Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that does not meet a uh a requirement. that does not meet a uh a requirement.
• </c> four has a new set of requirements four has a new set of requirements uh<01:47:16.239><c> that</
• </c> clarification around the required clarification around the required registration<01:47:25.119><c
• ><c> out</c><01:48:27.920><c> in</c><01:48:28.159><c> the</c> requirements were laid out in the requirements
• Um there's also requirements on years.

Bills: HF3676 , HF3593 , HF3785 , HF3774 , HF4111 , HF3513

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is noted for its long-standing ceremonial requirement that
• We went through item by item: what are the requirements?
• At a university, being required to give a lecture on adoption? That's the absurdity of this bill.
• House Bill 2203, next, providing for review of public school reporting requirements.
• You have passed House Bill 2255 with the required three-quarters vote.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits an employer from requiring an injured worker to seek treatment from a specific provider
• or clinic and requires L&I to investigate any allegations that an employer required an injured worker
• It substitutes the term 'coerce' for 'induce,' prohibiting an employer from requiring or coercing an
• It also modifies the penalties for requiring or coercing an injured worker.
• Requiring or inducing an injured worker might also constitute a violation of the duty of good faith as

Bills: SB5944

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: language access, collective bargaining, labor relations, employment rights, worker protections, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Individuals are required to contribute to legal financial obligations, savings, crime victims' compensation
• Persons convicted of certain offenses can be required to serve a period of time on community custody,
• and there's a list of gross misdemeanor offenses and felony offenses in the bill report that require
• House Bill 2510 requires the Department of Corrections to supervise an individual, regardless of their
• Does this bill include requirements for any Does this bill include requirements for any technology like

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard several House bills. Substitute House Bill 2539 would raise the indigent inmate account threshold from $25 to $100, allowing incarcerated people to retain more money for commissary items like hygiene products, postage, and medications before deductions for legal financial obligations, child support, and other debts. Representative Street said the bill is meant to better cover essentials without stopping debt repayment. Testifiers from Civil Survival, incarcerated people, and family advocates supported the bill, describing current commissary prices, low prison wages, and the burden on families. The committee also heard that the Department of Corrections expects some indeterminate implementation costs and IT expenses. No vote was taken. House Bill 2510 would require the Department of Corrections to supervise anyone sentenced to community custody for stalking, regardless of risk classification. Representative Burnett said the bill is intended to protect victims and give them peace of mind. Staff explained that the bill is narrower than a related measure heard earlier because it applies only to people sentenced to community custody, typically at the superior court level. Victim advocates and survivors testified in strong support, describing stalking cases that escalated to severe threats and violence and arguing that mandatory supervision could prevent future harm. The hearing was closed without action. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2319 and Substitute House Bill 2350, both concerning residential habilitation centers. HB 2319 would rename Fircrest School and Rainier School to remove the word “school” and better reflect their current role as residential habilitation centers; supporters said the old terminology is outdated and confusing, while the sponsor said the bill is a clarification only and does not change services or funding. HB 2350 would require DSHS to notify residents, guardians, and other designated people when an RHC falls out of compliance with federal CMS requirements, and to post plain-language notices at the facility. Supporters from Disability Rights Washington, The Arc, and self-advocates said the bill would improve transparency and accountability. The committee closed public hearing on both bills, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law requires that most individual life insurance policies provide a grace period of at least
• This notice requirement does not apply to group life insurance.
• a third party to receive the notices required under the bill.
• They already have existing appraisal requirements.
• Oftentimes they have approvals by the ...already have existing appraisal requirements.

