Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to be here today to talk about the second amendment to the tribal-state gaming
• The Urock Tribe has an existing tribal-state gaming compact that dates back to, I believe, 2006.
• the tribal testify and answer questions that you may have on a second amendment to the tribal-state gaming
• Will faith-based nonprofits be included in this oversight? Author: Yes.
• Will faith-based nonprofits be included in this oversight? Author: Yes.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does: it establishes clear graduated penalties based on the severity of the outcome, changing
• c> penalties</c> It establishes clear graduated penalties It establishes clear graduated penalties based
• </c> based on the severity of the outcome. based on the severity of the outcome.
• Is everyone playing these games on driving games and they think they can take it out on the real road
• Why are they all playing these little games when they're 16, 17, and they think they can take it out

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill would require global companies based in California and other states and other countries
• Rethink Waste is a public joint powers authority, a public agency that's based in San Mateo County.
• And I've played in the PFAS elimination game before, and but And I've played in the PFAS elimination
• game before, but I want to do everything we can to get there, so I will be supporting the bill.
• Breast Cancer Prevention Partners is a science-based organization working to prevent breast cancer by

Summary: The committee heard several environmental and consumer-safety bills. AB 405, the Fashion Act, would require fashion companies to disclose and manage toxic chemicals in their supply chains; supporters said it would reduce worker and consumer exposure and align with existing industry frameworks, while retailers and business groups argued it would duplicate existing laws and raise costs. After questions about DTSC workload, international standards, and affordability, the bill was moved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Natural Resources and held on call with three votes. AB 762 would ban the sale and distribution of disposable vape devices; supporters emphasized battery-fire risks, recycling contamination, and waste impacts, while cannabis and convenience-store interests warned it would push consumers to illicit markets and harm legal businesses. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Business and Professions with three votes and was held on call. The committee also adopted the consent calendar with six votes. AB 794 would direct California to keep in place the federal PFAS drinking-water standard if federal protections are weakened, with supporters citing health risks and the need for certainty, and water agencies opposing the emergency-rulemaking authority and potential costs. Members debated whether the bill was too broad and whether federal funds would cover implementation; the bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations with four votes and was held open. AB 1148, the Safer Food Packaging Act, would restrict certain chemicals in food packaging; supporters cited cancer and reproductive-health concerns, while chemical, beverage, and manufacturing groups argued the bill should go through existing regulatory processes and that some chemicals lacked feasible alternatives. The author said she would remove antimony trioxide later in the process after hearing opposition concerns; the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Judiciary with four votes and was held open. Finally, AB 1338 would allow local air districts to recover costs for implementing fence-line air monitoring at metal shredding facilities, building on prior legislation and local air district efforts in AB 617 communities. The author said the bill would preserve local control and improve efficiency, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District testified in support. The transcript ends as the district witness begins testimony, with no vote yet taken on AB 1338.

Transcript Highlights:

• They make the decisions based on your guidance and your wisdom. So Lord, we seek you.
• And whereas Alan Harper was a highly skilled woodworker and fabulous cook.
• And whereas Alan Harper was a highly skilled woodworker and fabulous cook.

Transcript Highlights:

• funded in a block grant in the amount of $6,100 per student and provides that, for purposes of the base
• The funding is based on a per-pupil allotment of $3,050 for tier two and $6,100 for tier three students
• The funding is based on a per-pupil allotment of $3,050 for tier two and $6,100 for tier three students
• It also allows the department to distribute the money based on needs demonstrated per school district
• The division is to evaluate the application for reimbursement based on a number of criteria that are

