Transcript Highlights:

• that provides that local correctional facility workers may be eligible for an occupational disease claim
• that provides that local correctional facility workers may be eligible for an occupational disease claim
• showing non-zero but indeterminate costs, and L&I provides that there are estimates of a five-year claim
• A fiscal note is available and shows fiscal impacts including annual claims cost between $12 million

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee began by suspending the five-day notice rule for Senate Bill 629, then held testimony on the bill, which would restructure the Liquor and Cannabis Board. Proponents, including the Washington Hospitality Association, the Washington Cannabis Business Association, and the Cannabis Alliance, argued the current board structure is overburdened by alcohol and cannabis responsibilities, slows decision-making, and should be expanded or reorganized to improve accountability and focus. Opponents, including the Washington Association for Substance Misuse and Violence Prevention and a cannabis business owner, warned the bill would create unnecessary administrative costs, weaken executive accountability, and should not advance without more study. The committee did not take final action on SB 629 during the hearing portion, but later moved several bills out of committee. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced SB 6282 on behavioral health training for construction apprentices, SB 5379 on interest arbitration for Parks and Recreation Commission employees, SB 6197 on plumber license discipline, SB 6158 on factory-built housing and utility structures, SB 6302 on limits for independent contractors on public works finishing work, SB 5882 on PTSD workers’ compensation coverage for local correctional facility workers, SB 6180 on firefighter and law enforcement heart-related occupational disease presumptions, SB 6195 on cannabis producer oversupply, SB 6196 on kratom taxation, SB 6204 on home cannabis cultivation, and SB 6287 on kratom product restrictions. Several bills were sent to Ways and Means because of fiscal impacts, while SB 6204 was sent to Rules after adoption of an amendment allowing local governments to restrict home cultivation in residential areas. The committee also noted that SB 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices would not move that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• calculate or guesstimate what they think the storms and the damage are going to be from catastrophic claims
• And then that's how they stay afloat in order to be solvent, to pay the claims that they have.
• years, it has driven the rates up, not just because of inflation, but because of all the catastrophic claims
• that takes the way, loss adjustment expenses, basically the cost carriers pay to examine and review claims

Bills: SB1642 , SB1643 , SB2530

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance, commercial automobile insurance, rate approval, consumer protection, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, administrative penalties, coastal counties, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of those were denied their claims, saying that it was out of scope, that it, it wasn't job-related
• And, and they want to, they want to deny these guys' claims.
• that, that uh monograph resulted in many disputes with firefighters that were coming forward and claiming
• concerning uh an employee's entitlement to workers' compensation benefits or the compensability of the claim

Committee: House S/C on Workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• all seen the headlines coming out of states such as Texas, where they have heartbeat laws and the claims
• <c> major</c><00:25:39.600><c> part</c><00:25:39.760><c> of</c><00:25:39.880><c> their</c> try and claim
• that a major part of their try and claim that a major part of their services<00:25:41.480><c> as</c>
• </c><01:15:51.840><c> and</c> acting uh on a discrimination claim and acting uh on a discrimination claim
• to accomplish on its face but you claims to accomplish on its face but you know<03:39:09.439><c> we<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that's again kind of what I'm can only speak to the way the fair plan handles our claims,
• So we use that if, you know, like we had a claim down in Lakeville, I think it was this summer, where
• The agents do a heck of a job to the extent that people want to talk to them when it's not claim time
• time or to them when it's not claim time or they're<01:11:28.719><c> searching</c><01:11:28.960><c>
• And now if you have a million-dollar claim and 20% don't have the right coverage, there's a $200,000

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill, An Act Further Regulating Insurance Claims, Senate No. 785.
• state right of action for civil immigration violations, commonly known in the federal term as 1983 claims
• and truly prepared, is now before the House for final passage: an act further regulating insurance claims
• each affected provider became personally defenseless against the insurance. ...against legitimate claims
• With no insurance standing behind them, there was no one left to investigate a claim, defend it, or pay

