Transcript Highlights:

• We talk a lot about assessments, who is assessing, how many tests we're taking.
• The other waiver that we're looking to ask for is around the 11th-grade assessment.
• We have many... ...approved assessment, aligned to standards, college and career ready.
• There are also technical assessments.
• But according to how all of this was structured with assessment, that child student had to then also

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><04:50:46.320><c> the</c> they assess and how they are assess the they assess and how they are assess
• So I guess the difference is low reserves with assessments, higher reserves with no assessments.
• assessment.
• assessment.
• , political subdivisions were not prepared and not aware that assessments, especially assessments of

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , equalize county assessment ratios, and assess properties of intercompany railroads.
• The property tax program is organized in three divisions: county assessed division, County assessed property
• The Assessments Practice Survey Division conducts assessments practice surveys, or compliance audits,
• These audits are critical because county assessors produce an assessment roll for locally assessed properties
• The State-Assessed Property Division is responsible for valuing state-assessed public utilities and railroad

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an informational overview from the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GoServe), including California Volunteers, the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, and the Youth Empowerment Commission. GoServe reported strong participation in programs such as California Service Corps, College Corps, Youth Service Corps, Climate Action Corps, and the new men’s service challenge. Testimony emphasized enrollment, retention, and completion outcomes, outreach results, and efforts to reduce administrative costs. The Department of Finance said the administration supports the programs but has already made reductions to help address the budget deficit, while the LAO said it had no new recommendations on the informational item. Committee members raised questions about program scale, demographics, and effectiveness, especially for Climate Action Corps and whether the programs are duplicative of existing volunteer opportunities. One member criticized the programs as too fragmented and costly, while others asked for more data on who is being served and whether the programs increase actual participation in state services. GoServe said it would follow up with demographic and regional impact information. The committee also discussed the men’s service challenge, which GoServe said has formed partnerships with organizations such as YMCAs and Big Brothers Big Sisters and has already attracted more than 2,000 participants. The item was informational only. The committee then heard a BOE overview and a budget request to implement SB 293, which gives wildfire-affected families additional time to claim intergenerational Prop. 13 property tax transfers. BOE requested $154,000 for guidance, public materials, and inquiry response, explaining that the work is urgent and tied to disaster relief in Los Angeles County, especially Altadena. The LAO had no concerns, and Finance had no comment. Members asked how many cases might be affected and whether more funding would be needed later; BOE said the full number is not yet known and that future requests are possible. The committee also heard BOE’s IT modernization proposal for the state-assessed property tax system, a 30-year-old mainframe replacement costing $3.2 million in 2026-27 and $3.1 million in 2027-28. BOE and Finance supported the project as necessary, while the LAO said it had no concerns but urged a high bar for new IT spending. Members generally supported modernization but cautioned about implementation risk. Finally, CDTFA presented an overview and two policy proposals. The department described administering 42 tax and fee programs, collecting $98 billion in FY 2024, and improving administrative efficiency. Members then discussed local sales tax tools and revenue-sharing agreements, with concerns raised about transparency, consultant-driven tax allocation disputes, and the impact on local communities. CDTFA and the LAO explained that local jurisdictions control how district sales tax revenues are spent and noted the Legislature could revisit the statutory cap on local add-on sales taxes. The committee then heard CDTFA’s proposal to treat all delivery network companies as marketplace facilitators so they must collect and remit sales tax on delivery-app orders. CDTFA said the change would resolve confusion, shift compliance from thousands of small restaurants to a few large platforms, and raise about $44 million annually. Several members questioned whether the proposal would effectively raise consumer costs and whether it would create a competitive advantage or disadvantage among delivery platforms. The item remained under discussion, with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department will assess a $1,100 administrative fee.
• will assess $1,100 department will assess $1,100 administrative<00:10:16.160><c> fee.
• The department will also assess an administrative fee of $1,100.
• </c> and the department will also assess and the department will also assess administrative<00:18:31.760
• An administrative fee of $1,100 will also be assessed.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee met and approved the minutes from June 30, 2025. There was no old business. The committee then heard a series of New Hampshire Department of Transportation requests involving the sale or disposal of state-owned land and easements, including an access point sale in Exeter, land sales in Keene, Guilford, Lincoln, Conway, Chesterfield, Fremont, Belmont, and a utility easement in Albany. Most items were direct sales to abutters or towns, with conditions such as obtaining local and state approvals, commissioning boundary surveys, and paying administrative fees; each of these items was approved by motion and vote. One Guilford parcel was amended to reflect a smaller surveyed area and reduced appraised value before approval. The committee also approved a permanent access easement for a single-family residence on Route 153 in support of the Bickford property. The committee then considered a Department of Administrative Services item, presented as a substitution replacement, authorizing a perpetual utility line easement to Public Service Company of New Hampshire for a facility under construction on the Hampstead hospital property that will serve as the replacement facility for the Manchester senior center. The department requested waiver of the administrative fee because the easement was being granted in exchange for utility service, and the committee approved the request. An informational item, LRCP25-038, was discussed regarding a reduction in fair market value due to a change in access; staff explained no committee action was required because the item was informational only. Additional informational materials from the New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development were received, including meeting minutes and surplus land review memorandums for Meredith and Hampstead. Before adjourning, the committee set its next meeting for December 9 at 9:30 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, noting the meeting would be on a Tuesday rather than Monday because of building scheduling. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe transparency is important, and there will also be on the screens here in the committee room
• We believe transparency is important, and there will also be on the screens here in the committee room
• Kedy, and it's split up into eight divisions, which you can see listed on the screen. the attorney generals