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then took up several House bills with strike-and-insert amendments. House Bill 5510 was amended to incorporate provisions from Senate Bills 1065 and 928, modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and adding rules for low-proof spirit alcohol products, including a $1.25 per gallon tax; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 5453 on school funding. After discussion of a proposed block-grant system and supplemental aid for special education, the committee adopted an amendment replacing much of the bill with weighted funding for level two and level three special education students, exempting those funds from block grant rules and limiting their use to direct instruction. The committee also adopted a clarification to extend the special education funding to charter school students and reported the amended bill to the Senate. House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year technology licensing contracts for local fiscal bodies and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers, was amended to clarify contract language, delay implementation dates, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate; it was then reported. The committee next amended and reported House Bill 4006, which creates aerospace development and workforce grant programs, changing the funding mechanism to use Department of Commerce reporting and personal income tax proceeds rather than direct employee withholdings. It also took up House Bill 4009, combining voluntary portable benefits for independent contractors with microcredentialing and an expanded apprenticeship tax credit, adopted the Finance Committee amendment, and reported it. Finally, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program was amended to raise the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000 while keeping the $10,000 per-employee limit, and the committee reported the bill. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• SFOs, and when the FEFP is recalculated, adjust the amount of funds allocated to school districts based
• on budget amounts, based on the first and second calculations of the FEFP.
• However, due to delays in finalizing Surveys 2 and 3, payments to school districts continued to be based
• And starting in January, the new funds to the FEPP are based off of that.
• We'll have your contact information based upon your appearance form, sir.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met for its first meeting of the 2025 session to hear the Auditor General’s operational audit on 2024-25 school funding accountability challenges, focused largely on the Family Empowerment Scholarship and its interaction with the FEFP. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy described rapid growth in scholarship enrollment, timing mismatches between scholarship payments and public-school funding calculations, delayed membership survey processing, weak cross-check and recoupment procedures, inconsistent handling of parent survey responses, and limited documentation for withholding and returning funds. The audit said these issues contributed to funding inequities, duplicate-payment risks, and an unexpected draw on state education funds, and it recommended separating scholarship funding from the FEFP, aligning application windows with budget timing, strengthening controls and staffing, and creating clearer, documented recoupment and balance-limit processes. Committee members questioned whether current law gives the department and scholarship funding organizations enough authority and whether the system is effectively a pay-and-chase model. Several senators expressed concern about the lack of timely reconciliation, the size of the funds involved, and the absence of clear records showing how money was recovered or withheld. Adam Emerson, executive director of the Office of School Choice, said the department is working more closely with school districts and scholarship funding organizations, including pausing payments when districts identify students still enrolled in public schools, and said the office wants to improve the process. President Gates then previewed legislation he said would address the audit’s findings by funding Family Empowerment Scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, expanding the Education Stabilization Fund, setting clearer application and acceptance deadlines, moving to monthly payments with eligibility verification before each payment, assigning student IDs for scholarship assistance, lowering SFO management fees, requiring annual audits, and requiring prompt return of audit-related funds. Public comment included a private-school attorney describing losses from unpaid scholarship amounts. Members generally supported the need for reform, with several senators saying the program should be preserved but better structured and more accountable. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with no vote taken on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• :19:20.640><c> on</c> An OIG to be seen as somebody who is on a witch hunt or going after somebody based
• At that point we can either renew it based on the product that's done or say maybe this advisory council
• At that point we can either renew<01:13:21.840><c> it</c><01:13:22.320><c> uh</c><01:13:22.480><c> based
• We got into politics, not because of our math skills here.
• </c><01:18:43.840><c> So,</c> math skills here. So, math skills here.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, just so we can touch base one more time on Senate Bill 86, something else just occurred to me.
• so</c><00:08:46.279><c> we</c><00:08:46.360><c> can</c><00:08:46.480><c> touch</c><00:08:46.640><c> base
• <00:08:46.880><c> one</c><00:08:47.000><c> more</c><00:08:47.160><c> time</c> just so we can touch base
• one more time just so we can touch base one more time on<00:08:47.480><c> sen</c><00:08:47.720><c> Bill
• </c><00:54:16.520><c> on</c> we could develop at that time based on we could develop at that time based

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing on this, the committee heard testimony that this bill is designed to prevent individuals from gaming
• This bill is designed to prevent individuals from gaming the system and avoiding tax audits.
• importantly, the bill deletes the prohibition precluding fee increases for license and stamp fees based

