Transcript Highlights:

• So I know it's been around these rules forever.
• Their rules say that they can enter the premises any time, but there's no discussion in their rules of
• That is different from the ESD rule.
• That is different from the ESD rule.
• Or are we changing those rules?

Bills: HB1347 , HB2091 , HB2264

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, unemployment insurance, benefits, employment, layoffs, workforce reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• witnesses and public comment, I want to make sure that everyone understands that the Assembly has rules
• We apply these rules consistently to all people who participate in our proceedings, regardless of the
• The rules for today's hearing include no talking or loud noises from the audience.
• Please be aware that violations of these rules may subject you to removal or other enforcement actions
• First, to make sure all shade structures are permitted, it expands eligible types from free-standing

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• There are federal rules that regulate how this information can be shared, and there's state rules on
• There are probably local rules.
• But government is very, very complex, and there's a lot of rules.
• As you know, you write many of those rules. And it's maddeningly complex.
• So you could do that within the existing statutory structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over 17,000 structures Between 2020 and 2024, over 17,000 structures were destroyed during that same
• Each assessment should be independent to that structure, not just blanket.
• Each assessment should be independent to that structure, not just blanket.
• Under the new rules, Florida has been doing this for 20 years for a hurricane.
• So that's also part of the agreement under the new rules.

Summary: The Select Committee on Native American Affairs met on Barona tribal land to examine rising homeowners insurance costs affecting tribal communities, with opening remarks from tribal leaders and Assembly members emphasizing tribal sovereignty, the history of forced settlement in high-risk areas, and the need for the state to recognize mitigation work already being done on tribal lands. The committee heard that wildfire, drought, and other climate-driven disasters have sharply increased insurance premiums and reduced coverage options, especially for tribes located in rural or mountainous areas that were not chosen by the tribes themselves. Cal Fire Deputy Director Frank Bigelow described the state’s wildfire response and tribal engagement efforts, including tribal liaisons on incident management teams, a Southern Region Tribal Affairs Deputy Chief, cultural burning agreements, and more than $30 million in tribal wildfire resilience grants over the last three years. Members questioned why tribal communities receive only a small share of grants, whether Cal Fire should do more outreach and budget proposals for tribes, and whether mitigation work is being recognized by insurers. Bigelow said Cal Fire is working with insurers and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety on mitigation standards, but acknowledged that more tribal outreach and participation are needed. Tribal chairpersons and fire chiefs testified that their communities are already investing heavily in fire protection through dedicated fire departments, fuel reduction, defensible space, prescribed burns, firebreaks, and home-hardening efforts, yet premiums remain high or coverage is denied. Barona leaders said premiums can range from $6,000 to $18,000 and urged insurers to assess properties individually rather than by broad high-risk zones. Soboba, Hamu, and Pechanga representatives described similar efforts and said grant rules, environmental review, and insurer practices can make it difficult to translate mitigation into lower rates. Several members suggested short-term state assistance or a tribal insurance mitigation fund, and the committee discussed the possibility of requiring insurers to better account for tribal mitigation and sovereignty in risk assessments.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll walk through a little bit on that on the probably tax assessment structure will talk about the
• up from a little over 2 and a half trillion dollars to almost 5 trillion dollars from 2018 to 2024 rule
• So the structure for ad Valorem Taxation, property Taxation is based on the article 7 in the Constitution
• And so a lot of the assessment structure, the exemption structure and the assessment limitation, the
• own, take a moment here and just talk about the genuine date that comes often in the assessment structure

Transcript Highlights:

• was just for transparency on this committee, that didn't make the 24-hour rule.
• That didn't make the 24-hour rule.
• So the structure of that is two years, Mr.
• And those are established by rule by the Mortgage Finance Authority, Housing New Mexico.
• wrong with the structure, but you don't know what's going on below the structure.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I move the rules be waived and C.S.
• Speaker, I move the rules be waived and C.S.
• Speaker, I move the rules be waived. Mr. Speaker, I move the rules be waived and C.S./C.S.
• Members, that concludes structured debate.
• Speaker, I move that the rules be waived.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is actually a regulatory structure for those folks.
• There is actually a regulatory structure for those folks.
• There is actually a regulatory structure for those folks.
• It's not structured like a health savings account.
• And more, please call the rule in Senate Bill 832.

