Transcript Highlights:

• For others, they're buying a differences-in-conditions policy, which will give them the water, theft,
• coverages, they need to buy a differences-in-conditions policy to supplement that, and they’ll get their water

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Fair Plan, focusing on its rapid growth, financial stability, rate adequacy, and role in the homeowners insurance market. Committee members described the Fair Plan as increasingly functioning as a “safety net” rather than a true insurer of last resort, while Fair Plan representatives said the plan was created by statute, is privately funded by member insurers, and is now taking on more business because of non-renewals and limited availability in the admitted market. They emphasized that the plan offers residential and commercial coverage, but not a full HO-3 homeowners policy, and said expanding into that product would require major new staffing, vendor, and claims infrastructure. A major topic was pricing and assessments. Fair Plan officials said their rates have historically lagged their projected costs, especially because reinsurance costs were not fully recoverable in rates until recently. They reviewed recent filings, including a 2023 filing that was reduced from an estimated 80% need to a 35.8% request after working with the Department of Insurance. They also discussed the plan’s reinsurance tower, a new catastrophe bond, and the $1 billion assessment triggered by the 2025 Los Angeles fires after losses exceeded available capital. They said AB 226 helped secure a $600 million line of credit to reduce assessment risk, and they thanked lawmakers for supporting that measure. Members raised constituent concerns about coverage limits, underinsurance, and misinformation from agents. Fair Plan officials said they do not deny applicants because their homes exceed the plan’s $3.3 million limit; instead, policyholders can combine Fair Plan coverage with excess insurance. They said broker training and webinars are being expanded to address misunderstandings, and they noted that raising the cap would depend on achieving actuarially sound rates and sufficient financial capacity. Members also asked about smoke claims from the 2025 fires; the Fair Plan said it has paid covered smoke claims under California law, reviewed closed claims, and removed the “sight and smell” language from its policy form after litigation and CDI action. Public commenters from the insurance industry, builders, agriculture, and nonprofit service providers largely urged faster depopulation of the Fair Plan, more adequate rates, and reforms to the clearinghouse process. Some warned that the Fair Plan is now competing with the admitted market because it can be cheaper in some areas, while others said the plan is still essential because the private market is not serving high-risk or specialized properties. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, but committee members and Fair Plan representatives agreed to continue working on rate, transparency, and depopulation issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm actually a former member of the search and rescue team, high-angle rope rescue team, swift water
• helicopter—Patricia Coltendell just said it's from 55 years ago, older than me—was flying back and forth, dropping water

Summary: The committee heard six bills on January 27, 2026. Senate Bill 6084 would clarify the prohibition on voting more than once in an election, in response to a court ruling that interpreted “election” narrowly; the sponsor and Secretary of State’s office said the bill is meant to ensure a person votes only once in Washington or in one state and another on the same election date. Testimony was brief and supportive, and the hearing was closed with many people signed in pro and con but not testifying. Senate Bill 6044 would recognize Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas as a legislatively recognized day, and Senate Bill 5950 would add several non-legal holidays, including Sikh, Baha’i, Jewish, and Buddhist observances. Sponsors and supporters described the bills as a way to acknowledge minority faith traditions, promote inclusion, and help communities feel seen; testimony came from Jewish, Sikh, multi-faith, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Buddhist representatives. The committee recorded substantial support for both measures, with no opposition testimony, and closed both hearings. Senate Bill 6046 would establish the Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol within the Military Department to better coordinate volunteer aviation support for disasters, search and rescue, cybersecurity, and other missions. The sponsor, Military Department, Civil Air Patrol, and veterans’ representatives said it would improve command and control and help the state use Civil Air Patrol more efficiently at no added cost. Senate Bill 5763 would create a grant program for local law enforcement aviation support units and expand wildfire-related aviation support to sheriff’s offices; sheriffs and police chiefs strongly supported it as a way to sustain helicopter-based search and rescue and disaster response, while DNR raised concerns about wildfire aviation standards, liability, and possible bill drafting issues. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5784, which would require agencies to collect and report more detailed demographic data under updated federal standards; the sponsor said better disaggregation is needed for accountability and to identify disparities, and the Office of Equity supported the policy while noting fiscal and privacy concerns and the need for possible amendments. The meeting ended after the final hearing, with no votes taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’ve had students ask whether vaping is safe because it only contains water and flavorings.
• I've had students ask whether vaping is safe because it only contains water and flavorings.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee met on January 27 and heard extensive public testimony on several bills before moving into executive session. Senate Bill 5921 would create a Department of Health medical psilocybin program for adults with qualifying conditions, with licensed producers and clinician participation requirements, training, background checks, and program standards. Supporters, including the sponsor and many clinicians, veterans, first responders, and patients, described psilocybin as promising for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, trauma, and end-of-life anxiety, while opponents and some medical groups raised concerns about missing safeguards, contraindications, monitoring, cost, and the bill’s narrow medical model. Testimony was split sharply, with many also urging broader decriminalization or community-use protections. The committee later heard Senate Bill 6115, which would have the Department of Health contract for age-appropriate cancer education for grades 6-12; supporters from Cancer Pathways, educators, and families said it would improve prevention and risk awareness, while the bill drew substantial opposition in sign-in counts, and the hearing was ultimately closed without action that day. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5185, a pilot pathway for international medical graduates to obtain full unrestricted primary care licensure after supervised clinical practice, completion of exam and competency requirements, and annual reporting. The sponsor, Washington Medical Association, the Medical Commission, and IMG advocates said the proposal would expand access to primary care while maintaining patient safety, and the bill received supportive testimony. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced Senate Bill 5916 on non-opioid pain drugs, Senate Bill 5985 on endometriosis, Senate Bill 6019 on home care rate statutes, Senate Bill 6161 on dementia information, and Senate Bill 6183 on HIV antiviral drug coverage. For Senate Bill 5981 on the 340B drug pricing program, the committee adopted an amendment adding reporting and transparency requirements before moving the bill forward. The committee then adjourned, and the remaining hearing items were rescheduled for a later date.

