Transcript Highlights:

• I gave direction to our staff at the start of that process.
• the process there.
• , Very similar to the RCO process.
• Obviously, this committee last spring went to the approval process, the confirmation process.
• Last spring went to the approval process, the confirmation process, for three commissioners appointed

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session with an update from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Commissioner Dave Upthe Grove outlined DNR’s size and scope, previewed agency-request legislation, and emphasized budget priorities. He said DNR will seek authority to sell ecosystem service credits, better use underutilized water rights with tribal consultation, add a tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources, make minor timber-sales efficiencies, and include wildland firefighters in the LEOFF pension system. He also urged restoration of wildfire prevention and preparedness funding, warning that reduced funding would mean fewer firefighters, less forest health work, and less support for rural fire districts. He noted DNR’s wildfire suppression costs are rising and argued prevention spending can reduce larger, more expensive fires. State Forester George Geisler followed with a detailed wildfire season review. He said Washington now responds to fires year-round and also assists other states, including Texas. He described DNR’s use of 31 aircraft, 691 firefighters, and corrections-based crews, and said the agency’s success rate for keeping fires under 10 acres improved slightly from 93.7% to 94.1%. He highlighted increased arson activity, especially around Spokane, and described the Crescent Road Fire as an example of early detection, rapid response, and the use of bulldozers, aircraft, and hand crews to contain a fire to 182 acres with no structure losses. Senator Saldan praised the emphasis on prevention and the use of bulldozers as cost-effective tools. Assistant deputy supervisor Dwayne Emmons then reviewed the trust land transfer program, which was codified in statute in 2023 after being funded through the capital budget for decades. He said more than 130,000 acres of underperforming trust land have been transferred since the 1990s to other public or tribal entities for more appropriate use, while DNR acquires replacement lands to keep the trust whole. He described the current application and ranking process, including tribal input, and said DNR is requesting funding for remaining parcels from the last round, including portions of Tract C, Babcock Bench, and Middle Fork Snoqualmie. In questions, Senator Wagoner raised concerns about DNR’s decision to remove some acres from timber harvest rotation and its impact on local revenue and mills; the commissioner responded that current five-year harvest plans provide short-term stability and that any changes would be explored through the Board of Natural Resources process, not through immediate reductions in supply. The committee then received a history briefing from staff member Jeff Olson on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and agency structure. He traced the evolution from early fish and game commissioners to the current commission-appointed director model adopted by voter-approved Referendum 45 in 1995. Olson explained the commission’s statutory duties, membership requirements, and how Washington compares with other states. Chair Chapman said he had no plans to hear a bill this session changing the commission’s makeup, but he expressed personal interest in exploring reforms, accountability, and possibly a future broader coalition or referendum process. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair adjourned the session with holiday and New Year’s wishes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So far, it looks like about $4 million of that has been either expended or put under contract, and there's
• Do we have like this big mega contract with a third-party IT company, and then we pay them a monthly
• Chairman, I just want to further provide some more information on this process.
• These contracts seem incredibly expensive to me. Mr.
• Contract attorneys at the Public Defender Department.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I just kind of want to get the thought process behind that.
• So I just want to kind of get the thought process behind this.
• So I just want to kind of get the thought process behind this and why it's there.
• We additionally are moving from a paper process to...
• We additionally are moving from a paper process to an automated process, and I think we mentioned, I

