Transcript Highlights:

• You can see today upon final recess or during the bill referral period, if permission granted in room
• This amendment would only create a grant program. It would not appropriate state funding.
• That would have to be done through a future appropriations bill or Or once the grant program exists,
• To obtain grants, first responders would be required to receive proper training on the equipment, not
• You apply and you go through the grant process. That's right.

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB 3, HB 5, HB20, HB 22, HB 1, HB 2, HB 3, HB 5, HB 20, HB 22

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Transcript Highlights:

• honored and privileged to represent the 13th Legislative District, which includes Kittitas County, Grant
• So if you are going to ask folks to donate toward the fund described in this legislation, you should
• It suggests that donations collected from voters will support salmon recovery.
• People donating would not understand that distinction. Second, the bill promotes a false narrative.
• People donating would not understand that distinction. Second, the bill promotes a false narrative.

Bills: HB2131, HB2221, HJM4009, HB2619

Keywords: sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, ungulate, wildlife conservation, ecosystem management, population sustainability, environmental impact, wildfire, federal response, community protection, natural resources, firefighter safety, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2221, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and trigger predator mitigation if populations in the federal delisting area fall 25% below a 10-year rolling average. The sponsor, Rep. Hunter Abel, said the bill is meant to address declining deer and elk herds in northeast Washington, support tribal and subsistence hunting, and help rural economies. Staff explained the bill’s definitions and reporting requirements, while committee questions focused on what animals count as ungulates and whether livestock are included. Public testimony was sharply divided: supporters, including some local residents, a sheriff, a county commissioner, cattle and farm groups, and a tribes representative, argued that predators are contributing to herd declines and economic harm; opponents, including WDFW, Washington Wildlife First, Sierra Club, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and conservation groups, said the science does not support predator control as an effective way to boost ungulate populations and pointed instead to habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions. WDFW said parts of the bill are impractical and costly, while some supporters asked for amendments, especially on in-state wolf translocation. The hearing closed with the record showing 138 in favor, 339 opposed, and no other signed in without testifying. The committee then heard House Bill 2619, which would create a joint legislative task force to review and recommend ways to reduce regulatory stress in agriculture, including rules on land use, water stewardship, grazing, and pesticides. Rep. Tom Dent said the bill grows out of prior task force work on farm stress and suicide, and is intended to ease financial and mental health pressures on producers by reducing regulatory overload. The Washington State Department of Agriculture testified in support of the concept but noted a fiscal note and said it was working with the sponsor to reduce the cost. Farm and commodity groups also supported the bill, describing it as a practical response to stress on family farms. The committee then moved to House Joint Memorial 4009, which asks Congress to ensure federal wildfire response agencies remain capable of protecting communities, natural resources, and firefighter safety amid federal consolidation of wildfire programs. Rep. Springer and multiple tribal, county, forest industry, conservation, and public employee witnesses supported the memorial and repeatedly tied it to restoring full funding for state wildfire resilience efforts, especially House Bill 1168 funding, arguing that state and federal investments together reduce fire risk and costs. The memorial hearing ended with the record showing 181 in favor, two opposed, and no other signed in without testifying. The committee returned to House Bill 2221 for public testimony. WDFW said it supports the goal of healthy herds but raised concerns about feasibility, cost, and the bill’s harvest benchmarks. Opponents again argued that predator control is not supported by the science and that habitat and forage are the main drivers of ungulate trends. Supporters, including tribal, county, ranching, and local resident witnesses, said deer and elk declines are visible on the ground and are affecting hunting, tourism, livestock, and rural life. Several witnesses requested amendments, especially to the in-state wolf translocation language. After closing the hearing, the committee began House Bill 2131, which would add a voluntary $1-or-more donation option to vessel registrations to support sea lion predation control and salmon preservation in the Lower Columbia River. Staff explained that the account would fund pinniped management and not supplant existing funds, and noted an amendment delaying implementation from July 1 to October 1, 2026. The sponsor, Rep. Ed Orcutt, began his testimony describing sea lion impacts on Columbia River salmon and the need for the donation mechanism.