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The author claims this bill just codifies existing federal Affordable Care Act...
• The author claims this bill just codifies existing federal Affordable Care Act. But that's false.
• A man claiming to need help with menopause must be treated as though he is really a post-menopausal female
• It is also our intent to apply the bill retroactively so that future or pending claims a worker wants
• Or pending claims a worker wants to enforce for the entire year of 2026 would not be enforceable under

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met as a subcommittee and announced a large agenda, including a consent calendar and several bills pulled for separate hearing. Early in the hearing, the committee heard AB 1876, which would codify federal nondiscrimination protections in state health care law. The author and supporters said it would protect access to coverage and services for all protected classes, including transgender people, while opponents argued it would force coverage of disputed gender-affirming treatments and impose penalties on providers and insurers. No vote was taken during the informational-style presentation, and the author requested an aye vote when a quorum was present. The committee then heard AB 1650 on requiring rental vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly marked, with supporters describing it as a transparency and public-trust measure in response to immigration enforcement activity and opponents later withdrawing opposition after discussions with the author. AB 635, dealing with the Mobile Home Residency Law Protection Program, would extend and revise a resident-funded legal assistance program for mobile home owners; supporters said it improves access to justice and enforcement, and there was no opposition. AB 1697 would extend the date for enforceability of certain employment contract provisions under AB 692 and add an urgency clause; the NFL supported it, SIFMA was support-if-amended, and the chair noted sympathy for some workers while expressing concern about high-paid executives. The committee also heard AB 2784, the annual State Bar fee bill, which held fees flat while making governance and reporting changes; it drew support from the State Bar and no opposition. AB 2782, the Assembly Judiciary Committee civil omnibus bill, made minor clarifying code changes and also drew no opposition. Other measures heard included AB 2662 on monitoring and reporting federal immigration enforcement impacts, AB 2235 on allowing judges to use alternate mailing addresses for safety, AB 1544 on courthouse access and transparency, AB 2624 expanding Safe at Home protections to immigrant service providers, AB 1857 to block grocery restrictive covenants that prevent new grocery stores in underserved areas, AB 1892 clarifying HOA duties and election notice rules, AB 634 banning products containing tianeptine, AB 1684 limiting HOA restrictions on home cooling systems, AB 1752 increasing appraisal reimbursement in eminent domain cases, AB 1660 improving compliance by financial institutions with public guardian requests, AB 782 narrowing a prior housing redevelopment law for certain charter cities, and AB 2195 limiting occupational license suspensions for low-income parents owing child support. Across these bills, testimony was largely supportive, with several measures drawing “support if amended” or no opposition after negotiations; the transcript does not reflect final votes on the bills discussed here.

Transcript Highlights:

• our audit of CSU and UC's implementation of Title IX and their efforts to prevent and investigate claims
• information sharing, submitted by Senator Archuleta; Item 3, audit 117, EDD unemployment insurance claims
• sharing, by Senator Archuleta; 2026-117, Employment Development Department unemployment insurance claims
• information sharing by Senator Archuleta; 226-117, Employment Development Department unemployment insurance claims
• sharing by Senator Archeletta, 226-117, Employment Development Department, Unemployment Insurance of Claims

