Transcript Highlights:

• And I'd be happy to share that document with the committee if it'd be helpful. Excellent.
• I would like her information on embedded versus standalone, if she would share that.
• Would you share it? Yes.
• So happy to share that. [00:21:40] Senator Wilson has a question.
• We fully share the legislature's desire for our students to be financially literate.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5849, which would require all high school students to receive financial education instruction and meet state financial education learning standards to graduate, beginning with the class of 2033 unless the State Board of Education recommends an earlier date. Staff explained the bill’s relationship to existing graduation requirements, the State Board’s role in integrating the requirement into current pathways, and a fiscal note showing about $201,000 in state costs plus unknown district costs. Senators asked about how the requirement would fit different school schedules, whether teacher preparation and clock hours would be addressed, and how the standards would stay current. The bill’s sponsor said it would be embedded within existing pathways, aligned with the Future Ready initiative, and supported by OSPI, the State Board, and the financial education public-private partnership. Testimony on SB 5849 was overwhelmingly supportive, especially from students, educators, nonprofits, bankers, and advocacy groups. Supporters said many students graduate without knowing how to budget, use credit, file taxes, understand loans, or make other basic financial decisions, and argued that a graduation requirement would make financial literacy more equitable and not dependent on family background or zip code. Several students described personal experiences with W-2 forms, student loans, credit cards, and lack of exposure to finance classes, while organizations such as Junior Achievement and the Washington Bankers Association said they already provide curriculum and support and could help districts implement the requirement. One school directors association representative opposed the bill, arguing districts are already overburdened and underfunded and should not receive new mandates without removing others or providing more resources. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive action on a separate packet of bills. It advanced SB 6278 on teacher preparation program review, SB 613 on National Voter Registration Day activities in high schools, SB 6222 on surplus school technology for students, and SB 6206 on a child care pilot for first responders, adopting proposed substitutes where offered. In a second packet, the committee referred SB 6260 on school bus depreciation, adopted a substitute and advanced SB 5346 on student mobile device use and digital citizenship, advanced SB 6263 on public bid thresholds, adopted a substitute and advanced SB 6268 on public access to special education complaint decisions, and adopted a substitute and advanced SB 6247 on financial oversight and misconduct in school districts. The committee then adjourned after signing the boards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Harrington's class sharing about Passover.
• Providing formal acknowledgement enriches our shared civic life, strengthens inclusion, and affirms the
• Mental health by being together, sharing, and caring for each other.
• Diwali is a share-and-care day.
• And what she shared with me was that in one year, four counties in Washington—King, Okanogan, Chelan,

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:

• If you could share it with the whole caucus, that would be great. Would you like it by institution?
• If you could share it with the whole caucus, that would be great.
• However, records of WASFA applicants may be shared between the council and institutions of higher education
• However, the requirement to share personal data and financial data can also be a significant barrier,
• students from vulnerable or immigrant communities who fear how their information might be used or shared

Bills: HB2148, HB2132

Keywords: education, pay it forward program, tuition, student loans, financial aid, state financial aid, financial aid application, postsecondary education, higher education, student aid, Washington Student Achievement Council, public records exemption, privacy, student records, personally identifying information, financial information, data sharing agreement, enrollment assistance, institutional records, FERPA

Transcript Highlights:

• We thought we'd share a little bit about what we know.
• And I'm just wondering if DFI has done any analysis on that, and if so, if you can share it with the
• And if so, if you can share it with the committee.
• I mean, I would just note the obvious, which is these products, what they share, of course, I would just
• note the obvious, which is these products, what they share, of course, is that they're easily accessible

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• information, they have to share app data, whether or not somebody has or was on a delivery at the point
• in time that the incident occurred, that they have to share insurance information.
• I do share the concern about setting dollar amounts in statute and the inability to adjust that for what
• So that is certainly a concern that I share.
• So that is certainly a concern that I share.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I share your concern of being worried for the future of our state and the future of our country.
• So thank you for sharing your thoughts with us on your Saturday morning. You're welcome.
• Ready to share with us.
• Outcomes can be manipulated, allowing the party to win more seats than their share of votes.
• Pflugerville has grown, but what binds us is our shared community.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• parent companies that also own these PBMs have moved to plans designed with large out-of-pocket cost-sharing
• either at the point of sale at the pharmacy counter or through lowering their out-of-pocket cost-sharing
• through the administration fee to the health plan, consumers will face a higher premium and cost sharing
• Consumers will face a higher premium and cost sharing.
• SB 316's language on cost-sharing shields manufacturers while increasing higher out-of-pocket expenses