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee heard public testimony on several House bills. HB 2624 would expand an existing exemption in the solicited real estate transaction law to allow public entities to solicit and buy real property for any public purpose, and also for Indian tribes and nonprofit nature conservancy organizations; the sponsor said the bill is meant to fix an omission from last year’s law, while a forest landowners group opposed it as creating a loophole for low-ball offers to vulnerable owners, and Trust for Public Land supported it as a different kind of transaction with existing appraisal and public-process protections. HB 2334 would create a cash-transaction rounding system to address the end of penny minting; staff said rounding would apply after tax and be permissive for sellers, with immunity and preemption provisions, and retailers and grocery groups supported it as a practical solution to penny scarcity, while members asked about signage and mixed-tender transactions. The committee also heard HB 1269, which would shorten pawn loan terms from 90 to 60 days, raise interest and fee caps, increase storage fees, and allow online payments for extensions. Pawn industry witnesses and the sponsor said the changes are modest, overdue, and needed to reflect inflation and operating costs while serving unbanked customers; some senators questioned whether the combined changes would more than double costs for borrowers, and industry witnesses said they were willing to work on the numbers. HB 2428 would require insurers to send advance lapse notices for individual life insurance policies to policyholders and a designated third party, with proof of delivery, to prevent unintended lapses; the sponsor, the Insurance Commissioner’s office, life insurers, AARP, and a business group all supported the consumer protection goal, though insurers noted added compliance costs and the bill’s delayed effective date for new policies. Finally, the committee heard HB 1078 on pet insurance, which would bar cancellation or nonrenewal based on a pet’s age or conditions that develop during the policy term and would restrict certain affiliate-policy transfers; the Insurance Commissioner’s office strongly supported it as a consumer protection measure, and staff noted a fiscal impact estimate and a new fiscal note request. The committee also took testimony on HB 2624 from both supporters and opponents, and on HB 2334 and HB 1269 from industry and public witnesses, but no votes were taken in the meeting. The chair closed public testimony and adjourned the committee after hearing all scheduled bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires all candidates who are running for a political office to have a separate bank account for
• It also requires that when we loan ourselves money to our account, we actually certify to the Secretary
• Under existing law, the requirement to run for the state legislature in either the House or the Senate
• So it's not that that is all that's required.
• It's not going to be fulfilling... ...to be required to maintain a professional license.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved a motion to hold RS 3355 at the sponsor’s request. It then heard and advanced House Bill 598, which would require candidates to maintain separate campaign bank accounts and certify to the Secretary of State when they loan money to their own campaigns and deposit it. Representative McCann said the bill was intended to improve transparency; the Secretary of State’s office remained neutral. The committee voted to send HB 598 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Members next introduced RS 33374, a proposal by Representative Raibold to clarify legislative residency requirements by requiring physical presence in a district for at least 120 days before the filing period. The sponsor said the measure was meant to better define intent and address challenges over where a candidate actually resides. After questions about how residency would be proven and challenged, the committee voted to introduce the RS. The committee also introduced RS 33105, which would align telephone service discontinuance procedures with federal FCC processes, and RS 33106, which would broaden the definition of broadband to include satellite and wireless service. The committee then considered RS 33270 and RS 33295 from Representative Scott. RS 33270 would prohibit logos, slogans, and similar branding in the executive budget document, except for the state seal and governor’s official logo. RS 33295 would bar state funds from being used for memberships, dues, and fees for many organizations by executive, legislative, and judicial branch entities, with exemptions for items authorized by law, professional licensing, required certifications, state employment needs, and law-enforcement information sharing. Several members raised concerns about the breadth of the proposal, possible impacts on necessary professional and interstate organizations, and the lack of an enforcement mechanism. RS 33270 was introduced, but RS 33295 was returned to the sponsor for lack of a motion. The committee also introduced RS 33302, a resolution encouraging Idahoans to observe March 1, 2026, as a day of fasting and prayer for moisture, wisdom, and unity. Members discussed its religious and historical basis and expressed support. Finally, the committee advanced House Bill 501, which requires paid signature gatherers on certain petitions to wear badges identifying who is paying them, if anyone. The sponsor said the bill was intended to increase transparency, and the committee voted to send it to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• or the federal government, we were not going to require it.
