Transcript Highlights:

• This piece of legislation passed the Senate unanimously with bipartisan support.
• Every one of our counties is impacted. ...it or can be impacted by this piece of legislation.
• I believe this represents a good piece of legislation, and I respectfully request a favorable vote from
• This can also happen to legislators, and that is real serious.
• Free speech, and you will beckon all other states in the United States to follow this legislation.

Bills: SB1361 , SB2105 , SB2690 , SB2713 , SCR38 , SB2637 , SB2881

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business

Transcript Highlights:

• The complaint does claim that the pension board's study of the medical benefit liability study should
• , as a deduction from future pension payments.
• her pension was that effectively constructive payment of her share of the attorney's fees?
• Intent is to invalidate the new legislation. And so. And I would expect no action to be taken.
• It's just that those who have the larger pensions don't get more help than those with the smaller pensions

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Executive Committee approved the April minutes by roll call vote, with members present voting aye and the minutes adopted. The committee then received an Attorney General update on several pension-related cases. Counsel discussed the newly filed Dawson class action, which seeks to invalidate Gross Second Substitute House Bill 2034 on federal and state constitutional grounds; she said the pleadings were unclear, the committee’s involvement was uncertain, and the case would need monitoring. She also reported that the Dolan case appears concluded after the Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s ruling on constructive payment of attorney fees, and that the Fowler case remains pending after an oral ruling for plaintiffs on retroactive interest and possible disgorgement of state gains, with a written ruling still awaited. The actuarial update said June would include the preliminary 2025 valuation results and contribution-rate discussion, along with commentary on the demographic experience study, and staff noted actuarial resources were limited for additional items until later in the summer or fall. The committee then discussed the interim work plan and correspondence, including letters supporting a Plan 1 COLA recommendation, retiree organization comments, and a request from Senator Robinson to study whether certain animal control technicians should be included in PERS. Members emphasized the need to keep working on an ad hoc COLA for Plan 1 retirees while also exploring a longer-term COLA mechanism, including possible budget proviso language to require COLA consideration each budget cycle. Staff also explained changes to correspondence handling: materials will no longer be posted publicly on the website, but will still be available through public records requests and distributed securely to members by email or form submission. The committee agreed to add a June briefing on the PERS animal control technician issue and an introductory discussion of Plan 3, and to bring back COLA proposals in July for further executive committee review. The agenda was approved as amended, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jackson has legislators.
• Money's got to be there for that pension fund.
• No impact at all on any pension fund whatsoever.
• So it does affect the pension plan.
• So it does affect the pension plan.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The only answer is the filing of this legislation.
• The only answer is the filing of this legislation.
• The legislation aims to provide financial stability.
• A pension system or whether there's only a county system.
• I come here today to testify for important legislation to require public pension fund divestment from

