Transcript Highlights:

• and academic program athletic program and academic program for<00:18:16.280><c> about</c><00:18:16.520
• ><c> and</c> funding to make these programs work and funding to make these programs work and we<00:18
• c> and and have been a part of our program and and have been a part of our program over<00:18:55.840>
• and ʻāina program.
• </c><03:55:39.319><c> and</c> teams to support the preventive and teams to support the preventive and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, we've supported the program and sponsored several bills to improve access to POLST and develop
• Since then, we've supported the program and sponsored several bills to improve access to POLST and develop
• Since then, we've supported the program and sponsored several bills to improve access to POST and develop
• a Since then, we've supported the program and sponsored several bills to improve access to Polst and
• That limits our ability to intervene early and keep pets with their families.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The counties are at different levels of success in the programs and have different levels of adherence
• partnership and willingness between the court system and the treatment system to implement this program
• After Joel's death, his family organized and pushed for legislation to prevent such a situation from
• And without immediate and substantial intervention by the state, this crisis will decimate county budgets
• You replace this grant program that only 41 of 281 cities and towns participate in.

Summary: The committee received agency updates on several behavioral health and justice programs. The Health Care Authority reported that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has expanded from two counties to eight, with a ninth expected in December, and described AOT as a court-ordered, least-restrictive treatment model that depends on close coordination among courts, treatment providers, and local officials. The agency also reviewed Joel’s Law, which lets family members, guardians, conservators, or tribes petition for an initial involuntary detention when they disagree with a designated crisis responder’s decision. Judges Ferreira and Larson said petition use has increased significantly statewide and in Snohomish County, but many cases do not proceed beyond the initial detention stage; they also noted family frustration, disjointed processes, and bed shortages as ongoing issues. Committee members asked about expansion criteria, the law’s effectiveness, and how the system fits together with other mental health interventions. The Attorney General’s Office presented on the hate crimes and bias incidents hotline created by SB 5427. The hotline began a pilot in King, Clark, and Spokane counties on July 1, 2025, with a statewide launch planned for 2027. Officials said the advisory committee helped shape the referral process, intake questions, outreach materials, and public branding. In the first five months, the hotline received 301 reports, with roughly 45% from King County and about 38% from outside the pilot counties; 42% requested follow-up, and only about a quarter of those wanted law enforcement referral. Testimony emphasized that the hotline is non-emergency, anonymous if desired, and focused on referrals rather than investigation. Members asked about why callers do not seek law enforcement involvement, how the hotline compares with Oregon’s launch, and what kinds of incidents are being reported. The Office of Independent Investigations reported progress on its work investigating police deadly force fatalities. Director Roger Rogoff said the agency has grown to 66 employees, including 31 investigators, and has completed six fatality investigations, with two public final reports posted. He said the office now operates in Region 1 and plans to expand statewide as staffing allows, with a future east-side expansion dependent on additional investigators. He also said the office has 29 requests to review prior cases, but those reviews are time-intensive and limited to cases with new evidence. Committee members asked about staffing needs, local cooperation, and whether the office conducts parallel investigations; Rogoff said OII performs the criminal investigation, while agencies may still do administrative reviews. The committee then heard a lengthy panel on public defense caseload standards and funding. The Washington State Bar Association, Washington Defender Association, county representatives, and city representatives all discussed the new caseload standards and the implementation timeline. Speakers said the standards reflect modern public defense realities but warned that funding, attorney recruitment and retention, office space, and data collection remain major barriers. Survey results from county offices showed wide variation in readiness, with many counties uncertain about timelines and most citing lack of funding as the biggest obstacle; attorney attrition was also described as high. County and city representatives argued that the new standards will require far more attorneys and support staff, and that local governments cannot absorb the cost without substantial state funding. They urged the Legislature to increase state support, improve workforce pipelines, and address structural issues in the public defense system.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the true picture in terms of this program and the benefit, the public health benefit, the tax
• PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV transmission and can be taken in the form of a daily pill
• SB 1023 will increase access to crucial HIV medication prevention when global health and LGBTQ rights
• However, after the death and bed given the early stage of the investigation.
• Since then, we have supported the program and sponsored several bills to improve access to POLST and