Transcript Highlights:

• boards, and we're not going to say this is New Mexico's way and we're going to do it come hell or high water
• and... ...we're not going to say this is New Mexico's way and we're going to do it come hell or high water

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this basically is something that is a way to sort of dip a toe in the water and say, okay, what does
• Unfortunately, I water it down just a little more every year to try to make it more palatable for those

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have people going without timely medical care, institutions with no heat, no hot water, roofs that
• are leaking, mold growing, water stations that are breaking down, birds flying in and out of a dining

Summary: The committee received a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $8.2 billion for the public safety silo and includes funding for the Departments of Law Enforcement, Juvenile Justice, and Corrections, along with courts and legal affairs. The Governor’s Office highlighted recurring reductions and vacancy eliminations, while agency heads outlined their major requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert-system upgrades, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, additional staff, facility construction and maintenance, communications upgrades, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about immigration enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, capacity, mental health services, contraband, housing, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. Public testimony also urged better prison conditions and basic necessities for incarcerated people. The committee then took up and reported favorably CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would strengthen penalties and clarify that a person may not resist an officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties. An amendment conforming the bill to House language was adopted, and the bill passed with Senator Smith voting no. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported favorably CS/SB 54, which concerns use of substances affecting cognitive function and limits certain medical-record disclosures to information relevant to investigations of violent offenders; Senator Smith voted no on that measure as well. Next, the committee considered Senator Berman’s bills on domestic and dating violence. CS/SB 296 would direct a study of a secure web-based alert platform for victims, including a discreet phone-number/code system and geolocation support, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims. The bill drew emotional support testimony from survivors and advocates describing the dangers victims face when trying to leave abusive situations, and it was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, would extend public-records protections in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims; it was also reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have people going without timely medical care, institutions with no heat, no hot water, roofs that
• are leaking, mold growing, water stations that are breaking down, birds flying in and out of a dining

Bills: S0054 , S0156 , S0296 , S0298

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Keywords: cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, public records, open government, sunshine law, victims of dating violence, domestic violence, address confidentiality program, confidential address, voter registration, voting records, elections, supervisor of elections, Department of State, Attorney General, privacy

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $117.4 billion overall and includes $8.2 billion for the public safety silo. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office outlined proposed funding and reductions across FDLE, DJJ, DOC, and related justice agencies. Agency heads then presented major budget requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, a career offender registry unit, a missing persons alert system upgrade, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and illegal immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested funds for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility repairs; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications technology, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about the scope of immigration-related enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, inmate health care, substance use treatment, prison capacity, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. A public commenter also urged attention to basic conditions in prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and facility maintenance. The committee then considered several bills. CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, was presented as a response to the killing of Daytona Beach Officer Jason Rayner and would clarify that a person may not use violence against an officer performing official duties, while also increasing penalties related to manslaughter involving law enforcement. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after debate and a roll call vote. CS/SB 54, dealing with substances affecting cognitive function and law enforcement access to certain medical records, also received an amendment clarifying that only records relevant to an investigation of a violent offender may be furnished; the amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee next heard CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from advocates and survivors strongly supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, a public records exemption for victims of domestic and dating violence in the Address Confidentiality Program, was also reported favorably. The meeting concluded after the committee approved all four bills and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you have lots of colleagues who would like to put their oar in the water on how we could all
• You may meet it or blow it out of the water, right? You'll figure it out, right? Yes. Okay. Okay.