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public service and retirement-related bills. Senator Kelly Dooner and Rep. O’Rourke supported a Taunton home rule petition to extend Chief Walsh’s service during the city’s transition to a new public safety facility, citing the need to manage new equipment, cameras, and 911 systems smoothly. Senator Lovely testified in favor of bills expanding retirement savings access through the SMART Plan and the CORE Plan, arguing that automatic enrollment and broader eligibility would help state, municipal, and nonprofit workers save for retirement. No questions were raised on the Taunton petition, and the hearing later moved through the remaining testimony without any votes taken during the transcript. Mary Waldron of the Old Colony Planning Council and Jeffrey Walker of the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District urged support for legislation protecting regional planning agencies from being required to make retroactive payments to the State Retirement Board for past employer contributions. They warned that the costs would be unsustainable, could force layoffs or closures, and would jeopardize their ability to provide transportation, housing, economic development, and planning services. Bill Keith and Patrick Charles of PEREC testified on several retirement administration bills, including measures to ease statement-of-financial-interest filing rules, require payment for certain creditable service purchases, and clarify the definition of wages to include sick, vacation, and personal time; committee members asked questions about regional transit authorities joining retirement systems and about adding local retirement board representation to a proposed commission. Jonathan Osimo and Rob Fabino of the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System supported bills to penalize delinquent pension reporting by employers and to create a special commission to study retirement credit purchases, saying better reporting would improve retirement processing and that a broader review could improve fairness and sustainability. Eddie Boynton of the Braintree Education Association backed the SMART Plan bill, describing how automatic enrollment and low-fee fiduciary oversight could protect educators from high-cost supplemental retirement products. Matthew Nugent testified for a bill to divest public pension funds from firearms and ammunition. After the final witnesses, the chairs asked if anyone else wished to testify, heard none, and then adjourned the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> subcommittees there's the pension subcommittees there's the pension subcommittee<00:08:04.159><c
• </c> um jelar stands for joint legislative um jelar stands for joint legislative committee<00:20:27.480
• </c> this is us the office of legislative this is us the office of legislative Services<01:08:10.799>
• </c> so that might require a legislative so that might require a legislative change<01:50:50.320><c>
• typical of most public pension this is typical of most public pension plans<03:38:00.560><c> the</c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held an orientation for new and returning members of the House committee on agencies and administration, with introductions from members and staff. Chair Carol Maguire outlined her expectations for hearings: keep questions focused on the bill, be respectful to witnesses, and use the committee’s orientation opportunities to learn about the jail staff, retirement system, and Office of Professional Licensure. Members also discussed related assignments on other bodies, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Employee Classification, and noted that some members already serve on those panels. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the State Building Code and the committee’s upcoming workload. Members explained how the state code is intended to provide a common baseline while allowing limited local options, and why municipalities must formally adopt and publish any local amendments. They reviewed several anticipated bills: a consolidation bill to gather building-code enforcement materials in one place, a bill to update the state energy code, a bill to restrict municipal adoption of building-code changes, and a bill to update the electrical code. Members also discussed how building codes apply to older homes and commercial buildings, and why code updates are important for safety and clarity. The chair said the committee had 36 bills currently scheduled, including many early bills that must move by March 6 because they will be heard by two committees. She said the committee would use subcommittees for harder bills, with three subcommittees this year: pensions, licensing, and likely state building code. She also outlined the hearing schedule, including lighter bills on February 12 and the expectation of executive sessions later in the month. No votes were taken during the orientation, but members were told that public hearings do not require a quorum and that hard copies of bills would be distributed by committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleen Her and I knew each other on pensions. And by the way, why am I big up pensions? My dad.
• Speaking of pensions, it hasn't always been rosy in the pensions world.
• </c> pensions world. Stick with it, please. pensions world. Stick with it, please. Please. Please.
• <c> hasn't</c><00:14:07.240><c> always</c> Speaking of pensions, it hasn't always Speaking of pensions
• Old legislators never die, they just fade away.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I come from the 29th Legislative District.
• The 3% is borrowed from the modern plan to public pension systems in the state.
• They had been working on some legislation over the interim that has not come forward.
• Revenue in the supplemental pension fund is pay-as-you-go and equally financed.
• A different part of that premium rate pays for the pensions.

Bills: SB5379 , SB6106 , SB6147 , SB6180 , SB5927 , SB6287

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative funds have been trending downward.
• Prior to legislation, I believe that contribution is $3.8 million that's coming back into the legislative
• Okay, before we go to the legislation, I want to recognize one of our guest legislators.
• We are maintaining their pensions. who are growing their pensions, and that money is being invested somewhere
• Off the pension plan, however that occurs.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> payment system in the form of a pension payment system in the form of a pension adjustment<00:05
• We fought for a pension agreement.
• </c> prime things we were doing in pensions prime things we were doing in pensions was<00:20:14.480><
• </c> pensions committee. Yes. Understood, Mr. pensions committee. Yes. Understood, Mr.
• I'm the executive director of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pension system one of the best funded in the nation.
• The previous speaker mentioned pensions.
• strong and sound and well-funded pension system.
• So I will miss that wisdom and his input in proposed legislation.
• I was on the pension policy. The staff has helped us there.

Bills: SCR8410

Keywords: returning bills to house of origin, sine die, end of session, legislative procedure, Rules Committee, third reading, unfinished business, pending bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, joint memorials, special session, bill numbering, legislative records, House of Representatives, Senate, Washington Legislature, session adjournment, procedural resolution, 904

