Transcript Highlights:

• They said the legislature is focused on filling in gaps for federal funding, but for libraries, it makes
• In federal funding, these libraries, if they have more capacity, will be able to address those issues
• The state library has three bookmobiles, and that is funded; they're funded through the IMLS federally
• Our largest employers are the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the refinery, Artesia General
• The federal tariffs that we are engaged in or having to deal with right now.

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• As Figure 3 highlights, most federal funding comes through the U.S.
• The Federal Budget Reconciliation could primarily affect student eligibility to receive federal reimbursement
• The agency is pushing hard to maximize federal funding.
• So Title II is that professional learning funding from the federal government.
• So that's the update for federal funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation.
• My name is Dexton Lake, and I represent the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.
• It's difficult for us because our federal counterparts often do pay more.
• With the federal government.
• lands to help increase the pace and scale of federal lands and watershed restoration work on federal

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I know the federal government has frozen $28 million for charging stations, so I'm gonna see what
• delegation to understand what's happening between the federal government issues around conservation,
• Um, if we have to absorb more federal programs into New Mexico in our budget.
• Orange is going to be federal funds, green, other transfers, and then red is the general fund.
• What are your projections with respect to those two charts as to those federal funds?

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• long federal government shutdown that we had, and had pretty decent usage on that.
• Loan programs that actually built the federal highway system.
• But the Federal Reserve may lose its independence from the federal executive branch.
• With this current federal administration riding roughshod over our federal constitution and democracy
• The federal government is unreliable.

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staffing reductions at Federal Student Aid have extended processing times for loan relief applications
• and reduced visibility into students' federal loan status.
• No, I would not be confident in relying on the federal determination. claims.
• for state relief with federal relief, we can send a much more clearer message to students.
• No, I would not be confident in relying on the federal determination.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also excludes federal taxes that Minnesotans pay.
• We start with federal gross income.
• We start with federal money income. We start with federal gross<00:09:01.360><c> income.
• There were the economic impact payments that were being made by the federal government.
• </c> that were being made by the federal that were being made by the federal government.<00:40:34.440

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Staffing reductions at Federal Student Aid have extended processing times for loan relief applications
• and reduced visibility into students' federal loan status.
• closely mirrors the eligibility for federal student loan discharges.
• for state relief with federal relief, we can send a much more clearer message to students.
• No, I would not be confident in relying on the federal determination.

Summary: The joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing focused on the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) and its reauthorization, operations, enforcement, fiscal condition, and student protections. Committee leaders and DCA officials praised the Bureau’s recent improvements in data systems, licensing, inspections, and enforcement, while noting the Bureau’s role has become more important as federal higher education oversight weakens. Bureau Chief Deborah Cochran said the agency has met its inspection mandate for the first time since the law was enacted, increased citations and disciplinary actions, reduced pending complaints, and used data tools to identify risk and monitor institutions more effectively. A major portion of the hearing centered on student harm, especially school closures, transcript access, predatory recruiting, and the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF). Members asked how the Bureau protects students when schools close, whether bad actors can reopen under new entities, and whether enforcement tools are strong enough. Cochran said the Bureau can cite, fine, place schools on probation, revoke licenses, and order refunds, but it is seeking new authority to deny approval to operators who previously closed schools improperly or failed to refund students. She also said the Bureau is tracking ownership data and is concerned about institutions targeting immigrant and visa students. On STRF, Cochran explained that the fund is currently healthy, assessments are at zero because the balance is above the statutory target, and the Bureau paid about 1,100 claims totaling roughly $17 million over the last four years. Several members questioned the fairness of the assessment structure and discussed alternatives such as surety bonds, but the Bureau said STRF is working well and no change is needed at this time. Fee increases and the Bureau’s structural deficit were another major topic. Cochran said the Bureau reduced costs by eliminating positions, streamlining inspections, improving data analysis, and shifting some student-relief costs to STRF, but that legislative action is still needed to address the deficit. She said the proposed fees were based on workload analyses and that application fees generally match service costs, while annual fees are designed to cover most of the Bureau’s revenue needs. Some members and stakeholders criticized the proposed increases as too high, especially for out-of-state registration and campus fees, while others argued the Bureau needs sufficient resources to regulate effectively. Public commenters from private schools, Northeastern University, San Joaquin Valley College/Carrington College, and TICAS generally supported the Bureau’s mission and reauthorization, but urged changes such as risk-based oversight, better transcript protections, stronger limits on repeated provisional approvals, and more targeted fee and STRF reforms. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with no formal action beyond discussion and receipt of testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• have to operate from a fundamental grounding in the facts of what is existing law today, both at the federal
• you've heard before, but I represent hundreds of thousands of workers who do the maintenance, repair, shutdowns

Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard three main bills after initially lacking a quorum and deferring the consent calendar. SB 501 by Senator Allen would expand California’s battery extended producer responsibility program to include medium-format batteries, such as those used in e-bikes, lawn equipment, and portable power systems. Supporters from local governments, recycling groups, environmental organizations, and battery stewardship interests said the bill would reduce fire risks, improve collection and recycling, and close a gap in existing law. One industry witness sought clarification about off-highway vehicles and a battery association requested guardrails for mixed battery formats; the California Retailers Association moved from opposition to neutral after discussions with the author. SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide, state-funded low-income drinking water rate assistance program administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, contingent on funding. The author and supporters said many Californians face water debt and that the bill would help address affordability while working around Proposition 218 limits on local ratepayer-funded assistance. Water districts, local governments, environmental justice groups, and conservation organizations testified in support, and there was no opposition. SB 1259 by Senator Blakespear, as amended, would require refineries to provide advance information on closure, cleanup costs, and timelines to help communities plan for refinery transitions and remediation. Supporters, including the City of Benicia, environmental justice groups, and advocacy organizations, argued that communities need transparency before closures occur and that other energy sectors already provide similar planning information. Opponents from labor, petroleum, and business groups argued the bill was unnecessary, burdensome, and could discourage refinery investment or signal premature decline of the industry. After extensive debate, the committee voted to pass SB 1259 as amended to the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, and also approved SB 501 and SB 1125; the consent calendar items SB 1253 and SJR 13 were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• This really does seem like a federal problem.
• I'm not willing to wait around for the federal government on much of anything.
• I'm not willing to wait around for the federal government on much of anything.
• We do mention there's a federal approach from the FCC and the federal Cyber Trust Mark, which is a support
• This is led by the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC.

Bills: S3082 , S3090 , H5425 , H5130 , H5114

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on late-filed bills, with testimony heard both in person and remotely. The committee reviewed several measures, including H. 355 and S. 3082 on veterinary telemedicine/telehealth, H. 5445 on additional liquor licenses for East Hampton, and S. 3090/H. 5114 on consumer-connected devices and software support disclosure. The chair outlined hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and written testimony submission, and noted that Lawrence High School students were present to observe. On the veterinary bills, supporters of H. 355 argued that allowing veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship remotely would improve access to care for pets whose owners face transportation, mobility, or anxiety-related barriers, and could help veterinarians continue practicing through telemedicine. Opponents of S. 3082, including the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and several veterinarians, said the initial in-person exam is essential to detect conditions that cannot be seen on video, avoid misdiagnosis, and preserve the standard of care; they emphasized that teletriage and follow-up telemedicine are already used after an in-person relationship is established. Committee members pressed both sides on the distinction between teletriage and establishing the relationship, the timing of annual exams, and whether limited exceptions for sedatives or other pre-visit needs might be workable. Senator Lovely testified in support, citing a recent Lyme case where follow-up telemedicine would have been useful. On H. 5445, Representative Gomez and East Hampton Mayor Salem Derby urged approval of the bill to authorize eight additional liquor licenses, saying the city has reached its current cap, needs economic development, and wants to support downtown revitalization and new restaurant growth. Members asked about public safety and the number of licenses sought; the mayor said local public safety officials support the request and that the licenses would be for restaurants, not bars. On S. 3090 and H. 5114, consumer advocates and cybersecurity experts supported requiring manufacturers of connected devices to disclose software support timelines, arguing it would improve consumer transparency, cybersecurity, and reduce e-waste. Industry groups opposed the bills, saying fixed disclosure requirements could be impractical, create confusion, burden small businesses, conflict with federal efforts, and be difficult to apply to appliances, lighting, and other products with long lifecycles. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the bills during the hearing; at the end, staff announced a forthcoming poll for House members, and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the federal government is doing it. How is the state of Florida going to handle that?
• So even if it's a federal funded program, it has a state impact in the state is to protect that.
• Contractors is a federal level contractors. I don't think we actually know that.
• Do you know anyone in the federal government who might be able to help us with this problem?
• I do have some logs from the federal administration from the U.S.

Transcript Highlights:

• “The AOPA going that you’re probably all aware of, the shutdown impacts it had on our aviation system
• So anyway, this, the state of Washington received a letter in 2014 from the federal government.
• “The state of Washington received a letter in 2014 from the federal government.
• And then the federal government finally just sent them a letter that updated that, and there's still
• is to make that whole process easier, and so we're mostly focused on changing regulations at the federal

