Transcript Highlights:

• Work elements there are required to operationalize the program.
• And there were reporting requirements associated with that tax exemption.
• I am required to note that that is the lifespan of my legislative assistant.
• I am required to note that that is the lifespan of my legislative assistant.
• Cities are required to use this revenue to make traffic safety improvements.

Bills: SB6352

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, resources, funding, state law, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there were reporting requirements associated with that tax exemption.
• The section requires, beginning July 1, 2028, that 10% of Requires, beginning July 1, 2028, that 10%
• I am required to note that that is the lifespan of my legislative assistant.
• Cities are required to use this revenue to make traffic safety improvements.
• Cities are required to use this revenue to make traffic safety improvements.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for a work session and public hearing on February 19, 2026. In the work session, Switch Maritime presented a proposal for hydrogen fuel cell ferries for Washington State, including a budget proviso directing the Joint Transportation Committee to study hydrogen propulsion and a lease model for future Washington State Ferries procurement. The company described its Sea Change vessel, said the design could be adapted for Washington routes such as San Juan Islands–Anacortes, and emphasized that hydrogen fueling could be delivered through a mobile supply chain without new charging infrastructure. Senators asked about vessel flexibility, size, hydrogen availability, and terminal compatibility. The committee also received an update from WSDOT on the new public-private partnership program authorized in 2025. Staff said the agency is developing a four-phase implementation process, including consultant selection, a steering committee, a program manual, stakeholder engagement, and candidate project identification, with a report due to the transportation committees on September 1, 2026 and program launch targeted for January 1, 2027. The presentation stressed that the program manual will provide flexibility within the statute and that legislative input is being sought on engagement and project timing. The public hearing was on Senate Bill 6352, an omnibus transportation resources bill that revises and expands provisions from last year’s ESSB 5801. Staff outlined sections covering a mobile driver’s license and ID card program, a reduced-fee ID card for older drivers, changes to alternative fuel and aviation taxes and fees, revised sales tax distributions for ferry and multimodal funding, transit and bicycle education grants, fish passage permitting, clean energy siting on WSDOT right-of-way, toll notice procedures, older driver safety outreach, traffic safety camera revenue sharing, and a delay to the tow-truck indigent impound reimbursement program. The prime sponsor highlighted two priorities: digital driver’s licenses and dedicated ferry funding. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included airlines and aviation groups backing mobile ID and repeal of the luxury aircraft tax, transit and bicycle safety advocates supporting grant flexibility and continued bike education funding, and ferry advocates supporting dedicated ferry revenue. Local governments, including Bellevue, Kenmore, and Tacoma, raised concerns about the traffic camera revenue change, saying the shift from net to gross revenue would reduce local safety funding and could discourage new camera programs. The Association of Washington Cities also warned about unintended consequences in the fish passage and traffic camera provisions. RV dealers sought a delay to the luxury vehicle tax, and peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo asked for clarification on documentation requirements. The committee took no final vote and announced it would consider executive action the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, no participant may be required to participate in a faith-based activity while in the program
• So there are already very specific requirements about what these batterers intervention programs have
• It's not in place of any of the requirements that are already in the program.
• It may be that we have a requirement that they have to register with the state.
• Through the chair to the senator: No, we would not be required to use agents.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you know in Florida that it's not required of veterinarians to report?
• Did you know in Florida that it's not required of veterinarians to report animal abuse?
• Removing the requirement that it has to occur only in a domestic or dating relationship.
• There's other requirements, obviously, in the statute.
• of that firearm. ...because that requires a misdemeanor presence requirement of a police officer being

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is to require virtual charter schools to provide additional details for contracts over a certain
• for better identification and better reporting requirements for our virtual students.
• And so that does require PED approval.
• There needs to be data collected, required to be collected, not just voluntary.
• You're required to leave the Capitol right now. Thank you, guys. I appreciate your help this week.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those require approval by a city or county before the application can be made to DOR.
• Those constructing affordable housing generally pay sales and use tax on materials and labor required
• However, the city or county may establish policies to require a greater number of affordable units.
• Second, it requires a city or county to develop policies to implement that density bonus if it receives
• , in particular as we think about low-income requirements.

