Transcript Highlights:

• We have invited testimony beginning with the Comptroller's office, followed by the legislative budget
• So we would need to work with legislative budget board staff to do that.
• Chair calls Kevin Kavanaugh and Aaron Henrickson from the Legislative Budget board. And Mr.
• Uh, as mentioned, my name is Aaron Hendrickson, Legislative Budget board.
• of the chairman to give y'all, uh, for any tax bills that he may request.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• So we would need to work with legislative budget board staff to do that.
• Through this back and forth then they can request to go to SOA They can request to go to the State Office
• Chair calls Kevin Cavanaugh and Erin Hendrickson from the Legislative Budget Board.
• As mentioned, my name is Aaron Henderson, Legislative Budget Board.
• General Appropriations Act, which provides that authority.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of those requesting follow-up, ...
• Of those requesting follow-up, only about a quarter actually request referral to law enforcement, with
• So in terms of folks who are not requesting follow-up, sometimes it's hard to know why they're not requesting
• Seven offices had submitted a budget request, and those budget requests were pending.
• Legislators requested, we took a look at one of the larger cities in the state.

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:

• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• On behalf of the Native American Legislative Caucus.
• I find myself compelled as a parent and as a legislator to bring this piece of legislation.
• And I respectfully request your aye vote.
• It has been appropriately weaponized against taxpayers.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Carol legislate.
• </c> requested. Members, take your seats. requested. Members, take your seats.
• </c> I request a roll call vote. I request a roll call vote.
• </c> request a roll call vote. request a roll call vote.
• And I request a you. And vote green. And I request a division<06:10:03.280><c> vote.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Where's the AG on their need for this legislation?
• That's not appropriate.
• on legislative draft.
• We're waiting on a legislative draft. This is what's in the legislative draft.
• waiting on legislative draft.

Bills: SB1113 , SB1117 , SB1206 , SB1460 , SB1802 , SB1906 , SB1917 , SB2340 , SB2455 , SB2680 , SB2690 , SB705 , SB748

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: SB 1113, converter's license, converter license, motor vehicle dealer, auto dealer, vehicle conversion, converted vehicles, direct sales, retail sales, trailer, semitrailer, manufactured trailer, chassis, manufacturer's statement of origin, MSO, Occupations Code, Transportation Code, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, dealer licensing, general distinguishing number

Summary: The committee took up pending business first and reported several bills favorably, including SB 2139, SB 2610, SB 1856, SB 2530, SB 2401, SB 2858, and SB 3016, with most of those measures moving out on committee substitutes and being sent to the local and uncontested calendar or to the full Senate. The committee also heard SB 1906 on expanding Chapter 342E consumer lending rates; supporters argued it would modernize Texas law and expand access to safe, regulated credit, while opponents from Texas Appleseed and AARP warned it would raise costs on already expensive loans and worsen debt burdens. SB 1906 was left pending after testimony. The committee also reconsidered and re-voted SB 1856 after a procedural issue, with the substitute ultimately adopted and the bill reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1113, which would clarify that certain vehicle converters, including a Texarkana business, do not need an additional dealer license to sell converted vehicles. The bill’s supporters described a long-standing business model and said the new metal license plate rules had created problems, while the Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill in its current form and said it could be resolved through DMV action or narrower changes. DMV said it was still researching a possible administrative fix, and SB 1113 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2680, a Public Information Act cleanup bill dealing with emergency deadlines, business-day exclusions, and litigation timing; broadcasters and other open-government advocates argued the issues were already addressed by prior law and court rulings, while the Attorney General’s office said the bill would help with catastrophe notices and timing conflicts. SB 2680 was left pending. Other bills heard included SB 1117, which would allow any Texas-licensed dentist to administer botulinum toxin neuromodulators for aesthetic purposes in the oral and maxillofacial region; the author and dental witnesses said it would clarify scope and improve access, and the bill was left pending. SB 2340 would clarify the Attorney General’s investigative authority over Texas corporations, including pre-suit depositions and sworn written questions; opponents raised due process and separation-of-powers concerns, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 705 and SB 748, both TDLR cleanup bills, and SB 1206, which would impose timelines and notice requirements on municipalities reviewing transmission projects; SB 1206 was supported by an electric cooperative and left pending. SB 1460, creating an ethics violation registry tied to licensing consequences, drew constitutional and due-process objections from several witnesses and was also left pending. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1802 on landlord duties to repair mobility assistance devices like elevators and ramps in rental housing, with the author describing prolonged outages affecting seniors; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 2455, creating an Energy Waste Advisory Committee to coordinate efficiency and demand-response programs, drew support from energy-efficiency and environmental witnesses and was left pending, and SB 2690, targeting deceptive business-certification solicitations, was laid out and opened to testimony before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
• >> I request the yeas and nays. >> The yeas and nays have been requested.
• >> I request the yeas and nays. >> The yeas and nays have been requested.
• This legislation... >> The legislation has strong bipartisan support.
• Speaker, I request the yeas and nays. >> The yeas and nays are... Requested.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• I move to withdraw AB 1178, Pacheco, from the Appropriations Committee.
• Assembly Rule 88 is reserved for a failure of our legislative process.
• We don't need to send this to the Appropriations Committee.
• I mean, it's like page one in the Legislative Counsel Digest.