Bills: S0266 , S0394 , S0540 , S0632 , S0642 , S0832 , S0834 , S1028

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: public adjuster, contract cancellation, state of emergency, vulnerable adults, disciplinary actions, financial regulation, information security, financial exploitation, licensing, transportation, insurance, TNC, ride-sharing, automobile liability, bail bond, insurance regulation, foreign insurers, financial disclosure, premium reporting, residential property insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Structural factors may slow responsiveness to labor market changes.
• We've got basically a projected structural budget deficit for fiscal year 28.
• We've got basically a projected structural budget deficit for fiscal year 28.
• All of that is controlled by the ESD rules. Thank you. Any other questions?
• Based on structural criteria such as comparability, cost of work,...

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Employment Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:13:09.520><c> engineer</c> Um we also have um structural engineer Um we also have um structural
• Is it a legal structure?
• > for</c><03:34:14.239><c> for</c> and then the rules for for and then the rules for for uh<03:34:16.160
• , before the board for approval. additional rules and we have our we have additional rules and we have
• > the</c><04:04:03.040><c> uh</c> some of the rules regarding the uh some of the rules regarding the

Summary: The task force held its first meeting, beginning with roll call and introductions of members and participants in the room and on Zoom. The chair emphasized Sunshine Law transparency, noted the meeting was on September 11, and opened public testimony on the orientation report. No one testified in person or on Zoom, and the chair observed a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11 before moving into the agenda. The chair then reported on several orientation presentations given statewide between July 18 and September 5, including meetings with transit-oriented development, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the Kona-Kohala Chamber, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce on Hawaiʻi Island, the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaiʻi Island Native Hawaiian Chamber, and the Capo Chamber of Commerce. The main presentation item was a detailed overview from Kauaʻi County on its permitting process. County staff explained that zoning and building permits are handled separately on the outer islands, with zoning focused on form, character, and compatibility, and building permits focused on health and safety. They described a two-tier zoning system: ministerial permits that are automatically approved if not acted on within 30 days, and discretionary permits that go to the planning commission and can become lengthy contested cases if there is intervention. They also discussed special management area review in coastal areas, which can add time, and explained that building permits must conform to what was approved in zoning. Kauaʻi County staff also outlined the building permit process, including online and in-person submission, coordination with planning, engineering, water, wastewater, health, and fire agencies, and the county’s fully electronic review system using ProjectDox and related software. They noted that applicants are encouraged to check zoning, water, wastewater, and floodplain issues before hiring someone to prepare plans, especially for homeowners. The county shared permit and utility statistics and said the public can check permit history through Click2Gov. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; after the Kauaʻi presentation, the chair opened a question period for members.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not that particularly complicated in terms of what the rules of engagement are.
• So relatively general rules of the road, if you will.
• seven-member commission structure.
• The state suggested a four-commission structure and three at-large.
• Yeah, first of all, I would say that each of the county structures work for those counties.

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss Florida county commission districting options, with an overview from Ginger Delagall of the Florida Association of Counties. She explained the constitutional, statutory, local charter, and federal Voting Rights Act framework governing county commissions, including the default five-member at-large model for non-charter counties, the option for seven-member mixed boards with a referendum, and the broader flexibility available to charter counties, which can choose different board sizes, election methods, and term limits. She also described the current distribution of county structures across the state and noted a few counties in transition or litigation, including Orange, Lee, and Alachua. County commissioners from Bay, Madison, Pinellas, Polk, and Bradford counties testified about how their current systems work in practice. Commissioners from Bay and Polk defended at-large systems as promoting countywide accountability, broader perspective, and collaboration, especially in large or diverse counties. Commissioners from Madison and Bradford supported single-member districts as improving local access, clarity, and responsiveness, particularly in smaller rural counties. Pinellas Commissioner Dave Eggers described a mixed system in a large charter county and said it balances district-level responsiveness with countywide accountability. Several members asked about Orange County’s mayor-chair structure, the effects of single-member versus at-large representation, and whether counties had considered changing their systems. In questions and discussion, members raised concerns about accountability, representation, gerrymandering, countywide versus district-specific interests, and whether certain structures better serve rural or urban counties. Delagall said the association had not done cost or equity studies comparing systems. The panel repeatedly emphasized home rule and local choice, with commissioners and Delagall urging the Legislature to let counties and their voters decide their own form of government. No votes were taken on any bill or proposal, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> non-conforming structures. non-conforming structures.
• ,</c> find is you have an existing structure, find is you have an existing structure, but<00:31:44.240
• </c> pre-existing non-conforming structure pre-existing non-conforming structure such<00:43:05.800><c
• ><c> less</c> These structures are much less These structures are much less expensive,<01:09:51.520><
• </c> housing structures. housing structures.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, this is kind of a radical departure from the current structure.
• But now we're starting to tinker with the structure.
• issues that we have with the structure.
• Okay, you wanna change the structure for no real apparent reason.
• Currently, boards of regents, well, let me ask you, the structure.