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you start early through the Early Steps program and work through our schools and hopefully wonderful
• on it and there's no fiscal for the state with this program, I'm going to be voting no on that.
• I appreciate Senator Davis's concerns and her support for the concept of the program and her desire to
• Research has shown that early detection saves lives and can reduce the cost of treatment.
• Early detection and treatment saved lives. So let's pass this bill. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, pledge, and several member introductions and recognitions, including resolutions and visiting groups. The chamber then moved to a special order calendar and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 88 on utility terrain vehicles, which would allow local governments to opt in to street use of UTVs under specified safety conditions; it passed 32-5 after debate over safety concerns. SB 102 on exceptional student education created a workforce credential/badge program for students with autism or on modified curricula; despite concerns about unfunded mandates, it passed 36-0. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults authorized alternative service methods for scammers through the apps they used to contact victims and passed 37-0. SB 130 expanded and eased procedures for compensation of victims of wrongful incarceration, including extending filing deadlines and removing restrictive bars; it passed 38-0. SB 158 eliminated cost sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams under the state employee health plan and passed 38-0. The Senate then considered SB 234 on crimes against law enforcement officers, prompted by the killing of Officer Jason Raynor. The bill clarified that a person may not resist an officer with violence and added a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter of a law enforcement officer. A late amendment to restore “good faith” language failed, and after extensive debate over due process, racial profiling, and sentencing concerns, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. SB 262 on trust code technical changes passed 36-0. SB 274 designated portions of roads in Orlando as Harris Rosen Way and Geraldine Thompson Way; it passed 38-0 and then received 37 co-sponsors. SB 280 created an enforcement mechanism for candidate party-affiliation qualification requirements and passed 38-0. SB 296 repealed the statewide middle and high school start-time mandate and returned the issue to local districts with reporting requirements; it passed 38-0. Later, SB 356 designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida, with the sponsor emphasizing anti-Semitism and the need for education and remembrance. The transcript also included additional ceremonial remarks and recognition of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members in the gallery. Throughout the meeting, most measures advanced with unanimous or near-unanimous support, while SB 234 generated the most substantive disagreement and was set aside for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mentioned here, we've started a prevention unit about a year and a half or two ago, and we've grown
• And a lot of times what you see with 12th-grade students and 11th-grade students are dropout prevention—kids
• And a lot of times what you see with 12th grade students and 11th grade students are dropout prevention
• right now and early literacy.
• And so what we have to do is understand that from a prevention, intervention, and diversion standpoint

Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth met to approve prior minutes, confirm Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee, and receive several presentations. The Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review team reported on unexpected child deaths in Arkansas, saying its 2023 review covered 148 of 170 non-natural deaths, with the remainder unavailable due to criminal investigations or missing records. Of the reviewed deaths, 69 were accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined, and members discussed how the report’s recommendations could be used by agencies and nonprofits for prevention work and grant applications. Committee members also asked about age breakdowns and how the data could be shared without identifying individual cases. The committee then took up HCR 1010 and a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Representative Shepard said the resolution was intended to confront data on juvenile incarceration and system outcomes. Senator Missy Irvin, judges Troy Braswell and Kathy Hess, and AOC Juvenile Division Director Burke Steen described the state’s long-running reform efforts, including the SAVRY risk assessment, diversion programs, and efforts to keep more youth in their communities. They said the reforms have reduced delinquency filings, DYS commitments, and revocations, while increasing diversions, but also emphasized ongoing gaps in mental health, substance abuse, and school-based supports. Members raised concerns about school data sharing, behavioral health access, and how to better identify youth with disabilities or trauma earlier. Judge Braswell and others stressed that many youth in the system have significant trauma, family instability, or unmet treatment needs, and that judges need individualized information to make decisions. Several members discussed the role of schools, the school safety dashboard, and the need for stronger community providers, especially in rural areas. The committee then heard from DYS Director Michael Crump, who provided data on commitments, facility use, demographics, offense levels, length of stay, education outcomes, recidivism, dual DCFS/DYS custody, and costs. He said commitments rose after the pandemic and then began to decline, while secure and detention costs increased with the need for more beds; he also noted that most youth in custody have behavioral health needs and that DYS works closely with DCFS, courts, and providers. No final action was taken on HCR 1010 during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• we, we support our early commissioning program.
• , and already aligned with the program.
• And my last question is just the existing high school program and junior college program.
• so many programs being taken away and um our, our military are being hurt and we want to make sure that
• Um, through these programs we grow and expose more New Mexicans to this process.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to give a shout out to programs like Youth in Government and Teen Pact, because when I run
• So I think if we can name things like Junior ROTC, which is a great and important program, we should
• We're the largest educational neglect and truancy program in Minnesota.
• We partner with community agencies and schools for early intervention and supports.
• By shifting to supportive interventions, we can better serve the whole child and their family.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• and Saturday.
• And we have a quorum, and we can proceed. If you can give your name.
• But not one of them discussed the $15 billion at risk for the K-12 program and higher education because
• to continue to be pushed towards harmful gender interventions at a young age and turned me against my
• David Bullock here on behalf of the Prevention of the Erasure of Women in Sports and the organization

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• will will move along and then try and come back.
• in and and give them a statement and say, yeah, this this machine is you're in compliance.
• Project efficiency helps prevent lays and transportation infrastructure development.
• And we've done that and we still are having trouble.
• addressed all the safety issues and if your roof and your spiral arms and your plumbing and all other

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The misuse of former law enforcement vehicles is a real and growing issue, and we must prevent people
• The misuse of former law enforcement vehicles is a real and growing issue, and we must prevent people
• That lawmakers and the public are helpless because Citizens United prevents any and all solutions to
• Section 10 requires judges to receive training on the Safe at Home program, and sections 11 and 12 will
• </c><02:28:24.000><c> and</c> training on the safe at home program and training on the safe at home program

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, what is SNAP and how does the program work?
• the error rate and prevent these.
• compliance of SNAP cases and other programs.
• And administering the program in general.
• providers and program types.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to behavioral health prevention services, and earlier access to crisis intervention services.
• to behavioral health prevention services, and earlier access to crisis intervention services.
• President, 2428 prevents unintentional lapses and cancellations of life insurance policies.
• President, 2428 prevents unintentional lapses and cancellations of life insurance policies.
• rights, and pesticides, and then report to the legislature by November 1st of 2008.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> hours a week of behavioral intervention hours a week of behavioral intervention and<00:30:35.200
• </c> enrolled in both the Medicaid program enrolled in both the Medicaid program and<00:41:58.319><c>
• And that 600,000 Insurance Program.
• So for the hospital rate improvement program and the ambulance provider assessment program, those two
• </c> program and the ambulance provider program and the ambulance provider assessment<00:54:19.040><c

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services heard a presentation on Kentucky personal care homes from representatives of the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities, Management Systems of Kentucky, and Elder Care Partners. Witnesses described personal care homes as a lower-cost, 24/7 residential option for adults with serious mental illness who do not qualify for nursing home care but need structured support, medication assistance, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and supervision. They said the homes are regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, are not Medicaid-funded, and rely on a state supplementation rate of about $50.70 per day, which they argued no longer covers operating costs because of rising food, labor, insurance, and maintenance expenses. The presenters said the sector has shrunk significantly over time, citing a drop from 64 homes in 2002 to 34 today among the homes serving this population, with 30 closures over 23 years and two more closures since August. They argued that the closures have contributed to homelessness, hospital overcrowding, and longer stays in psychiatric hospitals, and they gave examples of residents who had spent many months in hospitals before stabilizing in a personal care home. One provider also described spending more than $800,000 on capital improvements after acquiring Kentucky facilities and said reimbursement is too low to sustain safe operations. They asked for an incremental reimbursement increase over two years and said they have also proposed an assisted-living model for people with mental illness. Members asked about staffing, reimbursement, and the number of people still needing placement. The presenters said there is no requirement for licensed or certified staff in these facilities, though some homes use medication technicians and occasional LPNs. They estimated they are currently serving about 2,000 residents and said they receive roughly 30 referrals for every one person admitted, with many referrals involving people whose needs exceed the personal care home level. Senator Meredith and Representative Fleming said any funding request would need documentation of savings and corresponding budget offsets, while Representative Duval expressed support and asked about possible staffing and program improvements. The witnesses also compared Kentucky’s flat-rate reimbursement to a more individualized reimbursement model in Minnesota, saying a needs-based system would better match staffing and reduce hospitalizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• , with a focus on activities and programs that prevent disease, prevent injury, and prevent death.
• </c> programs that increase quality uh and programs that increase quality uh and access<00:28:34.799>
• </c><00:44:49.800><c> that</c> programs and we also determine that programs and we also determine that
• quality program, and then substance misuse prevention and evaluation.
• </c><01:52:59.040><c> intervention</c> probably heard of early intervention probably heard of early intervention