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So how, in my situation, my assessed value in one assessed year went up 33%.
• It doesn't surprise me that your assessments are growing.
• Property values, you know, your property assessment going up, accuracy in assessment—we want to see accuracy
• in assessment.
• We want to see accuracy in assessments.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2651, a broad property tax reform bill sponsored by Representative Burns. Burns said the bill is intended to close perceived loopholes in the Hancock Amendment, including moving tax-related elections to November, eliminating the new-construction exclusion, allowing multiple subclass rates, and preventing counties from opting out of multiple levies. Supporters argued the bill would better protect homeowners from large tax increases, while opponents and several members raised concerns about the loss of local control, the impact on growing communities, and whether the proposal was revenue neutral. No vote was taken; the bill remained in public testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 2944, which would change Missouri’s senior homestead property tax relief so eligible seniors would only have to apply once instead of annually. Representative Billington said the current yearly paperwork burdens older residents on fixed incomes and can contribute to them losing their homes. Some members supported simplifying the process, but others and the Missouri Association of Counties opposed the bill as written, arguing annual recertification helps ensure only eligible taxpayers receive the credit and that counties need a way to verify continued eligibility. Questions also focused on how to handle deaths, moves, and possible recapture of improperly granted credits. No action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1786/2060, a joint short-term rental property tax classification proposal from Representatives Brown and Vernetti. The sponsors argued that single-family homes used as short-term rentals should remain classified as residential, not commercial, and said some assessors have reclassified them in a way that sharply raises taxes. They cited case law and IRS treatment to support their position and said the bill would protect homeowners and local tourism economies. The Missouri Hotel Lodging Association opposed the measure, saying short-term rentals used as a business should be taxed accordingly, while the Missouri Realtors supported it. Testimony highlighted concerns about local control, the effect on housing availability, and whether short-term rentals should be treated differently based on frequency of use. No vote was taken on this bill either.

Transcript Highlights:

• So first, every year, if a house is sold, it triggers something at assessing.
• First, several bills would freeze the assessed value... ...that we need.
• First, several bills would freeze the assessed value and/or the tax rate for income-eligible seniors.
• This is not because we have... ...the increase in the assessed value of homes.
• Freezing the assessed value reflects a commitment to long-term aging homeowners who have helped build

