Transcript Highlights:

• Governor Martin O'Malley, who admitted in the Battaglia decision, "I did everything in my power to draw a map
• Governor Martin O'Malley, who admitted in the Battaglia decision, "I did everything in my power to draw a map
• Governor Martin O'Malley, who admitted in the Battaglia decision, "I did everything in my power to draw a map
• O'Malley, who admitted in the Battaglia decision, "I did everything in my power to draw a map that would
• I concede there's not going to be a map this year. I respect your decision on that.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, March 27, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The third issue, to be competitive for many state programs, is opportunity maps, which continue to feel
• another thing that becomes a problem, and again, a well-intentioned approach to these opportunity maps
• And I know that people have worked to make the maps more usable.
• And I know that people have worked to make the maps more usable.
• Right, and I know that people have worked to make the maps more usable for our rural counties, but the

Summary: The committee held an outcomes review hearing on AB 457 and related farmworker and rural housing policy, with members and witnesses discussing whether recent streamlining laws are actually increasing production. Chair Haney, Assembly Members Soria and Pellerin, and others described the purpose of AB 457 and its predecessor bills AB 1783 and AB 3035: to make farmworker housing easier to build through ministerial approval and other reforms. Witnesses emphasized that farmworkers face severe overcrowding, high rents, long commutes, and limited access to housing in both rural and coastal agricultural regions. The first panel focused on practical barriers and local models. Napa County described its county-owned farmworker centers, which provide nightly lodging, meals, and services, funded by lodger fees, a grower assessment, and state support. Testimony stressed that these centers function as navigation hubs rather than permanent housing, and that stable, inflation-adjusted operating funding, language access, transportation, and local set-asides are critical. United Farm Workers urged that local farmworkers be prioritized over H-2A workers and warned against displacing long-term resident workers. Several witnesses said the biggest barriers remain infrastructure, land costs, local opposition, and insufficient subsidy rather than approval streamlining alone. The second and third panels addressed AB 457’s implementation and broader state funding issues. Santa Clara County said the bill could help on a county-owned Gilroy site, but financing remains the main obstacle. Self-Help Enterprises said AB 457’s expanded geography and project-size rules may help future sites, but rural projects still struggle with water, sewer, and environmental review costs, and with the state’s Super NOFA process, which tends to favor deeper-income projects that do not match farmworker household incomes. HCD reported that CERNA and other programs have increased farmworker housing production in recent years, but witnesses argued that rural regions still receive too little funding, that infrastructure dollars are too fragmented, and that more rural-specific set-asides, local funding incentives, and predictable allocations are needed. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program has three major components: flood risk mapping, floodplain management, and a federal flood
• for the past 10 to 15 years, the private insurance market has leveraged highly detailed flood risk mapping
• On the other side, this map shows the distribution of the FEMA NFIP residential policies across the state
• So, kind of similar to the previous map in terms of distribution, we're seeing a lot of these policies
• And then finally, on the map front, this map shows commercial flood insurance policies in the private

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three bills and then moved into a work session on insurance-related topics. House Bill 2428 would require life insurers to send advance written notice of an impending lapse or cancellation, including notice to a designated third party, and to provide proof of delivery; it would also require applicants to be told they may designate such a third party. The prime sponsor and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill as a consumer protection measure for older or vulnerable policyholders, while the life insurance industry supported the concept but requested a delayed implementation date and a small technical amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 2399, which would prohibit post-loss assignments of benefits in property insurance. Staff and the prime sponsor described the practice as allowing contractors to step into the policyholder’s shoes and potentially take control of claims, litigation, and settlement, often to the consumer’s detriment. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Washington State Association for Justice, PEMCO, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau all supported the bill, emphasizing consumer vulnerability after disasters and the risk of fraud or inflated claims. Members asked about steering by adjusters, alternative ways for homeowners to authorize others to help with claims, and the $50,000 per-violation penalty, which would go to the general fund. House Bill 2087 would enact a Washington Travel Insurance Act based on the NAIC model, creating a more detailed statutory framework for travel insurance licensing, travel retailers, travel administrators, disclosures, and prohibited sales practices. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would expand consumer choice and standardize rules, while the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the compromise language but raised a remaining concern about claims being adjusted by unlicensed adjusters. The Attorney General’s Office testified that the bill should not be read to supersede Washington’s anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws, and the sponsor said amendments were being worked on to address that concern. In the work session, OIC and Department of Natural Resources staff presented the wildfire mitigation and resiliency work group report. They said the group reached consensus on several areas, including the importance of community-level mitigation, better data sharing, improved transparency around wildfire-related nonrenewals and cancellations, and a voluntary grant program to help homeowners retrofit to IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. Members asked about leadership for the recommendations, overlap with existing programs, privacy concerns in data sharing, and how the proposals would fit with broader statewide wildfire planning. The committee also received a briefing on flood insurance markets and claims after the December atmospheric flooding event, with staff noting that private flood policies generally offer broader coverage than the federal NFIP, and that Washington had seen about 700 federal claims and roughly $18 million paid out so far.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yesterday, we shared a written summary with the committee, including a link to the Mapping Displacement
• Over the past year, the ACLU of Washington launched our Mapping Displacement Project.
• The mapping displacement data, the shelter availability analysis, and the enforcement data all point
• The mapping displacement data, the shelter availability analysis, and the enforcement data all point
• Yes, that is contained within the link to the Mapping Displacement Project.

