Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:37.280><c> did</c> general or whoever the negotiators did general or whoever the negotiators
• Um that uh these legal u negotiations.
• What I'm saying is that as the<00:07:32.400><c> negotiation</c><00:07:33.280><c> negotiations</c><00:
• 07:34.000><c> were</c><00:07:34.240><c> being</c> the negotiation negotiations were being the negotiation
• </c><00:07:43.440><c> pro</c> during that whole negotiating pro during that whole negotiating pro process

Summary: The committee first took up a series of House bills in decision-making. HB 309 was recommended to pass with amendments deferring the effective date to 2050 and was adopted unanimously by members present, with one member excused. HB 344 was recommended to pass with amendments changing the EV charger-ready parking stall requirement from a fixed 25% to a standard allowing the Department of Accounting and General Services to determine the number needed in a new facility; that recommendation was adopted. HB 423, HB 833, HB 987, and HB 988 were each recommended to pass unamended and were adopted without objection. HB 596 was recommended to pass with amendments deferring the effective date to 2050 and adding the Department of Defense’s concerns and testimony to the committee report. HB 750 was passed unamended because of the filing deadline, with concerns to be noted in the committee report for conference committee review. HB 1161 was also passed unamended, with the committee report to reflect requested Department of Transportation amendments. HB 1483 was recommended to pass unamended, with the chair voting no with reservation on that measure. The meeting then shifted to a separate agenda item involving the governor’s office and a proposed settlement related to Lahaina. Members questioned why the legislature had not been kept informed during negotiations and expressed concern that the committee was being asked to approve the settlement without meaningful ability to amend it. The governor’s representative said the administration would defer legal questions to the attorney general, but stated that amendments could jeopardize the legal agreement and potentially have significant impacts on the state. Members also raised concerns about transparency, the public nature of the process, and uncertainty over how Hawaiian Electric would cover its share of the judgment. In response, the governor’s office said it would follow up with the attorney general and governor and provide answers directly. The chair then moved to reconsider the prior action and recommended passing the settlement measure with the attorney general’s suggested amendments removing language from page 7, lines 3 to 17, while preserving prior committee-report concerns. That reconsidered recommendation was adopted by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had negotiated for a previous year.
• </c> would be achieved as far as negotiating would be achieved as far as negotiating power<00:24:56.559
• :26.320><c> salary</c><00:30:27.360><c> over</c> negotiations to prioritize salary over negotiations
• </c><00:32:36.159><c> a</c> experiencing or or negotiating a experiencing or or negotiating a contract
• negotiating, Medicare is negotiating<00:40:40.079><c> 10</c><00:40:40.400><c> highcost</c><00:40:40.960

Transcript Highlights:

• We will negotiate again, and we will expand opportunities for Americans.
• We want to negotiate with you. And it goes both ways.
• I mean, you're in the midst of having trade negotiations. negotiations with with 90 different countries
• Going on, there was a lot of questions for several days, whether we're negotiating or not negotiating
• We are open to negotiate.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: tariffs, Trump administration, economy, public testimony, trade policy, market access, export controls

Summary: The meeting focused on various significant topics concerning the recent tariff policies and their wide-ranging implications on the American economy. Members expressed their concerns regarding the negative impact of increased tariffs as proposed by the Trump administration, with specific emphasis on how families might suffer from higher costs and market access issues. The discussion was lively, with members questioning the clarity of the tariff plan and raising concerns about its potential effects on small businesses and American exports.

Transcript Highlights:

• :10:47.360><c> the</c> During contract negotiations between the During contract negotiations between
• what you negotiated. Is that what we're what you negotiated. Is that what we're saying?
• </c> that the executive branch has negotiated that the executive branch has negotiated without<01:26:
• </c> negotiated and that's where we are, Mr. negotiated and that's where we are, Mr.
• </c> are negotiated are negotiated um Senator Miller said the contracts are backwards.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this provision has not been negotiated.
• </c><00:09:05.920><c> a</c><00:09:05.960><c> bill,</c> to negotiate a bill, to negotiate a bill, get<
• They want to keep it for negotiations.
• negotiations negotiations and<00:17:49.160><c> cause</c><00:17:49.440><c> harm</c><00:17:49.720><c>
• Hopefully, it's not a negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• But he did tell ... agreement or negotiating a Way agreement or negotiating a Way Forward<00:04:04.439
• :04:05.599><c> this</c> Forward negotiating last night and this Forward negotiating last night and this
• I will see if Leader Hortman wants to continue engaging in any type of negotiating.
• I will see if Leader Hortman wants to continue engaging in any type of negotiating.
• I will see if Leader Hortman wants to continue engaging in any type of negotiating.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of what we thought the negotiating of what we thought the negotiating period<00:03:45.319><c> would
• They're just really not negotiable.
• They're just really not negotiable.
• </c><00:09:26.959><c> table</c> not come back to the negotiating table not come back to the negotiating
• </c><00:12:39.000><c> on</c> we were having the negotiations on we were having the negotiations on Powers

