Transcript Highlights:

• There were also some very minor adjustments as revenue estimates were adjusted at the House phase, and
• There were also some very minor adjustments as revenue estimates were adjusted at the House phase, and
• There were also some very minor adjustments as revenue estimates were adjusted at the House phase, and
• </c><01:09:04.319><c> of</c> I think it's just a an an adjustment of I think it's just a an an adjustment
• </c><01:11:08.760><c> authorized</c> budget based on the adjusted authorized budget based on the adjusted

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it clarifies that this remedy does not affect other remedies or abrogate or displace a claim for
• negligence or any other civil claim.
• And it clarifies that this remedy does not affect other remedies or abrogate or displace a claim for
• negligence or any other civil claim.

Summary: The committee took executive action on a series of bills, beginning with Engrossed House Bill 2445 on heir finder services and probate. Members adopted Striking Amendment Alpha, which added definitions and guardrails for heir finder agreements, including written filing and court oversight requirements, and then advanced the bill as amended to the Rules Committee. A second proposed striker, Bravo, was rendered out of order after Alpha was adopted. On Engrossed House Bill 1574 concerning access to life-saving care and substance use services, the committee considered several competing amendments. Amendment Charlie was rejected, while Amendment Delta was adopted to narrow protections and add public health and syringe service program provisions. Amendment Echo, which would have limited distribution of drug testing equipment to health care facilities and excluded syringe and smoking equipment, was rejected. Amendment Foxtrot, dealing with fentanyl endangerment and parenting sentencing alternatives, was withdrawn after discussion and then incorporated into a new striking amendment; the bill as amended was sent to the Rules Committee. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on Second Substitute House Bill 2333, expanding protections for elected officials and prosecutors, including security provisions, address confidentiality, residential address redaction, and limited criminal history information sharing, and sent it to Ways and Means. The committee next acted on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548 on health care market standards, adopting Amendment Hotel to exempt state-owned or state-operated entities and public hospital districts from filing fees, rejecting Amendment India on fee calculations and refunds, and then sending the bill as amended to Ways and Means. On Engrossed House Bill 2156 regarding Attorney General investigators, the committee rejected several amendments that would have limited criminal investigations, required additional certification, redirected recovered funds, or narrowed the definition of economic and financial crimes, then advanced the bill as amended to the Rules Committee. It also adopted striking amendments on Second Substitute House Bill 1909 creating a court unification task force and Substitute House Bill 2203 creating reckless interference with emergency operations, sending both bills onward. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2508 on the Office of Independent Investigations and Substitute House Bill 2248 on corporate filings were advanced without amendments, and the committee removed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2095 on vulnerable users of public ways from the day’s exec list. The meeting ended with final votes, committee recommendations, and adjournment, marking the last Law and Justice Committee meeting of the 2026 session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We analyze Second Amendment claims by looking to the history and tradition, and that’s since the New
• 16.080><c> analyze</c><00:09:16.480><c> Second</c><00:09:16.760><c> Amendment</c><00:09:17.080><c> claims
• </c><00:09:17.400><c> by</c> We analyze Second Amendment claims by We analyze Second Amendment claims

Committee: House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 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
• 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 costs between $12 million

Bills: SB6290 , SB6282 , SB5379 , SB6197 , SB6158 , SB6302 , SB5882 , SB6303 , SB6180 , SB6195 , SB6196 , SB6204 , SB6287

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: liquor regulation, cannabis board, reorganization, state agency, governance, apprenticeship, behavioral health, construction trades, workforce training, wellness, interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee will come to order. Zoe, please call the roll.
• We also have a client security fund committee that looks at every one of these claims and makes a recommendation
• based upon the rules that apply to those claims.
• discussion with your client about, listen, this is where the cases have been trending for the types of claim