Summary: The Senate convened on March 9, 2025, approved the previous day’s journal, suspended Rule 46 to allow committees to meet during floor sessions, and referred committee and gubernatorial reports as designated. It also received several new bills and appointments, including Senate Bill 6359, and later suspended Rule 20 to allow additional floor resolutions. The chamber then moved through a series of gubernatorial confirmations, with broad support for Megan Matthews as Director of the Washington State Office of Equity and for several college board trustees, including Robert A. Zupon (Renton Technical College), Denise E. Gideon (Clark College), Adria Buchanan (Clover Park Technical College), Michelle R. Smith (Columbia Basin College), and Edison A. Valerio (Columbia Basin College). Each confirmation passed by majority roll call vote, with some members excused. The Senate then considered Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation revenue and policy measure. Members rejected the Transportation Committee’s original striking amendment and adopted a narrower striking amendment that, among other changes, repealed the luxury aircraft tax and replaced it with higher aircraft fuel taxes, registration fees, and an annual excise tax, while also making technical corrections and creating a sustainable aircraft fuel account. Supporters said the bill reflected a bipartisan agreement, improved transportation funding, and supported aviation sustainability; opponents argued it would disproportionately burden small aircraft owners and general aviation. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-15 vote. The final major action was adoption of Senate Resolution 8703 honoring Senator Steve Conway for his 34 years of legislative service. The resolution highlighted his long career in the House and Senate, his leadership on labor, pensions, veterans, and local projects, and his reputation for institutional knowledge and mentorship. Numerous senators from both parties offered personal remarks praising his integrity, advocacy for working families, and support for colleagues. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and Senator Conway, joined by family and friends in the gallery, offered brief remarks thanking the Senate, his staff, family, and constituents before the chamber recessed for lunch and caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will benefit from the legislation when California needs it the most.
• I wanted to point out an issue with a pensionable compensation cap.
• PEPRA's critical legislation necessary to avoid a funding crisis for the public pension systems and provide
• Pension systems and provide fiscal relief for public agencies.
• These folks do pay into this pension. We will be fiscally responsible.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, labor enforcement, pensions, and workplace safety. AB 1054 would create a voluntary DROP-style retirement option for CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters to help retain experienced personnel; supporters said it would be cost-neutral and help staffing, while an opponent warned it could affect bond ratings and create pension risk. The bill passed the committee 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2129, which would improve Cal Fire compensation to aid recruitment and retention, also passed 4-0 to Appropriations with support from firefighters and no opposition. AB 1383, a broader PEPRA-related measure lowering retirement age and adjusting compensation caps for public safety workers, drew extensive support from firefighters and peace officers and strong opposition from cities, counties, and other local government groups over long-term pension costs; after debate over fiscal impacts, it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also considered AB 605 on refinery safe staffing during shutdowns, prompted by layoffs and reduced staffing at refineries such as Phillips 66 Wilmington. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers and nearby communities during refinery wind-downs, while petroleum and business groups said closures are not inevitable and opposed the bill’s premise. The bill passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. AB 1859 would let joint labor-management committees access public works sites to help detect wage theft and safety violations; construction labor supporters backed it as an enforcement tool, while laborers, local governments, and builders raised concerns about duplication, property access, and project disruption. It passed 2-0 to Judiciary, on call. The committee then heard AB 2321, a pilot program allowing county district attorneys in Alameda and Santa Clara to investigate workplace deaths, which supporters said would address Cal/OSHA’s backlog and weak enforcement; employers and safety practitioners opposed it, citing expertise, due process, and overlapping investigations. It passed 2-0 to Appropriations, on call. Finally, AB 2575 began testimony on healthcare AI guardrails, with the author and nurses arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment and that patient safety requires human oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, if you remember, we have two different pension COLA bills. Yes.
• Well, if you remember, we have two different pension. Yes. One pension COLA bills. Yes.
• Those have to meet the legislative deadlines.
• So that would be a second idea that you could apply to a COLA legislation.
• But it is a really important tool in how we manage our pension systems.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Executive Committee of the State Committee on Pension Policy approved the June minutes and received updates from staff and counsel. The attorney reported on two class action matters: the Fowler/Probst Fowler teacher interest case, where a court ordered the state to pay $118 million and the state has appealed and sought a stay, and the Dawson case challenging last year’s HB 2034 related to the LEOFF 1 plan, where the complaint was amended and the state plans to move to dismiss. The actuary also provided a brief update on asset smoothing and offered to provide additional education on the topic. The committee then focused on interim work planning and the September agenda. Members discussed an ad hoc COLA for PERS and TRS Plan 1 retirees, with staff explaining options for making a COLA part of the base budget or otherwise structuring it. The committee agreed to move forward with a bill for a Plan 1 ad hoc COLA and to have it considered in October, with a request for fiscal analysis. The committee also heard from a Washington State Patrol Troopers Association representative about survivor medical benefits, and staff said a cost estimate could be prepared for October if the proposal included retroactive coverage. For September, the committee set the agenda to include PERS eligibility for animal control officers, a LEOFF 1 medical study update with possible action, and the Plan 1 ad hoc COLA item. Staff said the work plan would also add the ongoing Plan 1 COLA and survivor medical topics to October, along with preliminary 2027 meeting dates. The meeting ended with informal approval of the September agenda and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• her pension was that effectively constructive payment of her share of the attorney's fees?
• The intent is to invalidate the new legislation. And so I would expect no action to be taken.
• Intent is to invalidate the new legislation. And so. And I would expect no action to be taken.
• It's just that those who have the larger pensions don't get more help than those with the smaller pensions
• You know, because you are driving costs for some very large pensions.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pension system one of the best funded in the nation.
• The previous speaker mentioned pensions.
• strong and sound and well-funded pension system.
• So I will miss that wisdom and his input in proposed legislation.
• I was on the Pension Policy Committee. The staff has helped us there.