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Frank Damrow Jr. to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board, Michelle Eddger to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and David Galavis to the State Park and Recreation Commission, each by 4-0 vote. The committee also approved a rule waiver to allow SB 1447 (health) to be heard after the policy committee deadline, and took up floor acknowledgments before moving to appointments requiring testimony. The committee then heard from Clint Kellam, nominee to lead the Department of Cannabis Control. Members focused heavily on cannabis labeling, youth protection, attractive-to-children packaging, the SB 540 educational pamphlet, and the department’s efforts to steer consumers from illicit to legal products. Kellam said the department’s role is not to promote increased consumption but to move existing consumption into the regulated market, and he described enforcement against illicit cultivation and retail, consumer education efforts, and a possible AI tool to help licensees review packaging. He also said the department would consider tighter packaging rules, including one-serving packaging, but emphasized the need for research and legislative collaboration. The committee voted 4-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate. The committee next heard from Jennifer Osborne, nominee to direct the Department of Industrial Relations. Questions centered on DIR’s handling of Cal/OSHA audit findings, labor commissioner backlogs, PAGA enforcement, staffing shortages, IT modernization, and how her administrative background would help address those issues. Osborne said DIR is working on revised Cal/OSHA policies and procedures, additional staffing and intake changes, new IT systems, and possible use of outside administrative law judges to reduce delays. She also clarified that the Civil Rights Department is not under DIR, but said she would follow up on concerns raised. Public commenters from employer groups, labor, and industry largely supported her nomination, and the committee approved her appointment 4-0 to move to the full Senate for confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is process and it's not compulsory.
• This was a good process and a good bill, and we're ready to execute the law. Mr.
• or at the end of that title 25 process or at the end of that process<01:01:49.119><c> committed</c><
• So, in terms of the process, File One.
• ><01:11:38.719><c> my</c> the remaining process, it's my the remaining process, it's my understanding

Bills: SF0032 , SF0010 , SF0001 , HB0001

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• We are transforming our potato production and processing and marketing.
• And then if you contract with ICE, there's going to be layers on top of that.
• The bill provides for a hearing process.
• But we do have to go through a process of getting that take authorization.
• There will be a fair bit of process to work through to get to that point.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from University of Idaho representatives on the university’s land-grant mission and its role in federalism, followed by detailed overviews of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Speakers described the Morrill, Hatch, and Smith-Lever Acts, the university’s history, and examples of research, extension, and workforce training in agriculture, engineering, law, forestry, fire science, and youth programs such as 4-H. They highlighted facilities and programs including research stations, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, the deep soil ecotron, the Wildland Fire Center, the experimental forest, and the policy analysis group, while also noting the impact of federal and state funding delays and cuts on staffing and research capacity. Committee members asked about several current issues, including quagga mussels, screw worm, chronic wasting disease, and the effects of funding cuts. University officials said they were not actively researching some of those wildlife and livestock disease issues but were willing to help if capacity and funding allowed. They also said budget reductions had caused real losses, including layoffs and reduced programs, and that federal grant delays had disrupted research timelines. The committee also raised questions about conflicts of interest and university employees’ outside work; the university said it has annual conflict-of-interest and conflict-of-commitment training and review procedures. The committee then heard from Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse and the Idaho Sheriffs Association on the federal 287(g) immigration partnership program. Hulse argued that participation should remain voluntary and locally controlled, describing the different 287(g) models, the training and liability concerns, and the distinction between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. He said Idaho agencies already cooperate with ICE in other ways and that mandatory participation could create staffing, legal, and community-trust problems. Members asked about costs, liability, detention standards, and whether deputies lose local control under task force arrangements; Hulse said the answer depends on the specific model and operation, and he emphasized the need for local discretion. Later, the committee took testimony on the long-running bighorn sheep and domestic sheep conflict affecting western Idaho grazing allotments. Idaho Wool Growers representatives and affected ranchers described the history of state legislation, federal litigation, and the closure of grazing areas after bighorn sheep transplants, which they said cut livestock operations in half and caused major financial and personal hardship. They argued that the state and federal agencies had not lived up to assurances that permittees would be held harmless, and they urged continued attention to the issue. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that really was the intent through the whole process and starting through the process.
• The process can work then too.
• Right, and the process worked.
• So the process Responds back in the rewriting of the ballot language. So the process worked fine.
• And let that be the process.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3146, sponsored by Rep. John Simmons, which would expand legislatively written ballot summary statements from 50 to 100 words and create a revised process for court challenges to ballot language. Simmons said the bill is essentially the same as last year’s Senate Bill 22, minus the section the Supreme Court struck down, and argued it would preserve the General Assembly’s role while allowing the Secretary of State and courts to work through objections to ballot summaries. Supporters said the longer summary would better inform voters and that the back-and-forth process had worked in the recent Amendment 3 litigation. Members raised concerns that the bill would encourage misleading or argumentative ballot language, create extra procedural steps, and potentially let the clock run out before challenges are fully resolved. Rep. Woods and others argued the courts are needed to prevent “ballot candy” and dishonest summaries, while supporters countered that the legislature and Secretary of State should have primary authority and that courts should not act as a “super legislature.” The sponsor and supporters also pointed to the recent Amendment 3 process as evidence that the revised procedure can work and produce agreed-upon language. Testimony was split. Campaign Life Missouri, Missouri Right to Life, and a representative from the Secretary of State’s office testified in favor, emphasizing transparency, voter information, and the elected status of the officials drafting ballot language. Opponents included the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, League of Women Voters, Jobs with Justice, Missouri Right to Education, and private citizens, who argued the bill is unconstitutional, undermines separation of powers, and would allow misleading language to survive by dragging out litigation. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2233 does not interfere with that process.
• The health plan will continue to have full authority to review care, ensure the process, and address
• My program is contracted with Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health, where our team of certified peer support
• My program is contracted with Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health, where our team of certified peer support
• And then every two years, there’s an additional recertification process, which requires an additional

