Transcript Highlights:

• You don't have to use a particular multiple listing service.
• There are multiple listing services.
• Pocket listings move us in the opposite direction.
• This would be an appropriate extension of your existing service.
• or skilled nursing services.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 6091 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to limited or exclusive groups unless the listing is also marketed to the general public and all brokers, with exceptions for health or safety and private party sales. The sponsor and supporters, including Washington Realtors, Habitat for Humanity, Zillow, the Fair Housing Center, and others, said the bill promotes transparency, competition, and fair housing by preventing “pocket listings” and insider access. Opponents, including Compass representatives and some brokers, argued it would limit homeowner autonomy, harm privacy-sensitive sellers such as seniors, and create legal risk for brokers; the Attorney General’s office said it supported the competitive goal but wanted a different enforcement mechanism than WLAD. The committee later closed testimony on SB 6091 without taking final action in the hearing. The committee also heard SB 6200, which would allow tenants and residents in manufactured home communities to install portable cooling devices, subject to safety, code, and electrical restrictions, and would require landlords to notify tenants of their rights and limitations. The prime sponsor and many public health, tenant, and climate advocates said the bill is needed to prevent heat-related illness and death during extreme heat events, especially for renters in older or low-income housing who lack built-in cooling. Landlord and property management groups supported the idea of portable floor units but raised concerns about window-mounted devices, citing fall hazards, property damage, and insurance issues. Testimony emphasized that the bill includes liability protections for landlords and is intended as a narrow public health measure. The committee then heard SB 6096, which would require cities and towns collecting water and sewer connection charges to offer a deferred payment option for qualifying residential construction until final inspection or certificate of occupancy. The sponsor and builders’ groups said deferral would reduce upfront financing costs and help housing production. Cities and utility districts opposed the bill, arguing it shifts financial risk to utilities and ratepayers, complicates infrastructure planning, and could delay or reduce needed system investments. Finally, the committee heard SB 6153, which would create a senior independent housing ombuds program, require registration of senior independent housing facilities, and make certain landlord-tenant violations subject to Consumer Protection Act enforcement. The sponsor said the bill responds to complaints from seniors in independent living settings who lack an ombuds or other practical recourse, while staff noted the bill carries an estimated $4.4 million biennial fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, the committee will be hearing matters relating to health care and human services.
• I'm submitting my testimony in support of S. 242, an act to expand lactation care and services.
• I'm submitting my testimony in support of S-4-2-2, and act to expand lactation care and services.
• As a lack, S-4-2 and Act to Expand Lactation Care and Services.
• The bill, S. 242, is an act to expand access to lactation care and services.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure focused on health care and human services, reviewed testimony logistics, and then heard a long series of witnesses on several bills. Much of the testimony centered on interstate licensure compacts for dentistry, social work, and occupational therapy, with supporters arguing these compacts would improve workforce mobility, continuity of care, and access while preserving state oversight and public protection. Dental witnesses were split on H.455/S.257, with supporters backing the AADB dental compact for its hands-on exam, background checks, and disciplinary safeguards, while opponents argued a competing compact would better promote portability and avoid conflicts tied to proprietary testing and outside commissions. Social work witnesses strongly supported H.380/S.252, emphasizing continuity of care for clients who move across state lines, reduced costs and delays for practitioners, and the compact’s public-protection features; occupational therapy witnesses similarly supported H.427/S.256, citing access, telehealth, military families, and maintained standards. The committee also heard testimony on S.242, which would expand licensure for lactation care providers. Supporters, including lactation counselors and health center staff, said adding certified lactation counselors and related credentials would expand access, improve breastfeeding support, and allow reimbursement for services now often provided without billing. They described the training required and said the bill would help families, especially in underserved communities. Representative James O’Day also testified in support of the social work compact, and a Council of State Governments witness provided background on compact mechanics and state participation. Another major topic was H.419/S.214 on medical debt. Physicians and researchers testified that cancer patients experience long-lasting medical debt and collections burdens, and they supported limits on the sale and collection of medical debt, bans on reporting it to credit bureaus, and related consumer protections. The hearing also included H.465 on a pathway to special licensure for certain long-term limited-registration dentists serving MassHealth patients, which Representative Senna supported as a way to allow immigrant dentists to practice independently. Finally, the committee heard sharply divided testimony on H.444/S.284, which would allow trained dental hygienists to administer Botox and dermal fillers: supporters framed it as a safe, preventive, and access-expanding tool for TMJ, bruxism, and pain management, while dermatologists opposed it as outside hygienists’ training and a patient-safety risk. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gideon has a history of volunteer public service and is committed to serving his constituents with care
• with care and serving his constituents with care and dedication. dedication. dedication.
• </c> decades of experience in public service decades of experience in public service with<01:21:42.080
• </c> more than ever it is a vital service. more than ever it is a vital service.
• Act 310 committee focused on food security, health care, and community services, and selected 95 awardees