Summary: The meeting was an Aviation Caucus gathering hosted at Paine Field and Boeing, with introductions from legislators, aviation organizations, airport officials, and industry representatives. Speakers emphasized the importance of aviation and aerospace to Washington’s economy and the need to better educate lawmakers and the public about the sector’s value. Several participants also highlighted the role of airports in business activity, emergency response, wildfire support, and medical services, and urged attendees to build relationships with legislators to protect and expand aviation funding. A major topic was opposition to the aviation-related tax provisions in Senate Bill 5801, described by speakers as a luxury and privilege tax on aircraft. Legislators and industry advocates argued the tax would discourage aircraft ownership and use in Washington, drive aircraft and business operations out of the state, and harm jobs and tax revenue. They said the caucus would continue working toward repeal of the aircraft tax provisions and broader solutions for aviation infrastructure funding, though they acknowledged the state budget situation makes new funding difficult this year. John Dobson presented data estimating aviation’s large share of state GDP, jobs, wages, and tax revenue, and also raised concerns about aviation fuel tax revenues being diverted away from aviation purposes. The meeting also featured updates on mental health efforts in aviation, with Brian Baumoff of the Pilot Mental Health Campaign describing federal legislation to improve access to treatment and transparency around medications, and a prior state bill aimed at helping pilots navigate medical leave and treatment costs. Haley Coffey of the Aerospace Futures Alliance encouraged participation in its upcoming Hill Day to strengthen aerospace advocacy in Olympia. Boeing representatives gave an overview of company safety and culture changes after recent incidents, workforce and supplier numbers in Washington, production plans including a permanent Moses Lake site and a future Everett narrow-body line, and workforce development programs such as Core Plus Aerospace and tuition support. The caucus also adopted a House resolution honoring Harry R. Anderson for becoming the first person to fly and sail solo to all seven continents, and attendees toured the Boeing facility after the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of those shutdowns, almost all those licenses expired before a single business could even use
• This really does seem like a federal problem.
• I'm not willing to wait around for the federal government on much of anything.
• We do mention there's a federal approach from the FCC and the federal cyber trust mark, which is a support
• This is led by the Federal Communications Commission.

Bills: S3082 , S3090 , H5425 , H5130 , H5114

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Transcript Highlights:

• avoid shutdowns and keep Minnesota<00:15:09.519><c> thriving</c><00:15:10.120><c> in</c><00:15:10.279
• On top of that, we enlisted a U.S. senator, a U.S. federal court judge, and district court judges to
• </c><01:30:05.360><c> government</c> reimbursed from the federal government reimbursed from the federal
• government pulled that back and Federal government pulled that back and and<01:37:55.520><c> now</c>
• I share your concern that Federal one-time COVID money was used for ongoing expenses.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• The impact eligibility enrollment imposing moratorium on federal rules offering new state options.
• Section 7, 1, 1, 3, federal payments to prohibited entities.
• I received directly or through affiliates over 800,000 total, federal and state expenditures.
• The lawsuit was over continuing coverage between DeSantis and the federal government.
• The qualified alien piece that we spoke about mentioned earlier at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, due to the federal government shutdown, we needed to cancel some of the presentations
• </c> Unfortunately, due to the federal Unfortunately, due to the federal government<00:39:16.880><c>
• And so, I welcome federal dollars.
• Um as at the federal level.
• </c> federal level, absolutely unacceptable. federal level, absolutely unacceptable.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Our nearly half a million members are all classified as employees under either state or federal law.
• Unlike our rigid state apprenticeship requirements, federal standards for apprenticeship ratios are,
• I think the federal model is better, which allows the federal DOL to look at each apprenticeship program
• I think the federal model is better which allows the federal DOL to look at each apprenticeship program
• participating in the program for federal employees doubled.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid hearing on a large group of bills carried over from the previous session, with Chair Jake Oliveira and House Co-Chair Paul McMurtry outlining the process and limiting testimony to three minutes. The committee heard testimony on several labor and workplace proposals, including bills to harmonize employee definitions to address misclassification (SB 1338/HB 2141), expand bereavement leave (including H. 2189/S. 1354 and related bills), protect collective bargaining rights for certain administrative employees (HB 268/SB 1306), expand commuter transit benefits (HB 2153/SB 1345), regulate employer use of credit reports (S. 1286), and require apprenticeship participation or OSHA-related workplace safety measures on public projects. At the end of the hearing, the chairs read into the record additional bills that did not receive testimony that day. Supporters of the misclassification bill, including Greater Boston Legal Services and the AFL-CIO, said aligning the employee-status tests across wage, unemployment, and PFML laws would reduce confusion, improve enforcement, and help workers wrongly treated as independent contractors or managers recover benefits and bargaining rights. NAGE and its representative argued that public-sector employees have been improperly reclassified into management titles to weaken unions, and that the bill would force the Division of Labor Relations to review those titles. On bereavement leave, advocates including the Louis E. Brown Peace Institute, a state representative, the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, and individual survivors described the impact of sudden loss and homicide on families, saying guaranteed leave would help workers grieve, make arrangements, and avoid losing jobs or custody-related stability. The committee also heard support for commuter benefits as a low-cost way to reduce emissions and increase transit use, and for restricting employer credit checks because of inaccuracies and discriminatory effects. There was opposition to some construction-related bills. The Associated Builders and Contractors and the Building Trades Employers Association supported apprenticeship training in principle but said current apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios are outdated or misunderstood, and that the bills should be amended or clarified before advancing. The Massachusetts landscape and snow-removal industry strongly supported a snow-liability limitation bill, arguing that hold-harmless clauses and broad indemnification requirements force contractors to assume liability for conditions they cannot control, drive up insurance costs, and threaten business viability. The committee did not take any votes during the hearing, and the session ended with the chairs thanking members, staff, and the public before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically here across the complex with our federal partners, both NASA and the Space Force, as we
• As you noted, thank goodness we're out of the government shutdown and able to be here today.
• Just five years ago, we launched 17 missions from the combined federal properties of KSC and the Cape
• And I can, many of you know, we've walked the halls of the federal Congress many, many times, as well
• Federal, yes, and we are working on legislation.