Bills: AB93, AB204, AB414, AB504, AB598

Keywords: public employees, police officers, benefits, appropriation, law enforcement, medical debt, collection agency, healthcare, consumer protection, financial assistance, occupational safety, air quality, greenhouse gases, employee monitoring, safety program, hemp, hemp products, cannabidiol, CBD, cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• 2024 and they had a loss in January, that the member company would be assessed based on their market share
• started October 1st of 2024, they were assessed in the 2025 whole year, which means the 2023 market share
• We send them a bill, and we say, here's your share of the bill based on the market share.
• , and again, not a high wildfire hazard area, we had a high market share in the Eaton Fire of the homes
• So thank you again for this opportunity to share our views.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Fair Plan, focused on the plan’s rapid growth, its financial stability after the January Southern California wildfires, and its role as the insurer of last resort. Fair Plan officials explained that the plan was created in 1968, is a not-for-profit involuntary association of licensed property insurers, and is intended to be a temporary safety net until policyholders can return to the admitted market. They emphasized that the plan is not a state agency or taxpayer-funded, but is regulated by the Department of Insurance and supported by member-company assessments if claims exceed available funds. Victoria Roach and Armand Feliciano said the Fair Plan has grown sharply since 2018 and especially after market pullbacks by major insurers, reaching about 575,000 policies and roughly $600 billion in exposure by spring 2025. They noted that growth is increasingly occurring in lower wildfire-risk areas, where the plan can sometimes be cheaper than the voluntary market, and said this undermines depopulation back into the private market. They also discussed recent policy expansions, including coverage for farms, higher residential and commercial limits, and pending or proposed changes such as AB 290, SB 525, and AB 226, which would add tools like a line of credit and bond access. A major portion of the hearing addressed the January wildfire losses and the plan’s financial response. Fair Plan officials said they assessed member insurers for $1 billion after determining claims and cash flow would exceed available resources, and that the process was approved quickly and paid smoothly, with more than 80% of the assessment collected within 10 days. They also described the reinsurance tower, the plan’s limited surplus, and the need for actuarially sound rates to reduce future reliance on assessments. On claims handling, they said the plan has received over 5,500 claims from the fires, has paid more than $2.9 billion so far, expects total payments near $4 billion, and has focused on advancing payments quickly for total losses and other urgent needs. Members questioned the plan’s solvency, the growth in non-wildfire areas, claim denials, smoke-loss coverage, and how depopulation works. Roach said most closed claims without payment were duplicates rather than denials, and that smoke claims require direct physical loss under the policy, with coverage determined case by case. Public commenters from the California Building Industry Association and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California said the Fair Plan’s growth reflects a weak voluntary market, inadequate rates, and insurer fear of future assessments, and urged support for rate increases and AB 226. The hearing concluded with no vote, but with a commitment from Fair Plan officials to follow up on unanswered questions and continue providing more transparency through public data and website disclosures.

Transcript Highlights:

• With law enforcement information to be shared with TEA.
• Currently, that information is only shared with sworn police officers and sworn peace officers, which
• I did want to quickly mention a story from a parent named Bethany who shared her experience.
• She shared her story trying to get inclusive child care for her child with a disability.
• Why should these athletes not be able to have, share some of the gains?

Bills: HB322, HB126, HB3062, HB1481, HB2310, HB2674, HB121, HB2243, HB3627, HB1178, HB367, HB5515, HB126, HB121

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, fentanyl prevention, drug poisoning awareness, higher education, mental health resources, substance abuse education, student policy, communication devices, school regulations, disciplinary measures

Transcript Highlights:

• Privacy as a voter may not wish to share their registration address with the person driving them.
• Some people take an Uber or Lyft to go vote and may not want to share their personal information with
• Sure, he shared a scenario where the same van was coming with six to seven people in it.
• Texans often rely on ride-share services like Uber or Lyft when we have unreliable public transit.
• This creates a level of liability that ride-share services might not allow, and the drivers might not

Bills: HB2139, HB2253, HB3632, HB4171, HB4309, HB4508, SB760, SB1470

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm being supported by other business people, and I will share my experience as a small business owner
• And that’s because—would you remind me what Visa and MasterCard's share of this market is?
• And Sandra Jauregui, a fast food worker, is here to share her story. Thank you. Buenas tardes.
• We appreciate and absolutely share the goal of expanding safe and affordable banking services to the
• Finally, we share the concern that the Cal Account Program's success and enrollment relies on moving

