Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objections, so ordered.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered. Third order of business, message from the Senate.
• Hearing no objections, so ordered. Third order of business, message from the Senate.
• Hearing no objections, so ordered.
• Hearing no objections, so ordered. The House is now adjourned until 9:00 a.m.

Summary: The House opened by approving the previous day’s minutes and adopting several honorary resolutions, including measures honoring Natalie Naomi Phelps, Navy personnel, Dr. Bernal Baca, the Iranian American Community in Washington, and Billy Frank Jr. The chamber also received multiple messages from the Senate announcing passage of substitute or engrossed substitute bills, including Senate Bill 6603 and Senate Bill 5998, and a second engrossed substitute House bill. Members agreed to treat bills, memorials, and resolutions on the day’s introduction and supplemental introduction sheets as first reading items and refer them to the appropriate committees. The House also relieved the Rules Committee of House Bill 2711, concerning Transportation Resources, and Senate Bill 6278, concerning Teacher and Principal Programs, placing them on the second reading calendar. Committee reports were received and referred as designated. No objections were raised to the various consent actions, and the House adjourned until 9:00 a.m. Saturday, February 28th, the 48th legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objections, so ordered. Senator Ritchelli. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered. First order: reports of standing committees.
• Hearing no objection. Standing committees be referred as designated.
• Hearing no objections, so ordered. Senator Richellie. Well, I hate to do this, Mr.
• Hearing no objection, the Senate stands adjourned.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Senate convened on January 14, 2026, approved the previous day’s journal without objection, and moved through the first order of business. Under reports of standing committees, Senate Bill 585 was reported and referred to the Committee on Rules, with the rest of the committee report accepted as designated. The chamber then took up introductions and first reading of bills. Senate Bill 615 was introduced and referred to the Committee on Labor and Commerce. On motion, the Senate approved the referrals in the introductions report as designated, except for Senate Bill 6179, which concerns aligning child care subsidy-based rates and was redirected to the Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education. No substantive debate or votes occurred beyond unanimous consent actions on the journal, committee referrals, and bill referrals. The Senate adjourned without objection until 12:30 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, so ordered. Hearing no objection, so ordered. Senator Ritchelley.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered.
• Hearing no objection, the Senate now stands at ease. The Senate will be in order.
• Hearing no objection, the Senate now stands adjourned.

Summary: The Senate convened on January 12, 2025, approved the previous day’s Journal without objection, and moved through routine orders of business. A message from the House was received noting that House Concurrent Resolution 4406 had been signed and transmitted. In the introductions and referrals order, Senate Bill 6070 was read and referred to the Committee on Law and Justice, and the chamber agreed to refer all measures on the day’s introduction list to the committees designated. The President signed Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407 and House Concurrent Resolutions 4406 and 4407 in open session. Members were also informed that the Committee on Rules would meet at the bar of the Senate during the recess. The Senate then stood at ease to convene in joint session with the House of Representatives for the Governor’s State of the State address. After returning to order, the Senate adjourned without objection until Wednesday, January 14, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. No substantive debate or recorded votes occurred beyond unanimous consent actions and referrals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other sections have been in response to heart-wrenching stories we continue to hear of violent criminals
• Chair Devlin, let’s hear from the testifiers. I think the first one is Mike Martin. Mr.
• Can you hear me? Go ahead. Sounds like a no.
• <00:43:05.200><c> me</c><00:43:05.599><c> go</c> hear me go hear me go ahead<00:43:07.559><c> sounds<
• I'm glad to hear that. I think that this work is urgent.

Bills: HF7

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: public safety, criminal justice, sentencing guidelines, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, public sentencing database, felony dismissals, prosecutor reporting, bail notice, bond posting, law enforcement data, arrest data, public records, sex trafficking, human trafficking, mandatory minimum sentence, peace officer assault, police assault, fleeing police, vehicular flight, stolen motor vehicle

