Transcript Highlights:

• These are operating costs that have existed for decades, either in the unitary tax or with this mitigation
• aligning the correct way in that the more wildfire mitigation... ...making sure that we are aligning
• the correct way in that the more wildfire mitigation that takes place, that we are able to then reward
• We're just trying to provide cities with a fair process, and I'll tell you there is a... ...in Senator
• That's why we had previously been interested in discussing the fair argument and other remedies to CEQA

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the best bang for our buck is going to be in investing in mitigation upfront and preventing as
• In mitigation upfront and preventing as much damage as we can in the first place. Thank you.
• We do not oppose the wildfire mitigation grant program created elsewhere in this bill.
• 2022, and it is considered the gold standard for wildfire mitigation in the built environment.
• a consistent basis and in a way that is fair both to the operator and to the consumer.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering. Staff explained that the bill would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington colleges, but would continue to prohibit bets on the performance of individual college athletes. Tribal representatives from the Jamestown S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Kalispel tribes testified in support, saying the bill would keep wagering within the regulated tribal marketplace, protect integrity, and help smaller tribal casinos participate through a hub-and-spoke model. University of Washington and Washington State University representatives supported the ban on individual prop bets and emphasized student-athlete safety, while WSU also argued the bill would expand exposure to harassment and online abuse. No vote was taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes wildfire mitigation grant program. Staff said the bill would fund grants for wildfire-hardening homes to IBHS standards, authorize pilot projects, and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk to disqualify homes that meet the standards. Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuder and Senator Marcus Riccelli supported the bill, arguing that wildfire losses and non-renewals are increasing and that upfront mitigation is cheaper than recovery. Local officials and advocates from Medical Lake, Washington Realtors, and climate and wildfire groups also supported the measure. Insurance industry representatives supported the mitigation goals but objected to the bill’s requirement that insurers provide coverage based on IBHS designation and to using the commissioner’s regulatory account as a funding source, saying underwriting still needs to consider broader risk factors. No action was taken. The committee next held a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 6061, which would create a tourism self-supported assessment program. State of Washington Tourism, the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington Hospitality Association, the Brewers Guild, the Port of Seattle, and rural economic development representatives said the state’s tourism program is underfunded and that an industry-led assessment could provide a stable, competitive funding source. They said the model would be governed by a ratepayer oversight board, subject to ratification, and could generate significant visitor spending and tax revenue over time. Some testimony raised concerns about the scope of eligible businesses and the bill’s references to other industries, but supporters said friendly amendments would refine those details. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5844 on self-storage rental agreements, which would allow electronic agreements, clarify acceptance by continued occupancy, and create a uniform process for termination or nonrenewal for nonpayment or nonmonetary defaults. Self-storage operators supported the bill as a modernization measure that would improve safety and consistency, and no vote was taken on any of the bills heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are operating costs that have existed for decades, either in the unitary tax or with this mitigation
• “Things work in particular as it pertains to having enough funding to mitigate when we find ourselves
• aligning the correct way in that the more wildfire mitigation... ...making sure that we are aligning
• the correct way in that the more wildfire mitigation that takes place, that we are able to then reward
• That's why we had previously been interested in discussing the fair argument and other remedies to CEQA

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• These operating costs have existed for decades, either in the unitary tax or with this mitigation program
• particular as it pertains to having enough funding to mitigate. ...when we find ourselves in a disaster
• aligning the correct way in that the more wildfire mitigation that takes place, that we are able to
• Making sure that we are aligning the correct way in that the more wildfire mitigation that takes place
• That’s why we had previously been interested in discussing the fair argument and other remedies to CEQA