Summary: House Finance heard testimony on two affordable housing bills. House Bill 1859 would expand an existing density bonus for housing on religious organization property by lowering the affordability threshold from 100% to at least 50% affordable units, requiring local policies to implement the bonus upon request, and creating a new state and local sales and use tax exemption for qualifying projects with at least 50% affordable units maintained for 10 years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help projects on church-owned land pencil out amid high construction and financing costs, while a county association raised concern that the bill would create an unfunded mandate for local planning departments. Several witnesses also asked that homeownership projects be explicitly included, and staff confirmed the exemption would be administered through an exemption certificate. The committee then moved to House Bill 1717, which would authorize cities and counties to create a local sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing developments. Staff said the remittance would cover 100% of local taxes paid after project completion, with a 50% affordable housing threshold and 40-year affordability requirement, and the sponsor and local government and housing advocates supported it as a flexible tool to reduce development costs. Testifiers generally backed both bills, with some asking for more flexibility on income targeting and clarification on county-city interactions under HB 1717. No votes were taken; both public hearings were closed and the committee adjourned after a separate work session on the Working Families Tax Credit, where advocates urged broader eligibility, higher benefit amounts, and easier access, and a California researcher described data-linking methods used to improve tax credit take-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Citizenship requires active participation, and so they're required to renew those requests after every
• Again, after an election, post-election audits are required by law.
• We take very seriously the requirement that— We take very seriously the requirement that we have evidence
• So that's required by federal law—that we keep them for 22 months.
• So there is a signature match requirement, just like on the vote-by-mail.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to hear a lengthy presentation from Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Florida election administration, with a focus on how elections are handled during natural disasters, election security, and preparations for the 2026 cycle. Byrd described Florida’s response to hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, saying the state works directly with county supervisors of elections to tailor executive orders to local conditions, add or relocate polling sites, extend deadlines, and help displaced voters and emergency workers cast ballots. Members from affected areas echoed that local supervisors had managed storm disruptions well and that turnout remained strong despite major damage. A large portion of the meeting covered election integrity and security. Byrd emphasized Florida’s use of paper ballots, pre-election logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, public canvassing, standardized voter-intent rules, and strict vote-by-mail request and signature-match requirements. He said the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security investigates complaints and refers matters to law enforcement, and that Florida has expanded access to the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship. Members asked about threats to election workers, staffing vacancies, cybersecurity, ballot design, vote-by-mail address changes, and how the state coordinates with county supervisors, emergency management, and other agencies. Several members raised questions about voter eligibility and returning citizens, and Byrd said the department provides free information to help people determine whether their rights have been restored, while noting that court and clerk reporting practices still create challenges. He also said the department is considering additional legislative proposals, including more safeguards tied to driver’s license and citizenship verification and a possible statewide 100% audit of races before certification. The meeting ended with the chair encouraging members to visit supervisors of elections offices and submit specific ideas for future elections legislation; no votes were taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• require criminal background checks, and undergo training.
• Uh, the current requirement is to have all action under $100,000 reviewed by the comptroller.
• The substitute simply removes the language that requires peace officers to be be certified.
• But readiness requires more than courage. It requires health, fitness, and resilience.
• It establishes clear and Enforceable fitness standards aligned with mission requirements.

Bills: SB 36

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• . requires them to already do and where resources have already been provided.
• I think to your point, it requires people to consider issues like cost.
• It requires issues to consider.
• It requires rulemakers to consider issues like technical feasibility.
• But again, all of those are also requirements of the federal regulatory process.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Purview and how they are spending funds to implement their statutorily required objectives.
• So that means that they have to file the required documents with the division, right?
• So also, what is required to be filed is the declaration of condominium, so that you all know.
• The required to be filed is the declaration of condominiums, so that you all know.
• How much staff do you need to comply with the requirements of your agency?