Transcript Highlights:

• As background, the Washington College Grant is the state's largest financial aid program and provides
• The Washington College Grant is an entitlement program with guaranteed awards for those students who
• The Passport to Careers Program includes the Passport to College and Passport to Apprenticeship Grant
• Yes, it would be covered through the Washington College Grant, not Passport to Careers funding.
• the boards establish colleges and departments, work with faculty to approve courses of study, and grant

Bills: SB6194, SB5963, SB5909, SB5826, SB5988, SB5872, SB5879, SB5834, SB5835, SB5905, SB5832, SB6177, SB5970, SB5994, SB6047, SB5647

Keywords: SB 6194, Washington Medicaid, medical assistance, fee-for-service, managed care, rural hospital, Indian reservation, tribal hospital, federally recognized Indian reservation, Indian Health, hospital reimbursement, Medicaid payments, inpatient services, outpatient services, psychiatric unit, health care access, rural health, tribal health, safety-net hospital, RCW 74.09

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held public hearings on several bills before moving into executive session. Substitute Senate Bill 6037 would change how city-created fire protection districts affect city property tax levies, replacing the current dollar-for-dollar reduction in a city’s actual levy with a reduction in the city’s statutory maximum rate; testimony was largely supportive from the Association of Washington Cities, fire officials, and the City of Everett, while the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts opposed it over prorationing concerns. Senate Bill 6194 would extend cost-based Medicaid reimbursement to a rural hospital on a federally recognized Indian reservation, specifically Toppenish Hospital; hospital and community representatives supported the bill as a health equity measure, citing financial losses and service cuts, while no opposition was heard. Senate Bill 5963 would automatically make Passport to Careers students income-eligible for the Washington College Grant and route Passport funds into the state financial aid account; student advocates supported it as a way to improve access for former foster and homeless youth. Senate Bill 5909 would require public baccalaureate institutions to review and report low-enrollment undergraduate programs and consider discontinuing programs with fewer than 10 graduates on average over five years; Eastern Washington University supported the bill as accountability and efficiency reform, while faculty and student representatives from other universities opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and potentially politicized. Senate Bill 5826 would require public college student health centers to provide access to medication abortion or referrals and related web information; testimony was sharply divided between supporters framing it as essential student health access and opponents raising moral, safety, and budget objections. In executive session, the committee received staff briefings on a number of bills and then took action on most of them. It advanced Senate Bills 5872, 5879, 5834 (with a substitute amendment adopted), 5835, 5905 (with a substitute adopted), 5832, 6177, 5496, 5970, 5994, 6047 (with a Trudeau amendment adopted and rolled into a substitute), and 5647 (with a substitute adopted) to the Rules Committee with due pass recommendations, generally subject to signatures. The committee also heard briefings on other measures, including fee authority for opioid treatment accreditation, pension trust fund expense authority, LEAP website changes, restrictions on single-family home ownership by certain entities, a permanent senior center property tax exemption, timber tax distribution changes, capital project administration guidelines, and a real estate excise tax exemption for affordable housing. The meeting ended after caucus and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide direct grants.
• Office grants, and veteran service organization grants, since they each have their own statutory grant
• A summary of the grants.
• Veterans Service Office grants veteran service organization grants since they each have their own statutory
• grant requirements.