Transcript Highlights:

• negotiations regarding this negotiations negotiations regarding this issue<00:12:54.959><c> of</c><00
• </c> negotiate certain retirement benefits. negotiate certain retirement benefits.
• Next, we have chief negotiator negotiator negotiator uh Mustau<00:23:05.520><c> from</c><00:23:05.840
• I'm the state's chief<00:23:17.280><c> negotiator.</c> chief negotiator. chief negotiator.
• </c> some extent EUTF from negotiations. some extent EUTF from negotiations.

Bills: SB2119 , SB3131 , SB3069 , SB3180 , SB2137 , SB2993 , SB2778 , SB2672 , SB2014 , SB2967

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: reimbursement, public employees, travel costs, government travel policy, finance management, job title, administrative assistant, executive assistant, state personnel, civil service, modernization, employment standards, DAGS, Department of Accounting and General Services, comptroller, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, public works special project branch, specialized public works, information technology modernization

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:18:23.080><c> collective</c><04:18:23.479><c> bargaining</c> negotiate collective bargaining negotiate
• </c> anti-worker public contract negotiations anti-worker public contract negotiations aren't<04:19:36.399
• </c><04:27:35.680><c> in</c> local unions should be negotiating in local unions should be negotiating
• </c> to see public sector negotiations to see public sector negotiations conducted<04:27:46.920><c> in
• secret or not confidential negotiate secret or not confidential negotiations<04:30:27.279><c> in</c>

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232, which would protect health care workers’ conscience rights in connection with certain procedures, especially abortion and sterilization, and also referenced contraception. The prime sponsor, Rep. Mark Pearson, said the bill is meant to prevent medical professionals from being forced to participate in procedures that violate their beliefs, while still prohibiting discrimination against patients based on protected characteristics. He said the measure was intended to help retain health care workers in New Hampshire and noted he had added an amendment to address concerns about people taking jobs only to later refuse duties, as well as emergency situations where a provider is the only one available. Committee members raised concerns about how broadly the bill and amendment were written. Questions focused on whether the protections could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers, receptionists, or pharmacy employees; whether a provider could refuse to schedule, refer, or otherwise assist with services; and how “emergency” would be determined in practice. Several members also questioned whether the bill could affect access to contraception, including pharmacy sales and procedures such as tubal ligation, and whether the language was clear enough to prevent confusion or unintended refusals of care. Pearson said the bill was not intended to allow refusal of emergency care or general patient discrimination, and he acknowledged some language could be tweaked. Rep. Paige Boerman, a maternal-child health nurse, testified in opposition, saying she had seen pharmacists question prescriptions related to miscarriage care and that the bill could create barriers to contraception and other reproductive health services. She warned that the lack of a disclosure requirement and the broad definitions could create risks, especially in rural areas with limited providers. She also pointed to problems she said had occurred in other states, arguing the bill could lead to delayed care in emergencies. The hearing ended after questions and discussion; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> who can be at the negotiation table. who can be at the negotiation table.
• The representative negotiates directly with TNC on an industry-wide basis.
• </c> representative negotiates directly with representative negotiates directly with TNC<00:03:19.360
• We just want to give them the right for them to be able to negotiate at the table fairly.
• </c><00:27:20.159><c> going</c> hands to be able to negotiate going hands to be able to negotiate going