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for budget day, heard agency follow-up questions, and then presented its recommended budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Chair Lopez opened with remarks about reducing spending, emphasizing vacancy reductions and recurring savings across agencies. The recommendation eliminated 452.5 vacant positions and produced recurring savings of $57.2 million overall, while still funding selected priorities. Notable funded items included $500,000 for a new DBPR website for condominium complaints and document filing, $481.3 million for the MICEF Florida Home Program in DFS, funding for Florida PALM implementation, $330,000 for a Tampa office in the Office of Insurance Regulation, $835,000 for warehouse space for confiscated gambling machines, $821,000 for the Lottery gaming system contract, and major DMS capital and facilities funding. Lopez also criticized DMS leadership and said the secretary’s salary would be held in reserve pending answers on fleet management, remote workers, SUNCOM billing, and other issues. The committee then questioned DBPR Secretary Griffin about condominium records, structural integrity reserve studies, and milestone-inspection compliance. Members focused on how the division tracks condominiums, whether it can identify buildings with three habitable stories, and whether the current filing system can be improved to better capture building height and story count. Griffin said the division relies heavily on self-reporting and complaint-driven checks, but has updated forms to capture whether a condominium has buildings three stories or higher and has received additional submissions. Members also asked about staffing and the Miami-area office; Griffin said DBPR now has two Fort Lauderdale offices and a Doral office, with about 82% of new positions filled. Secretary Davis of the Florida Lottery also testified, defending travel to Paris and other conferences as part of industry engagement, technology research, and best-practice sharing. He said the travel was reimbursed through lottery-related organizations, described the Lottery as an enterprise fund that receives no general tax revenue, and said the agency has remained a top revenue generator nationally. Members questioned Orlando travel reimbursements and dues to the Multi-State Lottery Association, and asked for more information on how increased revenue translates into more Bright Futures scholarships. Davis said he would provide additional details. The subcommittee then unanimously passed two conforming bills. PCB SAB 25-01 removed statutory references to the legacy FLAIR accounting system in preparation for Florida PALM and was reported favorably. PCB SAB 25-02 addressed Capitol Center space after the planned House lease cancellation, declaring the governor, cabinet, and legislature permanent tenants, protecting existing space and parking allocations, giving the legislature first right of refusal on vacant space, and giving legislative leaders control over utilities in their space; it also passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned after the bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it requires the consideration during the evaluation of collection systems.
• It requires 20 hours, that's it, and passing a test. I have a D-level license.
• To meet certain requirements for their systems.
• The, the Notice requirements are robust.
• Each utility is required to file an annual report to review their finances.

Bills: HB 29 , HB 685 , HB 1633 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 1918 , HB 2010 , HB 2500 , HB 2608 , HB 2626

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior violation requirement.
• </c> who fails to keep 22 the record required who fails to keep 22 the record required pursuant<01:32
• </c><02:07:44.800><c> more</c> time away um it's it's requiring more time away um it's it's requiring
• ,</c> bars and grates were to be required, bars and grates were to be required, let's<02:16:38.399><c
• So, in this bill, there is a requirement So, in this bill, there is a requirement that<02:20:03.600><

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AC Transit remains one of the few transit districts under a separate framework requiring labor disputes
• The bill also requires the statewide system to immediately notify the current employer when an employee
• The bill ensures they are subject to fingerprint-based background checks, disclosure requirements, and
• The bill ensures they are subject to fingerprint-based background checks, disclosure requirements, and
• Previous law already required this for certificated employees.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's a reason that we require that medication be prescribed by doctors and that we require that
• An act to amend the Public Health Law in relation to requiring the Department of Health to examine heat
• Passed before in the Senate, requires the Department of Health to examine heat-related deaths in the
• The Senate requires the Department of Health to examine heat-related deaths in the State of New York.
• It doesn't necessarily require recommendations on how to avoid it.