Bills: HF3727, HF3684, HF3467

Keywords: veterans property tax, homestead exclusion, disabled veteran, totally and permanently disabled, service-connected disability, property tax relief, market value exclusion, surviving spouse, family caregiver, county veterans service officer, Minnesota property tax, assessment year 2027, homestead tax benefit, veterans tax exemption, DD214, VA disability rating, veterans, veterans affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, grant standards

Bills: HF2431

Keywords: higher education, college affordability, student aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, financial aid, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, tuition relief, work-study, child care grants, hunger-free campus, food insecurity, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct, Title IX

Bills: HF2431

Keywords: higher education, college affordability, student aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, financial aid, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, tuition relief, work-study, child care grants, hunger-free campus, food insecurity, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct, Title IX

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what they would like to see for tuition, their grants. would be an allowable expense for them
• The board has only granted the authority to improve. and equip existing central power plants on its property
• Currently students who achieve the top 10% rank are graded granted automatic admission into institutions
• Can they get grants and other?

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Lambert, to answer your question, over 60% of the student body is on Pell Grants and receiving
• It was intended to match private donations to emerging research universities by providing a state match
• This will assure that Tarleton will have all clinical rotations in place before being granted the approval
• And already, the fact that we've been able to raise $25 million in private donations without even a public
• Adjournment, recess of the house, or during the bill referral if permission is granted.

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, donations for children, there is currently a law that provides immunity from liability
• civil damages or criminal penalties resulting from the nature, age, condition, or packaging of the donated
• There is also a title change to an act relating to donations for children.
• They just didn't apply to everybody that was taking donations.
• So it would have been good for donation and for other use by other people.

Bills: SB6087, SB5934, SB5520, SB6017, SB5890

Keywords: children's items, donations, charitable donations, nonprofit, religious organization, public health agency, liability shield, gross negligence, intentional misconduct, car seats, child safety seats, baby formula, diapers, strollers, cribs, playpens, high chairs, used goods, donation centers, Washington RCW

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several Senate bills. SB 6087 would expand existing liability protections for donated children’s items to include religious organizations and add strollers and car seats to the definition of children’s items; the sponsor said it would make it easier to donate usable baby equipment, while the State Board of Health said it supports injury prevention but would need time and funding if broader rulemaking were required under the underlying bill. The substitute version appeared to narrow the bill, and no fiscal note was requested on the substitute. SB 5934 would change the standard for post-conviction DNA testing by requiring courts to grant testing unless the state shows by clear and convincing evidence that the results could not demonstrate a likelihood of innocence. The sponsor and Washington Innocence Project argued the current standard is too restrictive and leads to lengthy litigation, while prosecutors and sheriffs’ representatives said the bill flips the burden, could increase motions, and would strain crime lab and attorney resources; they also said many requests are pro se and most tested cases are inculpatory. The bill drew strong support from exonerees and innocence advocates, and opposition from prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement groups. SB 5520 would revise Washington’s wrongful conviction compensation law by broadening the definition of actual innocence, adding commutation and reprieve to qualifying relief, extending filing deadlines, removing the waiver requirement, and allowing monetary advances. The sponsor, Washington Innocence Project, and exoneree Ted Bradford said the bill would reduce confusing barriers and better support exonerees and their families, including by updating tuition waiver provisions; the fiscal note showed no fiscal impact. SB 6017 would expand victim-centered protections by allowing courts to appoint a representative to question victims when a defendant represents themselves, extending forensic exam consent to minors 13 and older in non-fatal strangulation cases, adding female genital mutilation survivors to sexual assault rights protections, and reauthorizing and refocusing the SAFE Advisory Group. Survivors, advocates, child advocacy centers, and state agencies strongly supported the bill as trauma-informed and necessary to prevent re-traumatization, while defense advocates raised constitutional concerns about limiting a pro se defendant’s right to personally confront witnesses and warned of possible appeals and implementation costs. The committee also heard extensive survivor testimony describing courtroom questioning by self-represented defendants as deeply re-traumatizing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first The first is House Bill 78, Forest Health Grant Program.
• Um I'll have the health grant program.
• The title is grant program, but this is a cost share program.
• So expansion grants if that makes sense.
• They're just not reviewing the grant.