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on bills related to senior and disability property tax relief, with a focus on helping older adults and people with disabilities remain in their homes. Testimony supported H. 3968, which would make certain senior and disability property tax exemptions permanent so eligible residents would not have to refile annually, and H. 3198, which would expand the senior circuit breaker tax credit by indexing income and credit limits to cost of living and raising the home valuation cap from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. Representative Scanlan also testified in favor of several additional bills, including a local option motor vehicle excise tax exemption for low-income seniors and veterans, a local property tax cap for low-income seniors, an expanded senior property tax exemption, and a senior property tax deferral program designed to be revenue neutral over time. Witnesses from the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers generally supported local-option property tax relief measures and said they would help seniors age in place while giving municipalities flexibility. Committee members raised concerns about possible abuse or fraud if exemptions became permanent, and about how assessors would verify continued eligibility without annual reapplication. Supporters responded that eligibility could still be tied to real estate transactions and other documentation, and that the current annual filing requirement causes many eligible seniors to miss out on benefits. Mass Senior Action Council members testified that many seniors are struggling with rising property taxes, insurance, and other costs, and urged broader reforms such as freezing assessed values, improving outreach, strengthening the work-off program, and allowing more flexible payment or deferral options. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes sections authorizing security consultants to conduct threat assessments and to receive criminal
• I think it makes sense to make sure they have enough resources to assess when it is a true threat. ..
• And that person would then... ...and make sense to make sure they have enough resources to assess when
• And I'll just say one of the reasons why you need to make sure people can do a threat assessment is to
• actually do that assessment to understand whether it is a real threat or it is someone exercising the

Bills: SB5925 , SB6086 , SB6074 , SB5962 , SB6296 , SGA9272 , SGA9255 , SGA9256 , SGA9271

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: Attorney General, civil investigative demand, CID, subpoena-like demand, investigative authority, consumer protection, civil enforcement, pre-suit investigation, document production, interrogatories, deposition, oral testimony, confidentiality, trade secrets, judicial review, enforcement action, Washington RCW, law enforcement powers, government transparency, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you provide details on how you calculate assessment fees? Yes.
• Okay, I want to just turn to a different issue around how the assessments have worked out.
• As a result of the high assessments, we have seen agencies close their doors.
• As a result of the high assessments, we have, businesses and public services.
• As a result of the high assessments, we have seen agencies close their doors.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we're making those assessments. We also are making some recommendations.
• And so we're making those assessments. We also are making some recommendations.
• And so we're making those assessments. We also are making some recommendations.
• And so we're making those assessments. We also are making some recommendations.
• Um, I typically like to speak without the screen in front of me, but I did pull up a timeline from my

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the taxpayers can be reassured that the assessments need to go to their full value.
• And so we want our assessments to be accurate. Right.
• It's assessed by the State Tax Commission. That's right. Pipelines, railroads.
• So if assessments are outside of those parameters... ...if assessments are outside of those parameters
• based on yearly assessments, and that's right.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the dates by which local education agencies must receive statewide assessment scores and data.
• The Senate amended the bill by increasing the length of the statewide assessment testing window from
• four to six consecutive school weeks and prohibiting the state assessment testing window from beginning
• and the dates by which local education agencies must receive statewide assessment scores and data.
• The Senate amended the bill by increasing the length of the statewide assessment testing window from

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed several House bills with Senate amendments and asked whether sponsors would concur or refuse. On HB 2003, which lowers the age for an instruction permit and extends permit validity periods, the sponsor refused concurrence because of an oversight affecting people in the transition period, and the bill was headed to conference committee. On HB 2013, dealing with ADEQ duties related to wildfire smoke and damage from federally managed land, the sponsor was reported to concur with the Senate changes. HB 2133, concerning consent verification for online sexual material, was not concurred with because the sponsor said the definition of sexual material was circular and the bill also swept in an unintended entity, so further fixes were needed. The caucus also heard that the sponsor concurred on HB 2226, which requires courts to inquire about veteran status and provide information on veterans’ services, after the Senate clarified that the court—not the prosecuting agency—must provide the information. HB 2693, revising the definition of a bona fide association, had a Senate amendment requiring a feasibility study on state employee and public school district employee health insurance plans, and the sponsor concurred. HB 2032, which changes the statewide assessment testing window and reporting timeline, also had sponsor concurrence after the Senate lengthened the testing window and delayed its start. No votes were taken in the caucus; the discussion focused on concurrence decisions and whether bills would proceed to conference committee or advance with the Senate amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• These diagnostic assessments must be completed and/or signed off by a mental health professional, and
• This change will ensure that the diagnostic assessment is completed in a timely manner while relieving
• has to be completed following assessment has to be completed following admission<00:04:57.440><c> to
• assessments must be completed<00:05:04.720><c> and</c><00:05:05.040><c> or</c><00:05:05.360><c> signed
• </c><00:05:19.759><c> is</c> ensure that the diagnostic assessment is ensure that the diagnostic assessment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> be a $250,000 assessment. be a $250,000 assessment.
• </c> subtracted from the median assessment. subtracted from the median assessment.
• The problem is how we're assessing and the Assessing Standards Board.
• is how we're assessing and the assess<02:42:49.439><c> the</c><02:42:50.479><c> assessing</c><02:42:
• </c> assess the assessing standards board. assess the assessing standards board. we<02:42:54.240><c>