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and authorize additional funding to support renewable natural gas projects by reducing interconnection costs. Supporters said high interconnection costs and the current tax treatment are major barriers to methane reduction projects; opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, raised ratepayer cost concerns and objected to rate-basing and additional public funding. The author said amended language would remove the rate-basing provisions and instead urge the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Community Impact Mitigation Program for the Diablo Canyon plant through 2030 to continue funding local emergency preparedness, fire protection, public safety, and school district costs. The County of San Luis Obispo and labor groups supported the bill, while TURN opposed it as a statewide ratepayer subsidy that could be funded from existing PG&E revenues instead of higher rates. Members discussed the bill in the context of the 2022 Diablo Canyon extension deal and the possibility of a future longer extension. SB 1215 by Senator Cortese would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing and evaluate progress, with amendments aimed at affordability and limiting system upgrade costs. Supporters said renters are largely locked out of home charging and that prior utility programs proved cost-effective; no opposition testified. SB 1359 by Senator Stern would require more deliberate CPUC review before major gas system investments, emphasizing electrification and non-pipeline alternatives. Gas utilities and several industry groups opposed it, arguing it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and change the regulatory compact. The committee also heard SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Senator Gonzalez, which would establish a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Water agencies, environmental groups, and local governments supported the measure, while one member expressed concern that it lacked a funding source and could not overcome Proposition 218 limits; the bill was moved to Appropriations and the roll was left open. Finally, SB 1098 by Senator Perez would restrict the use of long-running memorandum and balancing accounts by investor-owned utilities, require exceptional circumstances for new accounts, and add sunset and cost-sharing requirements. Consumer advocates and large energy users supported tighter oversight, while the utilities and business groups opposed the bill as too rigid and potentially harmful to flexibility for wildfire, emergency, and safety-related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just would suggest that if people have enough insurance in the FAIR Plan—say they're in the FAIR Plan
• But also here— In the regular market outprices insurance in the FAIR Plan.
• We built that in the FAIR Plan.
• We built that in the FAIR Plan.
• they’ve placed in the FAIR Plan.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, when you start stacking mitigation actions on top of each other—in this case, we looked at four
• And lastly, when you start stacking mitigation actions on top of each other, in this case, we looked
• If the state's goal is to mitigate risk to even half of those homes in the highest hazard areas, that
• In this new landscape of federal hazard mitigation, In this new landscape of federal hazard mitigation
• making sure we're doing mitigations that matter in the right place.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation held an oversight hearing on home hardening and defensible space as wildfire mitigation strategies. The chair opened by stressing that California has reached a tipping point, with repeated community-scale wildfire losses, rising insurance costs, and growing utility wildfire mitigation expenses. The hearing was organized around four panels: what home hardening and defensible space are, community risk reduction and coordination, evaluation of current defensible space programs and proposed investments, and the future of home hardening and the California Wildfire Mitigation Program. The first panel featured IBHS, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and local wildfire mitigation advocates. IBHS described wildfire spread through embers, flames, and radiant heat, emphasizing that structure separation, removing combustible materials within the first five feet of a home, and combining multiple mitigation measures significantly reduce loss. It highlighted its Wildfire Prepared Home and Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standards, including an “essential” and “enhanced” level, and said California is ahead of other states but still needs scalable, standardized, and sustainably funded mitigation. The LAO outlined key policy questions for the Legislature, including the state’s role, intergovernmental coordination, cost-effectiveness, program design, measurement of success, long-term sustainability, and barriers to implementation. The chair and panelists discussed estimated costs, including roughly $15,000 for a basic retrofit and about $50,000 for more extensive ignition-resistant construction, and whether state funding should focus on the most cost-effective initial measures. The second panel focused on scaling adoption through local coordination, education, financing, and community-based programs. Megafire Action argued that home hardening is a market adoption problem and said the state should not try to pay for every home, but instead target high-leverage interventions across the “customer journey,” including education, financing, trusted certification, and neighborhood network effects. Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council described free home assessments, small retrofit grants, Firewise community support, and the importance of neighborhood-level action, local capacity, and cultural change. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority described its locally funded model, grant program, public education efforts, and an Ember Ready program that helps residents navigate home hardening and Zone Zero compliance. The chair repeatedly emphasized the need for a coordinated statewide marketing campaign, stronger incentives, better insurance discounts, and more use of local, utility, federal, and private funding sources. The third and fourth panels addressed Cal Fire’s defensible space inspection program, the proposed defensible space financial assistance program, and broader state investments. Cal Fire said homes lacking compliant defensible space are far more likely to be damaged or destroyed and requested ongoing funding and staffing to stabilize inspections statewide; the LAO suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as GGRF or a reinstated SRA fee. Cal Fire and the State Fire Marshal explained that Zone Zero sets a minimum standard, local governments cannot go below it, and grant prioritization will favor jurisdictions that submit inspections. Cal Fire also said the new defensible space financial assistance program would focus on ember-resistant zone-zero work and, in the Southern California counties covered by the legislation, would assist about 3,125 homes at an estimated $8,000 per home. In the final panel, the State Fire Marshal described California’s layered strategy of parcel-level home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, along with technical support, financial assistance, and incentives such as insurance discounts and builder marketing. The overall theme was that California must move from isolated efforts to a coordinated, science-based, and scalable statewide approach to reduce wildfire losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, when you start stacking mitigation actions on top of each other—in this case, we looked at
• Effective wildfire mitigation requires building and defensible space codes that are rooted in sound science
• If the state's goal is to mitigate risk to even half of those homes in the highest hazard areas, that
• In this new landscape of federal hazard mitigation, In this new landscape of federal hazard mitigation
• making sure we're doing mitigations that matter in the right place.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the overall bill, we do establish a greenhouse gas mitigation account.
• It's about caring for rural residents, particularly our seniors, and ensuring fairness of access in rural
• Minnesota has been a leader in Passing policies that protect our environment and mitigate the effects
• Up in Crookston, Minnesota, in their downtown, U.S.
• in this biennium, zero in the tails.