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 413, relating to attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs in family law cases. Representative Gottlieb explained that the bill and strike-all amendment were intended to promote fairness, create more uniformity across circuits, expand judicial discretion in awarding fees, and strengthen enforcement language. Members discussed how the amendment’s reference to good-faith settlement offers would apply only after trial in fee determinations, not during the trial itself. Jamie Epstein of the Florida Bar’s Family Law Section supported the measure overall, saying it would improve consistency and deter bad-faith litigation, but noted concern about one paragraph creating a presumption of entitlement to fees in contempt actions. The committee adopted the strike-all amendment and then passed HB 413 favorably as amended by a 13-0 vote. Chair Koster said the bill would provide needed clarification in family law practice and help parties litigate more professionally and amicably. After the vote, the committee heard a presentation from Florida Bar President Sayah Baker Barnes on the Florida Bar’s role and the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. Baker Barnes described the Florida Bar as an arm of the Florida Supreme Court responsible for regulating lawyers, protecting the public, handling discipline, reimbursing some victims of lawyer theft through the client security fund, and providing continuing legal education. She said AI use among lawyers has grown rapidly and that the Bar has created committees, guidance, and an ethics opinion to help lawyers use AI responsibly. She emphasized that lawyers remain responsible for the accuracy of AI-generated citations and work product, noted that Florida courts have already disciplined lawyers and a pro se litigant for fake AI-generated citations, and discussed confidentiality, privilege, and deepfake concerns. Members asked about protecting client information and finding best-practice resources, and she directed them to the Bar’s LegalFuel site and AI guidance materials. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I and Senator my vice chair sends up the committee substitute senator Wester, you're recognized to claim
• to remove attorneys or guardians at Lydon's for... appointment list for submitting false payment claims
• commissioner's court a fee schedule that specifies eligible services, rates, and itemization requirements for claims
• does it create beneficiary interest during life, so it safeguards the owner's control and also the claim

Bills: SB387 , SB1650 , SB1838 , SB1839 , SB1923 , SB1940 , SB2052

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, attorney general, criminal prosecution, public order, law enforcement, jurisdiction, attorney ad litem, parent-child relationship, compensation, legal representation, government entity, probate, court proceedings, record delivery, wills, legal documentation

Transcript Highlights:

• and many pose risks due to variable formulations, labeling inaccuracies, and unapproved therapeutic claims
• But despite this, I keep hearing people claim that there's no testing being done at all.
• But I'm just saying, you're making some pretty strong claims about other stuff that you know we don't
• What claim am I making?

Bills: HB194 , SB87 , SB237

Committee: Senate Healthcare

Keywords: healthcare, advanced practice nursing, nurse collaboration, medical board, nursing board, committee structure, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery, licensure fees, professional liability insurance, complaints investigation, emergency care plan, out-of-hospital care, hemp, hemp beverages, psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive hemp products, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC

Transcript Highlights:

• So, they did remove the enrollment adjustment.
• So, they did remove the enrollment adjustment.
• They did rule remove the adjustment.
• </c><00:15:43.199><c> Senate</c><00:15:43.600><c> third</c> enrollment adjustment.
• Senate third enrollment adjustment.

Bills: SF0032 , SF0010 , SF0001 , HB0001

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes the operating adjustment and then $717,000 one-time for the Office of Strategic Planning
• There is an operating adjustment of $12.7 million for the Department of Revenue, a change for the Racing
• c> then the LBT Q um council has an then the LBT Q um council has an operating<00:03:42.080><c> adjustment
• plus an additional operating adjustment plus an additional increase<00:03:43.680><c> of</c> increase
• /c><00:38:42.079><c> campaign</c> operating adjustment for the campaign operating adjustment for the

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• providers are receiving so the amount wagered, and then the tax is on the gross gaming revenue, or adjusted
• Okay, so the fiscal year adjusted gross revenue, it's $1.4 billion wagered.
• The adjusted gross revenue is $136.6 million. Okay, all right.
• </c> the gross Gaming revenue or adjusted the gross Gaming revenue or adjusted gross<00:04:56.639><c>
• </c><00:05:03.639><c> gross</c> the the fiscal year um adjusted gross the the fiscal year um adjusted