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:22.480><c> and</c> they can ask for a hearing and they can ask for a hearing and essentially
• Hearing none, the measure is adopted. Thank you.
• Hearing none, the measure is adopted. Next up is SP 526.
• Hearing none, the measure is adopted. Next up is SP 598.
• Hearing none, the measure is adopted.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several bills on January 30. SB 286 and SB 287 both concerned supplemental funding for the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney: SB 286 for the career criminal prosecution unit and SB 287 for the victim witness assistance program. Testimony from the department explained that these bills are filed each year because the Attorney General’s core budget allocation may not be sufficient, though the department said the core had recently been increased and the supplemental request might no longer be necessary. For SB 287, the department also warned of a possible federal Victims of Crime Act funding freeze that could cut about $1.88 million and severely harm victim services. Both bills drew support from county and community witnesses, and members asked about prior-year funding and why the requests were limited to fiscal 2025-26; no votes were taken in the excerpt. SB 289, from the State Ethics Commission, would create a more uniform administrative fine process under the ethics code and lobbyist law. The commission said the measure would not change substantive enforcement but would let it issue a notice and order of fine first, with the respondent able to request a hearing within 20 days, which would speed up cases that are not factually disputed. Members questioned whether the bill would deny due process or function like an automatic parking ticket, and the commission responded that respondents could still challenge the fine and that the process would apply to violations with fines under $1,000. The committee also heard SB 304, which would add 11 positions for the First Circuit Adult Client Services Branch; Judiciary testimony said probation caseloads are high, with an average of 116 cases per officer, and the added staff would help meet national supervision standards and better serve higher-risk clients. Members asked whether the positions were already in the budget and about current staffing ratios; the witness said the positions were not already funded and that the Judiciary supported the bill with amendments. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment to exclude spending money to influence elections from protected free speech. Testimony was strongly divided: supporters argued that Citizens United has distorted elections and empowered special interests, while opponents warned the language was too broad and could affect nonprofit advocacy and grassroots groups. Finally, SB 313 would impose a 1% wealth asset tax on individuals with $20 million or more in assets. The Department of Taxation said it had concerns about the bill’s ambiguity and administration and noted it would require annual valuation and likely additional resources; opponents, including family business representatives and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued the tax would be difficult and costly to administer, would require sensitive business disclosures, and could force family businesses to pay from company cash. Supporters said wealthy residents should pay a fair share. The committee heard testimony and questions on these bills, but the excerpt does not show final committee votes or actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• the the public hearing notice there?
• </c> the hearing on HP 1654. the hearing on HP 1654.
• Just hear me out on this.
• So, um we hear back to the developer.
• </c> members of the committee for hearing me. members of the committee for hearing me.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:10.360><c> on</c> meting 9:15 we will open the hearing on meting 9:15 we will open the hearing
• </c> the ohvs have a public hearing the ohvs have a public hearing and<00:43:52.359><c> large</c><00:
• before there's an actual hearing.
• when you had to hold a hearing.
• when you had to hold a hearing.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is implementing a weekly roundtable with providers to hear about how things are going, to hear
• What are the I'm glad to hear that.
• I have Gilman, this hearing time.
• I'm hearing you're hearing things coming up as well.
• </c> just have to say we did want a hearing just have to say we did want a hearing in<01:26:21.760><c

Bills: HF3378

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I hear this a lot.
• I hear this a lot.
• I hear this a lot.
• If we could hear from Mr.
• If we could hear from Mr.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, everyone, for coming today to the third—this is our fourth hearing.
• It's going to be a public hearing... ...which is going to be April 17.
• Can't hear you. How? Speaking to the mic.
• Other than that, I thank you all for attending today, and the hearing is over.”
• “Thank you all for attending today, and the hearing is over. Thank you.”

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its fourth hearing on emerging firearm technology, focused on personalized firearms and related privacy issues. Co-chairs noted the commission’s charge to study personalized firearm incentives, risks from digital manufacturing codes and AI, and the costs of requiring personalized firearm and microstamp technologies, and said the report deadline is being extended to July 31. They also announced the next public hearing for April 17 at 11:00 a.m., limited to Massachusetts residents. The first witness, Kai Kloepfer of Biofire, described the company’s personalized 9mm smart gun and argued it is designed to prevent unauthorized use through biometric authentication, local encrypted data storage, no wireless connectivity, and automatic disarming when released. He said Biofire opposes any mandate requiring personalized firearms, calling such mandates a de facto gun ban that would stifle innovation, limit consumer choice, and burden a still-developing market. He said the company has a patent portfolio, has received thousands of pre-orders, is shipping in all 50 states, and is approved for sale in Massachusetts; he also said the gun costs about $1,500, is currently sold online, and is intended mainly for home defense. Members questioned him about sales, manufacturing, battery life, repairability, transfer of ownership, possible expansion to other firearms, and whether microstamping could be incorporated. A Massachusetts firearms roster official, Michaela Dunn, explained the state’s testing and approval process for handguns and confirmed that the Biofire firearm is now on the Massachusetts roster and commercially available for retail sale in the state. Kate Crockford of the ACLU of Massachusetts testified only on facial recognition, warning that commercially available systems show significant demographic bias and that Massachusetts lacks comprehensive biometric privacy protections. She urged passage of pending data privacy and biometric privacy bills, including the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and related measures, before any broader use of biometric verification in firearm laws. Commissioners discussed privacy concerns, and Biofire said its system is zero-knowledge and would likely comply with stronger biometric privacy laws. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported beyond the scheduling announcement and the extension effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll hear shortly from Senator Alice Mann, an emergency room physician, on the danger that Andrea faces
• Now, we'll hear a short message from Representative Craig.
• </c> asylum hearings. asylum hearings.
• Yes, that's what we're hearing, and also our businesses have been affected.
• </c><00:29:26.440><c> and</c> Yes, what that's what we're hearing and Yes, what that's what we're hearing