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3942 It just modifies certain aspects of our incentive evaluation process, trying to tighten
• but sometimes when You'd have a certain doctor's legal situation that goes above that in and it's a process
• The amendment is simply reinserting a paragraph that was inadvertently omitted during the PCS process
• My questions are really around process.
• What's the process to end doing business, and does that create harm for us, or what are those business

Bills: HB1245 , HB2588 , HB3024 , HB3172 , HB3279 , HB3919 , HB3306 , HB3383 , HB3431 , HB3435 , HB4352 , HB3883 , HB3942 , HB4193 , HB4203 , HB4303 , HB4311 , HB4484

Committee: House Government Oversight

Keywords: retirement, pension, public employees, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, benefits, survivorship, contribution rates, disability retirement, owners associations, membership requirements, property ownership, board governance, residency requirements, salary increase, state employees, public finance, bonus limits, job performance, Fair Banking Act, financial institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• THE CAR WAS RECOVERED THE NEXT DAY AND WAS NEVER FINGERPRINTED OR PROCESSED OR ANYTHING TO TIE ANYONE
• COUNTIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINUED PAYMENT OF ANY DEBT SERVICE OR EXISTING CONTRACTS RELATED
• EQUAL TO PRIOR YEARS TDT COLLECTIONS MINUS ANY REVENUE NEEDED FOR DEBT SERVICE OR TO CONTINUE ANY CONTRACT
• OBVIOUSLY, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH CHAIR DUGGAN AS THIS MOVES FORWARD IN THE PROCESS BUT AS WRITTEN
• SO, ON THAT PIECE WE ARE OPPOSED TO SECTION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A FAIR PROCESS.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also create a centralized process for gathering and analyzing. and distributing intelligence
• Having great discourse and conversation in the legislative process is essential.
• Any private sector entity that we contract with...
• It slows down our processes and blurs the lines of responsibility.
• I do believe this is a good start and a good part of the process.

Bills: SB36 , SB2202 , SB 36

Committee: Senate Border Security

Keywords: homeland security, border security, critical infrastructure, Department of Public Safety, intelligence operations, public-private partnerships, SB 2202, firearm trafficking, gun trafficking, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, Texas-Mexico border, United Mexican States, Mexico, DPS, second-degree felony, weapons transfer, illegal firearms transfer, arms smuggling, cross-border crime

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to do a uh Dam reconstruction process to do a uh Dam reconstruction process that<00:40:44.280><c
• </c><01:09:56.080><c> to</c> state has to go through a process to state has to go through a process to
• </c><01:23:47.400><c> of</c> of that um and we're in the process of of that um and we're in the process
• </c> challenges are that it's a contract challenges are that it's a contract between<02:31:34.800><c>
• </c><04:35:57.639><c> where</c> planning in a an open process where planning in a an open process where

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• standards and rules that the teachers must abide by, and then for some programs, it's additional contract
• Every teacher is required to by their contract to call the students and figure out what they're doing
• But it's really been a successful, very labor-intensive process. I won't cookie-cutter it.
• We invest a lot in our staff to provide service and knowledge for our grantmaking and vetting process
• The first is that we negotiate and pay vendor contracts on behalf of the consortium.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• go to a formal complaint process.
• go to a formal complaint process.
• go to a formal complaint process.
• go to a formal complaint process.
• go to a formal complaint process.

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It seeks to extend the 15 days of protection to people who are contract employees.
• Days of protection to people who are contract employees in an incident of domestic violence.
• So I do want to say to all of you, thank you for being our partners in this process as we have tried
• At altering times, who made sure that we kept moving, that we allowed people to speak, but the process
• Thank you for the honor of being part of this process.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate met on the FY27 budget and began with several ceremonial introductions and brief amendment withdrawals. Senator Collins withdrew amendments related to restoring DCF social worker funding and educator pay. The chamber then ruled a package of tax-related amendments offered by Senator Tarr out of order on constitutional grounds, finding they would create money-bill provisions that must originate in the House; the Senate upheld that ruling by a vote of 35-4. Senator Tarr later offered amendments on a gas tax suspension and related tax relief themes, but those were not adopted. The Senate considered and rejected several other amendments, including proposals on commemorating Commonwealth history, naming a bridge, repeat offenders, and no-cost calls. One amendment by Senator Fattman to extend domestic violence leave protections to contract employees was adopted unanimously, with 39 votes in favor and none opposed. The chamber also adopted an amendment creating a special commission to study the adequacy, reliability, and distribution of unrestricted general government aid (UGA), after extended debate about inequities in municipal aid and local budget pressures. Members from across the chamber supported the commission, while some emphasized that adequacy of funding, not just redistribution, remains a concern. The Senate then took up Chapter 90, passing the municipal roads and bridges bill to be engrossed. It also adopted a community programming amendment and a Senate Ways and Means amendment, then adopted the Ways and Means budget amendment as amended and ordered the underlying FY27 appropriations bill to a third reading. After lengthy closing remarks from the Ways and Means chair, minority leader, and the Senate President praising the budget process and highlighting investments in local aid, education, public safety, and other priorities, the Senate voted 40-0 to pass the FY27 budget bill to be engrossed. The chamber then adopted an order to reconvene the following Tuesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Trooper Kevin Thomas Traynor.

Transcript Highlights:

• , for part-time employees, but not for temporary employees, not for temporary employees, not for contract
• It seeks to extend the 15 days of protection to people who are contract employees.
• So I do want to say to all of you, thank you for being our partners in this process as we have tried
• At altering times who made sure that we kept moving, that we allowed people to speak, but the process
• Thank you for the honor of being part of this process.

Summary: The Senate continued debate on the FY27 state budget, with several distinguished introductions and a series of amendment actions. Early amendments from Senator Collins on restoring DCF social worker funding and educator pay were withdrawn without objection. The Chair then sustained a point of order that a group of tax-related amendments, including proposals on teacher tax relief, tips, overtime, estate tax, and income tax rates, were out of order because they would create money bills that must originate in the House; the Senate voted 35-4 to uphold that ruling. Senator Tarr’s gas tax suspension amendment and several other amendments were defeated, while Senator Fattman’s amendment extending domestic violence leave protections to contract employees was adopted unanimously, 39-0. The Senate also adopted Senator Fernandes’ amendment creating a commission to study the adequacy, reliability, and distribution of unrestricted general government aid (UGA), after debate focused on inequities in local aid distribution and the need for a modern formula. The chamber then took up House No. 5375, the Chapter 90 municipal roads and bridges bill, and passed it to be engrossed. Additional amendments were considered on the budget, including a community programming amendment and a Senate Ways and Means amendment, both adopted, after which the Ways and Means amendment as amended was adopted and the underlying budget was ordered to a third reading. The Senate also handled several procedural matters, including concurrence in a House referral for a bill on poverty-related legislation and ordering a sick leave bank bill for Carla Johnson to a third reading. After extensive closing remarks from the Ways and Means chair, minority leader, and others praising the collaborative budget process and highlighting investments in local aid, education, public safety, and other priorities, the Senate voted on final passage of House No. 5501, the FY27 appropriations bill. The roll call showed 40-0 in favor, and the bill was passed to be engrossed. The Senate then adopted an order to reconvene the following Tuesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Trooper Kevin Thomas Traynor.