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:37 KY Horse Racing and Gaming Corp. 08:32 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 35:28 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard an update from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation on sports wagering revenue allocations and problem gaming funding. KHRGC reported that in fiscal year 2024, about $34.4 million was deposited to the pension fund and about $931,000 to the problem gaming assistance fund; fiscal year 2025 to date, the totals were about $18.5 million and $556,000, respectively, bringing all-time problem gaming funding to about $1.48 million. Members also discussed wagering volume, with KHRGC stating Kentucky had about $3.5 billion in wagers from September 2023 through December 2024 and about $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2025 to date. KHRGC explained that it tracks the funds sent to CHFS and the self-exclusion list, but does not track the number of people seeking help or the outcomes of those calls. The Division of Mental Health then described how the problem gambling assistance account is used. Patty Clark and Sarah Cooper said the fund supports education, counseling, public awareness, counselor certification, and treatment-related costs, with $50,000 reserved for administrative expenses. They said the department has spent the last 18 months establishing criteria, funding standards, performance measures, monitoring, and application procedures, and that it issued notices of funding opportunity in October. They reported about 1.49 million in the fund through the end of January, with awards including support for the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling conference, a public awareness campaign by Project Ricochet, and a youth-focused campaign by Shaunie Transformation Youth Coalition. Testimony also focused on the scope of problem gambling in Kentucky and how the helpline works. The department said fewer than 10 clinicians in Kentucky are specifically certified in problem gambling, though all addiction clinicians can provide services, and estimated about 165,000 adults show problem gambling behaviors, with 47,000 to 64,000 potentially meeting criteria for a gambling disorder. They said helpline calls rose to about 3,240 in 2024, but only about 25% were from people seeking help, with most callers seeking information about online wagering. Members asked about anonymity, follow-up, co-occurring alcohol or drug issues, and whether the fund should reimburse Medicaid or directly cover treatment costs. The presenters said calls are anonymous, outcomes are not tracked unless callers follow up, and the program is currently focused on building provider capacity and targeted outreach rather than direct reimbursement or a statewide campaign.

Transcript Highlights:

• You will hear occasionally outliers of people claiming that kratom was the cause of death, and they will
• Kylie trusted the kratom industry and online voices claiming it was safe.
• Kylie trusted the kratom industry and online voices claiming it was safe.
• But even if we take away every claim at face value of kratom-induced death, those do not hold a candle
• law enough to know whether there's also the ability, aside from this act, for a product liability claim

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But they had gotten away with it for so long because of sort of arguable claims about the law and the
• the inheritance that she was entitled to. ...mother received notice timely enough to actually claim
• covers intentionally misrepresenting an object or a vehicle as belonging to law enforcement and claiming
• to be a peace officer in a way that would lead a reasonable person to believe that claim.
• to be a peace officer in a way that would lead a reasonable person to believe that claim.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2158 would authorize remote notarization of tangible records and remote oaths/affirmations, with record-retention requirements and no fiscal impact; the prime sponsor and staff described it as an access-to-justice measure, and the bill drew strong support in signed-in testimony. Substitute House Bill 2239 would create a framework for family burial grounds on private land, including setbacks, notice, recording, local regulation authority, and grandfathering of existing sites; supporters said it would help rural families and some tribal members bury loved ones on family land, while WSDOT raised a technical concern about the setback from rights-of-way. Substitute House Bill 2178 would reconcile statutes with court rules on malicious mischief aggregation, infraction deadlines, payment plans, and treasurer handling of certain funds; the sponsor and AOC described it as a technical cleanup with no fiscal impact, and it was supported by AOC. The committee then heard Engrossed House Bill 2445, which would tighten probate procedures to curb “probates for profit” by extending the time to petition, narrowing who qualifies as a suitable personal representative, changing venue, adding notice and reporting requirements, and regulating agreements with transferees for value and heir-finding firms. The sponsor, Attorney General’s Office, and Northwest Justice Project said the bill would protect grieving families from predatory actors, while some probate attorneys warned it could sweep too broadly and affect legitimate heir-finding services; the sponsor said he was open to further discussion and written recommendations. Substitute House Bill 2543 would update county clerk fees to match new appellate court rules and modernize outdated references such as CDs; county clerks and county officials supported it as a technical, cost-recovery measure. Finally, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165 would create a standalone gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer, replacing part of the criminal impersonation statute and adding prohibitions on badges, vehicles, and attire that mimic law enforcement, with exceptions for lawful, artistic, and inherited items. The sponsor, the governor’s office, and a city representative supported it as a public-safety and trust measure, citing impersonation incidents and protections for immigrant communities. The committee also began hearing Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2532 on nitrous oxide, which would make it a gross misdemeanor to sell or distribute nitrous oxide canisters for personal use while exempting medical, veterinary, dental, food, industrial, and automotive uses; members questioned how the law would be enforced and whether additional controlled-substance treatment would be needed. No votes were taken during the hearing excerpts provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• we're going to start with Tab 1, which is Senate Bill 1082 on the statewide provider and health plan claim
• Senate Bill 1082, the statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program.
• the insurer, to opt into the federal independent resolution process for emergency out-of-network claims
• How would an insurance company process the claim? Is there a DX code for it?
• Then, excuse me, the Broward County School District superintendent later gave an update claiming that

