistent delays in benefit payments. NFIB opposed the UI changes, warning that the trust fund is headed toward insolvency and arguing the bills would worsen the system’s finances. Rep. Meschino and committee members emphasized that the proposals were meant to protect good-faith claimants and did not apply to fraud. Another large set of bills addressed wages, workforce development, and working conditions. Testimony supported raising and modernizing direct care wages to address severe staffing shortages in human services and disability services, with advocates from the Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council, The Arc of Massachusetts, parents of adults with disabilities, and a direct care worker describing how low pay and turnover harm people needing support. The committee also heard support for apprenticeship-related bills from the AFL-CIO and the Carpenters, while Associated Builders and Contractors opposed mandatory apprenticeship ratios and urged changes to align them with licensing laws. Farm worker advocates supported a bill to raise farm labor standards, including minimum wage, paid breaks, and paid time off, while the Farm Bureau opposed parts of it beyond the minimum wage increase. The hearing also featured testimony on workplace harassment training, overtime protections, hospital mandatory overtime, suicide prevention signage on construction sites, and a proposal to update the Massachusetts Medical Society’s mission language from “citizens” to “people.” Labor groups, educators, and compliance trainers strongly supported mandatory annual sexual harassment training, saying it would improve workplace culture and reduce harm. SEIU 1199 supported extending the hospital nurse mandatory overtime ban to the broader hospital workforce. Witnesses on the suicide prevention bill described personal losses in construction and recovery work and urged posting 988 information on job sites. The committee took no votes during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports, and members asked follow-up questions on UI calculations, apprenticeship ratios, small-business impacts, and emergency exceptions for hospital staffing.

Transcript Highlights:

• supposedly because they have to audit those claims.
• ><00:30:58.480><c> supposedly</c><00:30:59.120><c> because</c><00:30:59.360><c> they</c> in their claims
• ><c> audit</c><00:31:00.320><c> those</c><00:31:00.640><c> claims.
• </c><00:31:01.679><c> What's</c><00:31:02.000><c> that</c> have to audit those claims.
• What's that have to audit those claims.