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to hear new audit requests and receive a status update from the State Auditor. The auditor reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, noted that all 2025-approved audits are underway, said the first 2026 audit is focused on DMV license revocations, and described several statutory and high-risk audits already in progress. The committee also approved a consent calendar of four audit requests: UC library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. The committee then considered Assembly Member DeMaio’s audit request on SANDAG road project management. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to examine whether transportation funds, including voter-approved and restricted revenues, were used for allowable purposes and whether past management failures warranted outside review. SANDAG’s CEO and CFO said the agency already undergoes extensive oversight and audits, that funds are tracked by multiple “colors of money,” and that internal controls have improved. Several members questioned whether the issues were already addressed in public records or existing audits, and the request failed on a roll call vote. Next, Senator Valadares presented an audit of the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Proposition 47 grant administration, arguing that more transparency is needed on outcomes, recidivism data, and oversight of grantees. The BSCC said it already has oversight mechanisms, that the State Controller conducts biennial audits, and that program data shows positive outcomes. The committee approved the audit unanimously. Senator Cortese then presented an audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and Delta Dental contract, citing long-standing benefit caps, provider network concerns, and retiree out-of-pocket costs. CalHR said its network remains strong, that it recently completed an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier starting in 2027, and that contracts include performance guarantees. Members from both parties expressed concern about access and competition, and the audit was approved unanimously. The committee then completed add-on votes on the consent calendar and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• MOSERS filed a lawsuit in 2020, claiming breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and fraud, among
• Many of our claims are reflected in an examination performed by the SEC, but that was conducted in 2017
• So those include all of the defendant's motions against MOSERS's claims.
• So those include all of the defendant's motions against MOSERS's claims and MOSERS's motion against the
• Again, the court ruled in favor of MOSERS on that claim. In January, MOSERS filed an appeal.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with someone, as you just said, and there is no physical evidence, then they are not able to bring a claim
• of, have always said you have to Have some sort of physical contact in order to make an emotional claim
• That works for claimed emotional claims.
• you and that family contact, you have to suffer some sort of impact in order to be able to make that claim

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill addresses claims submitted to psychologists for overpayment.
• Claims submitted to psychologists by Senator Davis. You're recognized on the bill.
• insurance companies must prove service and pay in advance for 12 months in order to file a reimbursement claim
• Page by reducing the look-back period from 30 months to 12 months for insurers to submit claims for an
• A licensed psychologist with claims starting on or after January 1, 2026. And that is the bill.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I've cleaned a lot of them.
• The hotel has already paid $10,000 toward this claim in front of the Massachusetts Commission on Human
• um in front of the towards this claim um in front of the Massachusetts<00:57:37.920><c> uh</c><00:57
• </c><03:14:17.359><c> or</c> New Hampshire to pursue a civil claim or New Hampshire to pursue a civil
• claim or they<03:14:18.000><c> were</c><03:14:18.239><c> denied</c><03:14:18.800><c> services?

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities program, which we're now seeing the real benefits of with projects coming online, bringing clean
• ruling stripped many of Delaware's most ecologically important wetlands of federal protection under the Clean
• Since 1973, we have left their protection to the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act as regulated
• Recent changes to the Clean Water Act have removed 75,000 acres of our non-tidal wetlands from protection
• important in southern Delaware, where so many people and utilities rely on private wells for safe and clean