Bills: SCR8410

Keywords: returning bills to house of origin, sine die, end of session, legislative procedure, Rules Committee, third reading, unfinished business, pending bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, joint memorials, special session, bill numbering, legislative records, House of Representatives, Senate, Washington Legislature, session adjournment, procedural resolution

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, suspended rules to allow committee work and additional floor resolutions, and referred committee and gubernatorial appointment reports as designated. It then took up several gubernatorial appointments in third reading. Megan Matthews was confirmed as director of the Washington State Office of Equity by a 45-2 vote, and Robert A. Zupon, Denise E. Gideon, Andrea Buchanan, Michelle R. Smith, and Edison A. Valerio were each confirmed to various community and technical college boards of trustees by large bipartisan margins. The chamber then considered Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation revenue and policy measure. After rejecting the Transportation Committee’s original striking amendment and adopting a narrower floor striking amendment, senators debated the bill’s changes, including repeal of the luxury aircraft tax and replacement with higher aircraft fuel taxes, registration fees, and an annual excise tax, along with technical corrections and safety-related transportation provisions. Supporters said the bill was a workable compromise that would sustain transportation funding and support future aviation investments; opponents argued it would raise costs on small aircraft owners and general aviation. The bill passed final passage 33-15. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 8703 honoring Senator Steve Conway for his 34 years of legislative service. Multiple senators spoke in praise of his leadership on labor, pensions, veterans, and district advocacy, as well as his institutional knowledge, mentorship, and personal integrity. Senator Conway then offered a personal statement thanking colleagues, staff, family, and constituents, and saying he would continue advocating for working people after leaving the Legislature. The Senate then recessed for lunch and caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think individual schools are contacting legislators with their figures.
• plan, and avoids duplicative pension obligations for ports and their employees.
• Andy Harding, I am a resident of Olympia, Legislative District 35.
• This bill—this legislation benefits the people who are most vulnerable.
• This bill—this legislation benefits the people who are most vulnerable.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Executive Director of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
• </c> provision to pass in the pension provision to pass in the pension commission,<00:10:13.120><c> it
• That could fund something like teacher pension reform.
• </c> something like teacher pension reform. something like teacher pension reform.
• </c> maybe chip in for our teacher pensions. maybe chip in for our teacher pensions.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just an additional pension check equal to 2% of their pension benefit.
• Our power as a committee to draft legislation, endorse legislation for a wide variety of changes, and
• Pension plans that for their service, whereas, you know, in the corporate sector, pension plans are largely
• But there was a section in the legislation that was specific.
• Pension plans have changed a lot over the last decade.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this legislation forward. this legislation forward.
• </c> under a a pension under a a pension that<00:14:48.880><c> that</c><00:14:49.279><c> wasn't</c><00
• </c> this and that that is in a pension this and that that is in a pension system. system. system.
• </c><00:33:29.919><c> that</c> very simple piece of legislation that very simple piece of legislation
• . legislation. legislation.