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health, correctional facilities, VA programs, and retirement communities nationwide.
• , the program is now up and running, with the first licenses being issued last January.
• Code is known as the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, or DEA.
• Code is known as the Survivors and Dependence Education and Assistance Program or DEA.
• And our colleges, universities, and programs will start to close.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and heard four bills. HB 2286 would create an alternative route to social worker licensure by removing the exam requirement for advanced social workers and allowing enhanced supervision with supervisor attestation in place of the exam for independent clinical social workers. The sponsor and several social workers testified that the exam is a poor measure of clinical competence and can be a barrier to licensure, while opponents warned that removing the exam could affect public protection and Washington’s participation in the social work compact. Members asked follow-up questions about the compact, the exam format, and accreditation requirements, but no action was taken. HB 2363 would allow music therapy license applicants to practice under supervision for up to six months while waiting for exam verification. The sponsor described it as a technical fix to the new licensure system, and testimony from music therapists, educators, and a patient supported the bill as a way to avoid delays in hiring newly trained therapists while maintaining supervision and patient safety. The bill drew strong support in written testimony and no opposition in the hearing. HB 2324 would change tuition waiver rules for children of eligible veterans and National Guard members by giving eligible children eight years from the date of a parent’s disability determination to use the waiver when that determination occurs after the child turns 18. The sponsor said the bill is meant to align state law with federal dependency education benefits and prevent families from losing access because disability determinations can take years. The committee asked for clarification on how the new timing would work, and the hearing closed without a vote. HB 2098 would eliminate the cap on the advanced computing surcharge, expand Washington College Grant eligibility up to 100% of state median family income, and reduce resident undergraduate tuition by 10% for three years starting in 2027-28. Supporters, including students, labor, and advocacy groups, said the bill would improve affordability and access to higher education by asking large tech companies to pay more. Opponents from business and university groups argued the surcharge would be economically harmful, that the state already has substantial WEA funding, and that the bill would reduce tuition revenue without adequately backfilling institutional budgets. The committee heard extensive testimony and members raised questions about the surcharge cap, WEA spending, and the compacted funding structure, but no final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs to screen volunteers through the care provider background screening clearinghouse and order
• We need to take the next steps to encourage community awareness programs and ensure that our children
• This school is an after-school program, and they have graduated some amazing students.
• And state programs like Medicaid are burdened with rising dental costs.
• This change prevents the potential for fraud and protects consumers.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests and groups in the gallery, including students, business groups, and university basketball coaches. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar, taking up a series of bills on trust law, school district reporting, debt collection, service of process, lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ownership/health care licensure issues, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving the scene of a crash, background screening for athletic coaches, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. Several bills were temporarily postponed, and multiple House companion bills were substituted where the measures were identical or had only drafting differences. Debate focused on a few measures. Senators questioned the trust code bill’s effect on out-of-state attorneys general; the school reporting bill was described as strengthening arrest and misconduct reporting for instructional personnel; and the service-of-process and lodging bills were presented as technical and consumer-protection fixes. The fentanyl testing bill drew emotional support from the sponsor and families affected by overdose deaths. The surrendered-infant bill prompted opposition over safety, anonymity, and the limited use of baby boxes, while supporters argued it could save lives. The affordable housing bill, updating the Live Local Act, was amended to adjust parking reductions and allow certain properties to use the administrative approval process, with additional limits and exclusions added. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, including the trust code bill, school reporting, debt collection, service of process, lien waivers, public records, foreign-country business interest restrictions, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving-the-scene restitution, athletic coach background screening, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. The day’s most divided vote was on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which drew extended debate over fluoride policy and other provisions; it passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a Taiwan-related resolution for the journal, made additional announcements, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Awareness and interventions regarding regulated substances. And that concludes my remarks.
• We at the Poison Center have important clinical, epidemiologic, and prevention expertise, and we can
• I serve on the board of the Washington Association for Substance and Issues and Violence Prevention.
• Last, the proposed substitute requires the coordinated tobacco and vapor product intervention and prevention
