Transcript Highlights:

• Buck, when you're ready, please turn your camera on and proceed when you're ready.
• Whenever you're ready, please proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr.
• So Kelly, whenever you're ready, please proceed.
• Suzanne, when you're ready, please proceed. Thank you, Chair.
• Come on up and whenever you're ready to proceed.

Summary: The House Health Care & Wellness Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2232 would create a Department of Health-operated time-sensitive emergency data repository covering trauma, cardiac, and stroke events, with quality improvement reporting and support for rural facilities; it drew strong support from emergency physicians, nurses, and the Department of Health, while the Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals support the goal but lack the resources to absorb the added requirements. House Bill 1812, as a proposed substitute, would bar insurers and public plans from imposing anesthesia time limits or related reimbursement caps; the sponsor and anesthesia providers said it protects patient safety and fair payment, and the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists asked for a clarifying amendment on physical status modifiers. House Bill 2250 would limit hospital charity care to Washington residents, while preserving emergency care access; supporters from rural hospitals and the Washington State Hospital Association said the change would help border hospitals facing rising nonresident charity care, and opponents from legal aid, patient advocacy, and LGBTQ groups warned it would create barriers, chill access for immigrants and other vulnerable patients, and conflict with Washington’s safety-net values. The committee also heard House Bill 2340, which would extend existing substance-use monitoring program protections and stipend eligibility to nursing assistants under the Board of Nursing’s CARES program. The sponsor described it as a simple equity measure, and the Board of Nursing supported it, saying it would improve access and reduce stigma; members asked where the stipend funding comes from, and staff and the board said it is currently general-fund supported at about $25,000 annually. House Bill 2577 would change hospital inspection law by requiring acute care hospital inspections every 18 months rather than on average, allowing some accredited inspections to satisfy the requirement every 36 months, and clarifying fire-protection reinspection standards; the sponsor and Department of Health said it responds to a JLARC audit and provides needed clarity, while DOH said it is still working to catch up from inspection delays caused by the public health emergency. The meeting ended after public testimony on the bills was closed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready to present that? Yes, thank you, Mr.
• Representative, are you ready to present 19 44? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Representative Harris, are you ready to present Senate Bill 1256? Mr.
• Representative Du, are you ready to present Senate Bill 1226?
• Are you ready to present Senate Bill 1876?

Bills: SB137 , SB372 , SB1209 , SB1226 , SB1256 , SB1303 , SB1595 , SB1636 , SB1772 , SB1827 , SB1876 , SB1944 , SB2072 , SB2104 , SB2180

Committee: House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Keywords: electronic monitoring, Department of Corrections, criminal justice, rehabilitation, public safety, SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready immediate consideration.
• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question?
• </c> you ready for the question? you ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• ready to go.
• ready to go.
• Okay, well, as we get ready to welcome Dr.
• We're ready to replicate this proven model here in Washington.
• Okay, Vanessa, are you ready? Let's go. Yes.

Bills: HB2295

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: Washington capital budget, supplemental capital budget, capital appropriations, state building construction account, taxable building construction account, climate commitment account, natural climate solutions, housing trust fund, affordable housing, supportive housing, homelessness, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, school construction, school modernization, school seismic safety, healthy schools, school electrification, SCAP, behavioral health facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• Think school readiness.
• Jim, whenever you’re ready, please go ahead. Good afternoon, Mr.
• Lori, whenever you're ready, please go ahead. Thank you so much.
• Barbara, when you're ready, please go ahead.
• Go ahead when you're ready. Unmute and begin.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on recommendations from the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group. Tisha Kirshbaum of the Health Care Authority described the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan, a prenatal-to-25 system-of-care framework meant to reduce fragmentation, improve coordination across multiple state agencies, and expand early, community-based behavioral health supports. Members asked about duplication among agencies, simplification of the system, and upstream services such as community health workers, school-based supports, and crisis access. The committee then heard House Bill 2429, which would direct the governor and state agencies to align with the Washington Thriving plan, create an executive coordination officer and leadership council, extend the work group, and require broader alignment by state, tribal, local, and nonprofit entities. The bill received strong support from the governor’s office, the Health Care Authority, parents, youth, providers, and advocates, while a few testifiers raised concerns about government overreach, cost, or the need to address non-psychiatric causes of distress. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2364, which renames and expands the Legislative Executive Work First Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force into the Legislative Executive Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force and updates the related advisory council to align with the state’s 10-year plan to dismantle poverty. Staff and the prime sponsor said the bill reflects the evolution of the poverty-reduction effort and adds agencies such as the Department of Revenue, Health Care Authority, and Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Testimony from DSHS and advocates was uniformly supportive, emphasizing bipartisan collaboration and the need to update statute to match current work. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2171 on supporting foster youth. The bill would create an endangered foster youth alert system, require county rapid-response protocols, establish a foster youth empowerment account, create an oversight board through the Ombuds office, and expand training for foster parents and child welfare workers. The prime sponsor and several advocates described the bill as a response to lived experience and a way to improve accountability and long-term support. DCYF said it supports the intent but raised legal and cost concerns, and some youth advocates warned that public alerts could increase risk or trauma for youth who run away from unsafe placements. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2314, which would create a pilot allowing certain community-based clients with developmental disabilities to receive dental care at residential habilitation centers. Supporters said the bill would use existing dental capacity to address severe access gaps and long waits in the community, while opponents from disability advocacy groups argued it would pull people back into institutional settings instead of building community-based dental capacity. Testimony on the bill was mixed, and no final committee action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, go ahead and bring up the roll call sheet, please, and call the roll when ready.
• So whomever wants to go first, go ahead and kick it off whenever you're ready.
• Whenever you're ready. Good afternoon, Chair Bronoske and members of the committee.
• Jamie Thompson, whenever you're ready, please proceed.
• So Denise, whenever you're ready, please proceed. Yeah, good afternoon.