Summary: The Committee on Government Organization met with a quorum present, approved the minutes, and then considered a series of House bills, most of them related to licensing, local government administration, and agency operations. House Bill 5063 would let county commissions appoint a county commissioner as a voting member of a convention and visitors bureau board, including for multi-county CVBs; it was reported to the full Senate. House Bill 5087 would join the interstate cosmetology licensure compact, allowing licensed cosmetologists to obtain multi-state practice privileges in compact states, and it was also reported. The committee then took up a strike-and-insert amendment for House Bill 4793, which combined provisions affecting barbering/cosmetology apprenticeships and lowered certain age and education requirements; after adopting a Jefferson amendment clarifying the salon training language, the bill was reported as amended. Members next approved a strike-and-insert for House Bill 5638, which clarifies the State Chief Information Security Officer’s duties, changes cyber risk review procedures, and updates references to the Office of Technology head as the chief information officer; it was reported as amended. House Bill 4483, dealing with the Board of Funeral Examiners, was amended to change the effective date for licensee-in-charge requirements and make technical corrections, then reported as amended. House Bill 5653, requested by the Department of Revenue, would expand confidentiality protections to cover audit manuals, guidelines, procedures, algorithms, and related materials to prevent taxpayers from gaming audit selection, and it was reported. House Bill 4452 repeals acreage limits on church property ownership, and House Bill 4801 expands permissible uses of hotel occupancy tax funds to include demolition of unsafe structures and planning or improvement of public property; both were reported. The committee also advanced House Bill 5622, which creates an expedited process for municipalities to conform local election terms and procedures to the state requirement that municipal elections be held with statewide primaries or general elections, and recognizes the Secretary of State as keeper of municipal charter rolls. House Bill 4546 would allow business entities to file reports biennially instead of annually, with higher biennial fees and updated enforcement provisions; its strike-and-insert amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. House Bill 5613 would define and regulate telematics for state fleet vehicles, require reporting on unsafe driving and corrective actions, and include cost-benefit information in annual reports; it was reported. House Bill 5323 would let the Division of Natural Resources adjust license and stamp fees for inflation by removing a prior CPI-based restriction, and House Bill 4819 would revise criminal-record standards for certain non-Chapter 30 occupational licenses, shifting to a direct-relationship standard while preserving existing exclusions for violent sexual offenses; both were reported. The committee then adjourned after closing remarks from the chair and vice chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• in recognition of its unwavering commitment to empowering young people across our state through the game
• promoting healthy choices through accessible and inclusive programming by seamlessly integrating the game
• of golf with a research-based curriculum.

Transcript Highlights:

• there are deer, there are farms, and it's something that we all know, but that uniqueness, this is based
• First, Pool 249 by Representative Kloba specifies that certain bots that are features of gaming systems
• or applications, in addition to certain bots that are features of video games, are not included in the

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 6289, which would direct the Department of Commerce to develop a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan by June 30, 2027, with updates every five years. Senator Kaufman said the bill is intended to create a more intentional, coordinated, data-driven statewide strategy to support businesses of all sizes and sectors. Supporters from the Washington Economic Development Association and the Department of Commerce said the plan is needed to align regional and local efforts, improve competitiveness, and address challenges such as capital access, infrastructure gaps, tariffs, and AI-related disruption. Both Commerce and WEDA supported moving the update cycle from two years to five years, and Commerce said the change would save money and help reduce the fiscal impact. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6149, which would expand the definition of a rural county for public facilities funding and related programs to include counties with population density of 100 or more people per square mile if they have no city larger than 45,000 people. Senator Wilson said the bill is meant to preserve rural eligibility for counties like Cowlitz as cities grow, so they do not lose access to grants and loans that support economic development. Members raised questions about how the new definition would affect counties and whether it would better capture rural areas within larger counties, but no testimony opposed the bill. In executive session, the committee considered three bills. For Senate Bill 5420, concerning access to state benefits and opportunities for veterans, the committee adopted a striking amendment that broadened some eligibility language, including changing a reference from physical to medical discharge and updating employment preference provisions, then advanced the bill by a 12-0 vote with one excused. For Senate Bill 5649, creating a Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program, members began debate on amendments that would add WSDOT scoring criteria favoring Washington-made or Washington-grown goods and limit grants and loans to projects not already eligible for Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board funding. The committee also reviewed several amendments to the AI companion chatbot bill, including narrowing educational and gaming exclusions, adding protections around age inference and manipulative engagement techniques, and limiting data collection; one amendment was withdrawn before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is going to be a game changer for our synagogues and for all our houses of worship.
• And so I will support the bill based on those criteria.
• And if we can prevent people from going through this because sometimes it's late in the game.

