Transcript Highlights:

• That is because when children have free access to unregulated apps on these platforms, they are not safe
• There is no liability waiver for the social media companies under certain models.
• But the actual content issue, there are liability issues once an age is verified, and the person who's
• There is no liability waiver for the social media. chair there is no liability waiver for the social
• You know, the internet was a tool at one point, and obviously it's kind of merged into more social media

Summary: The Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills. SB 1668, dealing with funeral and disposition timelines and related requirements for unborn children and minors, drew emotional testimony from funeral industry representatives and a parent about burdensome deadlines and problems obtaining signatures from an ex-partner; it also drew opposition over language referencing abortion clinics and reproductive freedom. The committee adopted a due-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1286, on veterinary telemedicine prescription limits, was amended to shorten non-antimicrobial prescriptions to 30 days and allow antimicrobial prescriptions for up to 14 days without an in-person exam; veterinarians and industry representatives were neutral with caution or supportive, while opponents warned about overprescribing and inadequate diagnosis. The amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then passed SB 1235, joining the emergency services personnel licensure interstate compact, on a 7-0 vote, with the sponsor describing it as a reciprocity measure for EMTs and paramedics. SB 1446, which changes dialysis social worker documentation from monthly to quarterly to match federal and most state practice, also passed unanimously after support from DaVita. SB 1515, an Industrial Commission cleanup bill that renames positions, removes obsolete private employment office oversight language, and shifts publication of fee schedules online, was amended and passed 7-0. SB 1678, concerning documentation and oversight in health care institutions and group homes for vulnerable adults, was amended to remove a patient-form requirement and instead require DHS investigation when EMS personnel complain that a DNR was not provided; providers moved to neutral or support after the amendment, and the bill passed 6-0 with one not voting. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1747, which would require social media platforms to terminate accounts for minors under 14 and certain 14- and 15-year-olds without parental consent and impose age-verification and harmful-content restrictions. Opponents from NetChoice, TechNet, and Meta raised privacy, security, and constitutional concerns and argued for app-store-based parental controls instead, while a parents’ advocate supported the bill as a starting point for child safety. The transcript ends during that hearing without a final committee action on SB 1747.

Bills: HB4319 , HB4317 , HB1225 , HB3076 , HB3081 , HB4226 , SCR17 , HB4432 , HB3304 , HB3411 , HB3435 , HB4339 , HB4331 , HB4341 , HB4342 , HB1770 , HB1016 , HB4113 , HB2950 , HB4141 , HB3277 , HB2988 , HB3029 , HB3338 , HB1889 , HB3834 , HB3831 , HB2939 , HB3045 , HB3657 , HB1739 , HB3759 , HB3755 , HB4484 , HB4486 , HB4108 , HB1250 , HB2961 , HB1219 , HB3025 , HB1782 , HB1907 , HB3718 , HB4459 , HB2976 , HB3548 , HB3545 , HB2952 , HB2929 , HB2956 , HB2973 , HB3055 , HB3086 , HB3040 , HB3794 , HB4336 , HB3151 , HB1590 , HB3581 , HB3313 , HB3429 , HB3448 , HB1752 , HB2650 , HB3584 , HB4202 , HB3586 , HB4321 , HB4280 , HB3650 , HCR1020 , HB2116 , HB2206 , HB4301 , HB3625 , HB3147 , HB3403 , HB3498 , HB3970 , HB3975 , HB3976 , HB3980 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB3638 , HB3880 , HB3930 , HB3942 , HB3944 , HB4191 , HB3242 , HB3678

Keywords: administrative procedures, rulemaking authority, specific authority, legislative review, agency rules, accounting, CPA, licensure, educational requirements, reciprocity, professional conduct, vital records, birth certificate, birth registration, biological sex, sex designation, male, female, nonbinary, gender identity