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up several health-related bills. SB 1082, on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program, was presented as a way to let providers and insurers use the federal independent dispute resolution process for emergency out-of-network claims under state-regulated commercial plans. A late-filed amendment clarified access to the state program, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1168, on background screenings, would centralize clearinghouse screening functions at the Agency for Health Care Administration; an amendment clarified that sealed and expunged records may be reviewed for eligibility determinations, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1156, on ambulatory surgical centers, would move their regulation into a standalone section of law separate from the hospital-focused Chapter 395, and it was reported favorably. The committee also considered SB 1480 on temporary certificates for practice in areas of critical need. A strike-all amendment created a grandfathering process for current certificate holders with active primary care relationships if federal designation changes remove an area’s critical-need status. Supporters said it would protect patients and preserve access to care in underserved areas, and the bill was reported favorably. The most extensive debate was on SB 1756, the medical freedom bill. The sponsor said it would require vaccine educational materials and alternative schedules for parents, expand school immunization exemptions to include conscience-based objections, clarify that emergency treatment authority does not include mandatory vaccination, and allow pharmacists to provide ivermectin behind the counter with written warnings. The committee adopted one amendment to extend liability protections to physicians as well as pharmacists, but rejected a substitute amendment that would have required counseling for exemption requests. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with physicians, pediatricians, cancer advocates, parents of immunocompromised children, and public health groups warning that the bill would lower vaccination rates and increase risk to vulnerable Floridians. The bill remained pending after testimony, with no final vote taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said there are claims on surface water throughout the state, including by many irrigation districts
• He said nearly all those claims are still pending adjudication and have been for the past 50 or so years
• There are claims on surface water throughout the state, including by many There are claims on surface
• Nearly all those claims are still pending adjudication and have been for the past 50 or so years.
• techniques utilized in a different location could impact a farmer downstream who has a prior water rights claim

Bills: HB2024 , HB2053 , HB2097 , HB2116 , HB2117

Committee: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Keywords: water infrastructure finance authority, WIFA, water supply development, snowpack augmentation, cloud seeding, water augmentation, water financing, water infrastructure, Arizona water law, water conservation, groundwater recharge, stormwater recharge, reclamation and reuse, water rights, water supply projects, public-private partnership, long-term water augmentation fund, water provider, desalination, drought mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• The Supreme Court unfortunately made vote suppression claims much harder and more costly to bring.
• was by announcing this really flawed set of guideposts that courts must consider in assessing these claims
• that reason, all those barriers mean that there has not been a single successful vote suppression claim
• The Supreme Court unfortunately made vote suppression claims much harder and more costly to bring.
• assessing these Thank you. flawed set of guideposts that courts must consider in assessing these claims

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• requests than in the past, but we also see many more nurse practitioners with some type of specialty claim
• right thing for injured patients. by accepting responsibility without being forced to by malpractice claims
• So with access to that All-Payer Claims Database, we can start cross-referencing with our loan repayment
• And once again, let's all cheer for getting robust payer claims data that we've been waiting for.
• thank you so much for your presentation. ...So much on the LFC, and we are going to get all-payer claims

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not serve women in the way they claim.
• In 2022, August 10th, an article came out that Governor Walz claimed and said that Minnesota was the
• Members, I hear this claim that this is supposedly about respecting the full spectrum of choices that
• aside from the contradiction that I personally see in the framing of the pro-choice aspect of this claim
• I haven't heard one claim of that in the state of Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• They make claims against each other in court.
• You can't just make claims. You have to have evidence of those claims.