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is our best assessment of what is needed at this time.
• So we don't have data, like, as of yesterday, for example, to make that assessment.
• How are we able to have that assessment?
• Well, we've made an assessment based on what. And why should we support this?
• That simply we believe what we believe, we said what we said, we assessed what we assessed, and we can't

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The committee heard AB 108, a budget bill junior that would amend the 2025 Budget Act to create a one-time $25 million General Fund grant program at HCAI for hospitals in immediate and significant financial distress. The bill also included a technical change related to property tax deferments for eligible low-income seniors. Finance explained that eligible hospitals would have to be not-for-profit, have less than 10 days cash on hand, show best efforts to exhaust other financing, and have a payer mix of more than 50% government payers and uninsured patients; the bill also gives HCAI expedited contracting and rulemaking authority. Members and the LAO noted the proposal is intended as a short-term bridge until July 1, while broader hospital support is expected in the May Revision and next year’s budget. Much of the discussion focused on whether $25 million is enough, how many hospitals would qualify, and whether the 10-day cash threshold is too narrow. Several senators argued the administration had not provided enough data or a clear methodology, and raised concerns about fairness compared with the earlier Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which used broader criteria and provided loans rather than grants. Members also raised broader policy issues affecting hospital finances, including Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, seismic retrofit costs, federal funding changes, and the need for better data and more immediate assessment of hospital distress. The LAO said the current proposal is narrower than the prior loan program and emphasized the need for better reporting and analysis going forward. Public commenters, including the California Hospital Association, district hospital representatives, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and county officials, supported the bill and urged additional longer-term funding for distressed hospitals. The chair and several members said the bill is a short-term emergency measure for a small number of hospitals at risk of imminent closure, while broader solutions will be addressed later in the budget process. AB 108 was then moved and passed out of committee on an 18-0 vote, with the roll held open briefly to secure remaining votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appraisal of property: the Department of Assessment shall appraise all real property for the purpose
• The Department of Assessment goes on under 1005.
• The Department of Assessment shall have the same power, discharge the same duties, and proceed in the
• is to provide for of assessment is to provide for appointment<00:24:53.520><c> of</c><00:24:53.679><
• 39.279><c> goes</c><00:25:39.520><c> on</c> the department of assessment goes on the department of assessment

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we need to get the new assessment system in by which we're going to assess all schools and allow
• </c> the system by which they were assessed the system by which they were assessed is<00:46:56.720><c
• </c><00:47:31.760><c> 300</c> Cloverport performs under assessment 300 Cloverport performs under assessment
• </c><00:47:40.079><c> system</c> improves with the new assessment system improves with the new assessment
• we're going to assess all by which we're going to assess all schools<00:48:16.240><c> and</c><00:48:16.599