Bills: HB2402 , HB2555 , HB2599 , HB2685

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: phthalates, medical equipment, healthcare regulation, intravenous therapy, toxic substances, Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, therapy, psychotherapy, mental health, regulation, professional standards, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the concurrence? Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the concurrence? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> you ready for that question? you ready for that question?
• </c> you ready for the question? you ready for the question?
• not ready.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the concurrence? Are you ready for the question? question? question?
• </c> you ready for the question? you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the third time? Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question? If H648. Are you ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• And we really do truly believe when these vehicles are finally approved and are ready for commercial
• And the 3rd is how can we make sure the state is ready when these vehicles are certified?
• So we're really trying to make the system ready and ready for the industry partners to come and operate
• The state of Florida with the FAA and the 3rd is we've got to be ready to be ready because there is a
• So we're we're ready to grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the amendment. Are you ready for the question?
• You ready for the committee report. You ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the amendment. Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the amendment. Are you ready for the question?
• </c> ready for the question? ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the 394. Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the 2086. Are you ready for the question?
• But when a bill isn't ready, a bill isn't ready.
• And and ready, a bill isn't ready.
• We're not ready. We we're not there. We're not ready.

Transcript Highlights:

• President. >> Are you ready for that question? >> Are you ready for that question?
• Are you ready for that question? Senator from Windsor: Thank you.
• Are you ready for that question? If so, all those in favor signify by...
• Are you ready for that question? If so, all those in favor signify by saying, I.
• Are you ready for that question? If so, all those in favor signify by saying I. I.

Transcript Highlights:

• ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THEN WE ARE READY TO CUT THEM THE CHECK.
• WE STARTED TESTING WITH THE SYSTEMS READY TO START TESTING IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
• AS POSSIBLE, THEY ARE NEVER READY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS LIKE 100% READINESS IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR SOMETHING
• , HOW DO WE KNOW IF THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT TO GET READY?
• DO TO GET READY TO GO LIVE, I HATE TO SAY IT THAT WAY BUT THAT'S HOW IT IS STRUCTURED NOW.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the question?
• </c> ready for the question? ready for the question? &gt;&gt; Roll<00:21:53.919><c> call.
• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question? February 10th of 2026. Are you ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• We face a real growing readiness crisis.
• His recent statement underscores the importance of readiness and national security.
• Are you ready for us?
• Sheriff, you ready?
• Please let me close when I'm ready.

Bills: SB 36 , HB 1065 , HB2929 , HB2956 , HB3009 , HB3420 , HB3626 , HB3649 , HB4956 , HB4993 , HB5293 , HB5308 , HB5528 , HCR118 , SB36 , HB4023

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

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax, employee classification, private security, misclassification, workforce regulations, Texas Workforce Commission, autism, peace officers, training program, law enforcement, intervention, communication, developmental disability, family violence, central database, criminal offense

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we're ready. Thank you, Mr. it. Now we're ready. Thank you, Mr.
• So, uh ready for the election.
• Senator, we're ready. My questions? Senator, we're ready. My motion,<00:33:37.080><c> Mr.
• So, ready for your motion, Senator? I So, ready for your motion, Senator?
• Now, ready, Senator?

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye.
• Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say I.
• Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say I.
• Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say I.
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative McGaugh, proceed when you are ready.
• Have a seat and proceed when you're ready, sir. Have a seat and proceed when you're ready, sir.
• Have a seat and proceed when you're ready.
• Proceed, sir, when you are ready. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
• Gentlemen, have a seat and proceed when you're ready.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Elections Committee met in executive session first and adopted a House Committee substitute for House Bill 2387, which combined HB 2387 and HB 2480. The substitute removed provisions on extending no-excuse in-person absentee voting and shortening the absentee voting window, shifted the presidential candidate filing fee to be set by state party committees, and added language to bind presidential delegates to primary results while allowing national party rules to control where required. Members discussed the legal basis for delegate binding, party input on the substitute, and the role of closed primaries, then the committee voted 10-2-1 to do pass HB 2387 as substituted. The committee also passed House Bill 1987 and House Concurrent Resolution 23 without opposition, and passed House Bill 1802 after members discussed election transparency and concerns about applying the measure uniformly across counties; the vote was 11-2. In public hearing, the committee heard House Bill 2605, which would update election notice requirements, especially for bond elections. Sponsor Rep. McGaugh and the State Auditor’s office said the bill would address technical publication errors that had jeopardized voter-approved bond issues by allowing notice defects to be cured if no election contest is filed within 30 days, while also allowing one newspaper publication and one direct mailing notice. Testimony from county clerks, school administrators, a fire district, the Missouri Press Association, and others generally supported the bill as a practical fix, though one witness urged broader website posting of notices. The hearing also covered House Bill 2301, a campaign finance cleanup bill that would clarify definitions and reporting rules in Chapter 130, especially for continuing committees and indirect political spending; the sponsor said it was intended to fix ambiguity from prior law, and the only testimony in favor called for additional restrictions on recurring donations and more transparency. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1787, which would require schools used as polling places to treat election days as school holidays beginning in the 2026-27 school year. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve child safety and could also help with staffing and voter participation, while members raised concerns about school calendars already being set and whether the mandate should instead be optional or delayed to a later school year. A witness in favor supported the safety goal but asked for local control and a later effective date. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.