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we're negotiating on this. It's still my desire, and this is a negotiated issue.
• :04:34.880><c> making</c><00:04:35.120><c> sure</c> we're negotiating, you know, making sure we're negotiating
• </c><00:04:50.720><c> on</c> discuss because we're in negotiations on discuss because we're in negotiations
• </c><00:04:54.639><c> because</c> get really into the negotiations because get really into the negotiations
• And it negotiation is it is everything.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're doing is negotiating with them, and this whole bill is a negotiation.
• And in reply, as I said, this is negotiation.
• Well, did you negotiate with them? I did not, no. But you said there was negotiations.
• Well, did you negotiate with them? I did not, no. But you said there was negotiations.
• Yeah, there's a negotiation with them.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3111, which concerns bail bonds oversight. Representative Phelps offered a committee substitute that moved bail bondsmen into the existing Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bonds to avoid a fiscal note. An amendment was adopted to remove fee caps in the substitute, and the committee then adopted the revised substitute and voted it do pass 21-0. The committee then heard Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill 1233, the CPA licensure bill, along with related provisions for social work supervisors and speech pathologists. Senator Trent and supporters from the Missouri Society of CPAs, the speech-language association, the social work community, and the State Auditor’s Office said the bill would address CPA shortages by creating a new licensure path based more on experience, while preserving exam standards and adding reciprocity. No opposition was offered, and the hearing concluded without a vote. House Bill 2999 on optometry scope of practice drew extensive testimony and debate. The sponsor and ophthalmology witnesses described the bill as a negotiated compromise that would codify specific procedures optometrists may perform, while opponents from optometry argued it would freeze scope in statute, limit modernization, and require repeated legislative action as standards change. Witnesses disagreed sharply over whether the bill improved patient safety and access, whether the procedures were already within current practice, and whether surgical procedures such as lasers should be included. The bill was heard but no committee action was taken in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2957 on respiratory therapist licensure. Representative Castile and respiratory care witnesses said the bill would phase out the CRT as the entry credential for new applicants in favor of the higher RRT standard, while grandfathering current CRTs and adding renewal audits to confirm active credentials. Supporters said the change reflects current training standards and would raise patient-care quality without reducing workforce numbers. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing adjourned without a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• those negotiations are not fruitful.
• It doesn't take the place of negotiations.
• We've had negotiations where we...
• and letters and negotiate diligently.
• negotiation.

Bills: HB3445 , HB3448

Committee: House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access

Transcript Highlights:

• exists, or would they somehow change the way the kind of filters you're able to have or how you negotiate
• several years on the Sanborn Regional School Board in Kingston, where I participated in labor negotiations
• As a 40-year educator, I have observed that secret negotiations preserve provisions which have never
• Public contract negotiations aren't about top sacred issues; they are sensitive private matters that
• </c> have observed secret negotiations have observed secret negotiations preserve<04:18:49.720><c> Provisions

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked hard in our negotiations with Leader Damoth and Ways and Means Co-Chair Torqulson to figure
• ,</c><00:02:56.640><c> it's</c> the global budget negotiations, it's the global budget negotiations,
• ,</c><00:05:13.919><c> including</c> brought into the negotiations, including brought into the negotiations
• </c><00:13:44.399><c> I'm</c><00:13:44.560><c> a</c> these negotiations, right?
• I'm a these negotiations, right?

Summary: House Democratic leaders and House Republican leaders announced a compromise set of budget targets reached Friday night, describing it as a numbers-only deal that leaves policy issues aside. They said the targets are the first step in the budget process: House committee chairs will write bills to fit the targets, those bills will go to Ways and Means, and later leaders will negotiate global targets with the governor and Senate. Leaders emphasized that the agreement reflects compromise rather than either party’s ideal budget, and that they will continue talks with Governor Walz and the Senate over the next several weeks. The speakers highlighted what was not included in the deal, saying it does not target paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time, reproductive rights, or universal school meals. They said the House priorities that did make it in include housing, education, pensions, public safety, and transportation. On education, they said the compromise provides $40 million in new money in the first biennium for the READ Act and no cuts in either biennium, contrasting that with larger cuts in the governor’s and Senate proposals. They also said schools could still choose to fund unemployment insurance for school workers from existing resources, though it was not earmarked in the targets. Leaders said the agreement leaves room for committee chairs to make choices within the targets, including in health and human services, where they described the target as a reduction in projected growth rather than a cut to existing appropriations. They said the budget plan sets aside discretionary inflation adjustments in the first biennium while preserving inflation indexing for items like the K-12 formula. They also said the deal improves the state’s long-term balance, with a projected $1.6 billion balance in the first biennium and a $1.3 billion deficit in the second, and that the House’s numbers do not include the same revenue assumptions as the governor’s and Senate’s plans. In questions, leaders said conference committees will require majority support from both House and Senate conferees, and that the House will send equal numbers of Democratic and Republican conferees. They said the bonding bill size is still under discussion, but the adopted numbers would allow for roughly a $700 million general obligation bill. They also said large state spending for professional sports facilities is likely over, and explained that the press conference was held without Republican leaders for logistical reasons after the deal was reached late Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• IGRA also outlines what the tribe and the state can negotiate.
• IGRA requires states to negotiate in good faith when negotiations are requested by the tribe.
• with negotiation with input from state policymakers.
• Agra requires states to negotiate in good faith when negotiations are requested by the tribe.
• As such, I am a member of Director Griffin's negotiations team.