Transcript Highlights:

• The six-month renewal process sounds like, at face value, like good stewardship of taxpayer dollars,
• It doesn't limit the ability of brokers or social workers to help guide folks through the Medicaid process
• of kind of brokers, but different social workers to kind of help guide folks through the Medicaid process
• So it's really with, folks through the Medicaid process. It doesn't address that.
• Additionally, in contract disputes where a provider may be leaving a network, an insurer would remain

Bills: HB2408 , HB2434 , HB2725 , HB2728 , HB2729 , HB2730 , HB2731 , HB2732 , HB2733 , SB1192 , SB1398 , SB1399 , SB1494 , SB1557 , SB1813 , SB1821

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: nursing board, regulatory actions, disciplinary actions, expungement, healthcare professionalism, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, prescription drugs, opioids, healthcare, pain management, utilization controls, AHCCCS, Department of Economic Security, social services, welfare programs, vocational rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• have counties with different income levels and different property tax levels, and that makes this process
• have counties with different income levels and different property tax levels, and that makes this process
• And this has made the application process... Sorry, if you can conclude.
• That's made the process more complicated.
• just to put a finer point on it, is going to allow school districts to again resume engaging in contracts

Bills: HB2376 , HB2584 , HB2610 , HB2615 , HB2089 , HB2194 , HB2257 , HB2528 , HB2175 , HB2334

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: property tax, reform, local government, taxpayer, funding, agriculture, tax exemption, farm machinery, equipment, sales tax, HB 2610, property tax exemption, nonprofit housing, affordable housing, low-income housing, community use, temporary use, charitable property, Washington property tax, Department of Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• She loves to read and is also excited to watch the process.
• and Block, an act relating to government transparency, enacting the Transparency in Government Contracting
• Act, requiring certain procedures for providing the public with information on government contracts,
• introduced by Representatives Pettigrew, Block, and Mason, an act relating to rules, providing a process
• It's so important that we stay on top of the budget process, which we're constitutionally required to

Bills: HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• Keller go through the process further. Mr.
• </c><01:42:18.480><c> to</c> people don't give grants or contracts to people don't give grants or contracts
• There is a different process.
• There are is a different process.
• ,</c> moving forward through the process, moving forward through the process, looking<02:04:02.560><c

Bills: HF3043 , HF2891

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> came in outside of the budget process came in outside of the budget process process<01:16:25.719
• And that's kind of the process.
• And that's kind of the process.
• And that's kind of the process.
• And that's kind of the process.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met for an organizational opening session in which the chair, Ken Weyler, called the committee to order and members introduced themselves. The introductions established the committee’s leadership and membership, including Vice Chair Dan McGuire, ranking member Mary Jane Wallner, deputy ranking member Karen Eil, clerk Jerry Griffin, and other members from both parties. Many members briefly described prior legislative service and professional backgrounds, with several noting prior experience on Finance or related budget committees. Chair Weyler then outlined committee procedures and expectations. He emphasized that Finance handles spending bills and fiscal notes, that bills will generally be heard by the full committee and then referred to the appropriate division, and that executive sessions may be used to save time when positions are clear. He reviewed rules on attendance, dress, phones, paperwork handling, committee replacements, conflict of interest and recusal, and the process for testimony, including that members should listen without debating witnesses and that sponsors of bills must recuse themselves from questioning witnesses on their own bills. He also described the committee’s structure and workload, noting three divisions and the role of legislative budget staff. Weyler said the committee would likely see bills from many policy committees that have fiscal impacts, and he encouraged policy committees to find offsets within their own areas rather than assume new spending will be added. No bills were heard and no votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.