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum after a roll call and prayer, then moved through routine business and a lengthy floor debate centered on AB 379, a bill dealing with protections for minors and human trafficking victims. Assembly Member DeMaio first sought to bring the bill up without Public Safety Committee amendments, arguing the committee had gutted the bill and removed felony language for purchasing 16- and 17-year-olds for sex. The body instead adopted a substitute motion to take up Assembly Member Schultz’s floor amendments to AB 379, and the bill became the focus of intense debate over whether the amended language would still adequately protect minors or instead weaken penalties and create a lower standard for 16- and 17-year-olds. Supporters of the amendments, including Schultz, Petri-Norris, Mark Gonzalez, Krell, Wynn, and others, said the changes were intended to strengthen and clarify the law, protect trafficking survivors, and preserve prosecutorial effectiveness while avoiding misinformation about existing law. Opponents, including DeMaio, Gallagher, Dixon, Macedo, Castillo, and others, argued the amendments watered down the bill, failed to restore the original felony treatment for buyers of 16- and 17-year-olds, and amounted to political maneuvering rather than real protection. The chamber also briefly considered a motion to table the amendments, which failed, and an appeal of a ruling on decorum, which was rejected. After debate, the Assembly adopted Schultz’s amendments to AB 379 by a 55-21 vote and then rereferred the bill to the Appropriations Committee. The chamber also handled several procedural items, including re-referrals of other bills, consent calendar actions, and a series of unanimous consent votes on numerous bills and resolutions. The session ended with announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session, followed by adjournment until Monday, May 5 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't vote for the legislation that created this program.
• Appropriated by Congress and intended to benefit the American people.
• That means you have appropriated it, and my objective Is to execute what has been appropriated.
• What you have appropriated efficiently and effectively, I will. It's a bargain.
• and to appear before the committee when requested?

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And they are here in this fact sheet, related to our C2 request, the FIT Kids Phase 1.
• We request 57 million over three years for the wage scale and career lattice.
• Chair, I worry about the impact of these costs for future appropriators.
• And so we have to be careful on how we appropriate that.
• Yeah, very appropriate that we have this chart up.

Bills: SB2

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: SB 2, State Highway Project Bonds, highway funding, transportation bonds, state road fund, motor vehicle fees, vehicle registration fees, electric vehicle fee, EV surcharge, plug-in hybrid fee, weight distance tax, road construction, infrastructure financing, Department of Transportation, State Transportation Commission, bonding authority, county road funds, municipal road funds, transportation improvement program, state highways

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, I would ask that we make sure our patients get appropriate care.
• Funding requests are limited to...
• It feels good to get behind something good like this legislation.
• It feels good to get behind something good like this legislation.
• But I'm so proud of this piece of legislation.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing FSU Day at the Capitol, Catholic lay leaders, seniors advocates, Broward County school officials, and veterans-related guests. The chamber then moved through its special order calendar, beginning with several Florida Statutes revision bills. SB 36 adopted the 2025 Florida Statutes and prior session law; SB 38 conformed statutory terminology for the Division of Criminal Investigations; SB 40 removed repealed provisions; and SB 42 cleaned up obsolete language, cross-references, and typographical errors. Each passed unanimously or nearly unanimously after brief explanations and no substantive debate. The Senate also passed CS/SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, as amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub’s role under USF and clarify research and modeling responsibilities; CS/SB 116 on veterans, which expanded veteran awareness and coordination efforts, added mental health training, and authorized adult day health care; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempted local regulation to give a future Florida presidential library maximum flexibility; CS/SB 126 on prescription hearing aids, allowing mail distribution for adults after appropriate professional evaluation; SB 150 on abandoning restrained dogs during natural disasters, amended to conform to the House; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice from being expanded to certain serious cardiac conditions; and SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Most of these measures passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 118 drew questions about local zoning, parking, and safety and passed 36-3, with one senator later changing to a no vote over local control concerns. Later, the Senate approved CS/CS/SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process for removing unauthorized persons from commercial property, and CS/SB 348 on ethics, which would penalize false claims of military rank or honors for material gain and require paycheck withholding for delinquent ethics fines owed by public employees. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, which included a CPI/case manager recruitment program, a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and improved data collection and capacity analysis for commercially sexually exploited children. CS/SB 108 on administrative procedures was adopted after a detailed explanation of rule review, transparency, and rulemaking deadlines, and CS/SB 160 on public accountancy passed after an amendment clarifying contracted services and discussion of CPA licensure pathways. The longest and most celebratory debate centered on CS/SB 110 for rural communities. The bill created an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and road funding, school and health care investments, and related rural support measures. Amendments refined transportation priorities in the Everglades agricultural area and clarified the FARM road program. Senators from across the chamber praised the bill as a long-awaited investment in rural Florida, agriculture, broadband, health care, and quality of life. After extensive debate and emotional closing remarks from the sponsor and leadership, the bill passed overwhelmingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um so it's not really any<00:22:35.600><c> legislative.</c> any legislative. any legislative.
• There are times when that is appropriate. appropriate. appropriate.
• may be about the existing legislation and whether you had received an inordinate number of requests
• </c> whom are legislators. whom are legislators.
• legislation? legislation?