Bills: HB4319 , HB4317 , HB1225 , HB3076 , HB3081 , HB4226 , SCR17 , HB4432 , HB3304 , HB3411 , HB3435 , HB4339 , HB4331 , HB4341 , HB4342 , HB1770 , HB1016 , HB4113 , HB2950 , HB4141 , HB3277 , HB2988 , HB3029 , HB3338 , HB1889 , HB3834 , HB3831 , HB2939 , HB3045 , HB3657 , HB1739 , HB3759 , HB3755 , HB4484 , HB4486 , HB4108 , HB1250 , HB2961 , HB1219 , HB3025 , HB1782 , HB1907 , HB3718 , HB4459 , HB2976 , HB3548 , HB3545 , HB2952 , HB2929 , HB2956 , HB2973 , HB3055 , HB3086 , HB3040 , HB3794 , HB4336 , HB3151 , HB1590 , HB3581 , HB3313 , HB3429 , HB3448 , HB1752 , HB2650 , HB3584 , HB4202 , HB3586 , HB4321 , HB4280 , HB3650 , HCR1020 , HB2116 , HB2206 , HB4301 , HB3625 , HB3147 , HB3403 , HB3498 , HB3970 , HB3975 , HB3976 , HB3980 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB3638 , HB3880 , HB3930 , HB3942 , HB3944 , HB4191 , HB3242 , HB3678

Keywords: administrative procedures, rulemaking authority, specific authority, legislative review, agency rules, accounting, CPA, licensure, educational requirements, reciprocity, professional conduct, vital records, birth certificate, birth registration, biological sex, sex designation, male, female, nonbinary, gender identity

Transcript Highlights:

• discussions with him and with staff and with DTS, the intent is that this would be available on major platforms
• Major platforms such as an iPad or Android and iOS that will be compatible with those platforms, so it
• If we have a device that is not connected to the internet, in theory it may require that the entire voter
• Will municipalities be forced to raise taxes to cover the additional liability costs?
• Will municipalities be forced to raise taxes to cover the additional liability costs for these employees

Committee: Joint Government Operations Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• in third-party platforms where age verification is stored in a way.
• Oh, the technology platform, yes.
• But that's one of many platforms that's being developed, but there are also platforms that are already
• Use and commercial platforms, as the good representative asked earlier.
• But again... ...to be able to put those platforms or those protections on.

Bills: HB2112

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: age restrictions, online content, digital media, youth protection, cyber safety

Transcript Highlights:

• MSOC allocations for the provision of licenses to the universal online high school and beyond plan platform

Bills: SB5849 , SB6278 , SB6130 , SB6222 , SB6206 , SB6260 , SB5346 , SB6263 , SB6268 , SB6247

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: financial education, graduation requirement, student curriculum, financial literacy, education reform, teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:22.040><c> uh</c> on the internet uh on the internet uh to<00:35:23.680><c> create</c><00:
• as the AI therapy platforms have restricted their usage in these states.
• as the AI therapy platforms have restricted their usage in these states.
• as the AI therapy platforms have restricted their usage in these states.
• as the AI therapy platforms have restricted their usage in these states.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Woods, is this liability insurance under our self-insurance plan? Mr.
• So there would be future out-year liabilities. And there will be.
• So these expenses are currently being paid out of the Public Liability Fund.
• Where New Mexico is, we're not going to beat Silicon Valley and AI platforms.
• And so it's very much a platform for New Mexico and a platform for all the other technological change

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> platform business. platform business.
• </c> platforms to serve the public. platforms to serve the public.
• And since this tax does only apply to internet-based platforms, then those offline entities that also
• c> and</c><00:48:21.839><c> and</c> platforms, digital platforms and and and platforms, digital platforms
• </c> Minnesota social media platform users. Minnesota social media platform users.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• in third-party platforms where age verification is stored in a way.
• Oh, the technology platform, yes.
• But that's one of many platforms that's being developed, but there are also platforms that are already
• Use and commercial platforms, as the good representative asked earlier.
• for children under the age of 18, And yet adults have infiltrated that platform and are using that platform

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2112, which would require commercial entities, including some social media companies, to use age verification before allowing access to websites where more than one-third of the material is sexual content harmful to minors. Staff explained that the bill would require reasonable age verification methods, prohibit retention of identifying information, exempt bona fide news and public-interest sites, and authorize the Attorney General to enforce the law through civil penalties. The bill would also require warning notices on landing pages and advertisements, with content to be developed by the Department of Health. Prime sponsor Representative Mari Leavitt said the bill is intended to protect children from harmful online sexual content and argued that parental controls are not sufficient. She cited pediatric and public-health concerns, said the bill is modeled on laws upheld elsewhere, and emphasized that the measure is aimed at commercial entities rather than school-based sharing or general adult access. Supportive testimony from parents, clinicians, and advocates described early exposure to pornography, mental health harms, and the need to place responsibility on platforms rather than families alone. Opposition testimony focused on privacy, free speech, enforcement, and scope. Several witnesses argued that age verification systems create data-security risks even if data is not retained, that the bill’s definitions and one-third threshold are vague and could sweep in LGBTQ, health, educational, or artistic content, and that enforcement would be difficult against out-of-state websites. Some opponents said the law would push users to less-compliant sites and would not effectively protect children. A technology industry witness said the bill is narrow and comparable to carding for alcohol or tobacco, while a Free Speech Coalition representative said the law is ineffective in practice and offered to discuss amendments. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one was liability clarification cleanup from CDOT and CML.
• agency if the operator or social media platform takes an adverse action against a user of the social
• or social media platform takes an adverse action against a user of the social media platform.
• And it was protections for liability for people at caucuses, which I am a big advocate for.
• State Internet Portal Authority. State Internet Portal Authority. Oh, there we go.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would like to invest in the next generation of law enforcement internet technology solutions that
• law</c> in the next generation of law in the next generation of law enforcement<00:12:06.680><c> internet
• </c><00:12:07.279><c> Technology</c> enforcement internet Technology enforcement internet Technology
• </c><00:33:43.519><c> where</c> situational awareness platform where situational awareness platform where
• to get all the of monitoring platform to get all the doe<00:35:56.680><c> cameras</c><00:35:57.160><

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment. A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs. Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• is to coordinate broadband deployment and expansion across state agencies. local government and internet
• Additionally, we introduced a statewide IT certified project dashboard using Microsoft Power Platform
• I see a lot of opportunities for us to move to some common platforms.
• My only question then is regarding these common platforms you mentioned.
• What other tools or areas are you considering for a common platform? Thank you for the question.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• San Mateo County, a Board of Education had to file a lawsuit against social media platforms, TikTok,
• Why didn't we just put the tax on everybody on radio, print, and internet?
• This does not exist outside of the Internet itself.
• An important This does not exist outside of the Internet itself.
• But again, there's a difference. this does not exist outside of the Internet itself.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• The provision requiring online listing platforms to include an estimate of property taxes for residential
• The provision requiring online listing platforms to include an estimate of property taxes for residential
• A remote interdiction security platform, pilot program. Can you explain that to us?
• Well, we only pay for the computer, the Internet, books, and some incidental expenses.
• Well, we only pay for the computer, the Internet, books, and some incidental expenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> industry is proud to to serve internet industry is proud to to serve internet to<00:32:27.279><c
• :28.399><c> to</c> to internet and cable services to to internet and cable services to millions<00:32
• So our liability for that, financial liability to make repair is not on the department, but it is a disruption
• So our liability for that, financial liability to make repair is not on the department, but it is a disruption
• So our liability for that, financial liability to make repair is not on the department, but it is a disruption

Bills: SB222 , HB560 , HB475 , HB484 , HB583 , HB542 , HB566 , SB222 , HB560 , HB475 , HB484 , HB583 , HB542 , HB566

Committee: House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Keywords: medical clinic board, clinic board, hospital bankruptcy, Chapter 11, bankruptcy, debt restructuring, municipal indebtedness, municipal bankruptcy, health care provider, acute care hospital, lease property, board immunity, director liability, civil liability, healthcare finance, insolvency, debt readjustment, federal bankruptcy law, Alabama Code 11-58-5.2, library materials

Transcript Highlights:

• other insurance coverage, retroactive eligibility determinations, or later discovery of third-party liability

Bills: SB5845 , SB5916 , SB6102 , SB6071 , SB6103 , SB6159 , SB5877 , SB5967 , SB5904 , SB5915 , SB6025

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: health insurance, health carrier, insurance carrier, prompt pay, timely payment, claims processing, clean claim, remittance advice, provider reimbursement, hospital billing, medical billing, prior authorization, claims denial, interest on late claims, administrative penalty, Washington insurance commissioner, RCW 48, public employees benefits board, school employees benefits board, Medicaid managed care

Transcript Highlights:

• This will be a Salesforce-based platform on Texas by Texas.
• A lot of our departments have their own platforms.
• A lot of our departments have their own platforms.
• It's on the perfect platform.
• It's on the perfect platform.