Bills: SCR8406 , SB5825 , SB5842 , SB5863 , SB5840

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: civic health, community engagement, committee reestablishment, public participation, governance, Washington State Leadership Board, WSLB, gift acceptance, grants, endowments, private funding, public funding, fundraising, state board, youth leadership, civic engagement, leadership development, Washington World Fellows, sports mentoring, Boundless Washington

Transcript Highlights:

• they receive any form of consideration, even non-monetary, like training, shirts, or even a bottle of water
• they receive any form of consideration, even non-monetary like training, shirts, or even a bottle of water

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DeFoehl, Forecut, Burnett, Ryu, Klicker, Saldaña, Bernbaum, Lee, Schmick, Bosney, Zahn, Dewar, Fosse, Waters
• Lee, Schmick, Bosney, Zahn, Dewar, Fosse, Waters, Donaghy, Morgan, Parshley, Stonier, Steele, Callan,

Summary: The meeting was an Aviation Caucus gathering hosted at Paine Field and Boeing, with introductions from legislators, aviation organizations, airport officials, and industry representatives. Speakers emphasized the importance of aviation and aerospace to Washington’s economy and the need to better educate lawmakers and the public about the sector’s value. Several participants also highlighted the role of airports in business activity, emergency response, wildfire support, and medical services, and urged attendees to build relationships with legislators to protect and expand aviation funding. A major topic was opposition to the aviation-related tax provisions in Senate Bill 5801, described by speakers as a luxury and privilege tax on aircraft. Legislators and industry advocates argued the tax would discourage aircraft ownership and use in Washington, drive aircraft and business operations out of the state, and harm jobs and tax revenue. They said the caucus would continue working toward repeal of the aircraft tax provisions and broader solutions for aviation infrastructure funding, though they acknowledged the state budget situation makes new funding difficult this year. John Dobson presented data estimating aviation’s large share of state GDP, jobs, wages, and tax revenue, and also raised concerns about aviation fuel tax revenues being diverted away from aviation purposes. The meeting also featured updates on mental health efforts in aviation, with Brian Baumoff of the Pilot Mental Health Campaign describing federal legislation to improve access to treatment and transparency around medications, and a prior state bill aimed at helping pilots navigate medical leave and treatment costs. Haley Coffey of the Aerospace Futures Alliance encouraged participation in its upcoming Hill Day to strengthen aerospace advocacy in Olympia. Boeing representatives gave an overview of company safety and culture changes after recent incidents, workforce and supplier numbers in Washington, production plans including a permanent Moses Lake site and a future Everett narrow-body line, and workforce development programs such as Core Plus Aerospace and tuition support. The caucus also adopted a House resolution honoring Harry R. Anderson for becoming the first person to fly and sail solo to all seven continents, and attendees toured the Boeing facility after the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• of solar farms in my district, ranging out to the mighty Rio Puerco River, which we've never seen water
• I'm not sure if we brought the water with us or not, but we fell in love with the Tucumcari area.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• UTILITY WORKERS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING POWER WATER GAS AND COMMUNICATION AND ARE IMPORTANT
• ALEXANDRIA CRONIN, FLORIDA SECTION OF THE AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION WAIVING IN SUPPORT, RYAN MATTHEWS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, across the state, many Texans rely on municipally-owned systems for essential services like water
• The high water mark was in the late 90s. ...which, this is not great, but it was over 40,000.