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the detention of Andrea Pedro Francisco, a 23-year-old Burnsville resident and Minnesota constituent who was detained by ICE and transferred from Camp East Montana in El Paso to the El Paso Processing and Detention Center while awaiting surgery for a large ovarian cyst. Senator Lindsey Port, Congresswoman Angie Craig, and Senator Alese Matson argued that she has been denied adequate medical care, receiving only Tylenol and constipation medication despite an emergency room confirming she needs surgery. They said the delay could lead to severe pain, bleeding, loss of fertility, infection, or death, and repeatedly called for her immediate release on humanitarian parole. Pastor Ellery Deikman described visiting Andrea in detention with other clergy and her lawyer, saying she appeared thin, in pain, and deeply distressed, though she brightened when told people in Minnesota were praying for her. He and others framed her situation as a humanitarian and human rights issue, criticizing the detention system as punitive and for-profit. Senator Matson, who is also a physician, explained that the standard treatment for a cyst of this size would be surgery and that waiting is medically dangerous. Participants also said Andrea had been in detention for close to 80 days, had limited access to legal and medical records, and had been separated from family and faith community. The speakers tied Andrea’s case to broader concerns about immigration enforcement under the current administration, saying detentions and arrests have increased sharply and that many detainees have no criminal record. Vicki Schmidt of Abriendo Fronteras said detention numbers and costs have risen, conditions are often inhumane, and many people are being held in for-profit facilities. She and others urged support for HR 7335, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in ICE and CBP Custody Act, and called on DHS to grant Andrea parole immediately. In the question-and-answer portion, the physician-senator reiterated that surgery is the only treatment, that the condition could worsen at any time, and that prior practice generally allowed asylum seekers to remain in the community while their cases proceeded if they were not a danger.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you hear us? Michael Fields: Yes, I can hear you. Chair: Okay, welcome to the committee.
• Could you hear us? Yes, I can hear you. Okay, welcome to the committee.
• We can't hear you. You're muted on your end. There you go. Is that better? Yes.
• We can't hear us fine. We can't hear you. You're muted on your end. There you go. Is that better?
• Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for hearing this bill today.
• Hear from your compliance officer.
• And I, you know, I didn't hear about that.
• Patrick's Day, and thanks for hearing.
• I didn't hear a motion. Sure. On the motion or just a comment? I didn't hear a motion.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1326, which would restrict government employees and agents from entering private property without permission or a warrant, with exceptions for exigent circumstances, welfare checks, service of papers, and certain other activities. The bill sponsors argued it was needed to protect Fourth Amendment and property rights and to create a civil penalty for unauthorized entry. Opponents, including Idaho Fish and Game, Trout Unlimited, and some lawmakers, said it would hinder routine compliance checks, poaching investigations, and interagency cooperation, and could require new permission-tracking systems. Supporters, including landowners, the Idaho Farm Bureau, and agricultural groups, described repeated trespass concerns and said the bill would improve accountability. The committee approved the bill 12-2 and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1301, a brewery licensing measure that would allow breweries to operate up to two remote retail locations instead of one. The sponsor and supporters from the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, a brewery owner, and a nonprofit representative said the bill would help small businesses expand, support jobs, and increase community and charitable contributions. No opposition was offered, and the committee passed the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Joint Memorial 19, which supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and returning education authority to the states. The sponsor and supporters argued that education should be controlled locally and that federal bureaucracy and regulations are burdensome. Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said Idaho already handles much of the work, that federal functions are being shifted among agencies without immediate funding disruptions, and that state-level administration could reduce bureaucracy, though she noted no promise of additional funding. After testimony from policy groups supporting the memorial, the committee passed HJM 19 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for hearing this bill today.
• Hear from your compliance officer.
• Sorry, we're hearing in-person testimony.
• Patrick's Day, and thanks for hearing my testimony.
• I didn't hear a motion. Sure. On the motion or just a comment? I didn't hear a motion.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee chair maintains control of this hearing, and I have the following expectations: signs and
• hearing.
• Everything you will hear today.
• So I'm glad to hear that that's part of it. All right, I think we're done with you.
• So I'm glad to hear that. That's part of it. All right. I think we're done with you.