• Again, the requirements must be met.
• We have a state requirement.
• We've updated graduation requirements. Again, we've created additional pathways.
• I don't, the NAEP test would not satisfy the requirements.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee approved the January 20, 2026 minutes and then took up Senate Bill 1225, sponsored by Senator Den Hartog. The bill would codify a search committee process for public university president searches and add a 10-business-day waiting period before naming a sole finalist, with the stated goal of increasing transparency and allowing public engagement while also protecting candidates’ current jobs. Senator Den Hartog said the bill was prompted in part by the Boise State presidential search and asked that it be sent to the amending order so the waiting-period language would apply only to university president searches and not other government entities. After questions about student representation in the process, the committee voted to send SB 1225 to the amending order. The committee also heard a print request from Senator Carlson to rename Lewis-Clark State College as Lewis-Clark State University. The request was brief and was approved to print without objection. Later, Superintendent Debbie Critchfield introduced Idaho’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, Laron Johnson of Rigby High School. Johnson spoke at length about the importance of teacher-student relationships, mentoring, Holocaust and economics instruction, and keeping students connected to school. Committee members asked about growing school size, supporting new teachers, and rebuilding public respect for educators. Johnson emphasized relationships, administrative support, and staying focused on students. No formal action was taken on the Teacher of the Year presentation. Critchfield then presented an informational overview of proposed federal education waivers and an EdFlex-style request that would give Idaho more flexibility over reporting and assessment requirements. She said the state wants to reduce duplicative testing, especially for third graders, and allow students to choose from an approved list of high school assessments aligned to state standards and college/career readiness. Members asked about possible inclusion of ACT, NAEP, and other multi-measure assessments. Critchfield said the list is not final and that the State Board would evaluate options. The meeting ended with a reminder that the committee would take up rules the next day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As required by Rule 12.7, the committees conducted an inquiry into the qualifications, experience, and
• The bill requires... ...holding large sums of taxpayer money in their own accounts.
• The bill requires SFOs to return funds as a result of audit findings.
• and require them to establish user-friendly operating... ...performance requirements and require them
• That's the essence of the business plan that would be required. Senator Davis.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then received and adopted, by a 39-0 vote, a committee report confirming 52 gubernatorial executive appointments to various state, regional, and local boards and commissions. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities, described as a broad “Rural Renaissance” package. Sponsor Senator Simon outlined provisions creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties facing population loss, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care support. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping grant language tied to new federal rural health funding and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties generally supported the bill, though some raised questions about eligibility for certain rural areas and how funds would be accessed. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then took up CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General findings by separating scholarship funding from public school funding, requiring student identification and enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees for scholarship funding organizations, requiring annual audits, and directing the Department of Education to develop a competitive selection and performance-based business plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including changes to the stabilization fund and documentation requirements. Senators from both parties debated transparency, accountability, and implementation concerns, with some also urging future attention to declining-enrollment school districts and the quality of scholarship providers. The bill passed 38-0. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify SB 250 and CS/SB 318 to the House, welcomed Palm Beach County visitors in the gallery, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the bill required publishing, though.
• Senate Bill 843 would require a school district to submit this information to TA.
• Review Board, and now this bill, House Bill 103, would require...
• A, personnel protective equipment requirements.
• A bill passed last session by Representative Briscoe Cain required...