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health considered a series of health-related bills, many of which were reported favorably. Among the measures approved were SB 999, which would restructure Medicaid reimbursement for early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services for children with IEPs or disabilities; SB 1816, lowering the state definition of elevated blood lead levels to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter; SB 1911A, extending due process protections for health care professionals when insurers terminate or fail to renew them; and SB 3105, allowing reciprocity for out-of-state medical cannabis patients. The committee also advanced SB 4589 on federally qualified health center rate adequacy, SB 4955B on Medicaid Inspector General audit procedures, SB 9196 to ban new for-profit hospices, SB 9237 expanding the definition of family for certain foster care health facility services, and SB 9275 requiring Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care and prohibiting related discrimination. Several of these bills were sent to Finance, while others were sent to First Reading or Higher Education as noted. The committee also discussed SB 2625, which would expand pharmacists’ authority to prescribe, administer, and dispense medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. One member raised concerns about expanding scope of practice without coordination with primary care or a holistic review of patient conditions, and indicated opposition; the bill was nevertheless referred to Higher Education. SB 5056B, requiring the Department of Health to examine heat vulnerability and heat-related deaths, prompted discussion about whether the bill should explicitly require recommendations for prevention; the sponsor said the idea was to gather data and that recommendations could be added, and the bill advanced with some reservations. Other measures included SB 7460, reauthorizing a maternal infant care centers pilot program using an existing $350,000 appropriation, and SB 9388, requiring public notice and engagement when a general hospital closes or shuts down a psychiatric, mental health, or substance use unit. The hospital closure bill drew discussion about relocations and whether moves that shift services to a new site would trigger the community engagement process; the sponsor said they would. Most bills were approved by voice vote, with some members voting no or without recommendation on certain measures, and the committee adjourned after reporting the bills onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next item on the governor's appointments not required.
• Oh, next item on the governor's appointments not required to appear is item 2C, Richard Stein for the
• The last item for governor's appointments not required. All right, that is 4-0.
• Now we will return to governor's appointee required to appear. All right.
• And so we are going to begin with item two, governor's appointments not required to appear.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointments and procedural items. The committee approved, largely on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, the appointments of Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, Richard Stein to the California Arts Council, and Nicholas Hardiman to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors. It also approved references to bills, committee appointments, subcommittee ratifications, joint committee appointments, and floor acknowledgments. A motion to grant rule waivers for Senators Perez and Padilla to introduce additional measures under SR 22.5 drew opposition from Senator Grove and ultimately passed on a 3-2 vote in the final tally. The committee then heard testimony on the appointment of Andy Nakahata as executive director of the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank). Nakahata described his background in finance and infrastructure lending and said he would focus on expanding access to IBank programs statewide, especially in underserved and rural areas. Members questioned him about outreach equity, county-by-county loan activity, creditworthiness standards, the California Transmission Accelerator, and financing for public hospitals and other infrastructure projects. He said IBank works through financial development corporations, municipal advisors, and other partners, monitors geographic reach, and can work with applicants to adjust loan size or identify additional funding sources when projects are not fully creditworthy. Public witnesses spoke in support of Nakahata, including representatives from Siebert William Shank and O’Melveny/other public finance firms, who praised his expertise and leadership. No opposition testimony was offered. The committee voted 5-0 to move Nakahata’s appointment to the full Senate for confirmation. After completing a final roll call on the earlier agenda items, the committee adjourned its public session and announced it would move into executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current statute leaves uncertainty about whether common on-farm practices require permits.
• And so technically may require a permit.
• It's just about requiring permits for those. Okay.
• It just is preventing them from requiring permits.
• They're required to be permitted under current DNR regulations.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then next, it requires the owner or operator of a waste-energy facility to achieve certain greenhouse
• Another major piece of this proposed sub is that there's the reporting requirements.
• There's also a requirement that the facility owner consult with locally municipally created advisory
• So Ecology is authorized to adopt rules and enforce the waste-energy facilities requirements, including
• Violations of EITE reporting or planning requirements would be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000

Bills: HB2416 , HB2537 , HB2575 , HB2322

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: waste management, energy, climate action, environmental regulations, fair treatment, renewable energy, sustainability, emissions, climate commitment act, environmental regulation, trade regulation, facility compliance, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, alternative fuel, carbon reduction, aviation, energy production

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the requirement to initiate predator mitigation within 60 days.
• required by either Ecology or Fish and Wildlife exceeds the cost of a typical mitigation fee, or if
• mitigation requirements deprive a landowner of more than 50% of the financial benefit from the current
• date and the requirement for a tax preference performance statement.
• is no longer required to produce pamphlets and post lists for the land for sale.