Summary: The committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and heard a series of presentations focused on Florida’s space and aerospace industry. Blue Origin’s Anna Spencer described the company’s Florida operations at Rocket Park, including New Glenn manufacturing and launch activities, Blue Moon lunar lander work, workforce development, and recent booster recovery and launch milestones. Amazon’s Beth Cooley presented an update on Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), outlining the satellite broadband network, customer terminals, dark skies mitigation efforts, Florida facilities and jobs, and launch plans; members asked about RV/mobile applications, satellite counts, and the role of fiber, but no action was taken. Starcatcher Industries CEO Andrew Rush then described his company’s effort to create an orbital energy grid that beams power to satellites to extend mission life and increase available power, citing demonstrations in Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral and plans for a first satellite launch next year. Space Florida CEO Rob Long gave a strategic update on the state’s aerospace sector, citing billions in private investment, hundreds of projects in the pipeline, the leverage of state spaceport funding, workforce and university programs, and the need for additional tools and infrastructure to keep Florida competitive. He emphasized growth in launch activity, manufacturing, research, and military support infrastructure, and said Space Florida would bring forward legislative proposals. Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro delivered the strongest policy message of the meeting, warning that KSC’s aging infrastructure and relatively smaller NASA budget share could cause Florida to lose aerospace leadership to states like Texas unless the state strengthens its partnership, research investment, and infrastructure support. Members questioned her about federal restrictions on commercial investment in common-use infrastructure, the need for more state-federal alignment, and how Florida can preserve its role as the launch capital of the world. After the presentations and questions, Senator Burgess moved to adjourn, there was no objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you noted, thank goodness we're out of the government shutdown and able to be here today.
• Just five years ago, we launched 17 missions from the combined federal properties of KSC and the Cape
• Federal, yes, and we are working on legislation. And again, we'll go see how far around...
• Federal, yes, and we are working on legislation.
• And again, we'll go see how far our federal representatives and senators up there will support it.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The Committee of Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security heard a series of informational presentations focused on Florida’s aerospace and space ecosystem. Blue Origin described its Florida operations at Rocket Park, Launch Complex 36, and Port Canaveral, highlighting New Glenn and Blue Moon development, recent launch activity, workforce development efforts, and major capital investment in the state. Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) outlined its low-Earth-orbit broadband network, customer terminals, satellite and gateway architecture, dark-sky mitigation efforts, and Florida investments including a payload processing facility and launch support infrastructure. Starcatcher Industries presented its concept for an orbital energy grid that would beam power to satellites, discussed demonstrations in Florida, customer interest, and plans for a first satellite launch next year. Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long gave a strategic update on the state’s aerospace industry, citing billions in private investment, growth in aerospace establishments and projects, spaceport infrastructure investments, workforce and university partnerships, and the importance of maintaining Florida’s competitiveness against other states. NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro then emphasized Artemis II preparations, rising launch demand, aging infrastructure, and the need for stronger state-federal coordination and investment in research, workforce, and common-use infrastructure. She compared Florida’s support structure with Texas and argued that Florida must act to avoid losing aerospace leadership. Members asked questions about mobile and aviation applications for Amazon Leo, dark-sky impacts, satellite counts, Starcatcher’s power transmission losses and storage approach, and NASA’s funding and infrastructure constraints. Petro also discussed limits on commercial investment in common infrastructure under federal rules and suggested that state investment and better alignment among partners could help. No bills were considered and no votes were taken beyond adjournment; the committee concluded by adopting a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've learned in the past two weeks that we cannot rely on the federal government for data and support
• lands, and I know we can't really go on federal lands when it comes to, for example, Rio de Oso and
• 0.2 FTE, we are able to track heat-related deaths and hospitalizations, not including federal entities
• And, Madam Chair, one last question: how much federal money is expected?
• You know, we have no idea what's going to Happen on the federal level.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs