Transcript Highlights:

• It's just the question of can a buyer, a contract for deed buyer, later make a claim that there's been
• that there's been a violation of a claim that there's been a violation of the<00:39:27.079><c> ACT</
• And basically it's the buyer that would have to be able to raise the claim.
• Chair, Senator, basically upon cancellation the claim is barred.
• But if no claim is made and the cancellation is completed, the title is clear and life goes on. Mr.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• center to claim their property.
• I have received... multiple claims on that. Thank you very much, rude testimony.
• To process an unemployment claim from when the claimant makes the claim?
• Our standard is two weeks from the time that you submit a claim.
• There were some issues concerning people filing fraudulent claims.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It cleans the dates, and that is all. Um, do you have agreement? Yes, we have agreement.
• It cleans the dates, and uh have a CD1.
• It cleans the dates, and that<00:02:56.320><c> is</c><00:02:56.440><c> all.
• Okay, and um again we have a CD1 that cleans the date. Do we have agreement? Yes, we do.
• Okay, and um again we have a CD1 that cleans the date. Do we have agreement? Yes, we do.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vehicles are required to be cleaned of materials such as mud, rocks, and other debris.
• Vehicles are required to be cleaned of materials such as mud, rocks, and other debris when operating
• location and then clean it.
• The current law requires you to clean those tracks.
• The current law requires you to clean those tracks.

Bills: HB2109 , HB2139 , HB2192

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: vehicle loads, public highways, transportation, road safety, infrastructure, HB2139, snowmobile registration, snowmobile fee, vehicle license fee, registration fee, Department of Licensing, RCW, vehicle registration, winter recreation, off-road vehicle, moped, motorcycle, trailer, recreational vehicle, vintage snowmobile

Transcript Highlights:

• It costs to clean that up. We also look at hydrogen sulfide, which is H2S.
• We have a whole list of things we look at when we are assessing wells and making sure we are Cleaning
• up what needs to be cleaned up.
• special products that have been used over the years to clean and disinfect equipment.
• special products that have been used over the years to clean and disinfect equipment.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we send a a claim via the computer, we pay for the claim via the computer, we pay for the claim
• via the computer, we pay for the transmission of the claim.
• Started out transmission of the claim. Started out transmission of the claim.
• And I've seen numerous uh claims of And I've seen numerous uh claims of And I've seen numerous uh claims
• and they are claims and they are claims and they are underpaying all the brandame underpaying all the

Bills: SCR 13 , SCR 24 , SB 1 , SB 12 , SB 15 , SB 17 , SB 24 , SB 57 , SB 65 , SB 213 , SB 371 , SB 372 , SB 378 , SB 379 , SB 388 , SB 400 , SB 402 , SB 427 , SB 495 , SB 499 , SB 502 , SB 509 , SB 535 , SB 583 , SB 610 , SB 621 , SB 650 , SB 706 , SB 740 , SB 840 , SB 854 , SB 856 , SB 875 , SB 893 , SB 918 , SB 925 , SB 974 , SB 995 , SB 1006 , SB 1018 , SB 1025 , SB 1061 , SB 1073 , SB 1106 , SB 1121 , SB 1194 , SB 1252 , SB 1253 , SB 1268 , SB 1300 , SB 1343 , SB 1362 , SB 1447 , SJR 36 , SJR 12 , SJR 57 , SCR 25 , SCR 22 , SCR 12 , SCR 24 , SCR 8 , SB 565 , SB 372 , SB 765 , SB 62 , SB 666 , SB 707 , SB 888 , SB 687 , SB 847 , SB 1248 , SB 740 , SB 14 , SB 1006 , SB 504 , SB 925 , SB 1121 , SB 995 , SB 857 , SB 305 , SB 296 , SB 284 , SB 815 , SB 1379 , SB 1300 , SB 1497 , SB 1499 , SB 1498 , SB 1061 , SB 65 , SB 241 , SB 304 , SB 402 , SB 499 , SB 621 , SB 974 , SB 1023 , SB 1024 , SB 1025 , SB 1106 , SB 686 , SB 112 , SB 371 , SB 204 , SB 400 , SB 609 , SB 1447 , SB 670 , SB 502 , SB 427 , SB 850 , SB 854 , SB 413 , SB 1555 , SB 1362 , SB 1346 , SB 1033 , SB 1220 , SB 1073 , SB 810 , SB 987 , SB 1539 , SB 893 , SB 447 , SB 875 , SB 406 , SB 509 , SB 985 , SB 965 , SB 1119 , SB 1505 , SB 24 , SB 57 , SB 1194 , SB 1253 , SB 1215 , SB 1532 , SB 1268 , SB 1302 , SB 856 , SB 650 , SB 583 , SB 673 , SB 840 , SB 213 , SB 681 , SB 1172 , SB 1252 , SB 378 , SB 610 , SB 918 , SB 1343 , SB 608 , SB 487 , SB 955 , SB 957 , SB 988 , SB 990 , SB 1019 , SB 1021 , SB 1120 , SB 251 , SB 958 , SB 535 , SB 761 , SB 1 , SB 541 , SB 315 , SB 379 , SB 1018 , SB 1737 , SB 266 , SB 1415 , SB 57 , SB 499 , SB 974 , SB 1025 , SB 1061 , SB 1268 , SR 302 , SR 303 , SR 304 , SR 305 , SB 30 , SB 1333 , SB 1666 , SB 30 , SB 1333 , SB 1666

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas, Israel, trade, investment, partnership, economic ties, technological innovation, bilateral relations, appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• strengthening reform and $57 million so injured workers get an initial hearing within 60 days of submitting a claim
• Simplifying the claims process is a much more beneficial way to get doctors to participate in the program
• understand the process, are simply going to result in workers not getting the care they need because their claims
• SIMPLIFYING THE CLAIMS PROCESS IS A MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL WAY TO GET DOCTORS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM
• UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS ARE SIMPLY GOING TO RESULT IN WORKERS NOT GETTING THE CARE THEY NED BECAUSE THEIR CLAIMS

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services and Labor budget hearing opened with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members and naming secretaries for the record. The agencies covered included Human Services, Labor, Temporary and Disability Assistance, Children and Family Services, Veterans Services, Human Rights, Workers’ Compensation, the Welfare Inspector General, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Members then gave brief statements on their priorities for the upcoming budget negotiations. A major theme was affordability, with repeated discussion of child care, SNAP, housing, and worker supports. Senators and Assembly members highlighted the Senate and Assembly one-house proposals for a $500 million child care worker retention grant program, additional child care slots and subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and expanded support for supportive housing, youth employment, HEAP, and energy affordability. Several members also emphasized food insecurity and SNAP-related issues, including funding to address payment errors, prevent penalties, expand SNAP education, and respond to expected federal changes. Labor-related issues included workers’ compensation fraud, wage theft enforcement, workplace violence, temporary disability insurance reform, and the creation of dedicated enforcement funding for the Department of Labor. Some members supported using workers’ compensation assessments or insurance-company-related funding to pay for anti-fraud efforts, while others preferred grants to district attorneys or broader DOL enforcement. There was also discussion of occupational health clinics, labor standards in any SEQRA changes, and expanding access to doctors in the workers’ compensation system. Veterans, child care, and public assistance fraud prevention were also discussed, including funding for veterans legal defense and mental health services, microchip/secure EBT cards to reduce skimming, and restoring or protecting various programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs stating that the Senate, Assembly, and Executive would continue negotiations toward a final budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• To claim lawyer negligence, you usually have to have an expert witness.
• I was just wondering if you could give us an example of what you would think would qualify as a claim
• I was just wondering if you could give us an example of what you would think would qualify as a claim
• Yeah, that would be, that would certainly be a potential claim, and I would call it a liability pattern
• I think you're exactly right in an LPLA, Louisiana Product Liability Act, claim alleging a defect in

Bills: HB78 , HB112 , HB190 , HB292 , HB410 , HB427 , HB437

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: jurisdiction, city court, Bogalusa, civil law, court limit, Louisiana, child relocation, custody, mileage measurement, co-parenting, Louisiana law, software, computer programs, standard of care, liability, design, development, manufacture, sale, security deposit

Transcript Highlights:

• And the more that claims are paid out, the more rates go up. It's just how it is.
• There's been certain actions by the Legislature that have opened up claims that didn't exist before.
• times what we see is, yes, we always tell our members to inform your insurance if you think there is a claim
• But a lot of times the insurance companies take care of how they're going to handle that claim specifically
• And if you have—it's all depending on your claims history as well, too.

Summary: The House Consumer Protection & Business Committee held a public hearing on a bill concerning indemnification of commercial liquor servers. Staff explained that under current law, both licensed retailers and individual servers can face administrative penalties and civil liability if they sell alcohol to someone apparently under the influence, and the bill would require the retailer to pay the server’s defense costs and any civil judgment, while preserving existing administrative penalties and causes of action against the retailer. Members asked about how the current penalty structure works, whether the bill would change administrative enforcement, and how liability would apply in situations involving a lone server or multiple establishments; staff said the bill did not specifically address those scenarios. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to protect lower-paid servers from losing everything in civil lawsuits when they were not the ones who violated the law, while still holding accountable those who actually break the rules. She emphasized that the bill was meant to start a broader conversation and that the term “indemnification” was used as a placeholder for the policy concept. Members raised questions about whether the retailer’s insurance would cover judgments, how the proposal would interact with existing liability rules, and whether cannabis service would be included; the sponsor said cannabis was not currently covered but might be if treated like alcohol in the future. A representative of the Washington Hospitality Association testified that liquor liability insurance is increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain, with fewer insurers, higher premiums, and some businesses unable to get coverage. The association said the bill would not materially change current law because licensees already defend themselves and employees in civil suits, but it would not stop servers from being named in lawsuits, which can still harm workers’ backgrounds and future employment. The association argued the larger problem is lawsuit abuse and urged broader reforms to damages, demand rules, and joint-and-several liability. The hearing ended with the committee closing public testimony on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The harm exists when someone claims against a person's property, but there is no... ...because they know
• the person's information, they can claim against their property.
• But there is no, because they know the person's information, they can claim against their property.
• place already to deter these sort of self-styled troublemakers from filing spurious UCC liens or claims
• "...claims?"

Bills: HB2640 , HB2161 , HB2304 , HB2445 , HB2590 , HB2412

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: Uniform Commercial Code, business filings, legal filings, commercial transactions, UCC compliance, attorney general, legal authority, state powers, judiciary, civil rights, condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, probate, estate administration, inheritance, heir finder, heir locator

Transcript Highlights:

• But, for example, it is challenging when you continue to have completely baseless claims being made,
• making sure that you have a system that works so actually things aren't ground to a halt with baseless claims
• But so, for example, it is challenging, for example, when you continue to have completely baseless claims
• making sure that you have a system that works so actually things aren't ground to a halt with baseless claims
• . so actually things aren't ground to a halt with baseless claims is also really an important thing.

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders used the meeting to discuss a broad package of bills they said were aimed at responding to federal ICE actions and protecting Washington residents. They highlighted an upcoming Senate vote on Senator Valdez’s bill banning law-enforcement masking, a Flock automated license plate reader restrictions bill moving through rules, and a bill to protect emergency response operations. They said the face-covering bill is intended to apply to law enforcement generally but is mainly aimed at federal agents, and argued it would improve accountability and set a clear state norm, while acknowledging legal questions and a similar California case. They also said they were working with the governor and attorney general on related protections and invited Republican support. The leaders also addressed several other policy items. They said a Senate bill to restore Washington College Grant and College Bound scholarship funding would be considered in the operating budget process, but it was too early to know whether reductions could be reversed. They expressed openness to a House bill limiting non-emergency charity care to Washington residents, citing border hospitals and the burden on local resources, and said they were open to oversight ideas for housing-related fraud concerns while defending the accountability systems already in place. They also discussed a House bill on camping enforcement tied to shelter availability, saying it was a complex issue and likely still under discussion. On budget and tax issues, they said an income tax proposal was likely to be introduced later in the week or the following week, with offsets either included in the bill or outlined in a companion measure. They also said they were still evaluating a tort-liability proposal and its projected savings, and were open to Representative Keaton’s memorial urging Washington to opt into a federal education tax credit, though they emphasized their priority remains funding public schools. Finally, they said a recycling/deposit-return bill had improved and was likely to move out of committee, and they expected a floor vote on the BAC bill the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to move on to Senate Bill 9 for 4 by Senator Davis regarding insurance overpayment claim
• Currently, Florida health insurance companies can make claims for over payments to participating psychologist
• for up to 30 months after the health insurance payment of a claim.
• 6.27, and it has a provision to 6 Chapter 6.41. which applies to over payment provision to the HMO claims
• It's making sure that those claims are applied on or after January one 2026. >> Having explain the amendment