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee approved the minutes from February 25 and February 27, then considered and introduced several RS measures. Representative Manwaring presented RS-33619, a cleanup/replacement for a fast stablecoin proposal that clarifies the State Treasurer’s authority and removes references to the State Controller; it was introduced after a brief correction to the statement of purpose. Representative Skaug presented RS-33593, which would allow the attorney general or private parties to bring lawsuits over secret social transitioning of children without parental knowledge; the motion passed, with Representatives Rubel, Birch, and Church recorded as nays. Representative Raymond’s RS-33581, dealing with county fair boards and the population threshold that can make them advisory only, was also introduced. Representative Scott presented RS-3355-5, a major overhaul of Idaho custody law from the child custody task force. The proposal would establish legislative findings on parenting rights, create a presumption of substantially equal parenting time, require evidentiary hearings before restrictions in contested cases, set limits on temporary and ex parte custody orders, require restoration plans, protect parental access to records, tighten standards for supervised visitation, and limit court-ordered professionals to advisory roles. Members asked about judicial feedback and evidentiary standards; Scott said the bill had been discussed with judges, the Supreme Court, lawyers, prosecutors, parents, and law enforcement, and that some questions would be answered later. The motion to introduce passed. The committee also introduced RS 33590, a rules-related resolution for the Department of Commerce and Division of Veterans Services, and then shifted to Representative Ehlers’ measures. RS 33598 would remove a 50-cent fee from standard license plates tied to the Idaho Heritage Trust Fund and create a new America 250 specialty plate. RS 33607 would implement a task force recommendation by moving regulatory duties from agricultural commissions to the State Department of Agriculture, including the Honey Commission. Both were introduced, and the committee adjourned after noting more RS items may be coming.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under Proposition 19, a recipient must move into the home, claim it as their principal residence, and
• SCA 4 removes a provision in the California Constitution that prevents veterans claiming the homeowners
• exemption from also claiming the disabled veterans or veterans exemption, thereby allowing eligible

Summary: The committee heard several tax and local government measures. SB 288 would clarify Proposition 19 rules for inherited homes in probate so the one-year timeline to claim the property tax benefit starts when the home is legally transferred; it had support from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. SB 347 would reduce the state’s minimum annual tax on LLCs, LLPs, limited partnerships, S corporations, and C corporations from $800 to $600; it also passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. SB 762 would authorize the city of Hercules to ask voters to approve a local sales tax increase of up to 1% to support city services and infrastructure; it passed 4-1 to Local Government, with one no vote from Senator Valadares. The committee also considered veteran property tax relief measures. SCA 4 would remove a constitutional restriction so eligible veterans could stack the homeowners’ exemption with the disabled veterans’ or veterans’ exemption, and SB 623 would make conforming statutory changes to implement that constitutional amendment. Both measures were supported by veterans’ organizations, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and county representatives, and both passed unanimously 5-0 to their next committees, with SCA 4 going to Elections and Constitutional Amendments and SB 623 going to Military and Veterans Affairs. The consent calendar, including SB 575 by Senator Laird, was adopted 5-0 after technical amendments were accepted. The committee then lifted the call on SB 288 and confirmed its 5-0 vote. The meeting concluded after all listed items were acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under Proposition 19, a recipient must move into the home, claim it as their principal residence, and
• SCA 4 removes a provision in the California Constitution that prevents veterans claiming the homeowners
• exemption from also claiming the disabled veterans' exemption, thereby allowing eligible veterans to

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all