Summary: The Housing Committee held work sessions on federal Continuum of Care homelessness funding and on state step-housing siting rules before moving into public hearings on House Bill 2266 and House Bill 2489. Commerce staff said HUD’s late and restrictive Continuum of Care funding notice put about $120 million a year in Washington operating support for existing homeless housing projects at risk, but a lawsuit led by the Attorney General forced HUD to restart renewal funding. Commerce also reviewed how local governments are implementing step-housing requirements, including model ordinances, planning updates, and ongoing compliance reviews under recent state law. House Bill 2266 would require cities and counties to allow step housing in all nonindustrial zones, apply the same permitting and environmental review as other residential uses, limit design review to administrative processes, and remove certain local standards and conditions on existing buildings and affordable housing. Supporters, including Plymouth Housing, Disability Rights Washington, King County, the Attorney General’s Office, and Catholic Community Services, argued the bill would reduce discriminatory barriers, protect people with disabilities, and make it easier to site shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Several city representatives and the Association of Washington Cities opposed or sought amendments, saying the bill was too broad and could limit local authority over operational agreements, safety plans, spacing, community engagement, and funding conditions; some asked for clearer carveouts for emergency shelters and related uses. House Bill 2489 would bar local governments from enforcing public-space anti-camping or similar laws unless adequate alternative shelter space is available, with “life-sustaining activities” and “adequate alternative shelter space” defined in detail. Rep. Gregerson said the bill would create a statewide floor and prevent punishment for survival conduct when no real shelter option exists. The ACLU, service providers, and shelter operators supported the bill, citing displacement from fragmented local ordinances, enforcement costs, and the need to align enforcement with actual shelter availability. Testimony also described low-barrier shelter operations and examples of people stabilizing once housed. The hearing on HB 2489 began with staff explanation and initial testimony; no votes were taken on either bill in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This map represents last year's data, but there's damage literally across the entire state.
• There's red all over the map. Pascoe, Representative Paul has a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• And this is a map that I'm sure all of you have seen before from Evan Grimm, our bridge and structures
• I think you've seen this map. This is the bridge side of things.
• This is another state map.