Bills: SB9

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and first considered SB 321 with Senate Amendment 1, the community solar utility billing bill. The sponsor explained that it would consolidate the two-bill system for community solar subscribers into one utility bill, with the utility forwarding the subscriber fee to the solar facility through an escrow mechanism so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers. Testimony from the solar industry, the Public Advocate, and environmental advocates supported the measure, emphasizing easier enrollment, fewer barriers for low-income customers, and guaranteed savings. The committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, but after a roll call vote it was released from committee. The committee then heard SB 9 with Senate Amendment 1, a wetlands protection bill creating a state non-tidal freshwater wetlands permitting program. The sponsor and DNREC described a framework of exemptions, general permits, and individual permits based on wetland type and value, with an advisory committee to develop regulations. Witnesses explained that “exceptional value” wetlands would include unique wetland communities and high-functioning wetlands, and that the bill was intended to preserve important habitat while allowing farming, drainage, and other exempt activities to continue. Some members raised concerns about flooding, land classification, and the balance of the advisory committee, while supporters said the bill was the product of broad stakeholder consensus and would protect wetlands without unduly harming agriculture or development. Public comment on SB 9 was strongly supportive from environmental groups, the Delaware Native Species Commission, the Home Builders Association, the Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, and affordable housing advocates, who said the bill balanced conservation with practical land use concerns. After remote testimony, the committee took a roll call vote and SB 9 was released from committee. The meeting concluded with remarks thanking the chair for her service and instructions for members to sign the backers before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• To the first part of that inquiry, we wanted to make a little clean-up to some of the language in the
• Moving down, some more technical changes to clean up the reading a little bit, clarifying different pieces
• I think that appendix can and should be cleaned up a little bit more, but it does kind of list as much
• Again, I think the recommendations really focus on cleaning up and emphasizing some of the points that
• So cleaning that up a little bit.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Xylazine held its final public meeting to review and approve the final draft of its report before submission to the House and Senate clerks. Chair Mindy Domb opened the meeting, noted Senator John Velis’s absence due to National Guard deployment, and the commission approved the minutes from the February 9 meeting. Staff then walked commissioners through the report’s redline changes, which were mostly technical or clarifying edits, along with several substantive updates on xylazine’s public health effects, state and federal actions, harm reduction, emergency response, wound care, and education and training. Commissioners discussed several language changes, including clarifying that xylazine is an active adulterant rather than a bulking agent, replacing “non-clinician” with “non-clinical staff,” and revising references to “hotspots” to better reflect the limits of available data. They also refined recommendations to emphasize oxygenation and ventilation in overdose response, continued naloxone use, referrals to harm reduction services, language access in wound care materials, and clearer discussion of medical consequences and financial costs related to delayed wound treatment. Staff also described the appendices, including a letter from Senator Velis supporting the report and noting he could not vote because of active duty service. The commission then voted to approve the final report, with members present voting in favor and Deputy Director Sarah Ruiz abstaining on the earlier minutes vote. After the report vote, commissioners offered brief remarks thanking staff and one another for the collaborative work and the quality of the final product. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 11:11 a.m., and staff said the final report would be submitted to the clerks and posted online.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, what this bill is doing is clean up from a legislation we ran a few years ago, and it took effect
• November 1, 2025, and there was some blowback on it, so I'm just kind of cleaning that up.
• But in that effort to clean that up, I was visiting with some of my constituents, and as you guys are
• So, I wanted to include this in, and I think it will clean up the headache in that county and in other
• So, let's clean up the language for that. So, with that, yield for questions. We have a do pass.

Bills: SB2108 , SB2121 , SB2171 , SB2061 , SB2112 , SB2138

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Keywords: feral swine, nuisance control, wildlife management, hunting permits, agriculture, cultivated meat, food safety, public health, misbranding, advertising, food labeling, food distribution, state regulations, hunting licenses, fishing licenses, veterans, controlled hunts, deer population, wildlife conservation, food policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Public water agencies are responsible for delivering safe, clean, and affordable drinking water throughout
• property owner does not keep their property free and clear of debris from the costs that they incur to clean
• SB 757 policy updates allow nuisance abatement costs to be collected, which cleans up our streets and
• The cities aren't just coming up and cleaning property.
• maintain their property, but what this bill also says is that owners need to maintain their property in a clean

Summary: The committee opened the June 18, 2025 Local Government hearing with housekeeping rules, noting that testimony would be in person and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. Because a quorum was initially lacking, the committee proceeded as a subcommittee and heard several bills before later taking formal votes once quorum was established. The agenda included 15 bills, with eight placed on the consent calendar and one bill pulled by the author. The bills discussed included SB 333, which would let San Luis Obispo County voters consider raising the local sales tax cap for transportation funding; SB 390, a district-specific measure for South San Francisco to address a Mello-Roos/CFD issue affecting properties with conservation easements; SB 394, which would increase penalties for water theft and allow local agencies to recover damages; SB 611, which would restore protections for housing projects tied to adopted community plans while CEQA litigation is pending; SB 757, which would allow nuisance abatement liens or special assessments to collect cleanup costs for chronic nuisance properties; and SB 489, which would require public agencies involved in housing approvals to post application requirements online. Supporters generally framed the bills as tools for infrastructure financing, housing production, transparency, public safety, or deterrence of theft and blight. Opposition was heard on SB 757, with critics warning about due process, foreclosure risk, and displacement of low-income homeowners. After quorum was called, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 757, and later approved SB 489 on a 10-0 vote. The consent calendar bills—SB 74, SB 225, SB 272, SB 409, SB 558, SB 735, SB 736, and SB 737—were approved together. SB 333 advanced on a 7-2 vote, SB 390 passed 9-0, SB 394 passed 9-0, and SB 611 passed 10-0. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after all listed actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• A good example is advanced clean energy.
• New Mexico can drive innovation around clean energy.
• Mexico State University and New Mexico Tech, has some of the best opportunities in the U.S. to begin cleaning
• They are primarily cleaning up language in our rules.
• Really, otherwise, it's just aligning our rules with our practices. practice and cleaning up language