Bills: HB0078, HB0087, SF0070, SF0068, SF0017, SF0043

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• Then page two, we include provisions for grants, gifts, and donations, etc., along with the statute to
• accept those gifts and donations and so forth.
• ><c> provisions</c><00:36:58.240><c> for</c><00:36:58.560><c> grants,</c><00:36:59.040><c> gifts,</c>
• we include provisions for grants, gifts, we include provisions for grants, gifts, and<00:36:59.520><
• accept those gifts and statute to accept those gifts and donations<00:37:07.119><c> and</c><00:37:07.280

Bills: HB0078, HB0087, SF0070, SF0068, SF0017, SF0043

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• works with guardians, and it was providing some justification for increasing the guardians' pass grants
• Guardianship pass grants.
• On your topic of the guardianship grant, I don’t remember that we had that discussion before.

Bills: SB2012

Keywords: transportation, funding, infrastructure, grants, municipal, 908, all

Summary: The Government Operations division met to consider House Bill 1015, the OMB budget, with several amendments already in hand. A major portion of the discussion centered on Senator Mathern’s concerns about the proposed new state hospital in Jamestown. He argued the project is outdated, too expensive, and should be delayed or reduced in favor of local behavioral health services and deferred maintenance at the existing LaHogue facility. Other members questioned him about staffing, capacity, constitutional issues, and the relationship between the hospital proposal and broader mental health investments in other bills. The committee also reviewed budget mechanics, including the transfer of up to $240 million from the Social Services Fund to the Human Services Finance Fund, a $40 million deferred maintenance fund, a $3 million deficiency appropriation for the new and vacant FTE pool, and other OMB-related items. Members discussed whether OMB should have managerial control over the Jamestown project and generally agreed that OMB oversight could help manage costs, though concerns about the hospital remained. The committee then considered two funding items that drew the most debate: guardianship grants and a pro-life education campaign. After testimony from a representative supporting the campaign, members agreed to reduce that item by $500,000 and add $1 million for guardianship grants, while leaving the overall bill to be finalized in conference. The committee adopted Amendment Version 2006 with those changes and then passed HB 1015 as amended on a roll call vote, with all members voting aye except Senator Burckhard on the amendment vote; he later voted aye on the bill itself. The chair indicated the bill would move to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number six adds contingent funding for human trafficking victim grants.
• Section 8 updates the amount for human trafficking victim grants that you're appropriating in the bill
• ... ...human trafficking victim grants that you're appropriating in the bill.
• Talking to Grant, he thought maybe we might be able to take up adjutant general this afternoon if we
• So, as we tally those things so far, ...$2 million from the grant that helped purchase the land.

Bills: SB2012

Keywords: transportation, funding, infrastructure, grants, municipal, 908, all

Summary: The Government Operations Division met to continue work on budget and bill amendments. The committee first took up the Attorney General’s budget and reviewed a detailed amendment package that adjusted FTE levels, salary equity funding, funding sources, and several one-time appropriations. Changes included removing some House-added items, adding contingent funding tied to other bills, restoring certain funding sources, increasing the electronic smoking device manufacturer fee, and adding a provision on 24/7 sobriety program fees. Senator Dwyer then offered a further amendment to make the electronic smoking device fee a $2,000 application fee with a $500 annual renewal fee, which passed. The committee then voted 4-1 to adopt the budget as amended and give it a do pass recommendation as amended. The committee next considered House Bill 1143, relating to Great Plains Food Bank funding. After testimony from Amy Cleary on behalf of Great Plains Food Bank, members discussed the organization’s statewide role and the project’s financing, including a planned $30 million facility and existing fundraising. Senator Burkhard moved to restore the appropriation from $5 million to $10 million, and the motion passed 4-1. The committee then voted 4-1 to give the bill a do pass recommendation as amended, with Senator Burkhard designated as carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1524, which would fund regional planning councils and authorize 16 FTEs. Members expressed sympathy for the councils’ work but concerns about approving new state-funded positions. No action was taken, and the chair asked to hold the bill over for further review. The committee then recessed, noting remaining budget work and upcoming hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have autism and gifted and talented programs, and we have a very diverse language community.
• And that's donations and other grants and such, I'm assuming.
• Information today or quickly just as to the donations and other grants that all pay for the wages.
• Foundations, corporations, and institutions making donations. So that is a buy-and-learn.
• , they would go through the grant process, correct?