Bills: HB103

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As always, if you require assistance in register registering or testifying, please contact committee
• First, it requires all voting equipment to be kept in a locked room with controlled access.
• Additionally, hash validation is required on all of those components.
• This bill would require the reports to be posted on the county website in a timely manner.
• The bill also adds a requirement to test the electronic poll books.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering, please ask one of the staff members.
• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please contact committee staff.
• is required.
• This bill will also require that all staff be trained in basic water rescue.
• The strict age requirements limit the ability of sellers to provide high-quality wine.

Bills: SB650 , HB3667 , SB28 , HB3201 , SB1184 , HB1800 , SB 28

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: permit issuance, regulatory framework, business operations, efficiency, application process, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, lottery regulations, occupational licensing, fraud prevention, criminal background checks, lottery couriers, SB 1184, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, wine collection seller, collectible wine, vintage wine

Transcript Highlights:

• Demand for electricity is requiring ERCOT to plan for load growth at dramatic levels.
• Examples are to require, and partly what we're trying to do, is to weed out the speculators from the
• Examples would require, would be to require payment of, of a significant screen. study fees.
• This bill will require equipment to be installed and this is prospective. only on new projects on all
• The PUC would be required to establish the standards to make sure that there are strong planning requirements

Bills: SB 6 , SB6 , SB504 , SB765 , SB815 , SB929

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access

Transcript Highlights:

• So that required somebody to key it in, and they messed up my...
• For citizenship, they're required to provide documentation.
• It's only going to require one line.
• The standard has a dual intent requirement.
• Utah also only has a disclosure requirement, with no intent to harm or influence requirement, for all

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so every insurer requires consumer choice.
• SB 1093 requires the park to provide status updates on numerous required investigations and studies,
• Since there is no requirement that age...
• Since there is no requirement that...
• That requirement was added.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took action on a number of them. SB 1234 by Senator Alvarado-Gil would require fentanyl to be included in drug tests ordered by juvenile courts for parents or guardians in dependency cases; there was no opposition, a committee member confirmed it would apply to caregivers rather than children, and the bill was supported for moving forward. SB 1257 by Senator Arreguín would require the Attorney General to publish an annual public report on immigration enforcement incidents at designated safe locations such as schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship; supporters from immigrant advocacy and health groups testified about fear and chilling effects in communities, while questions focused on how data would be collected and concerns were raised about sanctuary policies. SB 1176 by Senator Choi would bar foreign adversary entities from buying California agricultural land; supporters cited national security concerns, but committee members pressed on enforcement, straw buyers, and who would be responsible for identifying prohibited purchasers, and the bill was held on a 2-4 vote after debate. The committee also heard SB 1146 by Senator Gonzalez, which would require clear disclosure when AI-generated or altered images, audio, or video are used in health-related advertisements depicting health care providers. The California Medical Association and California Dental Association supported the bill, describing deepfake health ads as deceptive and harmful; it passed the committee 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 988 by Senator Grayson would regulate auto glass insurance practices by restricting assignment of benefits, requiring claim numbers and itemized estimates, and addressing steering and billing practices; supporters said it would curb fraud and stabilize premiums, while independent glass businesses worried about steering and market concentration. After discussion of consumer choice and small-business impacts, the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 1288, presented by Senator Grayson on behalf of Senator Laird, would require financial institutions to make a good-faith effort to notify beneficiaries of non-probate assets and would reduce barriers to claiming those assets, especially for nonprofits. Nonprofit witnesses described long delays and burdensome account-opening requirements, while SIFMA and bankers opposed the bill unless amended, citing conflicts with federal and industry obligations and concerns about retroactivity and verification. The bill passed 8-0 to call. The committee also heard SB 941 by Senator Padilla, which would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; the Attorney General’s office and immigrant advocates supported it as a response to exploitative pricing and poor conditions, and it passed 8-0 to call. Finally, SB 909 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would raise and index public works contractor fees and penalties and dedicate more penalty revenue to enforcement; labor supporters said stronger funding is needed to address wage theft and backlogs, while contractors opposed the fee and penalty structure as uncapped and costly. The bill was moved forward on a vote and remained on call after committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for Pierre
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for Dumi Pamira
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for Officer
• Third reading of the bill: An act exempting Stephen Justice from the maximum age requirement for the
• Third reading of the bill: An act exempting Brittany Spruill from the maximum age requirement for the