Bills: HF3727 , HF3684 , HF3467

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: veterans property tax, homestead exclusion, disabled veteran, totally and permanently disabled, service-connected disability, property tax relief, market value exclusion, surviving spouse, family caregiver, county veterans service officer, Minnesota property tax, assessment year 2027, homestead tax benefit, veterans tax exemption, DD214, VA disability rating, veterans, veterans affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, grant standards

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
• You're going to hear a lot today.
• Hurst, can you hear us? We can. Hi, how are you? Can you hear me? We can. Thank you. Yes.
• It's waiting for a hearing in judiciary rules.
• On the other hand, I hear the need to rein in unchecked power.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Ryu and members of the committee, thanks for hearing this important bill.
• You're going to hear more about how this is an emerging issue in our society.
• We are hearing from families who've suffered severe harms when AI goes wrong.
• And I think that there is, and this is what you were hearing from Dr. Agnew.
• open the hearing on Senate Bill 6046.

Bills: SB6046

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: SB 6046, Civil Air Patrol, Washington Military Department, Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol, volunteer air patrol, search and rescue, disaster relief, cadet training, communications support, cyber security, emergency response, governor call-up, active state service, federally chartered Civil Air Patrol, Washington Wing, Title 38 RCW, military department, tribal cooperation, public safety aviation, aerospace cadets

Transcript Highlights:

• I hear it. The rates are high. It's getting difficult.
• I would say in picking on which bill to hear going forward and which bills to continue to work on is
• Because, again, we have four different approaches that we're going to hear today.
• I hear it's in Kentucky. Thank you for that invitation. I look forward to joining.
• Sorry, I couldn't hear. There's people saying, could you kind of restate what you said?

Bills: HB3048 , HB3259 , HB3646 , HB3696 , HB3780 , HB3781 , HB3802 , HB3818 , HB4294 , HB4488 , HB2929

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, insurance regulation, Oklahoma, health insurance, contracting entities, medical providers, enrollment, beneficiary rights, property and casualty, rates, filing, Insurance Commissioner, regulation, property, regulations, actuary, rate filing, independent review

Summary: The committee heard a series of insurance-related bills, with much of the discussion focused on homeowners insurance rates, transparency, and regulatory oversight. House Bill 3696, a proposed rate-approval style measure for homeowners insurance, drew extensive questioning about whether it would actually lower premiums, its comparison to Texas, the role of the Insurance Department and Attorney General, and possible effects on carriers and agents. The author said the bill was intended to increase transparency and consumer protections, acknowledged it was a work in progress, and agreed to strike the title and keep working with the committee. The bill ultimately passed the committee on a recorded vote. The committee also advanced House Bill 3259, which would prohibit certain health care contract clauses such as all-or-nothing, anti-steering, gag, and most-favored-nation provisions; House Bill 4294, a follow-up to Dylan’s Law dealing with epilepsy-related insurance coverage and neurostimulator devices; and House Bill 4488, which would let the Insurance Commissioner appoint an impartial umpire when a body shop and insurer cannot agree on a loss value. House Bill 3646, a broad and still-developing insurance bill involving rate review, litigation, venue, AI use, and Attorney General involvement, generated substantial concern from members about workability, litigation, and agent exposure. Its author said it was not final, but the committee voted it down. Later, the committee passed House Bill 3048, a cleanup measure for surplus lines licensing laws; House Bill 3780, requiring an independent actuary review as a transparency measure; House Bill 3781, changing the timing from use-and-file to file-and-use with a 60-day review period while the author said he did not want rate approval; House Bill 3802, delaying rate adjustments after a spouse’s death until renewal; House Bill 3818, creating a home and auto savings account framework intended to help policyholders raise deductibles and lower premiums; and House Bill 2929, which limits how far back insurers may look at homeowners and auto claims for underwriting purposes. Most of these bills passed with little or no opposition after brief questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill was voted out of our committee on a vote of 5-3-1. distribution, pre-etition hearings, site
• distribution, pre-etition hearings, site visits,<00:14:28.560><c> and</c><00:14:28.720><c> the</c><00
• ,</c><00:14:35.199><c> and</c><00:14:35.440><c> significant</c> intervention hearings, and significant
• </c><00:14:41.120><c> and</c> procedures, evidentiary hearings and procedures, evidentiary hearings and
• A question I hear all the time in my community is what does the lieutenant governor actually do?

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:39.599><c> at</c> amendments the committee will hear at amendments the committee will hear
• Representative Huff thanked the Chair and the members for hearing the bill.
• Chairman, for hearing &gt;&gt; Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for hearing this<00:08:36.000><c> bill.
• Do I hear a &gt;&gt; We have a motion on the sub. Do I hear a second? second? second?
• what we're hearing other communities across<00:12:32.000><c> the</c><00:12:32.240><c> state.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 00:50 Roll call 05:09 HB 140 06:56 HB 140 Vote 08:04 HB 144 09:50 HB 144 vote 11:12 HB 189 18:47 HB 189 vote, 958, all