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully request an aye vote.
• I rise today as chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Mr.
• Senator Sheila Kuehl was California's first openly gay state legislator.
• President, requesting the previous roll call vote as well.
• Without objection, I request that file item 32, SB 1189, be sent back.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On that, I request the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays are requested.
• </c> request the yays and nas. request the yays and nas.
• I request the yeas and nays. Okay. The yeas and nays are requested.
• The yays and nays are requested. Okay. The yays and nays are requested.
• </c> this long titled legislation, Mr. this long titled legislation, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, May 5, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Line general fund appropriation Line general fund appropriation um<00:31:58.480><c> what</c><00:
• </c> pieces of that original appropriation pieces of that original appropriation the<00:32:29.960><c>
• A roll call has been requested. The committee legislative assistant will take the roll. Davids: I.
• <01:37:48.920><c> the</c><01:37:49.080><c> committee</c><01:37:49.400><c> Legislative</c> requested the
• committee Legislative requested the committee Legislative Assistant<01:37:50.199><c> will</c><01:37:

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In that case, appropriate notice will be posted.
• In that case, appropriate notice will be posted.
• In that case, appropriate notice will be posted.
• ><c> the</c><00:36:24.920><c> legislative</c><00:36:25.599><c> body</c> testimonies that the legislative
• </c> Condominiums including many legislators Condominiums including many legislators and<00:49:23.960

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing support from state boards, agencies, and industry groups. SB 102 (restaurants) had one supportive testifier and no questions. SB 1367 SD1 (installment loans) drew support from DCCA and other boards, but the chair raised concerns about a proposed $5 debit-card convenience fee, saying it seemed high and suggesting it might be amended downward; DCCA said it would check with industry on the likely impact. SB 1373 SD2 (administrative licensure action against sex offenders) received broad support from DCCA and multiple professional licensing boards, including psychology, physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, optometry, barbering and cosmetology, the Hawaii Medical Board, and HPD. The committee then heard SB 1142 SD1 (insurance proceeds), which was supported by DCCA, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, while State Farm offered comments and the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed. Testimony focused on insurance access after the Lahaina wildfires and the need to address underinsured homeowners. The committee also discussed SB 144 SD2 (stabilization of property insurance), with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, and comments from the Attorney General and DCCA Insurance Division about revising the financing structure and correcting bill language. Opponents and reservationed supporters argued the bill may not help if applicants can still obtain coverage at very high prices, while supporters said it would expand market capacity and provide a safety net as climate-related losses continue. Finally, SB 253 SD2 (condominium reserves) received support from Hawaiʻi Realtors, CI, and several individual testifiers. Supporters said it would enforce existing disclosure requirements under Act 199 and improve reserve funding transparency, while one individual argued stronger enforcement and an ombudsman-style office would be more effective. The chair reminded testifiers to stay on the bill at hand. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the division manager for the Budget Policy Analysis Division for Legislative Services.
• then the far right-hand column is the legislative scenario that we're currently working with, right?
• And so my goal here is to really kind of give you a view of where the legislative scenario could be.
• It was 21% of the original appropriation for 2009. Fast forward to today.
• And that equates to almost 30% of the original appropriation of the 2026 original appropriation.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: Senate State Affairs began with a budget update from Senator Groh and Keith Bybee of Legislative Services. They discussed Idaho’s revenue outlook, tax conformity uncertainty, and structural balance concerns, noting that revised revenue forecasts were lower than expected due to softness in sales tax, income tax, and corporate tax collections. Bybee reviewed general fund growth trends, major budget drivers such as Medicaid, public schools, corrections, and other state-directed spending, and said the state still has substantial cash reserves but only a relatively small projected bottom-line cushion. Several senators asked about per-capita spending, population growth, Medicaid growth, and the effect of prior education appropriations. No budget votes were taken during this portion, but members emphasized caution and the need for a larger ending balance. The committee then considered the gubernatorial reappointment of Estella Zamora to the Idaho Commission on Human Rights. Zamora described her background in Idaho, her long service in the courts and on the commission, and her interest in continuing to serve. Senators asked about the commission’s caseload, with Zamora saying disability-related matters are common and that she did not recall immigration cases coming before the commission recently. The committee also unanimously approved the gubernatorial appointment of David Dean to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board. Next, the committee heard and approved a pending rule from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission on pole attachments, implementing House Bill 180A. The administrator explained that the rule was developed through negotiated rulemaking with utilities and attaching entities and sets standardized timelines, non-discriminatory access requirements, make-ready work procedures, and dispute resolution processes to support broadband expansion. After questions about stakeholder input, including landowners, the committee voted to approve the rule docket. Finally, the committee took up three RS requests from Senator Brian Lenney: RS 3-2874 to eliminate the personal voter affidavit process, RS 3-2868 to repeal obsolete code related to the Idaho Women’s Commission, and RS 3-2970 to impose a 12-month moratorium on reappointing a gubernatorial appointee rejected by the Senate. All three RSs were introduced by committee vote, with some members noting possible future questions about the wording and effective date of the appointment moratorium. The meeting adjourned after a brief recognition of visiting county officials from Caribou County.