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• The AFFP grant has $12 million in it total. It is one of two TRIP grants that is hard capped.
• All it does is create a grant program in TCEQ.
• So we're asking that that grant also include.
• I'm the emergency manager and grant writer for Lee County.
• But also as a grant writer, I'd like to see this because if I can get a grant for the county to assist

Bills: HB205

Keywords: disaster recovery, economic development, grants, loans, infrastructure support

Transcript Highlights:

• , grants, and endowments.
• This account is authorized to accept gifts, grants, or endowments.
• The bill before you authorizes the leadership board to solicit such gifts, grants, or endowments from
• Funds received from gifts, grants, and endowments may be expended by the board according to statute,
• as when we're soliciting gifts.

Bills: SCR8406, SB5825, SB5842, SB5863, SB5840

Keywords: civic health, community engagement, committee reestablishment, public participation, governance, Washington State Leadership Board, WSLB, gift acceptance, grants, endowments, private funding, public funding, fundraising, state board, youth leadership, civic engagement, leadership development, Washington World Fellows, sports mentoring, Boundless Washington

Summary: The State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee held its first hearing of the 2006 session and heard five measures. The first, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406, would reestablish and expand the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health through the start of the 2029 session, adding members and extending reporting deadlines. Lieutenant Governor Heck, Senator Lovick, and Senator Mazzal testified in support, emphasizing respectful civic discourse and bipartisan problem-solving. The chair noted 20 signed in pro and 53 con, but there was no vote at the hearing. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5825, which would authorize the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments to support youth leadership and civic engagement programs. Sponsor Senator Claire Wilson and board representatives said the bill would help diversify funding and preserve programs such as World Fellows, Compassion Scholars, and Boundless. Testifiers described the programs’ impact on students and said the board expected to raise less than $50,000 in the first year; the chair asked about donor policy and reporting safeguards. Sign-in totals were reported as four in favor and one against, with no vote taken. Senate Bill 5842 would exempt display of previous campaign memorabilia in a legislative office from the prohibition on using public resources for political campaigns. Senator Wagoner said the bill was meant to clarify that historical or commemorative campaign items are allowed, but members raised questions about how to define “previous campaign” and whether items tied to a current officeholder’s past race would qualify. The bill drew one pro and ten con sign-ins, and the sponsor indicated openness to clarifying amendments. Senate Bill 5863, concerning preservation of Lakeland Village historical records, would bar destruction of identified records and artifacts until fiscal year 2030 and allow archival inspection after 75 years; Senator Kauffman and multiple disability advocates and family members strongly supported it as a matter of dignity, history, and accountability. The final bill, Senate Bill 5840, would change campaign finance reporting schedules to fixed monthly dates and require committees to indicate whether they expect to participate in an election year. The PDC and treasurers supported clearer, more timely disclosure, but some witnesses objected to monthly zero reports and the burden on dormant committees; the chair and sponsor discussed a forthcoming substitute to address those concerns. The hearing ended with the chair noting all five bills were scheduled for executive action on Friday and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 6313, members of the Legislature and statewide elected officials are authorized to solicit gifts
• , grants, and donations from public and private sources for the Capital Centennial Stewardship Account
• As background, current law grants a certain degree of preference to veterans seeking state employment
• As background, current law grants a certain degree of preference to veterans seeking state employment

Bills: SB5000, SB5325, SB6044, SB6313, SB6084, SB6137

Keywords: state nickname, evergreen state, identity, cultural heritage, tourism, state cactus, symbolic designation, ecological significance, state symbols, SB 6044, Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Washington state holidays, RCW 1.16.050, state holiday recognition, religious observance, Hindu holiday, Sikh holiday, cultural recognition, paid holiday