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Taylor, can you please walk us through the parks and trails and the Clean Water Fund?
• </c><00:15:18.240><c> Water</c> have Incorporated the Clean Water have Incorporated the Clean Water Council
• I mean, as I mentioned, the Clean Water Council does make recommendations.
• I mean, as I mentioned, the Clean Water Council does make recommendations.
• He said it is fundamental to life. and that the Clean Water Council has and that the Clean Water Council

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:48:53.800><c> regarding</c> On page 19, Senate Bill 255 by Senator Givan regarding quiet title claims
• On page 19 of the calendar, Senate Bill 255 by Senator Givan regarding quiet title claims.
• On page 19 of the calendar, Senate Bill 255 by Senator Givan regarding quiet title claims.
• Uh and I called the governor to clean my mess up.
• Uh and I called the governor to clean my mess up.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened, heard a prayer and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the prior journal. The chamber received House messages, including referral of Senate Confirmation 89 for Rex Jones to the Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Trust Funds Management Board, and concurred in Senate Bill 231 after a 30-0 vote. Several local House bills were referred to the Committee on Local Legislation. During personal remarks, Senator Coleman-Madison recognized Women’s History Month and highlighted Alabama native Mary Ellen Jolly and her book, "Accidental Activist," praising women who support the legislature. The Senate then processed committee reports, including favorable reports on multiple Finance and Taxation General Fund bills (SB 143, 144, 145 with substitute, 152, 153, 154, 162, 226 with substitute, and 146 with substitute and one abstention), as well as confirmations for Nancy Sandford, Marty Abrams, and Jim Page to the University of North Alabama Board of Trustees, all of which were confirmed. Committee reports also advanced several county and municipal and local legislation measures, including SB 292, HB 351, HB 141, HB 273, HB 504, HB 488, SB 343, and SB 346. On the floor, SB 333 on class two municipalities passed after adoption of its BIR and committee amendment, and HB 308, a proposed constitutional amendment for Mobile County, passed after the Senate tabled the committee amendment, adopted a substitute amendment by Senator Figures, and approved the certification resolution. SB 334 for Shelby County, SB 339 for Crenshaw County, and HB 507 for Covington County also passed, with certification resolutions adopted where required. The governor returned SB 228 with an executive amendment, and the Senate concurred 33-0. The Rules Committee report set the special order calendar for the next legislative day, listing bills including SB 91, SB 280, SB 181, SB 237, SB 326, SB 255, HB 77, HB 104, HB 110, HB 271, HB 362, HB 332, HB 429, SB 211, HB 125, HB 122, HB 124, SB 140, SB 199, and SB 332. Senator Singleton spoke at length criticizing the handling of minority-sponsored bills and questioning several measures, and after debate the Senate adopted the special order calendar 34-0. SB 91 was then carried over at the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• ICE agents have dressed in plain clothes, showed up at schools claiming to pick up food or drop off food
• And so with that, I think we will begin our testifying. clothes, showed up at schools claiming clothes
• , showed up at schools claiming to<00:13:26.720><c> pick</c><00:13:26.880><c> up</c><00:13:27.120><c>
• My wife was making about $300 from cleaning homes.
• My wife was making about $300 from cleaning homes.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of which came here claiming asylum.
• </c> most of which came here claiming asylum. most of which came here claiming asylum.
• We have no idea who claimed asylum.
• We have no idea who claimed asylum.
• > license until a claim has been license until a claim has been adjudicated<03:23:47.359><c> by</c><03

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> after the health plan had paid the claim after the health plan had paid the claim to<00:33:03.519
• </c> the state of Minnesota if their claims the state of Minnesota if their claims reach<00:50:43.280
• They collect premiums to pay claims.
• And you collect premiums to pay claims.
• </c> which absorbs the risk of high claim which absorbs the risk of high claim individuals.<01:27:32.000

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vehicles are required to be cleaned of materials such as mud, rocks, and other debris.
• Vehicles are required to be cleaned of materials such as mud, rocks, and other debris when operating
• So if you were towing a tractor on a trailer, instead of cleaning the tracks before you put it on the
• location and then clean it.
• The current law requires you to clean those tracks.