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• and we're seeing that it's build claims and we're seeing that it's more<00:18:34.880><c> on</c><00:18
• That means we're paying more claims, we're serving more providers, we're serving more people, and we
• </c> time that means we're paying more claims time that means we're paying more claims we're<00:24:37.240
• We serve more than 1 million people in Minnesota, and every single visit is a claim, so we need better
• </c><00:47:31.760><c> we</c> mountains of medical Medicaid claims we mountains of medical Medicaid claims

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If her testimony causes a clinic to lose business or claim reputational harm, they could face a...
• this new law will create criminal penalties for constitutionally protected speech simply because of claims
• They will claim emotional duress.
• They will claim mental anguish simply because people are there praying.
• But more shockingly, a company executive went even further and claimed that the company's software could

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was just kind of curious: did, like, last year, do you know, was all 25 claimed? Is that too low?
• did like last year do you know was all did like last year do you know was all 25<00:15:32.680><c> claimed
• is that too low I just wonder 25 claimed is that too low I just wonder I<00:15:35.959><c> you</c><00
• The reason I'm asking is back in the pandemic days when we had a lot of problems with fraudulent claims
• against them just as fraudulent claims against them just as<00:48:14.200><c> representative</c><00:48

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:52 SB 1 Discussion 01:33 SB 1 Vote 32:39 SB 76 Discussion 34:35 SB 76 Vote 36:20 SB 162 Discussion 37:04 SB 162 Vote 46:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1, which would create a Kentucky Film Office and a Kentucky Film Leadership Council to promote film production in the state. Sponsors said the bill is intended to expand Kentucky’s use of film tax incentives, improve marketing and infrastructure, and attract productions that could generate jobs, tourism, and broader economic development. They noted a committee substitute made two changes: adding a salary cap for the film office executive director and correcting a date. Members asked about whether the office should instead be housed in the Economic Development Cabinet, how Kentucky’s refundable credit compares with Georgia’s transferable credits, the bill’s obscenity language, the size of the current incentive cap, and whether there should be reporting on the program’s results. Supporters cited a University of Louisville study estimating about $200 million in industry revenue in 2022 and argued the state is not fully using existing credits; an outside witness, Andrew McNeel, opposed the bill, calling the incentives subsidies, warning that Georgia’s uncapped program could lead to pressure to raise Kentucky’s cap, and arguing the bill could subsidize films with little lasting local benefit. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and passed Senate Bill 1 as amended by House Committee Substitute 1 with an expression of opinion that it should pass. Several members explained their votes, including concerns about transparency, local hiring, and the need for further review. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 76, which would raise the threshold for a retainage/escrow requirement in certain real estate improvement contracts from $500,000 to $2 million. The sponsor said the change is meant to reflect construction cost inflation since the statute was enacted in 1990. The transcript indicates a motion and second were made, but the discussion was cut off before any final action on the bill is shown. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 162, a simplified bill on unemployment insurance fraud. The sponsor said it would require suspected fraud to be referred to the appropriate state or federal law enforcement authorities, including the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, county or Commonwealth’s attorneys, and, where applicable, the U.S. Department of Justice, to create a clearer process and accountability. The transcript ends during the presentation, before any vote or committee action on SB 162 is recorded.