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in Grant in Grant programs<00:41:10.839><c> and</c><00:41:11.839><c> projects</c><00:41:12.480><
• and that's donations and and other<00:42:38.520><c> grants</c><00:42:38.880><c> and</c><00:42:39.119
• ><c> such</c><00:42:39.640><c> I'm</c> other grants and such I'm other grants and such I'm assuming assuming
• and other grants that pay for the wages.
• </c><00:47:56.559><c> and</c> quickly just as to uh the donations and quickly just as to uh the donations

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, Pell Grants. Pell. Grants take public dollars to private schools.
• Continuation of Pell Grants, I'd actually even like to see.
• An expansion of Pell Grants, I'd like to see short-term certificates for Pell Grants for students who
• What do you feel about more flexibility of Pell Grants?
• Well, I certainly would like to see workforce Pell Grants.

Keywords: educational reform, federal grants, bureaucracy, wealth disparity, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting engaged in discussions focused primarily on educational reform, the influence of federal grants on local education systems, and the growing disparities in wealth and access to quality education. Members expressed concerns about the bureaucracy surrounding federal funding that hampers schools' ability to obtain necessary resources for improvement. Several members highlighted personal anecdotes from constituents, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to help students succeed in both K-12 and higher education environments. The meeting included public testimonies that provided insights into various community perspectives on these pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Centralia is utilizing a $5 million state grant currently to extend— we're in the planning phase, but
• First, the Washington Commodities Donation Program.
• First, with respect to the commodities donation program, that's renamed to the Washington Farm Donation
• at the time a grant is executed.
• It modifies the process for issuing grants under this program to state that the department will issue

Bills: HB2668, HB1735, HB2131, HB2199, HB2463, HB2598, HB2619

Keywords: relocation, wildlife, game farm, agriculture, environmental impact, animal welfare, force-feeding, birds, humane treatment, sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, derelict vessels, marine environment, coastal management, environmental protection, maritime economy, farmers

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met on February 4, policy cutoff day, and held a public hearing on House Bill 2668, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and pursue relocation of the Bob Oak Game Farm in Lewis County and also seek funding to remediate the current site. Staff explained the proposed substitute would require alternate site identification, reporting to the Legislature, future capital budget requests for pre-design, relocation, and remediation, and continued monitoring to address nitrate leaching. Representative Orcutt said the bill is intended to protect nearby wells and Centralia’s drinking water without shutting the game farm down, and he thanked DFW for working to reduce fiscal impacts. City of Centralia officials, Lewis County public health staff, a tribal member, and the county health officer testified in support, describing nitrate contamination in a sole-source aquifer, health risks, and the need for a long-term relocation solution; the committee also noted 52 people signed in pro and one opposed. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills. House Bill 2598, creating a Salmon Advisory Commission, was debated with concerns raised about the size of the commission, cost, and overlap with existing salmon recovery efforts, but it was reported out 6-5 with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2619, creating a legislative task force to reduce regulatory stress in agriculture, drew bipartisan support focused on farm mental health and suicide prevention and passed unanimously. House Bill 2199, dealing with derelict vessels, was amended with a Department of Natural Resources proposal and then passed unanimously as amended. House Bill 2463, which revises the Washington commodities donation and farm-to-food pantry programs, was also reported out unanimously as a substitute bill. The committee next took up House Bill 1735, which prohibits force-feeding birds and related sale/distribution of products made using that practice. An amendment by Representative Dent to narrow the bill to ducks and geese for commercial purposes and remove product-sale prohibitions failed, and the substitute bill then passed 6-5. Finally, the committee added House Bill 2668 to the executive agenda despite its late arrival, citing the urgency and bipartisan support, and then reported the substitute bill out unanimously. The chair emphasized that moving HB 2668 on the same day was highly unusual and not standard practice, but was done because of the public health concerns and broad support from affected local and tribal communities.