Summary: The joint House and Senate committee meeting heard public presentations on tentative tribal gaming compact amendments for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Staff from the Washington State Gambling Commission explained the compacting process, the role of ex officio legislative members, and that both amendments would next go to a Gambling Commission hearing on January 8, 2026, where commissioners and ex officio members would vote on whether to forward them to the governor or send them back for further negotiation. Port Gamble S'Klallam Chairwoman Amber Caldera described the tribe’s history, lands, and how gaming revenue supports government services such as health care, housing, education, language and culture, natural resources, and community investment. Commission negotiator Johnny Bray summarized the proposed compact changes for Port Gamble as updates to Appendix F, including higher credit and wager limits, more gaming stations and player terminals, language for a second facility, and adoption of Appendix G for electronic table games. Members asked about pre-screening for high-limit tables and the tribe’s handling of problem gambling and self-exclusion, and tribal counsel said internal minimum control standards were still being developed. A question was also raised about funding for green crab removal, but the tribe said it would follow up with more details. Upper Skagit Indian Tribe attorney David Hawkins gave a historical overview of the tribe, its gaming operations, and how gaming revenue supports member programs such as nutrition assistance, education, and down payment aid, as well as local charitable contributions and emergency housing. He said the tribe is seeking the amendment to add electronic table games after removing traditional table games before COVID, in order to remain competitive. Committee questions focused on air quality and smoking areas, and Hawkins said the tribe maintains a non-smoking floor with separate smoking rooms and supports smoking cessation efforts. Chair Kauffman closed by thanking both tribes for their contributions to tribal members and the broader community, including education, housing, culture, health care, and natural resource protection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it took negotiation, but were you satisfied with what got done?
• Um, I wish we could get to that negotiation a little earlier.
• Um it took negotiation, but were bill.
• </c> I wish we could get to that negotiation I wish we could get to that negotiation a<00:02:10.640><
• </c><00:10:11.960><c> the</c> experts that that are negotiating the experts that that are negotiating

Summary: The interview focused on the Minnesota Senate DFL’s end-of-session accomplishments and frustrations. The senator said the caucus entered the session expecting little to get done in a divided, election-year legislature, but instead passed a range of major measures, including emergency rental assistance, immigration enforcement, gun violence prevention, an independent Office of the Inspector General, consumer protections for homeowners associations, and a $1.2 billion bonding/infrastructure bill for water, roads, and bridges. He said the bonding bill was a success but criticized the limited funding for lead pipe replacement, noting only $15 million was included. He also discussed affordability measures, especially a vehicle tab fee reduction negotiated in connection with the bonding bill, saying Democrats wanted the relief to take effect sooner but Republicans pushed implementation to January. He described other unfinished or blocked items, including a small business relief package tied to Metro Surge and efforts to protect Medicaid and SNAP from federal changes. He said many Senate proposals were developed through committee hearings and were meant to be negotiated publicly, but argued the House often failed to do comparable work, leading to last-minute deals and more party-line votes. The senator was sharply critical of federal actions under the Trump administration, saying cuts and mandates were harming states, counties, Medicaid, and SNAP, and weakening the state-federal partnership. Looking ahead, he said interim work will likely focus on procedural changes and health care, including stabilizing HCMC and supporting rural hospitals. He said the session’s work was aimed at serving Minnesotans first, and expressed optimism about the upcoming election season and the possibility of changing legislative practices next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• and how many mate directly negotiates and how many are<00:55:50.039><c> negotiated</c><00:55:51.039>
• </c> except for the the four that they negoti except for the the four that they negoti the<00:57:48.799
• </c> the four contracts that they negotiate the four contracts that they negotiate and<00:57:51.160><
• is that the union that gets negotiations is that the union that gets negotiated<01:02:07.119><c> with
• </c> when do you start your negotiations when do you start your negotiations for<01:05:26.480><c> the