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> will will help reduce that Debt Service will will help reduce that Debt Service payment<00:05:21.720
• </c> B um seeing none I would also direct B um seeing none I would also direct members<00:10:23.240><
• </c> thank you Senator Port we'll direct thank you Senator Port we'll direct members<00:27:14.799><c>
• </c> safety accessibility student services safety accessibility student services while<00:47:19.000><
• Senator Dibble, yes, we contract with a private bus service that provides our park-and-ride service,

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human Services as<00:17:10.480>
• </c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human Services immunization<00:
• </c> 1990s uh there's a state Service 1990s uh there's a state Service Commission<03:04:38.439><c> in
• service service um<03:07:41.479><c> Post</c><03:07:41.720><c> Service</c><03:07:42.040><c> infrastructure
• </c> service alumni with uh Post Service service alumni with uh Post Service Pathways<03:09:42.720><c

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 233, which would impose transparency and reporting requirements on the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. The prime sponsor, Representative Comto, said the bill and a proposed amendment were intended to increase public access by requiring a physical meeting location, making meetings available online, and publishing a complete list of vaccines and pharmaceutical products purchased. She argued the association should be more transparent because it is involved in vaccine purchasing and public trust is important, especially given controversy around vaccines. Committee members questioned the sponsor about the association’s legal status, who sets vaccine requirements, whether other private entities would be covered, and whether the proposal should instead apply more broadly to all meetings or include recordings. The sponsor said the association was created by the legislature, that childhood vaccine requirements come from DHHS and CDC-related processes, and that she would be open to broader recording requirements. Some members raised concerns about misinformation and whether requiring answers to public questions could be problematic in a contentious policy area. Patrick Miller, executive director of the Vaccine Association, and attorney Mark McHugh testified in opposition. They described the association as a not-for-profit voluntary corporation created by statute in 2002 to serve as a funding mechanism for the state’s universal childhood vaccine purchase program, with no policymaking role and no public funding. They said the association already posts notices, agendas, minutes, and allows public webinar access and comments, while also providing annual audits and reports and other statutory reporting. They argued HB 233 would impose unnecessary administrative costs on a private entity, interfere with its limited charitable purpose, and ultimately increase costs borne by insurers, employers, and consumers. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another Service Arizona touch.
• The next one is registered no labels party through Service Arizona.
• This is a direct violation of federal law.
• So I'll direct your attention next.
• I believe they get it from Access and Services Arizona, because we can prove that Service Arizona will

Bills: SB1037 , SB1040 , SB1259 , SB1281

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

Keywords: elections, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security, internet connectivity, offline voting, chain of custody, polling place equipment, counting center, central counting center, election management system, EMS gateway, tabulation equipment, secretary of state, certification, decertification, HAVA, Help America Vote Act, ballot images, audit logs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> impose sales tax on services. impose sales tax on services.
• The medical services board directs the medical services board to adopt rules by January 1, 2027, to implement
• :26:25.080><c> services</c><01:26:25.720><c> board</c> directs the the medical services board directs
• </c><01:30:23.360><c> The</c> outpatient therapy services. The outpatient therapy services.
• </c> the state medical assistance and service the state medical assistance and service service<01:32:

Transcript Highlights:

• education institutions could be covered by one of several sets of state bargaining laws for civil service
• education institutions could be covered by one of several sets of state bargaining laws for civil service
• They'd be covered under the Personnel Services Reform Act, the 4180, like general government civil service
• , regardless of age, mechanisms ... ...service or application has to permit all users, regardless of
• It takes care of some of the issues that were included in there. However...

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held public hearings on several bills related to artificial intelligence, student employee bargaining, and online safety. For HB 1170, staff explained that the bill would require certain large generative AI providers to offer provenance detection tools and include latent or optional manifest disclosures in AI-generated audio, image, and video content, with enforcement by the Attorney General under the Consumer Protection Act. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill would apply to AI-generated text code, and staff clarified that it would not. Testimony from the Washington Technology Industry Association opposed the bill as written, citing enforcement ambiguity, definition changes, and interoperability concerns, while noting support for continued work on the issue. For HB 1570, staff described the underlying bill as extending collective bargaining rights under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act to student employees at several state higher education institutions, with a striking amendment narrowing the bill to non-academic student employees at Western Washington University and listing covered job classifications. Staff estimated the original bill’s fiscal impact at about $1.5 million per biennium, reduced to roughly $200,000 per biennium under the striking amendment. Testimony from labor and student representatives supported the narrowed bill, emphasizing student worker safety, organizing support, and the need to move forward after prior union votes. The committee also heard substitute HB 1833, which would create the Spark Act grant program in the Department of Commerce to support innovative uses of AI, with grants requiring a state benefit and shared technology, and with Commerce consulting the Attorney General’s AI Task Force. Staff estimated administrative costs of about $160,000 per year plus grant funding that could bring total annual program costs to roughly $660,000 to $1.6 million. Representative Keaton said an amendment would update dates and incorporate changes. Testimony was generally supportive from industry and retail representatives, who framed the bill as a pro-innovation public-private partnership. Finally, the committee heard a proposed third substitute for HB 1834, which would prohibit addictive feeds for minor users and restrict push notifications during evening and school hours unless parents consent, while allowing all users to limit feeds and privacy settings. Supporters, including the Attorney General’s Office, Children’s Alliance, and a parent who lost a child to social media harms, argued the bill would protect children and reduce behavioral health costs. Opponents from technology, civil liberties, and industry groups raised constitutional, privacy, and vagueness concerns, warning that age determination could function like age verification and that the bill could restrict access to beneficial content. No votes or executive action were taken; the committee concluded public hearings and announced amendment deadlines for upcoming executive sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Give them clarity in their decisions, compassion in their care, and humility in their service.
• Give them clarity in their decisions, compassion in their care, and humility in their service.
• Give them clarity in their decisions, compassion in their care, and humility in their service.
• Give them clarity in their decisions, compassion in their care, and humility in their service.
• Her Hyde Park institution provided world-class wellness services, skin care, and affirmed the beauty

Bills: HB7147 , HR1142

Keywords: appropriations, fiscal year, budget, consolidated spending, government funding, consolidated funding, government spending

Transcript Highlights:

• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• The service includes assessments to develop a nutrition care plan, the provision of up to three prescribed
• And Allison's portfolio includes economic services, child welfare, child protection, foster care, dependency
• And Allison's portfolio includes economic services, child welfare, child protection, foster care, dependency
• Receiving DD services.
• We also have a direct service program serving more than 550 households with home-delivered produce boxes

Bills: SB5966

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness

Transcript Highlights:

• Patients are encouraged to provide a copy of the advanced directive to all their health care professionals
• Oftentimes they might be asked they have any advance directives when they see a new health care professional
• The voluntary dot opioid directive does not alter any other advance health care directives and it can
• You like all advanced directives.
• It was actually at turning into better care, quality of care for patients in nursing homes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> either health care, safety, education. either health care, safety, education.
• Does this help give you direction. Does this help give you direction? direction? direction?
• Or do we want to say we just want to make sure all start with services, all their services we want to
• </c> services or just digital experience? services or just digital experience?
• with services, all their services<00:32:48.480><c> we</c><00:32:48.560><c> want</c><00:32:48.720><c>

Committee: Joint Technology

Transcript Highlights:

• Vocational services, IPS services.
• I care deeply about a lot of the work that I do in the county, which deals with day support services,
• That industry is moving in the right direction.
• New designs, new solutions, new products, and new services.
• This is one bill that gets us moving in that direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not saying we don't provide those services; I just want to say we need to be very careful.
• Chair, that we need to take care of.
• and medical services.
• . services to contractual services for shortfalls in the medical services contract for the inmates' medical
• services.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have focused on health care, as you mentioned.
• Maybe they'll be socialized in the other direction.
• And we're seeing more and more come from that: basic needs, child care, resources.
• in my deputy director of administrative services assignments at the Departments of Child Support Services
• Thank you for your service.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• expend in providing services and supports for our students with disabilities.
• You could care about your kids, but it's hard to care for 150 kids well.
• And that's the single most important lever on both caring and achievement. Yeah.
• You'd get a more precise answer from our colleagues at Health and Human Services.
• Thank you very much for your service to the State Board and for being here today.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s education budget proposals for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), Learning Recovery Block Grant, and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), followed by testimony from State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. On LCFF, Finance outlined the proposed 2.43% COLA, repayment of prior deferrals, and a trailer bill penalty for LEAs that fail to adopt Local Control Accountability Plans on time. The LAO said its COLA estimate was slightly lower and raised concerns that the Governor’s proposed TK staffing ratio increase may be more costly than estimated. Members also discussed whether the current COLA formula should better reflect California-specific or district staffing costs, and whether TK should be more clearly separated from the K-3 grade span adjustment to avoid larger K-3 class sizes. The chair asked staff to work with the LAO on both the TK/K-3 issue and alternative COLA calculations. For the Learning Recovery Block Grant, Finance proposed restoring the first of three delayed payments, $378.6 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund, while the LAO recommended adopting the proposal but extending the expenditure deadline by at least a year. The LAO reported that districts had spent $1.6 billion of the $6.8 billion received through 2023-24 and said most districts were only now shifting from federal COVID relief to block grant spending. Members questioned whether the large state and federal investments were improving outcomes, citing declining reading and math trends, while Finance and the State Board president pointed to some signs of improvement, especially in math, attendance, and gains for some student groups. Darling-Hammond emphasized that student needs have grown, that recovery spending has gone to devices, ventilation, staffing, tutoring, summer school, and community schools, and that targeted interventions appear to be helping some districts recover faster than others. On ELOP, Finance proposed adding $435 million to expand universal access by lowering the Tier 1 threshold from 75% to 55% unduplicated pupils, bringing ongoing funding to $4.4 billion. The LAO said the estimate was reasonable but recommended delaying implementation for a year, aligning ELOP with ASES to reduce overlap, moving toward funding based on participation rather than enrollment, and considering a fixed Tier 2 rate. Members and witnesses discussed staffing challenges, the use of funds for students with disabilities, and uncertainty in Tier 2 funding caused by unspent dollars and opt-outs. Darling-Hammond supported ELOP as part of California’s broader after-school and summer learning strategy, said most districts are now offering full-day TK and expanded learning, and urged the state to reduce fragmentation across categorical programs and build more unified systems for funding, reporting, and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• behavior health clinic services, children’s therapeutic services and supports, and crisis response services
• behavior health clinic services, children’s therapeutic services and supports, and crisis response services
• behavior health clinic services, children’s therapeutic services and supports, and crisis response services
• So those are ARMS, peer recovery services, adult assertive community treatment, and recuperative care
• </c><00:08:11.759><c> and</c> those services um child foster care and those services um child foster

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Credit unions care deeply about that same goal.
• We have a direct impact in our communities. Good morning.
• We care for our community.
• I could be providing health care insurance for people.
• Today, the payments industry is not simply a financial service.

