Transcript Highlights:

• You know, if they if the commission commission commission decides<02:01:11.400><c> that</c><02:01:12.400
• So, the mechanics of having a commission is somewhat more difficult than other commissions.
• So, the mechanics of having a commission is somewhat more difficult than other commissions.
• </c> more difficult than other commissions. more difficult than other commissions.
• </c> commissions you have over the years. commissions you have over the years.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The government might revision omits the one-time costs needed to the security prospective payment for
• The governors might revision amid the one-time cost requirement to security prospective payment for child
• And then $335 million are for other state programs. $10 million of that is for the commission.
• That includes the Department of Health Care Services, the Commission on Behavioral Health, and other
• This is a new interpretation of the Social Security Act that represents a departure from how CMS has

Summary: The committee first heard May Revision child care and human services items. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the analyst supported. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a reduction in federal and Proposition 64 funding absorbed through a shift from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment program, a 2.01% child care COLA, disaster-related infrastructure grants, a new administrative support cost structure for Alternative Payment agencies, the removal of prospective pay funding after a federal rule change, a reappropriation for existing infrastructure grants, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended asking for more justification for shifting reductions to CAP, supported the COLA reduction but wanted consistency across programs, recommended removing prospective pay funding, opposed the administrative cost shift, and suggested further review of disaster grant alignment. Members pressed the administration on why more slots would be cut for the same savings, why the COLA was reduced, and whether the administrative percentage would grow over time. The administration said the changes were intended to avoid disrupting currently enrolled families, reflect point-in-time relinquishments and unspent funds, and stabilize contractor operations. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, and county representatives, urged full COLA funding, rejection of child care slot reductions, preservation of prospective pay, and continued investment in child care infrastructure and access. The subcommittee then recessed before moving to health items. In Part B, the Department of State Hospitals presented its May Revision proposals, including a central utility plant replacement project at Metropolitan State Hospital, funding for a continuum electronic health record system, reduced county bed billing authority to reflect phase-in of additional LPS beds, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscription services, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal to use Behavioral Health Services Act funds instead of General Fund for training programs. The department said the EHR would modernize records and improve continuity of care, and that the contract exemption would prevent delays in essential clinical information services. No votes were taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Utilities and Transportation Commission regulates the rates of privately owned water companies that
• As Matt described, the Utilities and Transportation Commission is required to adopt a variety of rules
• This would include names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other identification
• Local boards implement CRP through the Economic Security for All program, administering roughly 30% of
• to go vote. ...that they need so that they can feel safe and secure to go vote.

Bills: HB2104 , HB1903 , HB1909 , HB1982 , HB2034 , HB2105 , HB2210 , HB2215 , HB2271 , HB2345 , HB2355 , HB2384 , HB2389 , HB2397 , HB2418 , HB2429 , HB2442 , HB2479 , HB2481 , HB2681 , HB2688 , HB2714

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, energy assistance, low-income, utility costs, state program, energy affordability, court unification, task force, Washington courts, judicial administration, court reform, access to justice, local court rules, uniformity, centralization, rural courts

Transcript Highlights:

• The Utilities and Transportation Commission regulates the rates of privately owned water companies that
• As Matt described, the Utilities and Transportation Commission is required to adopt a variety of rules
• This would include names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other identification
• Local boards implement CRP through... ...the economic security for all program, administering roughly
• To date, Washington has secured $310 million, thanks to your generosity, for CRP investments, and those

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Alisia Lane, and I'm the government relations director for the Minnesota Commission of the
• </c><00:41:11.400><c> supports</c><00:41:11.800><c> parents</c> job the commission supports parents job
• the commission supports parents ability<00:41:12.480><c> to</c><00:41:12.640><c> make</c><00:41:12.839
• I urge you to give our students this security and support Senate File 2250.
• </c> you to give our students this security you to give our students this security and<01:25:48.960><

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• -Mexico security.
• -Mexico security cooperation.
• This is a national security crisis as well, sir.
• We have to strengthen border security, and we have to crack down.
• -Mexico security? No, I didn't ask that.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• in our final engrossment incorporated feedback from the Minnesota Senate Sentencing Guidelines Commission
• 00:10:56.560><c> Guidelines</c> Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
• Commission Commission to<00:10:58.840><c> incorporate</c><00:10:59.560><c> an</c><00:10:59.720><c> intermediate
• continuity of care the need to secure continuity of care for<00:59:56.680><c> people</c><00:59:57.000
• </c> exempts DCT facilities from security exempts DCT facilities from security x-ray<01:18:58.480><c>

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I came here to serve as the executive director and CEO for the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission
• in U in the Manchester area Commission in U in the Manchester area and<00:15:14.720><c> I've</c><00:
• have a problem with somebody testifying, I may give you a signal to go out and get somebody from security
• to come in and somebody from security to come in and deal<00:22:05.080><c> with</c><00:22:05.240><c>
• Department and how Employment Security Department and how many<00:31:06.360><c> employees</c><00:31:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met for an organizational opening session in which the chair, Ken Weyler, called the committee to order and members introduced themselves. The introductions established the committee’s leadership and membership, including Vice Chair Dan McGuire, ranking member Mary Jane Wallner, deputy ranking member Karen Eil, clerk Jerry Griffin, and other members from both parties. Many members briefly described prior legislative service and professional backgrounds, with several noting prior experience on Finance or related budget committees. Chair Weyler then outlined committee procedures and expectations. He emphasized that Finance handles spending bills and fiscal notes, that bills will generally be heard by the full committee and then referred to the appropriate division, and that executive sessions may be used to save time when positions are clear. He reviewed rules on attendance, dress, phones, paperwork handling, committee replacements, conflict of interest and recusal, and the process for testimony, including that members should listen without debating witnesses and that sponsors of bills must recuse themselves from questioning witnesses on their own bills. He also described the committee’s structure and workload, noting three divisions and the role of legislative budget staff. Weyler said the committee would likely see bills from many policy committees that have fiscal impacts, and he encouraged policy committees to find offsets within their own areas rather than assume new spending will be added. No bills were heard and no votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• They weren't backing out because they couldn't close the products, but they stopped giving commissions
• to agents and encouraged commissions to agents and encouraged them<00:32:34.960><c> not</c><00:32:35.279
• Securities Administration Association and<01:11:01.040><c> the</c><01:11:01.199><c> Commissioner</c>
• how does a bank be notified, or is there a process in place where, like, the death master Social Security
• deathmaster is checked on an security deathmaster is checked on an annual<01:15:33.679><c> basis</c>

Bills: HF1546 , HF2403 , HF2389 , HF2398

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: fire safety, public safety, statewide fire code, code cleanup, repeal, obsolete statutes, matches, strike-anywhere matches, safety matches, match packaging, match storage, tent safety, flame resistant tents, public assembly tents, flammable materials, fire code modernization, Minnesota Statutes chapter 325F, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> will be impeaching Homeland Security will be impeaching Homeland Security Secretary<00:32:07.679
• 54.880><c> lieutenant</c><00:36:56.000><c> in</c> commissioned as a second lieutenant in commissioned
• No tax on social security. No tax on tips. No tax on overtime. No tax on social security.
• In conclusion, tax on social security.
• </c><05:42:32.320><c> needs,</c> national defense and security needs, national defense and security needs

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Joanne Bettencourt, representing SIFMA, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
• For example, commissions can be as high as 50% of the premium for some supplemental products, which is
• For some supplemental products, commissions can be between 3% and 6% of the total premium for an entire
• Okay, so for the past six years, the Public Utilities Commission has been taking a close look at the
• The bill also directs the California Public Utility Commission to create clear timelines for how you

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the director of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights.
• person affected thereby chooses, the department may send correspondence and other legal notices by secure
• Similar to the agricultural collective bargaining bill, the Public Employment Relations Commission, or
• Employment Relations Commission or PERC is given concurrent jurisdiction with the courts to enforce the
• The commission would be put in charge of these, but it's hard for me to believe they would have the means

Bills: HB2405 , HB2406 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2492

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: mental health, PTSD, treatment program, research, pilot program, veteran support, trauma, healthcare funding, labor, communication, Department of Labor and Industries, workplace standards, modernization, collective bargaining, labor relations, employee rights, union representation, non-covered employees, wage enforcement, labor standards

Transcript Highlights:

• space last year that would have created a variation of the California Post-Secondary Education Commission
• We are experts in standing up new state entities or councils or commissions.
• on Teacher Credentialing, California Student Aid Commission, Cradle to Career Governing Board, AB 920
• Then this Commission should have as a focus doing that.
• The California Student Aid Commission has the California Dream Act Service Incentive Program as well,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:51.440><c> Johna</c> have public utilities commission Johna have public utilities commission
• Um here on public utilities commission.
• Next up, Public Utilities Commission. >> Morning Chair, Vice Chair, chair for the Public Utilities Commission
• </c> just something I think the commission just something I think the commission and<01:24:55.120><c>
• </c><01:57:49.040><c> job</c><01:57:50.159><c> of</c> commission doing an effective job of commission

Bills: HB2284

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: energy assistance, low-income households, electricity costs, Hawaii home energy assistance program, energy efficiency, 910, house, all