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Drugs are being negotiated last month, this month, for 2027.
• If it's eight, they negotiate on the front end what the PBM keeps.
• When you start talking about negotiations, negotiations are based on leverage.
• Let's be clear: nobody has the ability to negotiate. Everybody has the ability to negotiate a rate.
• So you basically negotiate based off a drug.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 29 with a quorum present and took up several insurance and health care-related bills. SB 192, a dental reimbursement bill, was amended to allow dentists to opt in electronically to credit-card payment methods and to clarify applicability and effective date; it was reported as amended. SB 84 would require prostate cancer screening coverage for men over 40 under current clinical guidelines and prohibit cost-sharing; supporters from the American Cancer Society said Louisiana has a high incidence of prostate cancer and that out-of-pocket costs deter early screening. The committee adopted amendments and reported the bill as amended. SB 275, dealing with reimbursement and network participation for certified registered nurse anesthetists, drew support from nursing and hospital groups and was reported favorably. SB 169, a cleanup bill on biomarker testing, was also amended and reported. The committee spent substantial time on SB 401, which creates a temporary prescription drug affordability board to review pricing data on selected drugs and report findings to the legislature. Supporters said the board would improve transparency and help lawmakers understand drug pricing trends; opponents raised concerns about confidentiality, market effects, and the lack of a defined policy outcome beyond reporting. Amendments narrowed the scope, added confidentiality protections, and removed opposition cards, and the bill was reported as amended. SB 387, a major PBM reform bill tied to SB 401, would change PBM compensation, rebate handling, formulary practices, audits, and appeals, while excluding ERISA plans after discussion and amendment. Supporters argued it would curb spread pricing and other practices that raise costs, while opponents from the Pelican Institute and PCMA warned it would interfere with private contracts, reduce flexibility, and could raise premiums or disrupt city, school board, and small-group plans. After extensive debate and a roll call, SB 387 was reported with amendments by a 10-4 vote. The committee also considered SB 241, which requires certain insurance adjusters and public adjusters to include license numbers in written communications. After amendments limiting the requirement to individual licenses and removing one statutory reference, the bill was reported as amended. Throughout the meeting, members and witnesses repeatedly discussed the need for transparency in drug pricing and PBM practices, the role of ERISA and non-ERISA plans, and potential impacts on public employers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act also outlines what the tribe and the state can negotiate into these
• in good faith when negotiation requests are received from the tribe to the state.
• Then requires states to negotiate in good faith when negotiation requests are received from the tribe
• We appreciate the collaborative work that we have done with the Lummi Nation during this negotiation
• —that was first negotiated with the Kalispel tribe in 2018.

Summary: The State Government and Tribal Relations Committee held a public hearing on July 10 at 8:30 a.m. on a proposed amendment to the Lummi Nation’s tribal-state gaming compact. Washington State Gambling Commission Director Tina Griffin and Tribal Relations Advisor Johnny Bray outlined the compact process under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and explained that the amendment had reached tentative agreement after negotiations with the Lummi Nation. Lummi Vice Chair Terence Adams and Councilperson Vindeen Washington described the amendment as the tribe’s sixth compact amendment and said it would expand gaming opportunities while supporting tribal governmental services, infrastructure, and jobs. The main changes discussed were authorization for electronic table games, extension of credit to customers, higher wagering limits, and the possibility of a second gaming facility. Committee members asked several questions about how credit limits would be set, how electronic table games work, whether online gaming was included, and how the systems would be tested and monitored. Witnesses said online gaming is not authorized by this amendment, that electronic table games must be certified by an independent lab and tested under state-tribal procedures, and that higher-limit tables could go up to $5,000 with no more than 25% of tables at those limits. Lummi representatives said credit policies would be developed responsibly after approval and that the tribe already uses strong internal controls. The Gambling Commission said seven tribes currently operate electronic table games and 13 tribes have adopted the limitations appendix related to credit and wager limits. The hearing was informational and part of the required public review before the commission’s later vote that morning on whether to forward the amendment to the governor or send it back for further negotiations. No vote was taken by the committee during this hearing, and the chair closed the meeting after thanking the presenters.