Summary: The commission met for its second hearing to study the future of credit card payments and sales transactions and their impacts on small businesses. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurants, and payment-industry representatives on interchange fees, processing fees, fraud, chargebacks, rewards programs, and the ability of businesses to pass fees on to customers. Several witnesses argued that swipe fees have risen sharply, are especially burdensome for restaurants and other small businesses, and are charged on taxes and tips that are merely pass-through amounts. They urged state action to prohibit fees on tax and tip portions, improve transparency, and allow surcharging or convenience fees, while opponents warned that state regulation could reduce fraud protections, increase compliance costs, and threaten consumer rewards programs. Business owners and trade groups described thin margins, rising costs, and the difficulty of understanding merchant statements or negotiating with processors. Restaurant witnesses said card-not-present and online transactions create the greatest fraud and chargeback risk, with money often removed immediately from merchants’ accounts and disputes rarely resolved in their favor. Retail witnesses gave examples of rising effective rates, higher fees on rewards cards, and the burden of processing fees on low-value transactions. A representative from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and others said restaurants are effectively paying fees on meals tax and gratuities, which they argued should not be subject to interchange charges. On the other side, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said interchange revenue helps credit unions fund fraud prevention, rapid card replacement, and member protections, and warned that state limits on interchange could weaken those safeguards and lead to higher consumer costs or reduced services. Airlines for America testified that airline credit card rewards are popular, support travel and jobs in Massachusetts, and could be harmed by interchange reform. The National Restaurant Association and a payments-policy attorney countered that interchange fees are set by card networks rather than competitive markets, that banks remain highly profitable even with rewards, and that states can act after recent court decisions. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questions from commissioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• And HBH opened a way for individuals who had been harmed in foster care. ...in foster care but had never
• And in fact, in ASP, the child was allegedly in foster care before the state ran foster care.
• care services that are provided to that client.
• services cases.
• modernization inside the health services division.

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Summary: The committee work session began with a staff presentation on state tort liability, focusing on why Washington’s tort payouts and claims have risen and how sovereign immunity, statutes of limitation, damages rules, and case law shape state exposure. Staff and the Attorney General’s Office highlighted that DCYF, DSHS, and DOC account for the largest share of claims and payouts, with Washington’s broad waiver of immunity and lack of caps on non-economic damages making it unusual compared with many other states. The discussion emphasized childhood sexual abuse claims, foster care and juvenile rehabilitation liability, and the impact of recent cases and the 2024 statute of limitations changes. Agency witnesses from DCYF, DSHS, and DOC described rising claims, delayed payout timing, difficulty defending older cases with limited records, and efforts to reduce future liability through practice changes, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, staffing, and early resolution programs. The committee then shifted to parole and sentencing. Staff from the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and Public Safety Policy and Research Center reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing and parole to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained that parole can coexist with sentencing guidelines in other states through different models. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to three-strikes, persistent offender review, and a second-chance review process, noting that the task force did not reach consensus on those ideas. Judges Veronica Galvan and Cindy Larson, speaking for the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association, supported considering a parole or review-board model as a way to address racial disparities, improve fairness, and create a more centralized and transparent review process with data collection and judicial review. The final panel began with prosecutors, with Eric Eisenger introducing himself and indicating he would speak from both his role as Benton County prosecutor and as a former defense attorney. The transcript cuts off before the prosecutors’ full testimony or any committee action on the parole topic, and no votes were taken during the portion provided.