Bills: HB303 , HB 1107 , HB 1063 , HB1517 , HB1991 , HB2464 , HB3509 , HB3527 , HB303

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: municipality, local government, Type A, Type B, Type C, change authority, emergency medical services, civil service status, municipal government, public safety, local government code, school funding, education, state budget, local control, equity, tenant legal services, eviction, low-income tenants, disability rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Board of Water Supply. Good afternoon, Chair.
• Joyce Lim with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The AEN hearing on March 14, 2025 reviewed several agriculture, biosecurity, animal, and climate-related measures, but the chair announced at the outset that the committee would not have decision-making that day because quorum was not expected. Decision-making for the full agenda was rescheduled to Monday, March 17, 2025 at 1:02 p.m. in room 224. Testimony was limited to one minute per speaker. Measures heard included HB 48 HD2 on coffee labeling and regional origin, HB 782 HD1 creating a Department of Agriculture working group to review obsolete agricultural laws, HB 980 HD1 on mongoose and feral chicken control, and HB 1237 HD1 appropriating funds for agricultural biosecurity and invasive species work in Maui County. The Department of Agriculture supported HB 48, HB 782, and HB 1237, and several industry and conservation groups testified in support of the first two. HB 980 drew strong opposition from Pono Advocacy and the Hawaiian Humane Society, who argued it raised animal cruelty and public health concerns, especially during H5N1 risks; the measure also had support from agriculture-related groups. HB 1237 received broad support, with witnesses asking for language changes to broaden coverage to additional invasive species and to better support Maui Invasive Species Committee work on little fire ants and other pests. The committee also heard SCR 88/SR 71 on a microbial algae soil products pilot program, SCR 91/SR 74 on self-defense law changes for agricultural communities, SCR 93/SR 76 on integrating indigenous knowledge into climate policy, SCR 94/SR 77 on Maui axis deer control and venison, and SCR 103/SR 84 on a PFAS working group. Testimony on SCR 91/SR 74 came largely from ranching and agricultural interests in support, citing trespass, poaching, and safety concerns. SCR 93/SR 76 drew support from a Native Hawaiian testifier and others who emphasized stewardship, intergenerational planning, and climate resilience. SCR 94/SR 77 and SCR 103/SR 84 also received support, including from the Department of Agriculture and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply on the PFAS measure. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• FIU that lean into their great strength, which is the material science piece and the study of how water
• I just don't think that holds water.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard five bills. HB 1097 would rename the Florida Catastrophic Storm Center at FSU as the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management, transfer the public hurricane loss projection model from FIU to FSU, and provide recurring and nonrecurring appropriations to support independent insurance research and collaboration with OIR and other universities. Members discussed university roles, model oversight, independence from industry funding, and student/workforce benefits. The bill passed favorably on a roll call vote. HB 319 would create a regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosk businesses, requiring registration with the Office of Financial Regulation, consumer disclosures, and penalties for violations. Much of the discussion focused on fraud prevention, especially for seniors, and whether the bill should include transaction caps or stronger recovery tools; AARP supported the bill but urged additional protections. The bill passed favorably. CS/HB 385 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code and Community Property Trust Act, including decanting, trustee claims, redemption by satisfaction, and homestead transfer treatment; an amendment conforming to the Senate version was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. CS/HB 97 would allow service of process for exploitation injunctions against unascertainable scammers through the same communication method used to contact the victim, such as text or social media, and would let courts freeze funds temporarily while the matter is heard. Testimony from elder law practitioners and AARP supported the bill as a tool against scams, while some members raised due process and overreach concerns; the bill passed favorably. HB 839 would shorten the overpayment recovery window for claims submitted to psychologists and HMOs to match other health providers, with the goal of improving parity and access to mental health care; an amendment was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. The meeting concluded with adjournment after the final roll call votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• From electrical grids to water treatment to nuclear plants, imagine the impact on Minnesotans in the
• dead of winter or having no fresh drinking water.

Transcript Highlights:

• She also does many indoor projects, including woodworking and boiling water canning for the show season
• He'd never taken care of chickens before, and he had to learn to keep them clean, keep their water and

Transcript Highlights:

• They're not getting enough food and water." So on so forth.
• Um, and if there's no water there for the horse or something, the owner would then be, you know, they
• horse or no water there for the horse or something,<00:47:56.720><c> the</c><00:47:56.960><c> owner<
• </c> day, you should have uh some water day, you should have uh some water available<00:48:04.000><c>
• Also, they have fresh water daily in two large troughs, which we keep inside in one of the stalls so

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to be established in a municipality, there's going to be cost to infrastructure, whether it's water
• Manchester also has a huge amount of its capital tied up in a major water-sewer separation project and
• a</c><02:14:09.239><c> major</c><02:14:10.000><c> um</c><02:14:10.880><c> uh</c><02:14:11.000><c> water
• </c> capital tied up in a major um uh water capital tied up in a major um uh water sewer<02:14:11.719
• <04:32:51.840><c> sewer</c> water sewer water sewer um<04:32:54.399><c> Enterprise</c><04:32:55.000><

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some years ago, there was some rain damage and other water infiltration problems.
• were discovered additional structural deterioration and exterior damage to areas that were causing water
• </c><01:01:25.920><c> water</c> rain damage um and other water water rain damage um and other water water
• <01:02:11.640><c> that</c><01:02:11.880><c> were</c><01:02:12.039><c> causing</c><01:02:12.480><c> water
• </c> damage to areas that were causing water damage to areas that were causing water in<01:02:13.119>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.