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a student of the Constitution, an economist, an investment manager, and I want to share with you
• I don't believe it actually does interface, because crypto is based on a shared ledger on the blockchain
• So it's got the excitement to young people when I share this, that's like, oh, this is like gold crypto
• I don't believe it actually does interface because crypto is based on a shared ledger on the blockchain
• So it's got the excitement to young people when I share this, that's like, oh, this is like gold crypto

Summary: The committee first took up SB 794, as amended by a late-filed strike-all, which would require a human being to make insurance claim denial decisions and prohibit artificial intelligence from being the sole basis for a denial. The sponsor said the bill was intended to preserve human oversight while allowing innovation in claims processing. Public testimony included support from the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate and the Florida Medical Association, along with one speaker urging additional protections for homeowners. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported SB 794 favorably with committee substitutes. Members then heard SB 134, which removes the $500 threshold on the sales tax exemption for bullion, making sales of gold, silver, and platinum bullion fully exempt and eliminating certain dealer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the change would reduce a regressive tax and help consumers preserve savings; the sponsor estimated a revenue impact of about $300,000. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all on SB 888, which directs the Office of Insurance Regulation to create a more consumer-friendly homeowners insurance website with premium comparison information, market data, rate filing access, and educational resources. The sponsor and Leader Boyd said the goal was to improve transparency and help consumers navigate a stabilizing market. SB 888 was reported favorably with committee substitutes. The final bill heard was SB 1578, covering mammograms and supplemental breast cancer screenings. The sponsor said it would expand coverage requirements in ACA plans and private insurance policies, including annual mammograms for women ages 40 to 50 and supplemental screening coverage, while noting Medicaid already provides these services. The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. After the bills, the committee held a lengthy panel discussion on gold and silver as legal tender and transactional money, with testimony from officials from Utah and Florida, industry representatives, and advocacy groups. Panelists discussed constitutional authority, consumer protections, depository oversight, taxation issues, and possible transactional platforms for precious metals. No further action was taken after the discussion, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• After my introductory remarks, my co-sponsor, Representative Henry, will share.
• You're creating a fund, you're intercepting 8% of the state share, and you're creating a fund that then
• Chair, $20 million for Hobbs, which is your shared district. Sorry, Mr. Chair, Mr.
• Chair, um, to confirm, might you share Who's, who's whispering us over here in the corner?
• That is considered our local share.

Transcript Highlights:

• sub would do is direct that TRS do an annual review of the breakdown of each individual employer's share
• actuarial accrued liability, as determined by the actuary, just so we know how much each employer's share
• the unfunded liability is. ...as determined by the actuary, just so we know how much each employer's share
• need to is a necessary profession and we need to continue<00:15:32.360><c> to</c><00:15:32.480><c> share
• that message every continue to share that message every opportunity<00:15:34.199><c> that</c><00:15:

Keywords: Consideration of HB 73 02:23 Consideration of HB 441 07:24 Consideration of HB 462 18:44, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and considered three bills. House Bill 73, as amended by committee substitute, added We Lead CS to the list of agencies participating in the Teachers’ Retirement System administrative provisions. The sponsor explained the bill corrects an oversight involving a computer science education service provider established in 2022. A question about fiscal impact was answered with no expected fiscal note or actuarial impact. The committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 73 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 441 addressed teacher shortages by expanding the number of retired teachers and critical-shortage-area teachers school districts may hire. The sponsor said districts could hire retired teachers up to 10% of staff and critical shortage area teachers up to 10%, replacing lower current limits and a temporary COVID-era provision that had expired. Members asked about work limits, salary rules, and how often shortage areas are identified; the sponsor said retired teachers remain subject to existing earnings limits, critical shortage teachers are paid at least a rank-two, 10-year salary, and shortage areas are identified annually by the Commissioner of Education. Supportive comments noted the bill was a stopgap and that long-term solutions should include recruitment, retention, and pay. The committee passed HB 441 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 462 would allow county clerks to correct marriage applications or licenses by affidavit, without requiring a lawsuit in circuit court, when there are obvious errors or omissions. The Kenton County clerk and another clerk testified that the change would help people who need corrected records for Social Security, Real ID, inheritance, and other legal purposes, while still preserving data needed by Vital Statistics. Members described the bill as a practical efficiency measure. The committee passed HB 462 19-0 with favorable expression, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our witnesses will share their valuable perspectives and set the stage for the EPW's committee work on
• keep this morning's hearing record open until March 21st to give all stakeholders the opportunity to share
• I want to share a few other ways Congress can help reduce clean water act 404 permitting delays, protect
• And our guide shared that any time a company needs a new air or water permit or land use permit or anything
• By contrast, these businesses shared how confusing the U.S. permitting process was.