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard House Bill 132, which would change home and hospital instruction funding so schools can be reimbursed sooner when students miss school for short-term mental health-related stays. Representative Nick Wilson said current law requires a student to be out five days before funding begins, leaving schools unpaid when they provide instruction during 2- to 4-day absences. The committee gave HB 132 favorable expression unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 193, a cleanup bill on dual credit scholarships. Representative J.T. Payne and KHEAA’s director explained that the bill consolidates academic and CTE dual credit scholarships into one statute to reduce administrative confusion, since the programs have been funded together in recent budgets. HB 193 passed unanimously with favorable expression. House Bill 241 drew the most discussion. The committee first adopted a substitute, which members said changed the bill to give the Commissioner of Education discretion, rather than a mandate, to grant calamity days. The bill and substitute centered on virtual instruction and Cloverport Virtual Academy: supporters said the school was a pilot project that needed more time and that a prior agency effort to cap virtual instruction would have effectively shut it down, while opponents argued the substitute would reward a low-performing virtual model and extend NTI/virtual learning too broadly. Testimony from an Oldham County parent criticized NTI quality and opposed adding more virtual days. No final vote on HB 241 was included in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You heard a little bit about the flood damage assessment work.
• We use that to put together disaster assessments. ...across the state.
• But we haven't had a chance to assess it.
• But we haven't had a chance to assess it.
• But we haven't had a chance to assess it.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on the December 2025 flooding in Washington and its impacts on agriculture, with no public testimony. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Azel described the storm sequence, record rainfall, widespread river flooding, landslides, power outages, evacuations, rescues, and damage to homes, roads, flood control infrastructure, and agricultural land. He said the state was preparing a major disaster declaration request and noted that mitigation investments and interagency coordination helped reduce losses, while debris removal and federal reimbursement remain important next steps. Snohomish County Emergency Management Director Lucia Schmidt focused on farm impacts in Snohomish County, where tens of thousands of acres were underwater. She described damage to equipment, fences, hoop houses, feed, hay, nurseries, and perennial crops, and said many small farms face losses not well covered by existing federal disaster programs. She urged funding for the Washington State Conservation Commission’s disaster assistance program and emphasized the importance of helping small-scale farms recover to preserve the local agricultural community. WSDA Assistant Director Kelly McLean outlined the department’s disaster response role, including food and feed safety, animal health, livestock sheltering, and coordination of resources. She described efforts to keep feed and dairy products moving, support dairies and livestock producers, connect farmers to relief and mental health resources, and distribute food assistance. She also said WSDA is working on a report due in July with recommendations for small and mid-sized farms and noted interest in developing a broader agricultural disaster assessment tool. Washington State Dairy Federation policy director Jay Gordon described repeated flooding in the Chehalis Basin and other areas, praised state and local partnerships, and argued that continued flood mitigation, storage, levee adjustments, and basin-specific planning are needed because these events are becoming more frequent and severe. Committee members asked about debris removal, federal disaster assistance, insurance challenges, farmworker impacts, and future mitigation projects, and the chair adjourned the meeting after thanking the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• if the health carrier objects to paying the assessment for reasons of conscience or religion.
• will be occurring and that the assessment will not be passed through to the enrollees.
• plan billing statement that gets sent to enrollees if there is a circumstance when the assessment is
• There's nothing in this assessment that requires any new coverage of abortion care by health insurers
• This bill, this would be confusing for enrollees as the assessment does not impact premiums.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held confirmation hearings for Ryan Moran to lead the Health Care Authority and Dennis Worsham to serve as Secretary of Health. Moran emphasized his personal background, experience in Maryland Medicaid, and priorities of protecting coverage amid federal changes, addressing health disparities, strengthening tribal partnerships, and improving agency operations. Worsham described his long public health career in Washington, his statewide listening tour, and his focus on collaboration, science-based decision-making, accountability, workforce support, and rebuilding public trust. Senators raised questions about behavioral health, social determinants of health, communication, misinformation, and the impact of federal policy changes; both nominees said Washington should continue leading on coverage, prevention, and public health resilience. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It passed SB 5899, allowing qualified chiropractors to perform chiropractic diagnosis and adjustments on animals; SB 6292, creating a joint legislative-executive committee on health care financing with a substitute; SB 6182, establishing an abortion savings program, after rejecting several Christian-sponsored amendments and adopting a Bateman amendment limiting eligible organizations to DOH-contracted abortion providers or funds; SB 5947, creating the Washington Health Care Board; SJR 8206, proposing a constitutional right to affordable health care; and SB 5933, on overdose mapping information sharing, with a substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of both gubernatorial appointments. In a second group of bills, the committee passed SB 5823 on patient advocates with a substitute requiring at least one person physically present daily in acute care settings and expanding exemptions for certain hospitals; SB 6210 on the health plan certification process with a substitute; SB 5921 on psilocybin; SB 6226 protecting audiologists’ clinical autonomy with a substitute; and SB 5924 expanding pharmacists’ prescriptive authority with a substitute. Members discussed access, affordability, rural workforce shortages, and patient safety, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two specific waivers that we are looking at requesting, and they're both around assessments
• There's been a lot of discussion over time on who's assessing.
• We have put a lot of resources into literacy based on the state assessment.
• Related to assessments, there's also been a lot of discussion in the last few years on where and how
• where they want to go, I also believe... ...on matching the assessment that fits where they want to

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all