Transcript Highlights:

• And normal scratching behaviors absolutely can be redirected to appropriate surfaces.
• So I'm very, very grateful to the bill's sponsors, and I request that you pass this bill.
• This bill does not require new appropriations.
• A lot of concepts and changes contemplated under this legislation.
• For these reasons, we respectfully request that you oppose House Bill 2106. Thank you.

Bills: HB1904 , HB2106 , HB2211 , HB2247 , HB2329 , HB2339

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: animal welfare, cats, declawing, animal rights, pet care, healthcare, contract modifications, provider notifications, insurance carriers, health facilities, HB 2211, medically tailored meals, medical nutrition therapy, medical assistance, Medicaid, Health Care Authority, Department of Social and Health Services, nutrition support, chronic disease, dietary accommodations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and our ability to pass good legislation and our ability to pass good legislation on<00:18:18.080
• or the entirety of the legislation or the entirety of the legislation<00:31:12.040><c> that's</c><00
• The reason why that's in a legislative appropriation, or in this footnote, is because of the limitation
• Footnote five, $3,145,000 of the federal funds appropriation, $555,000 is appropriated for IT.
• </c> is appropriated for IT. is appropriated for IT.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Cindy Ryu, state representative from the 32nd legislative district.
• Stephanie Barnard from the 8th legislative district. Just keep going down, thank you.
• Julio Cortes from the 38th legislative district. Tarra Simmons from the 23rd legislative district.
• We've structured our agenda to align with the chair's request for a briefing on AI.
• And manage the AI risks and implement appropriate controls.

Summary: The Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee held its first meeting of the session and began with member and staff introductions, followed by a work session on emerging technology, digital risks, and governance, focused on artificial intelligence in state government. Washington Technology Solutions officials Gretchen Perry, Katie Ruckel, and James Galvin described the state’s approach to balancing innovation with public trust, emphasizing human judgment, transparency, accountability, and the use of AI to augment rather than replace people. They outlined benefits such as automating repetitive tasks, improving fraud and anomaly detection, supporting multilingual access, and improving customer service and internal productivity. The presenters also discussed AI risks, including algorithmic bias, overreliance, hallucinations, and ethical concerns, and explained the state’s governance framework. That framework is based on NIST AI risk principles and includes statewide AI principles, inventory requirements, risk assessments for high-risk uses, accuracy and monitoring requirements, training, data-sharing controls, and restrictions on creating likenesses without consent. They noted the state adopted a statewide AI policy on December 11 and has created an AI community of practice and related subcommittees to support implementation. They also said the policy was bargained with unions where required and that agencies must give notice before consequential AI-related changes affecting working conditions. James Galvin highlighted current AI use cases across state agencies, including visual and spatial analysis for emergency response and flood recovery, the Department of Licensing’s Dolly chatbot for resident services, and an internal contract-assistance tool for staff that is limited to approved materials. Members asked about audit implications, language services and interpreters, the policy’s applicability beyond government, union involvement, return on investment, and whether the state uses off-the-shelf or custom AI models. The presenters said most uses rely on off-the-shelf large language models, that high-risk generative AI is not yet in production, and that the policy is designed to encourage low- and moderate-risk uses while adding more scrutiny for higher-risk applications. No votes or legislative actions were taken; the meeting concluded with committee housekeeping and adjournment.