Transcript Highlights:

• in our state.
• You have to focus on community resilience and wildfire mitigation at that level, in addition to reducing
• Commissioner Cooterer is committed to protecting consumers and promoting transparency and fairness in
• My shop is in Seattle, one of my shops. I'm in Spokane. I just opened a shop in Tri-Cities.
• In fact, I ran some numbers just in the 16th District, Senator Dozier in Walla Walla County.

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee met for its first session under the committee’s new name and heard a work session on Washington’s economic development policy from the Department of Commerce. Commerce described its Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, including small business finance, export assistance, business attraction, and sector development work, and emphasized the need for a statewide economic development strategic plan with regular review, stakeholder input, and attention to rural and regional needs. Members asked about foreign trade offices, federal funding uncertainty, tax competitiveness, workforce programs, and the role of the Keep Washington Working program. Commerce said the state’s trade and investment efforts are valuable but face funding challenges, and that Washington must compete on more than taxes, including its business ecosystem and workforce. The committee then heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5919, which would encourage fire districts and insurers to develop voluntary incentives for wildfire mitigation best practices related to agricultural activities. The sponsor described the bill as a way to reward farmers for practices such as defensible space, fire breaks, equipment storage, and avoiding high-risk work during red flag conditions. A fire chief testified in support, citing recent standing grain fires and the need for practical incentives in rural areas. The bill was described as having no appropriation and no requested fiscal note. Members also heard testimony on Washington in the Making 2040 from the Association of Washington Business and a business owner. Supporters said the 16-year economic vision plan was built from broad public engagement and focuses on workforce, business climate, infrastructure, housing, and community. They argued Washington needs more housing, a more competitive regulatory and tax environment, and reliable energy to support growth. Senators questioned how the plan would achieve its housing goals and what specific regulatory changes were needed; AWB said it would provide a regulatory study soon. The committee also received a wildfire mitigation work group update from the Office of Insurance Commissioner, which recommended stronger community mitigation, better data sharing, consumer transparency, and a possible grant program for home hardening, though it did not reach full consensus on a single property mitigation standard. Finally, the committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5871, which would prohibit assignment of benefits in property and casualty insurance and set new rules for motor vehicle glass repair claims, including ADAS-related disclosures and limits on steering and inducements. The sponsor and supporters, including the Office of Insurance Commissioner, Safelite, NAMIC, and the Northwest Insurance Council, said the bill would reduce auto glass fraud, improve transparency, and help stabilize premiums. Independent glass shop owners and the Independent Glass Association opposed the bill as written, arguing it would favor large vertically integrated companies, restrict small businesses, and fail to address insurer steering and conflicts of interest. Several witnesses requested technical amendments, and the committee took no final vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this way, the VMT mitigation program reduces the cost of new housing and achieves effective environmental
• A project may still voluntarily use this program in this way to ensure that the VMT mitigation program
• of the program, resulting in lower-quality mitigation and ultimately less location-efficient affordable
• if they could afford their fair market rent in the residing county.
• if they could afford their fair market rent in residing county.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing bills. AB 2270, by Assemblymember Arambula, would give farmworker housing projects scoring parity in the state low-income housing tax credit program so they are not disadvantaged by amenity-proximity criteria that do not fit rural agricultural areas. Supporters, including La Cooperativa Campesina, said the bill would help farmworker projects compete fairly for credits; there was no opposition, and the bill was later approved 11-0 and sent to Appropriations. The committee also considered AB 2552, which would clarify use of the state’s new CEQA vehicle miles traveled (VMT) mitigation bank for affordable housing near transit. The author and supporters from the California Building Industry Association and business groups said the bill would add guardrails so the program is cost-effective and usable, while Housing California, the Planning and Conservation League, and others opposed the least-cost requirement, arguing it could undercut the new mitigation bank before implementation. After discussion about balancing housing and environmental goals, the bill passed 11-1 to Appropriations. AB 2689 would require good cause for nonrenewal of certain state-subsidized housing tenancies when a household’s income exceeds 140% of area median income for two consecutive years, with notice requirements and protections if the tenant cannot afford market rent. Some members supported the bill as a way to free up scarce subsidized units and create a housing “ladder,” while others objected that it could punish people for increasing their income. The bill was amended and passed 11-1. The consent calendar items AB 2308, AB 2397, and AB 2512 were also approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• in our state.
• You have to focus on community resilience and wildfire mitigation at that level in addition to reducing
• You have to focus on community resilience and wildfire mitigation at that level in addition to reducing
• Commissioner Cooterer is committed to protecting consumers and promoting transparency and fairness in
• I'm in Kirkland. I'm in Auburn. So we've been— Thank you. I'm in Kirkland. I'm in Auburn.