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held an executive session on a series of bills and a joint memorial. Staff summarized measures on agricultural marketing (SB 5816, adding juice grapes), Board of Natural Resources membership and tribal representation (SB 5838), irrigation district hiring exemptions (SB 5930), ungulate population management and predator mitigation (SB 5960), a green fertilizer incentive program (SB 5971), mitigation grants for landowners (SB 6075), tribal participation in the Conservation Futures Program (SB 6097), agricultural impact statements and related protections for farmland (SB 6104), timber sale process modernization (SB 6216), increased wildlife penalty assessments for covered species trade (SB 6233), shellfish licensing and biotoxin fee caps (SB 6318), and a federal wildfire response memorial (SJM 8015). Several bills had proposed substitutes or amendments, including competing changes to SB 5838 and SB 5960, but some items were ultimately set aside with no action. The committee adopted a substitute for SB 5971 and advanced it to Ways and Means. It also adopted a substitute for SB 6097 and sent it to Rules. SB 5816, SB 6216, SB 6233, SB 6318, and SJM 8015 all received due pass recommendations, with SB 5971 and SB 6318 referred onward to Ways and Means. SB 5838 was debated at length over tribal representation on the Board of Natural Resources; amendments to require forest-management expertise or alternate east/west representation were rejected, and the proposed substitute was approved and passed. SB 6233 drew comments about possible unintended consequences, but the bill passed. The committee took no action on SB 5930, SB 5960, SB 6075, and SB 6104. The chair later confirmed that every bill on the executive session agenda had either been moved forward or dropped from the agenda. The meeting ended with the chair thanking staff and members for getting through the last committee meeting before the policy cutoff, and the committee adjourned subject to signature of the boards.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they do that, then the department is required to identify that particular rule, any minimum requirement
• if the rule exceeding state or federal requirement may have an indeterminable fiscal impact on school
• </c><00:02:39.920><c> to</c><00:02:40.400><c> identify</c> uh the departments required to identify uh
• the departments required to identify that<00:02:41.680><c> particular</c><00:02:42.080><c> rule</c><
• Requirement that the July 1 taxes that we put in, uh, required that the July 1, 2025, taxes by the member

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference met on HB 718, focusing on the Senate’s changes to the bill. Members discussed language requiring the Department of Education to report rules that exceed state or federal minimum requirements and, when fiscal impacts on local school districts are indeterminable, to identify the unfunded financial impact. The committee also reviewed added language related to the new Pasquani school district and its need to set a tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year. The chair explained a House amendment, 2725H, that would make two technical corrections: restoring the word “certified” in the provision directing the Department of Revenue Administration to expedite certified adjusted rate applications, and changing the bill’s effective date to “upon passage” so the new tax-rate provisions could take effect in time. A further clarification was proposed to specify July 1, 2025, in the tax-rate language. One member raised concern that the bill’s underlying special education fiscal effects were indeterminate and said they could not support it without a fiscal note, but the committee proceeded with the technical changes. A vote was taken among House conferees on the three changes, and the chair reported two yeses and one no, treating the result as effectively unanimous. The committee agreed to draft the report and indicated the bill would move forward, with the Pasquani school district language and the technical corrections included.

Transcript Highlights:

• that will require any person convicted<00:02:08.160><c> of</c><00:02:08.319><c> violating</c><00:02:
• This requires budget summaries to contain all required information without referring the reader to other
• This requires budget Next up is HB70.
• This requires budget summaries<00:02:44.640><c> to</c><00:02:44.800><c> contain</c><00:02:45.120><c>
• all</c><00:02:45.360><c> required</c> summaries to contain all required summaries to contain all required

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met to take up several House bills and adopted recommendations on a number of them. HB 111, which would authorize civil claims against persons or businesses profiting from sexual exploitation or sex trafficking and extend the civil statute of limitations to 10 years, was recommended to pass unamended after discussion with the Attorney General’s office. HB 54, increasing penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses, was recommended to pass with the Attorney General’s first suggested amendment requiring identification processing, including fingerprinting and photographing, for convicted violators unless already done. HB 70, dealing with condominium budget summaries and reserve requirements, was recommended to pass as amended, and HB 320, allowing supported decision-making agreements for qualified adults including those with disabilities, mental illness, or age 65 and older, was also recommended to pass as amended. These recommendations were adopted without objection, though some members noted reservations on HB 54 and HB 70. HB 239, which would clarify that inability to provide certain needs to a child due solely to lack of financial resources does not constitute abuse or neglect, was deferred to Thursday, April 3, at 10:00 a.m. HB 359, concerning covered offender registration and a proposed exemption related to sexual assault in the fourth degree, was recommended to pass with amendments deleting section 2 after concerns that the current statute already covers the issue and that the added language would create a title problem by addressing two topics. The committee adopted that recommendation. HB 412, establishing presumptions and expanding lobbying-related definitions for certain communications with government officials, was recommended to pass with an added clarification excluding purely informational, ceremonial, or routine relationship-building communications from the presumption; that recommendation was also adopted. HB 472, which would allow digitized identification cards to be accepted as valid identification and authorize law enforcement agencies to accept them under certain circumstances, was not decided. After a recess, the chair announced that everything after HB 412 would be deferred to Thursday, the 27th, at 10:30 p.m. in room 016, and the remaining items were postponed.