Summary: The committee received a detailed staff presentation on Washington State Ferries’ capital needs, current fleet status, and long-range funding outlook. Staff described the current service pattern, ridership recovery since the pandemic, the aging fleet, and the state’s plan to add three new hybrid-electric Olympic-class vessels under the 2025 budget, with delivery expected around 2030-2032. Members also heard that the fleet is operating with no reserve vessel, that preservation time is below the desired level, and that terminal electrification and vessel conversion plans face timing, cost, and procurement risks. Questions focused on ridership trends, biofuel supply, design-risk allocation in vessel contracts, sequencing of terminal electrification with new vessel delivery, and the cost and feasibility of restoring international Sidney service, which would require a SOLAS-certified vessel. Staff then outlined ferry capital funding, saying recent spending and programmed needs are far above regular ferry-specific revenues and that the system relies on a mix of dedicated accounts, transportation package money, federal grants, and transfers. They said the near-term budget is balanced through 2027-29, but the longer-term capital outlook shows a shortfall of roughly $250 million to $300 million per biennium, with broader unmet needs much higher. The presentation estimated costs for future vessels, life extensions, terminal electrification, and additional Jumbo Mark II conversions, and noted that the current enacted plan does not fully fund fleet replacement, full electrification, or life extension of older vessels. Members asked for follow-up information on terminal seismic/environmental issues, contract options for additional vessels, and the timing and cost of alternative vessel designs. The committee then shifted to WSDOT maintenance and preservation. Pascoe Focktich described maintenance operations, including winter response, guardrail repair, facilities, equipment, and the effects of underfunding and inflation. He said most of the maintenance budget is fixed cost and labor, that material prices have risen sharply, and that many facilities are in poor condition with asbestos issues and deferred upkeep. He also noted growing guardrail damage, increasing pavement claims, and the burden of maintaining aging bridges and facilities. Members asked about prior planning for these needs, the role of asbestos, and whether more proactive sequencing could help budget decisions. Troy Suing then presented the highway preservation program, saying WSDOT is in the early stages of critical failure and has stretched preservation dollars as far as possible. He explained the distinction between pavement, bridge, and other highway asset preservation, said the department is largely reactive, and estimated that delaying work can make it three to five times more expensive later. He said about 40% of roadways are currently due or overdue for preservation, bridge conditions are nearing the federal poor-bridge threshold, and the department’s 10-year preservation need is about $8 billion. Members asked about the cost of deferring work, whether the department could do more if funded, how priorities are set, and whether other states face similar problems. Finally, Evan Grimm and Mike Fay briefed the committee on bridge strikes by overheight vehicles. They described recent incidents on I-90 near Cle Elum and SR 410 near White River, the damage and closures caused, and possible countermeasures such as public outreach, improved trip-planning tools, and a pilot warning system with sensors and flashing beacons. Fay explained the state’s financial recovery process for third-party damage, saying WSDOT recovers roughly $20 million per biennium and about 78% to 80% of billed damages, with money going to the motor vehicle fund. Members asked about prevention, insurance recovery, and whether the state uses claim data to inform future design or safety changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have two different maps of our land grant. While they're being passed out, Mr.
• And I don't know if you all saw the packet that was passed out with the maps, but that very last page
• Tax assessment map.
• part of map 6, and there are various maps that you know, go this entire stretch.
• We keep communities on the map because New Mexico State Parks are a destination for many.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the University of Minnesota's mapping the University of Minnesota's mapping prejudice<00:15:57.040
• We are continually identifying and digitizing unique regional maps, including maps too large for government
• ,</c> digitizing unique regional maps, digitizing unique regional maps, including<00:18:58.160><c> maps
• </c><00:18:58.799><c> large</c><00:18:59.039><c> for</c><00:18:59.360><c> government</c> including maps
• too large for government including maps too large for government offices<00:19:00.080><c> and</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, if you looked at a map, you'd say how did those ever come about, and if you look at the map
• You know, if you looked at a map, you'd say how did those ever come about, and if you look at the map
• You know, if you looked at a map, you'd say how did those ever come about, and if you look at the map
• </c><01:56:06.639><c> Now,</c> maps. We do not have that criteria. Now, maps.
• For maps that are drawn fairly by listening to community voices and applying them to the maps, I ask

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Domangue urges and requests the Federal Emergency Management Agency to modify Flood Map
• So this concurrent resolution is just asking FEMA to reevaluate those maps and move their evaluation
• the floor we could add to your bill, because as you know, the problem is not so much updating the maps
• FEMA's not even given us credit for those measures we do. ...much updating on the maps.
• Domangue, how often do they review the flood maps now, FEMA? It's currently 10 years.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sense of how this works in action, the first thing, in order to operate our vehicles, we initially map
• Because we've already mapped the jurisdiction the car is operating in, when it's on public roads, it
• Additionally, we are mapping and/or doing other validating work in close to 20 other cities around the
• That's why AVs have largely been gradually deployed in well-mapped, controlled environments.
• You got to know where the school is, or you're on a cell phone, you're following your maps.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I said, well, the five-year setback is just too site-specific; we don't know how to map that.
• But we can map 3,000 feet around surface water bodies, and we did that, and what that created was a map
• </c><02:16:48.719><c> 3,000</c><02:16:49.240><c> ft</c> how to map that but we can map 3,000 ft how to
• map that but we can map 3,000 ft around<02:16:49.840><c> surface</c><02:16:50.240><c> water</c><02:16
• </c> that and what that created was a map that and what that created was a map that<02:16:55.200><c>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we're showing really on this map is that we have plans for the entire airport.
• So what we're showing really on this map is that we have plans for the entire airport.
• There are a number of opportunities, as you can see just based on the map.
• There are a number of opportunities, as you can see just based on the map.
• There are a number of opportunities, as you can see just based on the map.