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from NCSL staff on national transportation funding trends and alternative user-fee options as gas tax revenue declines. The presentation covered declining fuel-tax purchasing power, the effects of more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles, and a range of state responses including indexed gas taxes, EV and hybrid registration fees, voluntary and mandatory road usage charges, transportation network company fees, retail delivery fees, and per-kilowatt-hour EV charging fees. Members asked about Virginia’s mileage-fee program, enrollment rates, and whether states had reduced gas taxes alongside new fees; the presenters said they would follow up with additional information. Committee staff then presented a comparison of Washington’s transportation budget with Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, focusing on population, lane miles, road condition, fuel taxes, preservation spending, mega-projects, and governance structures. The discussion highlighted Washington’s unique transportation pressures, including ferries, fish-passage obligations, high debt service, and major capital projects. Members asked follow-up questions about debt service, interest costs, CCA impacts on fuel prices, and whether project costs differed by state. The committee held public hearings on three bills. House Bill 2109 would allow vehicles being towed on trailers to use coverings to contain mud, rocks, or debris instead of requiring prior cleaning; the bill’s sponsor and construction witnesses supported it as a practical solution, and the fiscal note showed modest costs to WSP and WSDOT. House Bill 2139 would raise snowmobile registration fees to support snow park and trail grooming; State Parks, DNR, and several snowmobile advocates supported it, while some snowmobile users opposed it, arguing that enforcement of unregistered sleds should be addressed first. House Bill 2192 would expand the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s fatal crash review authority and allow it to collect certain health data; the sponsor and agency supported the bill as a public-health tool, while one attorney raised concerns about limiting civil discovery and evidentiary access in fatal crash litigation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nuclear is the one good, clean energy option left that can be solid, reliable baseload power that's on
• It's going to be the last remaining good, reliable, clean baseload generation that we need to undergird
• With me now is a senator who keeps the idea of clean energy front and center in this debate: DFL Senator
• With me now is a senator who keeps the idea of clean energy front and center in this debate: DFL Senator
• With me now is a senator who keeps the idea of clean energy front and center in this debate: DFL Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we need to provide that for them so that we can clean this up.
• And we need to provide that for them so that we can clean this up.
• And we need to provide that for them so that we can clean this up.
• And we need to provide that for them so that we can clean this up.
• And we need to provide that for them so that we can clean this up.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: State Representative Jim Nash and Representative Kristin Robbins discussed a package of fraud-prevention bills, centered on House File 3 and a separate whistleblower-protection measure. HF 3 would require annual reports based on Office of the Auditor (OA/OLA) findings to be sent to ranking members of relevant committees, with the goal of giving appropriators more information about internal controls and follow-up on audit recommendations. Nash said the bill is intended to help reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, cited the Feeding Our Future case as an example of weak controls, and noted that the OA helped draft the proposal and supports it. He also said the bill’s language is modeled in part on Colorado and on earlier recommendations for more information to be shared with decision-makers. Robbins said her bill would expand whistleblower protections for state employees, including unclassified employees, and add new protected reporting channels and definitions. She said employees are often afraid to come forward because of job and career concerns, and that the bill would better protect reports made to legislators, the OA, governmental bodies, and law enforcement. She and Nash said they were working with DFL members and committee chairs on bipartisan amendments to define “fraud” and “misuse,” and to align the language with the Inspector General bill and prior law. In questions, Robbins explained that current law protects only certain employees and that her bill would broaden coverage and make it easier for employees to report concerns without fear. She said the OA supports the effort and that the added reporting pathways would help with follow-up on agency recommendations. Nash and Robbins both emphasized that the measures are part of a broader fraud-fighting package and expressed hope for bipartisan support, though Nash criticized DFL leadership for not backing the bills more openly. No votes or final actions were taken in the exchange shown.