Transcript Highlights:

• This afternoon between 1 to 2:30, they'll be putting their skills to practice and visiting our offices
• they'll be afternoon between 1 to 2:30 they'll be putting<00:09:06.320><c> their</c><00:09:06.560><c> skills
• </c><00:09:06.880><c> to</c><00:09:07.120><c> practice</c><00:09:07.519><c> and</c> putting their skills
• to practice and putting their skills to practice and visiting<00:09:08.000><c> our</c><00:09:08.240>

Bills: SB2042 , SB2892 , SB1163 , SB2076 , SB2116 , SB2122 , SB99 , SB2088 , SB2114 , SB2117 , SB2118 , SB2245 , SB2386 , SB2079 , SB2043 , SB2155 , SB2268 , SB2932 , SB3240

Transcript Highlights:

• We build those calendars based on those priorities.
• The bills are typically picked based on the feedback I'm given.
• And that's a game that adults don't need to play.
• And so we keep playing this game here in...
• This parent company is based in Dublin, Ireland. Understand?

Bills: HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684 , HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HJR 5 , HB 1330 , HB 2110 , HJR 2 , HJR 6 , HB 1587 , HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, 19 states have restricted the use of PFAS-based foams, with 15 of those states banning
• We have begun to measure it, based on... But you said that you hadn't started it.
• We're very concerned, based on the feedback from BEG's initial look, that 5 miles is too close.
• on TCEQ and based upon the science.
• on TCEQ and based upon the science.

Bills: SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1898 , SB2050

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2203, relating to certification of discovery issues in TCEQ contested cases referred to SOAH. The chair noted the House had already passed the companion HB 3249, then moved SB 2203 without amendments. The motion prevailed on a 5-0 vote, and the bill was reported favorably to the full House. The committee then heard SB 1898, which would prohibit the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam for testing and training, while still allowing it in emergency firefighting. The sponsor described PFAS as “forever chemicals” and said the bill would protect firefighters, water supplies, and public health. Testimony in support came from Environment Texas, which cited contamination concerns and noted other states and federal actions restricting PFAS foams. No one testified against the bill, and after closing testimony the committee left SB 1898 pending. The remainder of the hearing focused on SB 1758, a Grayson County pilot program aimed at addressing potential conflicts between Global Wafers’ semiconductor wafer facility and a proposed Black Mountain Cement/aggregate operation. Supporters, including Global Wafers, Grayson County officials, and manufacturing groups, argued that vibration from mining or blasting could threaten a major national-security semiconductor investment and that an independent BEG study was needed to set safe parameters. Opponents from Black Mountain Cement and related industry groups argued the bill would improperly interfere with a lawful permitting process, pick winners and losers, and harm Texas’ pro-business climate; they also said they had already revised operations and removed blast mining. The discussion included extensive questioning about geology, vibration, the permitting timeline, and whether the issue was really about mining rather than the air permit. No vote was taken on SB 1758 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The assessment tools for placing youth do not accurately predict risk, and program access is based on
• The assessment tools for placing youth do not accurately predict risk, and program access is based on
• , not necessarily based on the size.
• Third is to increase the local tax base by adding property to the tax rolls.
• And the estimate is based on the amount of landfill gas collected...

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, a half million dollars and we get 4,000, and that's based on a 1% commission.
• They knew they were going to miss birthdays and Christmas mornings and ball games. And bad times.
• </c> ball games. ball games. And<00:33:19.560><c> bad</c><00:33:19.800><c> times.
• Our mission-based people were cycling in and out.
• ><c> cycling</c><00:57:24.720><c> in</c> Our mission-based people were cycling in Our mission-based people

Bills: HB339

Committee: Joint Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on the evidence provided to the committee, I request the FME pass the measure out of committee.
• It goes on to list the intentional human rights norms that bar aid discrimination based on religion,
• It goes on to list the intentional human rights norms that bar aid discrimination based on religion,
• of ballot collection more than a civic game of engaging our citizens.
• of ballot collection more than a civic game of engaging our citizens.

Bills: HB2009 , HB2022 , HCM2001 , HCM2002 , HCM2004 , HCR2001 , HM2001 , HM2004

Committees: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections , House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Transcript Highlights:

• and their payer base with that.
• ><00:18:17.840><c> and</c><00:18:18.000><c> their</c><00:18:18.160><c> payer</c> as their customer base
• and their payer as their customer base and their payer base<00:18:18.960><c> with</c><00:18:19.200><
• And because there's no base with that.
• that system for the opportunity to game that system for the residents.<00:18:59.760><c> Thank</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and our budget was five million. over base
• If someone is gaming the system, we're going to make sure the game, the system... shut down.
• And the evidence-based intervention for people experiencing long-term homelessness is a house and the
• But now I want to read some Encouraging numbers that are based in this bill: 20,000.
• You can see how working together with the end game in mind yields good results.