Keywords: environmental review, permitting process, infrastructure, bipartisan legislation, economic growth, Nucor, West Virginia

Summary: The meeting focused on critical discussions surrounding the need for modernizing the federal environmental review and permitting processes. Witnesses from various sectors, including Nucor, provided testimony on the delays and costs associated with current regulations, emphasizing the impact on infrastructure and economic growth. Major projects in West Virginia, such as the Corridor H and Coalfield Expressways, were highlighted as examples of initiatives stalled by excessive permitting hurdles, prompting calls for bipartisan legislation to streamline these processes while maintaining environmental protections. The committee expressed a commitment to address these issues immediately, highlighting the urgency to enhance efficiency in permitting to facilitate economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• If that is indeed true, stories like the ones Eric and Paige will share and the countless others that
• I'm going to begin by sharing a personal story to show you why this is so important to me.
• Thank you for the opportunity to share Charlie's story.
• Golnick, thank you for sharing your experience seeking mental health care through the VA and for the
• And so while standards are important, I would also submit that I don't share some of my friends' views

Transcript Highlights:

• I was looking forward to being here and sharing, as my friend said, boots on the ground.
• And so I wanted to come and share with you some information about what I'm seeing.
• The ripple effect is real, and so I could share so many stories.
• So you've shared a lot of your observations, but what do you think we should keep in mind and what do
• Ten of us sat huddled at this conference, writing down ideas that we were sharing with each other.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and heard several Office of the State Courts Administrator presentations. Judge Mark Mahan discussed the impact of 2023’s HB 837 litigation reforms on court operations, explaining that the law’s changes to comparative negligence, filing deadlines, collateral source evidence, premises liability, bad faith claims, attorney’s fees, and offer-of-judgment rules triggered a major March 2023 civil filing surge. He described how filings tripled statewide, with especially large increases in auto negligence and premises liability cases, and outlined how circuits responded through active case management, added resources, and workflow changes. Members asked whether the bill’s immediate effective date contributed to the surge and whether clearance rates would normalize over time; Judge Mahan said the court system viewed its response as a success and expected rates to settle as the backlog is worked through. The committee then received a presentation on problem-solving courts from Jennifer Grandal and Judge Nina Richardson. Grandal reviewed Florida’s drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, dependency and early childhood courts, noting statewide best-practice standards, annual reporting requirements, funding sources, and data collection systems. Judge Richardson gave a local perspective on treatment courts, emphasizing that they address underlying mental health and substance use issues, rely on judicial supervision and sanctions as well as incentives, and help participants achieve recovery and avoid reoffending. She said the programs are accountable, transparent, and effective, and thanked the Legislature for continued support. Finally, Judge Rachel Nordby and Eric McClure outlined the judicial branch’s legislative agenda. Nordby summarized the Supreme Court workgroup’s recommendations to expand Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including broader coverage, fewer qualifying adverse cases, a longer lookback period, and a public records exemption for stricken defamatory or sham material. McClure then highlighted additional agenda items: modernizing the duty-judge statute, expanding senior management retirement eligibility, authorizing additional judgeships based on workload studies, removing the statutory cap on court-ordered nonbinding arbitration compensation, protecting appellate clerks’ personal information, allowing alternative authentication for certain judicial notarizations, and creating a hearsay exception for guardian ad litem reports and testimony. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after member introductions and staff introductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just wanted to share with you, I'm often burdened.
• I share your concern.
• Let me share just one story with you we've had just this year.
• Rogers, thank you for sharing your story.
• So I'm excited to share that with you. My name is Stephanie Augenbaugh.

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB 123, HB210, HB213, HB222, HB610, HB 1085, HB1481, HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, financial literacy, high school education, curriculum requirements, economics, personal finance, HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn’t know there was some confusion last week about whether or not we would be ending power sharing
• I'm going to share a couple of examples, and I will try to be brief.
• </c> going to share I want to share a couple going to share I want to share a couple of<00:09:06.480>
• Um, I prefer the word responsibility sharing rather than power sharing.
• </c><02:09:00.320><c> I</c> sharing rather than power sharing. I sharing rather than power sharing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> trans people have been forced to share trans people have been forced to share deeply<00:20:17.840
• I share those concerns.
• </c><00:35:37.760><c> her</c> came up to me and I I won't share her came up to me and I I won't share
• </c> without just quoting me openly sharing without just quoting me openly sharing that<01:11:03.520>
• </c><02:07:12.800><c> intimate</c> also put in danger when sharing intimate also put in danger when sharing

Keywords: 1189, house, all