Keywords: Reuploaded to restore a few minutes lost at the end of the meeting Representative Tackett-Lafferty: 00:22 • Line of Duty Disability Benefits Representative Grossberg: 26:32 • Loss of TRS Credit Due to Religious Holiday Observance Representative Blanton: 32:01 • Educational Contracts and Membership Dates in KERS Representative Tipton and Representative Blanton: 40:55 • Apply SB 10 Changes from 2025 to KERS/SPRS Senator Higdon: 46:08 • PPOB Reporting on Line of Duty Benefits • TRS Annual Leave Impact on TRS • PPOB Membership • Use of Sick Leave for Religious Holidays Adjournment: 56:03, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty on a bill to extend minimum line-of-duty hazardous duty retirement benefits to certain CERS and KERS non-hazardous members who are injured in the line of duty and cannot return to that work. She used a video and examples from Eastern Kentucky first responders, including a deputy who lost a leg and an emergency management director who lost an eye, to argue that some injured officers and responders fall through the cracks because their employers did not elect hazardous-duty coverage. She said the proposal would provide 25% of pay to the disabled officer, plus 10% for dependent children and minimal health benefits, and noted estimated actuarial costs of about $2.9 million for CERS and $0.542 million for KERS, funded through small employer-rate increases. Members asked how far back the bill would reach, how many people might qualify, and whether the benefit would apply only to active employees or also to past injuries. Laferty said the bill would include a five-year window for recent situations and could potentially cover a total of 3,333 positions statewide that could be certified as hazardous, though benefits would only apply if the person was injured in the line of duty and disabled from returning to that work. Questions also focused on whether a non-hazardous employee could qualify if injured in a hazardous situation; Laferty said yes, if the position could be certified as hazardous, but only for the bill’s minimum benefits. Rep. Josh Calloway and others noted that local governments choose whether to pay the higher hazardous-duty contribution rates, which they said often drives the coverage decision. The committee then heard Rep. Daniel Gberg present a separate bill revising school leave rules so teachers and school employees may use accumulated sick leave to observe religious holidays not on the school calendar, with a required personal statement and advance notice. He said the change would address a longstanding inconsistency for teachers who observe non-Christian holidays and currently may have to choose between unpaid leave or improperly using sick days, and he said prior concerns about retirement service credit and maternity leave were reduced by other policy changes. The discussion ended without a vote, with members indicating they had the relevant materials and that the bill would be revisited later.

Transcript Highlights:

• I come from the 29th Legislative District.
• The 3% is borrowed from the modern plan to public pension systems in the state.
• They had been working on some legislation over the interim that has not come forward.
• Revenue in the supplemental pension fund is pay-as-you-go and equally financed.
• A different part of that premium rate pays for the pensions.

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove the current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the workers’ compensation presumption that certain heart problems in firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of fallen firefighters testified in support, describing delayed claims and arguing the bill would spare grieving families from lengthy appeals. Opponents including counties, self-insurers, cities, and L&I’s research staff said the current qualifiers are based on science, warned the change would greatly expand claims and costs, and noted a 2023 advisory committee did not recommend the change. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement rangers. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid less than comparable law enforcement, leading to staffing shortages and turnover. The bill was presented as a fairness and retention measure. Testimony on Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery store closures in food deserts, was split: supporters from Tacoma, labor, and local government said a six-month notice requirement would help communities respond to closures like the Fred Meyer shutdown in South Tacoma, while grocers and industry groups argued the bill was too prescriptive, would add legal risk, and would not solve underlying crime and business pressures. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt tribes from the state WARN-style notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted in layoff notices confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification and privacy fix, and no opposition was heard. The committee then took testimony on Senate Bill 5927, which would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3%; employers and self-insurers supported it as a way to address volatility and long-term liabilities, while labor, injured-worker advocates, and others opposed it as an across-the-board benefit cut that would erode wage replacement. L&I explained it has been studying possible COLA changes but did not bring forward its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would restrict adulterated or harmful kratom products, require labeling, set a 21+ sales age, and allow local regulation; supporters backed the age limit and bans on concentrated 7-OH, while some industry witnesses opposed the private right of action and local patchwork rules. The committee adjourned after public testimony; no final votes or executive action were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their pensions are paid by late fees on personal property.
• Their pensions are paid by late fees on personal property. Correct.
• Money's got to be there for that pension fund.
• No impact at all on any pension fund whatsoever.
• So it does affect the pension plan.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2388 in executive session, considering a substitute that would combine two bills, add counties to the measure, and impose a felony penalty with a $100,000 fine for certain false claims. After Representative Black objected to the size of the fine and members discussed possibly amending it, the sponsor withdrew both the substitute and the motion to do pass, and the bill was set aside for reconsideration later. The committee then heard House Bill 3381, which would allow counties and certain cities to waive penalties on delinquent property taxes in hardship cases. The sponsor and several supporters, including a Clay County commissioner and a state public advocate, argued the bill would give local officials flexibility to help taxpayers who were delayed by events beyond their control, such as illness, theft, postal delays, or banking errors, while still requiring the underlying taxes to be paid. Members raised questions about proof of hardship, how the bill should be drafted, and whether local retirement funding tied to late fees would be affected. A representative of the county employees’ retirement fund testified in informational opposition, explaining that a portion of county tax penalties—about $20 million to $25 million annually—helps fund the retirement system and that waiving penalties would reduce that revenue. He said the fund was not opposed to flexibility for difficult cases, but wanted the committee to understand the fiscal impact and suggested that counties could instead appropriate money directly if they wanted to preserve funding. No final vote was taken on House Bill 3381 before the committee adjourned.