Keywords: This meeting was recovered from a back up copy and uploaded after the original meeting took place., 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on the FY 2025 road fund. Officials reported road fund revenues came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but were down about $11 million from FY 2024, largely because a motor fuels tax rate reduction took effect at the start of FY 2025. Motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and the cabinet said the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus, which the budget bill directs to state highway construction. Members also discussed how the motor fuels decline affects formula distributions to cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads, with officials saying about $122.8 million had been planned for revenue sharing but was not distributed because receipts were lower than forecast. Members asked about broader revenue trends, including fuel efficiency, electric vehicles, and the removal of a hybrid fee. Cabinet officials said improved fuel efficiency and CAFE standards reduce gasoline consumption and therefore fuel tax receipts, while EVs and plug-in hybrids are subject to a user fee. They also said toll revenues from the Louisville bridges are covering bills and commitments, though they did not have detailed figures at hand. On project delivery, officials said delays are often caused by right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the highway plan, and that much of the work happens behind the scenes before construction begins. The committee also reviewed the cabinet’s cash management approach, which was adopted after 2000 to avoid setting aside full project costs all at once and to keep the road fund cash balance above a required minimum. Officials said the balance typically rises in winter and falls in summer as project bills come due, and that the current balance was about $166 million. They also reported that project awards for the year were nearing $998 million and expected to exceed last year’s total. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax numbers were all over the map. The assumptions were all over the map.
• The tax numbers were all over the map. The assumptions were all over the map.
• The tax numbers were all over the map. The assumptions were all over the map.
• The tax numbers were all over the map. The assumptions were all over the map.
• The tax numbers were all over the map. The assumptions were all over the map.

Bills: HF3

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at the map though, you'll see why that name does not reflect what we are doing today.
• If you look at the map though, Kentucky.
• If you look at the map though, you'll<00:31:20.080><c> see</c><00:31:20.240><c> why</c><00:31:20.559>
• Clearly, by the map that you showed us, you're doing work across the state.
• Clearly um by the the map the state.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, approval of the September 17 minutes, and an introduction of Sarah Rome to the committee. The chair also noted that the committee would stay on schedule and then moved to presentations. Representative Amy Neighbors and Taylor Williams of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association presented a refiled “pharmacy parity” proposal, formerly House Bill 3, to require Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacist clinical services already authorized under current scope of practice. They said the bill would not expand Medicaid or pharmacist scope, but would align Medicaid with commercial insurance, improve access and outcomes, and likely save money; they cited a Cabinet report under Senate Joint Resolution 26, which found similar laws in other states were producing savings or trending toward savings and would require only modest administrative updates. No member questions were raised after that presentation. The committee then heard an update on the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program from Senator Stephen Meredith, Dr. Whitney Jones, Melissa Carrier, and Representative Neighbors. They described the program’s goals of increasing screening, reducing deaths through earlier detection, and preventing cancers by finding polyps, saying it has produced substantial savings and improved outcomes. Speakers emphasized Kentucky’s high colorectal cancer burden, especially in younger adults, and said the program helps uninsured and underinsured Kentuckians access stool-based screening and follow-up colonoscopies through a network of partners including the Department for Public Health, Kentucky Cancer Link, and university cancer programs. They requested an increase in funding from $500,000 to $1.25 million annually, or $2.5 million over the biennium, to expand services, fill geographic gaps, and support education and navigation. Members asked whether the colon cancer screening was already covered by Medicaid, and the presenters replied that Medicaid does cover it, but the program serves people who are not on Medicaid or who fall into a separate eligibility category based on income and insurance status. A member also clarified the requested funding increase. The committee then moved on to the next agenda item, an update from the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, where board member Sal Santoro and CHNK Behavioral Health leaders began a presentation describing the organization’s broader behavioral health work and its request, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concludes or any action is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• received invitations to the Boise, Meridian initial point celebration that's called "Surveying the Past, Mapping
• received invitations to the Boise, Meridian initial point celebration that's called "Surveying the Past, Mapping
• And let's see if I can share the map real quick.
• And let's see if I can share the map real quick.