Bills: SB37 , SB1489 , SB452 , SB724 , SB1067 , SB1741 , SB1273 , SB 37

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• , and then you don't get the benefits of the rule in the first place.
• The first is for the zero-emission airport shuttle rule and Advanced Clean Fleets, or ACF, rule, and
• the second is for the zero-emission forklift rule.
• This could include potential changes to the ACF rule or alternative means.
• Now let's turn to the zero-emission forklift rule, which was adopted last year.

Summary: The committee hearing focused heavily on CARB’s broad trailer bill request for regulatory fee authority. Finance and CARB argued the proposal would let CARB develop fees to recover reasonable costs for implementing and enforcing regulations, while the LAO recommended rejection because the authority was too broad, could apply to an entire division of code, and would delegate core legislative taxing/fee-setting power without enough guardrails. Members from both parties raised concerns about the breadth of the authority, accountability, affordability impacts, and whether the Legislature would be put in an up-or-down position after CARB had already developed regulations. CARB responded that fees would still go through a budget change proposal and legislative approval before collection, and cited existing examples such as transport refrigeration units and commercial harborcraft fees. The committee then reviewed CARB’s request for permanent resources to implement SB 905 on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. CARB said the Legislature had previously authorized limited-term positions and funding, but it had struggled to recruit and retain staff with specialized regulatory and technical expertise, and that the work had included pre-rulemaking contracts, technology review, and permit-related preparation. Members questioned the pace of work, the use of limited-term positions, and whether additional permitting authority would be needed. CARB said it hoped to begin rulemaking later in the year if permanent resources were approved. Members also discussed the cap-and-trade spending plan, noting lower-than-expected auction revenues but higher interest earnings, and the need to monitor the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and possible May Revision changes. The committee then heard overviews of the zero-emission vehicle package, the Community Air Protection Program, demand-side grid support, and e-bike incentives. CARB described ongoing investments in community-based transportation equity, drayage trucks, harbor craft, and other clean technology demonstrations, while members pressed on affordability, program duplication, and whether enough funding was being directed to incentive programs. No formal votes were taken during the portion provided, and the chair repeatedly indicated that the hearing was intended to surface concerns for later budget negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• You should have all received a copy of the proposed rules.
• You should have all received a copy of the proposed rules.
• These rules are really nearly identical to the rules from the 88th legislature.
• The rules are adopted.
• Senator: Thank you for clarifying that structure.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:26.040><c> for</c> related to a new federal rule for related to a new federal rule for recipients
• ourselves and structure our programs.
• </c> organizational structure and processes. organizational structure and processes.
• how we better um structure ourselves and and<01:10:48.760><c> structure</c><01:10:49.200><c> our</c>
• </c> and structure our programs. and structure our programs.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And those are soft earthen structures that are... Okay.
• And those are soft earthen structures that are ...are soft earthen structures that are susceptible to
• So it's what structures do we have? What are the building codes?
• There are rules and restrictions around airports and whatnot.
• So you're talking about organizational structure? Yeah.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster. Laura Sori of the Department of Conservation and Energy said the agency has inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the earthquakes, found no permit violations, and is requiring monthly reporting of daily injection data. LSU and Tulane researchers explained that the swarm includes about 50 earthquakes detected by USGS since December 2025, including a 4.9 magnitude event on March 5, and that better monitoring is needed because Louisiana has very limited seismic station coverage. Dr. Cynthia Ebinger said her temporary array has detected more small quakes than USGS, that the pattern looks more like a swarm than normal aftershocks, and that the data suggest pressure changes in the subsurface, though no definitive cause was identified. Keith Hall of LSU described how other states responded to suspected induced seismicity with more monitoring, more frequent reporting, injection limits or moratoria, and “traffic light” systems that escalate regulatory responses as seismicity increases. Members asked about depths, fault locations, possible links to injection or fracking, and whether more monitoring and data-sharing should be pursued; several speakers said Louisiana likely needs a denser monitoring network and more structured data collection. A Texas geoscientist, William Berger, also testified that Texas uses large-scale data analysis and AI to study injection-related seismicity and argued for secure sharing of operator data to improve forecasting and risk management. The committee then took testimony on UAV and drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base. GOSEP said the incident was logged in WebEOC and the common operating picture, but that Barksdale did not request direct GOSEP resources and that the matter was handled through law enforcement channels. Louisiana State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose, but confirmed multiple drone sightings on the morning and evening of March 9 and continued monitoring for several days. State Police said they have created a task force with the Police Chiefs Association, Sheriffs Association, GOSEP, and LSP, and that officers are receiving FBI-related training to help detect and, where authorized, mitigate drones. Members discussed whether the activity was nefarious, what counts as an incursion, and the need for better public education about drone restrictions near military and critical infrastructure sites. No formal action was taken, but members said the issue will continue to be tracked alongside pending legislation. Finally, the committee received a one-year update on the merger of GOSEP with the Louisiana National Guard and Military Department. Major General Thomas Freelieu and Brigadier General Jason Maffus said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, shifted administrative functions to the Military Department, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance. They said the agency has modernized its common operating picture, returned staff to in-person work, and continued statewide preparedness exercises. Freelieu highlighted Guard missions including cyber expansion, the new Air National Guard cyber squadron at Jackson Barracks, modernization of the 159th Fighter Wing, and ongoing support for homeland security missions in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Maffus said GOSEP’s core mission remains emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and that the merger is intended to make state support to parishes faster and more efficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• committees are subject to the same rules of decorum that govern House proceedings.
• Under those rules, the chair is responsible for preserving order and decorum during committee meetings
• No, and, and, uh, many of these structures are dams that.
• Of the flood control dams with a boundary around that structure.
• Our labs ran thousands of tests ruling out all the usual diseases.