Summary: The Senate took up several local and special matters and approved them by voice vote. It enacted bills waiving the maximum age requirement for named Boston Police Department applicants, then later passed to be engrossed additional local bills including an Andover measure on petitioning for special town meetings, several Haverhill bills exempting named applicants from age limits for firefighter and police positions, and local charter/name changes for Williamsburg and Chicopee. The Senate also adopted a committee order extending the Judiciary Committee’s reporting deadline to June 30, 2026, and ordered a bill removing the term “hearing impaired” from the General Laws to a third reading. Members adopted a series of congratulatory resolutions recognizing Eagle Scouts Ben Walsh, Noah Boudreau, and Joseph McManus, and honoring Dr. Linda Saris on her retirement. The chamber also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Teresa Basil of East Boston, with several senators offering remarks about her life, family, faith, and community service, followed by a moment of silence. The Senate then adopted the adjournment order and recessed until the next Wednesday at 10 a.m. in formal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• , duties, requirements, and restrictions around travel insurance.
• It adds requirements or criteria for the OIC in designating grant program pilot projects and requires
• And requires the OIC to engage certain entities.
• The underlying bill requires electronic labels, restricts surveillance pricing, and requires a report
• The underlying bill requires electronic labels, restricts surveillance pricing, and requires a report

Bills: SB6248 , SB5976 , SB6079 , SB6250 , SB6257 , SB6289 , SB6230 , SB6312 , SB6149 , SGA9060 , SGA9169 , SGA9265 , SGA9266

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: travel insurance, travel protection plan, travel assistance services, cancellation fee waiver, travel retailer, travel administrator, limited lines producer, insurance producer license, blanket travel insurance, trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel medical coverage, emergency evacuation, repatriation, inland marine, premium tax, consumer protection, unfair trade practice, insurance commissioner, Washington RCW

Transcript Highlights:

• , duties, requirements, and restrictions around travel insurance.
• It adds requirements or criteria for the OIC in designating grant program pilot projects and requires
• And requires the OIC to engage certain entities.
• It requires the OIC to submit a report on the results of the pilot project by 2029.
• The underlying bill requires electronic labels, restricts surveillance pricing, and requires a report

Summary: The Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee met in executive session on cutoff day and received staff briefings on several gubernatorial appointments and bills, including SB 6248 on travel insurance, SB 5976 on false subject lines in commercial emails, SB 6079 on a wildfire mitigation grant program, SB 6250 on small loan principal limits, SB 6257 on real estate appraiser trainee licensing tolling, SB 6289 on the Department of Commerce’s economic development strategic plan, SB 6230 on rounding cash transactions to eliminate pennies, and SB 6149 on the definition of rural counties. Staff also noted a new substitute for SB 6149 that narrowed the rural county definition and reduced the fiscal impact. The committee briefly paused for caucus before taking action. In executive session, the committee voted to recommend confirmation of gubernatorial appointments 9060 (Alicia Levy), 9169 (Michael Charles), 9265 (Brian Bennett), and 9266 (Noah Skartford), all subject to signatures. It then advanced SB 6248, SB 6079, SB 6250, SB 6257, SB 6289, SB 6230, and SB 6149, generally by adopting proposed substitutes and sending the bills to Rules, except SB 6079, which was sent to Ways and Means. SB 5976 was not considered. At the close of the meeting, the chair thanked members, stakeholders, and staff for their work during the short session and noted the committee had completed its agenda. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police
• Under the Constitution, a separate vote is required.
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires that a human person be present in each truck during the pilot project.
• ><c> vehicles</c> The legislation also requires vehicles The legislation also requires vehicles to<00
• </c> with emerging technologies, they require with emerging technologies, they require us<00:58:08.400
• /c><01:36:54.960><c> individuals</c> amendment that would require individuals amendment that would require
• The amendment is not adopted. amendment would require that the amendment would require that the ondemand

Bills: HF3553 , HF3513 , HF3576

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: vehicle platooning, transportation, public safety, pilot project, Wilkin County, Grant County, autonomous vehicles, transportation regulations, driverless cars, safety standards, first responder interaction, school bus, third-party testing, driver certification, transportation regulation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, they ordered the May 2025 order. required the plan to address systemic deficiencies that
• It also required that the plan provide guidance to the legislature and the executive branches of government
• And third, it also required that the plan establish a path toward compliance for students named in the
• Expressing interest in starting a year earlier than required in statute, we offered this opportunity
• The requirements are not tied to funding.