Summary: The hearing covered House Bill 2284, which would create the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program in the Department of Human Services to help qualifying households pay energy bills and direct the Public Utilities Commission’s public benefits fee administrator to provide information and assistance to recipients. Testimony from the Division of Consumer Advocacy, DHS, and the Public Utilities Commission was in support. A committee member asked about how the program would interact with existing TANF-related energy assistance and whether rules could be adjusted to avoid duplicative benefits; DHS said logistics would need to be worked out and that the agencies would make the rules. The committees noted the bill’s $1.5 million appropriation and moved it forward with amendments, including blanking out amounts and noting them in the committee report. Both committees voted to pass HB 2284 with amendments, with the recommendation adopted. The committee then heard House Bill 2486, relating to plug-in or balcony solar. DCCA, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, and the Public Utilities Commission stood on prior testimony in support of the bill’s intent. Multiple advocates and organizations, including Carbon Cashback Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Bright Saver, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and others, testified in support, arguing that plug-in solar would lower electricity bills, expand access for renters and condo residents, and reduce emissions. Several speakers urged the committee to remove or avoid registration, reporting, feed-in tariff, interconnection fee, and other requirements they said would create barriers. Bright Saver testified that the systems are safe and would not back-feed during outages. No vote was taken on HB 2486 during the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1568, which would prohibit the importation or storage of LNG in the state and the construction of related infrastructure. State agencies including the Consumer Advocate, Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill, with the Energy Office arguing LNG would perpetuate oil use on Oahu and expose the state to price volatility. Supporters included Life of the Land, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Earthjustice, Our Hawaii, and others, who argued LNG would lock Hawaii into another fossil fuel dependency, create major infrastructure costs and safety risks, and undermine the state’s renewable energy goals. Several testifiers cited climate and affordability concerns and urged the committee to reject LNG. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1568, before any committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Courthouses have armed security.
• Prisons have perimeter and interior security.
• 05.680><c> be</c><03:01:05.840><c> sure</c> courthouse security wants to be sure courthouse security
• Prisons have perimeter and interior<03:01:21.120><c> security.
• </c> interior security. interior security.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California remains committed to delivering a modern, reliable, and secure next-generation 911 system
• How will the system comply with state privacy and security regulations and law?
• But one thing I might go back and say is, while there are certainly benefits in terms of security to
• Now, moving forward, you're looking at securing vendor contracts for a statewide approach that has been
• And we continue to secure as much funding and technical assistance support for our partners across the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to provide a safe, secure, thriving environment for our doctors.
• The Commission, as you all likely know, is bipartisan.
• And with that, Madam Chair, the Commission respectfully urges you all to pass this bill.
• My role as a registered lobbyist is much like that this commission mentioned.
• Additionally, there's the State Ethics Commission, and the Ethics Commission receives complaints.

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• sheriffs, police chiefs, town marshals, law enforcement agency volunteers, youth cadets, specially commissioned
• And I also feel like it may impact our security here on campus as well because, as was mentioned during
• Tim Ford, staff with the committee, before you Senate Bill 6086 relating to strengthening security for
• And then finally, it allows security consultants of the Administrative Office of the Courts to conduct
• In addition, by authorizing security consultants at AOC to perform threat assessments, the bill uses

Summary: The Law and Justice Committee heard multiple Senate bills and took executive action on several of them. Bills discussed included SB 5837 on guardianship and conservatorship, SB 6011, SB 6009 on consent language in proceedings, SB 5868, SB 5974 on sheriffs and related law enforcement volunteers, SB 5720 on consumer debt default judgments, SB 5833 on leaving engines running to protect pets, SB 5936 on human trafficking remedies, SB 5993 on medical debt interest, SB 6070 on missing persons alerts and investigative tools, and SB 6002 on driver privacy and ALPR data. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments for each, with members raising concerns about scope, constitutionality, consumer protections, law enforcement authority, privacy, and debt collection practices. Several amendments were adopted, withdrawn, or rejected during the discussion. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes or amendments for SB 5837, SB 6009, SB 5974, SB 5720, SB 5833, SB 5936, SB 5993, SB 6070, and SB 6002. SB 6011 also received a due pass recommendation. SB 5974, after debate over sheriff certification and recall provisions, was advanced to Ways and Means. SB 5993, dealing with medical debt interest, drew multiple proposed amendments that were withdrawn, and the committee ultimately advanced the bill with the substitute. SB 6002 on ALPR privacy was advanced after discussion of retention periods, ownership of data, and evidentiary use. The committee then held a public hearing on SB 6086, which would strengthen security protections for judicial officers and court personnel by expanding who may request removal of personal information, broadening Address Confidentiality Program eligibility, and allowing AOC security consultants to conduct threat assessments. Proponents, including judges, clerks, and court officials, described rising threats and the need for stronger protections; county officials and prosecutors raised implementation, constitutional, and records-management concerns. The committee also heard Senate Joint Memorial 8014, requesting a U.S.-led investigation into the killing of Washingtonian Aishanur Esgi Yegi. The memorial drew extensive testimony from family members, advocates, academics, and community groups in support, while a few opponents argued the memorial was factually incomplete or politically selective. No final action was taken on SB 6086 or SJM 8014 during the hearing, and the committee closed after noting very large numbers of signed-in supporters and opponents for the memorial.

Transcript Highlights:

• These workers already earn a secure, portable retirement benefit through their collectively bargained
• And I'll give you just one quick example: the Wounds Commission was created in 2018.
• Employment Security collects premiums from employers that meet certain criteria to support this program
• Employment Security will collect the assessment on a quarterly basis consistent with the Paid Family
• It would look at data from Employment Security.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Public Utilities Commission ruled in 2021 on the 2021-2023 energy efficiency plan.
• But you commission and they are correct.
• I think the Public Utilities Commission.
• </c><00:51:44.880><c> is</c> inconsistent with what the commission is inconsistent with what the commission
• So, security, this would not permit you to skip over the SEC, in other words.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all