Summary: The America 250 and Idaho Advisory Council approved the April 6 meeting minutes and authorized two final Celebration Fund grant disbursements for the city of Eden and Elmore County. Staff reported that the grant program is now complete, with 97 total grant recipients and about 96% of the $250,000 fund spent on local America 250 events across the state. A financial update noted a remaining balance of $64,685.83, with possible additional fundraising from the Liberty Bell restoration and gift shop sales. Treasurer Ellsworth gave an update on the ambassador program, reporting nearly 2,000 ambassadors across 170 cities, 44 counties, 50 businesses, 31 schools, and 23 veterans organizations. She also highlighted recent events statewide, the Acts of Service count of 165,755, plans for collecting quarters through banks and credit unions to support the Liberty Bell restoration, and progress on the Liberty Bell carriage, including a donated truck from Kendall Ford. The committee renewed spending authority for the treasurer’s office up to $30,000. Director Gallimore and Secretary McGrane provided updates on the broader America 250 planning, including the Boise/Meridian “Surveying the Past, Mapping the Future” events, the updated Idaho 850 website, the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., and the request to release previously reserved Capitol dates now that the July 4 schedule is set. McGrane also outlined detailed logistics for the July 4 Capitol celebration, including a veterans pancake breakfast, the Boise parade, concert staging, security, road closures, and space for booths and protests. He said $25,000 previously approved for advertising would be used for statewide promotion, with contracts to be coordinated through the co-chairs. Andrew Finstuin of Boise State University reported on the America 250 curriculum initiative, saying all Idaho four-year and two-year institutions are participating in a long-term civic education effort tied to the celebration. He described campus-specific projects such as dialogue tools, civics modules, orientation workshops, patriotic performances, community field trips, civics badges, and campus/community reads. The committee expressed support for the educational work, and members agreed to tentatively meet again at 10 a.m. on the fourth, with the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that, and then there have been other entities that followed suit since that time, including Google Maps
• lines 31 through 33, it basically says to reflect the Gulf of America terminology in all newly created maps
• and documents. ...in all newly created maps, documents, educational materials, websites, official communications
• This connectivity really puts us on the map.

Bills: HB1, HB247, HB1

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• So, mind you, this is not a map of our impact over the past 40 years. This is one year alone.
• This<01:11:39.520><c> map</c><01:11:39.760><c> is</c><01:11:39.920><c> a</c><01:11:40.080><c> visual<
• So mind you, this is not a map directly.
• This map does represent 40 years.
• So, I placed all the art schools that are in the state of Minnesota on a Google map.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what we're seeing on this map here.
• The red-filled basins on this map—the Olympic Basin, South Puget Sound, Upper Yakima, Lower Snake, and
• Drought Monitor map sometimes looks different than the state drought declaration map. The U.S.
• The state map on the upper right of each shows where the watershed at hand is located.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I think Miss Terry handed out a map that shows how many radars would be allowed by county.
• handed</c><00:03:49.840><c> out</c><00:03:50.000><c> a</c><00:03:50.239><c> a</c><00:03:50.720><c> map
• </c><00:03:51.760><c> that</c><00:03:52.159><c> shows</c> Miss Terry handed out a a map that shows Miss
• Terry handed out a a map that shows how<00:03:53.040><c> many</c><00:03:53.280><c> radars</c><00:03:
• So, if they're speeding, well, I'll get out my map and get back to you to see if it includes my road.

Keywords: Highways and Transportation - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We pulled the map, ah.
• There are a couple of maps in your packet.
• But what I also want you to understand is that next map is 216 counties that all produce some level.
• 254 counties were eligible, as I said, there were about 16 that You know, maybe it wasn't enough of a map
• The yellow dots on the map show where current projects are, so this is not a historical, uh, representation