Summary: The Select Committee on Veterans Affairs met to hear testimony on interim charge 2, focused on military-to-civilian transition, and later on the role of the Military Veteran Peer Network and broader transition supports. The committee first heard from representatives of Midwestern State University and Wichita Falls, who described partnerships with Sheppard Air Force Base, expanded military student services, scholarship support, and the importance of helping service members connect to education, employment, and community before separation. Witnesses emphasized that successful transition is not just about finding a job, but about creating a warm handoff to local employers, colleges, civic groups, and veteran organizations, and they urged earlier outreach while service members are still on active duty. Testimony from Texas A&M University–Central Texas and the Texas A&M University System focused on the Military Talent Pipeline, credentialing, and workforce alignment. Witnesses said Texas should better capture service members’ skills earlier, improve information-sharing with employers, and expand pathways that translate military training into civilian credentials. A major recommendation was a Texas “medic/corpsman to registered nurse” pathway modeled on Wisconsin’s WISMAC program, along with broader reciprocity and bridging programs for military certifications in fields such as aircraft maintenance, trucking, and other high-demand occupations. Members also discussed the need for more staffing and resources at university veteran offices, and the value of measuring the return on state investment in veteran education benefits such as Hazelwood. The committee then heard from the Texas Veterans Commission’s Mental Health Department on the Military Veteran Peer Network. The witness described peer support coordinators and rural veteran counselors who provide warm handoffs, suicide prevention support, and counseling, especially during the first 18 months after separation, which was identified as a high-risk period. She said the network is effective but too small and needs growth, and noted barriers to base access and TAP participation. Additional testimony from a retired Army officer and transition leader stressed that Texas has many strong programs but weak coordination, and recommended using installation-specific approaches, commander engagement, consent-based data sharing, and stronger links between TAP, state resources, and local communities. A final witness from Onward Ops described upstream enrollment, risk screening, certified peer mentors, and data-sharing to proactively support separating service members; he said the current system leaves veterans to navigate stovepiped programs on their own and called for more community partners, especially in rural areas. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:31:14.880><c> tax</c> violating the permanent internet tax violating the permanent internet tax
• </c> particularly by targeting internet-based particularly by targeting internet-based activity<00:31
• </c> um the I guess explosion of the internet um the I guess explosion of the internet and<00:43:18.720
• ,</c> uh, puts it out over the internet, uh, puts it out over the internet, people<00:48:19.920><c> from
• It had a couple of pigs on the internet. It was on the internet.

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• The law outlined the conduct expected of the charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities,
• Protected through charitable fundraising platform laws.
• AB 488 and Regulation Section 316 require charitable fundraising platforms or platform charities to not
• As part of a broad coalition of charitable fundraising platforms, platform charities, As part of a broad
• coalition of charitable fundraising platforms, platform charities, recipient organizations, and other

Summary: The Assembly held its first-ever outcome review hearing, focused on AB 488, Assemblymember Irwin’s 2021 law regulating charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Irwin described the hearing as part of a new oversight process meant to evaluate whether enacted laws are working as intended and to identify implementation problems. Irwin reviewed the bill’s purpose: updating California’s charitable solicitation rules for online fundraising, requiring platform registration and reporting, setting disclosure and conduct rules, and creating protections for charities and donors. The Attorney General’s office said the implementing regulations took effect in stages in 2024 and 2025 after extensive rulemaking, and argued the law was needed because online fundraising had outgrown older solicitation laws. The office highlighted enforcement concerns, including unregistered platforms, delayed remittances, and unauthorized fundraising pages, and said the new online filing system should improve processing and compliance. Nonprofit representatives and platforms generally supported the law’s transparency goals but said implementation has created major burdens, especially around “good standing” determinations, slow registry response times, and disruptions to fundraising when charities are flagged as delinquent. PayPal Giving Fund and GoFundMe both said they complied with the law but urged changes to better fit platform operations, reduce delays, and ease requirements for small or micro-donations. Committee members pressed the witnesses on donor protection, due process, and whether California should shorten the time to resolve good-standing issues. Several members said the law has helped stop misleading or unauthorized fundraising practices, while also acknowledging unintended consequences for nonprofits. Irwin said she is preparing follow-up legislation to address implementation problems and balance the interests of charities, platforms, donors, and the Attorney General’s office. During public comment, Candid praised the review and the DOJ’s efforts to improve the process, and a PG&E representative described an unintended consequence in employee giving where donations were redirected because recipient charities were not in good standing.