• 2% to the youth tobacco and vapor products prevention account.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2291, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, and then moved into executive session on several bills. Staff explained that HB 2291 would license kratom retailers and processors, set age 21 purchase limits, require labeling, child-resistant packaging, independent testing, an LCB-approved product directory, and an 11% excise tax, while banning certain synthetic or adulterated kratom products and restricting online/mail sales and public consumption. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to regulate natural kratom while banning the synthetic or chemically altered forms, and several witnesses supported stronger youth protections and product standards. Others opposed the bill’s licensing fee, statewide preemption of local bans, or the regulatory approach, while some testified that natural kratom helps with pain or recovery. The hearing on HB 2291 was then closed without action. In executive session, the committee took action on multiple bills. HB 2439, dealing with cigarette, vapor product, and tobacco product policy, was amended and reported out with a do pass recommendation; the adopted amendments limited Consumer Protection Act enforcement to the Attorney General, adjusted coupon language, and restored state preemption over local retail regulation. HB 1078 on pet insurance, HB 1701 on shared liquor-license premises, HB 2207 on bonded beer warehousing, and HB 2501 on real estate oil-tank disclosure were all reported out with do pass recommendations, with HB 1701’s substitute removing a Public Records Act exemption and HB 2207’s substitute aligning beer warehousing more closely with spirits warehouse rules. HB 2361, which raises the maximum small loan amount, was amended to make inflation adjustments biennial and to change publication requirements, then passed out of committee. The committee also approved HB 1932, which would authorize cannabis consumption events in regulated environments. The substitute bill would create a cannabis consumption event organizer license, allow limited adult-use events subject to local approval, and establish permit and budtender training requirements; members discussed the bill as a way to provide lawful consumption spaces while others objected to expanding cannabis access. In the final votes, HB 2439 passed 12-3, HB 1078 passed unanimously, HB 1701 passed 14-1, HB 2207 passed 14-1, HB 2501 passed unanimously, HB 2361 passed 13-2, and HB 1932 passed 11-4, all with do pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rats do not respect jurisdictional boundaries; impacts cross city and county lines, and early detection
• And within the meat science program, sorry, within our meat science program, 90% of our students find
• employment within six months of their program and 100% place within their first year.
• And within the meet science program, sorry, within our meet science program, 90% of our students find
• employment within six months of their program and 100% place within their first year.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee began with a presentation from Idaho FFA state officers, who introduced themselves and described FFA’s classroom, leadership, and supervised agricultural experience model. They highlighted student leadership development, community service, and the organization’s statewide reach, and invited legislators to the upcoming state convention in Twin Falls. Senator Zito briefly shared how FFA helped build her public speaking skills and confidence. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1270 on alternative animal proteins. Sponsor Senator Nichols said the bill is a labeling measure intended to ensure cell-cultivated products are clearly identified and not marketed with traditional meat terms, and she asked to send it to the amending order for technical refinements. Food Northwest testified in opposition to state-by-state labeling mandates, citing patchwork compliance costs, but acknowledged the sponsor’s narrowing amendments and the removal of penalties for good-faith errors. The Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill as a consumer transparency measure and also supported moving it to the amending order. The committee voted to send SB 1270 to the amending order. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1271 on invasive rats, which would classify Norway rats and roof rats as public nuisances, invasive species, and agricultural pests and direct the Idaho Department of Agriculture to coordinate response efforts. Supporters described growing rat problems in Ada County and elsewhere, citing damage to homes, infrastructure, and agriculture, while opponents from the pest management industry warned about unfunded mandates, potential overlap with private pest control, and unclear costs. The Department of Agriculture said it could implement the program through existing structures and explained that rulemaking and possible deficiency funding would follow if needed. After debate over whether the issue was a state or local responsibility, the committee voted to send SB 1271 to the amending order. At the end of the meeting, University of Idaho representatives gave a brief update on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, extension and 4-H work, the new Meat Science and Innovation Center, the Idaho CAFE dairy project, the deep soil ecotron, and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute. They also described budget-related hiring pauses and program adjustments, and thanked the committee for its support.

Transcript Highlights:

• childhood programs, gifted and talented programs. dual credit, collegiate academics, and student discipline
• These programs make me feel whole and supported in my identity as a young Texan and an American citizen
• prevention, and gender equality. and efforts for racial discrimination in financial literacy programs
• To a TEA that is capable of and is performing its lawful responsibilities preventing loss and our schools
• by preventing easy access to harmful and obscene materials.

Bills: SB12 , SB1565 , SB13 , SJR12 , SB686 , SB371 , SB204 , SB609 , SB112 , SB400 , SB813 , SB 12 , SB 13

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: parental rights, education, social transitioning, diversity, equity, inclusion, school policy, student clubs, school district, grievance procedure, public education, diversity and inclusion, funding penalties, school libraries, library advisory councils, library materials, educational content, challenging materials, constitutional amendment, school choice