Bills: HB294 , HB405 , HB519 , HB294

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: food production, property owners' association, home gardening, cottage food, urban agriculture, livestock, community standards, renewable energy, ethanol, biodiesel, incentives, agriculture, grants, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ruling. Correct. ruling. Correct. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:55:38.319><c> you.
• </c> with the existing rules. with the existing rules.
• </c> structure here in our state? structure here in our state?
• </c> policy structure, not performance. policy structure, not performance.
• </c> structure that works better for them. structure that works better for them.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• hospital DOH will authorize an investigation if the complaint alleges that the hospital violated a rule
• Representative Rule: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• The statutory intent of the structure was really to create a regulatory process to require... ...was
• So again, exploring ways to reduce our fiscal kind of liability within that legal structure.
• There are staffing laws and staffing rules.

Summary: The committee heard a JLARC presentation on the Department of Health’s oversight of hospital inspections, complaints, and reporting. JLARC said DOH was late on 72% of acute care hospital inspections as of December 2024, had not verified that third-party accrediting standards were substantially equivalent to state standards, did not consistently require proof of those inspections, did not review adverse health event corrective plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. JLARC also raised a possible language-access barrier in the complaint system. Members asked about complaint filing by staff, the meaning of adverse health events, inspection outcomes, and whether the audit compared DOH to other agencies. JLARC said it had not reviewed inspection results or cross-agency comparisons, but noted inspectors were dedicated and working long hours. DOH later said it concurred with the recommendations and outlined a strategic plan with target dates for improving timeliness, verifying accreditation standards, expanding language access, reviewing adverse event laws, and improving public data access, with annual reporting to the Legislature expected. The committee then heard a Department of Health presentation on certificate of need modernization. DOH described the current certificate of need process, which reviews need, financial feasibility, quality, and cost containment for certain facility changes and new services, and said the program has not been modernized since the 1980s. DOH proposed 10 statutory modernization recommendations, including clarifying the program’s purpose, creating a planning entity, adding flexibility, reducing legal costs, updating access-to-care standards, expanding oversight to freestanding emergency departments and urgent care, addressing equity, improving cost control coordination, strengthening long-term funding, and using better data systems. Members asked about oversight of freestanding urgent care and EDs, funding sources, and whether the process could be streamlined or made more responsive to complaints or other triggers. A third panel discussed artificial intelligence in health care. Lucy O’Rourke of the Coalition for Health AI described CHAI’s work on responsible AI principles, technical standards, model cards or “nutrition labels,” testing and governance tools, and educational resources for providers. She said the group is focused on trust, transparency, fairness, safety, security, and privacy, and noted Washington’s AI-related policy work as among the more progressive in the country. No questions were asked. The final portion focused on the financial impact of federal and state health care policy changes. The Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals are facing low or negative operating margins, service reductions, layoffs, and closures, and that state cuts and taxes enacted in 2025, combined with federal HR1 changes, will significantly worsen finances. Providence Swedish leaders described staffing reductions, service cuts, delayed capital investments, and pressure from denials, tariffs, and reimbursement changes, while emphasizing that frontline staffing cuts are tied to service reductions rather than nurse-to-patient ratio changes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange then began a presentation on expiring federal ACA premium tax credits, state Cascade Care Savings assistance, and eligibility changes affecting lawfully present non-citizens, with examples showing large premium increases for customers if federal subsidies expire.