Bills: SB5871, SB5919

Keywords: motor vehicle, glass repair, insurance claims, consumer protection, regulations, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, 904, all

Summary: The committee met under its new name, the Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee, and began with a work session on state economic development policy. Andrea Chartock of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s economic development functions, including small business finance, export assistance, business recruitment, industry sector development, and support for rural and historically marginalized communities. She said Commerce is developing a statewide economic development strategy, with annual review and periodic updates, and emphasized stakeholder input, data analysis, and regional and sector-specific planning. Senators asked about the timing of reviews, stakeholder involvement, foreign trade offices, tariffs, and the effect of taxes and the Keep Washington Working program on competitiveness. Commerce officials said international offices remain valuable but funding is uncertain, and that Washington’s tax and regulatory environment matters to business location decisions. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5919, which would encourage fire districts and insurers to collaborate on voluntary wildfire mitigation best practices for agricultural activities, including defensible space, fire breaks, and equipment storage. Senator Schessler said the bill is intended to reduce harvest-time fire risk through optional insurance incentives for farmers and rural property owners. Public testimony from a fire chief and a fire protection district representative supported the bill, citing standing grain fires and the need for practical, voluntary prevention measures. The committee also received a report from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner on the wildfire mitigation and resilience work group created by prior legislation. The report recommended science-based property mitigation standards, stronger community resilience funding, better data sharing, improved consumer transparency about wildfire risk and nonrenewals, and a possible voluntary grant program for home retrofits; the work group did not reach full consensus on a single statewide mitigation standard. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 5871 on motor vehicle glass claims and auto glass fraud. The bill would prohibit assignment of benefits in property and casualty policies, set duties and restrictions for motor vehicle glass repair shops, require clearer estimates and invoices, and bar steering or inducements tied to insurance claims. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner and SafeLite supported the bill as a consumer protection and anti-fraud measure, saying it would improve transparency, reduce litigation, and address unsafe or deceptive practices around ADAS recalibration. Independent glass shop owners and the Independent Glass Association opposed the bill as written, arguing it would strengthen large vertically integrated companies, restrict consumer choice and marketing, and impose new burdens on small businesses unless amended to address steering and insurer conflicts of interest. The committee took no final vote on the bills during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• in general revenue dedicated, $40.9 million in other funds, and $3.9 million in federal funding.
• in GRD account 5073, the Fair Defense account for the 2006, 2027 biennium, representing a decrease of
• It also frees up 7.7 million in the Fair Defense account originally dedicated to OCFW.
• Number 1, the structural revenue shortfall in the Fair defense account, which is our GRD account, the
• promising but inexperienced candidates into fully formed mitigation specialists capable of filling in

Transcript Highlights:

• I just would suggest, if people have enough insurance in the Fair Plan—say they're in the Fair Plan market
• outprices insurance in the Fair Plan.
• One, that insurance in the regular market outprices insurance in the fair plan.
• In the regular market, it outprices insurance in the Fair Plan.
• We built that in the Fair Plan.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its first outcomes review oversight hearing on the residential fair plan clearinghouse program created by AB 3012. Chair and members focused on whether the program is actually helping depopulate the California Fair Plan and move policyholders back to the voluntary market. The Fair Plan and Department of Insurance testified that the program exists as a platform for admitted and, in some cases, non-admitted insurers to review Fair Plan policies and make offers through the broker of record, but they acknowledged limited participation and limited results. CDI said it has received no formal complaints specific to the clearinghouse, but identified obstacles including only 11 participating residential insurers, the broker-of-record requirement, compensation and appointment issues, and the lack of direct consumer contact. CDI said about 730 residential risks have moved to voluntary market coverage through the program from June 2021 through April 30, 2025, and opt-outs are under 1%. Committee members pressed witnesses on the program’s opacity, the lack of data on offers made versus policies actually moved, and whether the clearinghouse is functioning as intended. CDI and the Fair Plan said they do not have data on how many offers have been made, only on cancellations that are self-reported and marked as clearinghouse-related. Members also raised regional growth in Fair Plan enrollment, especially on the Central Coast, and concerns about underinsurance when policyholders move back to the regular market. CDI recommended more mandatory reporting, broader broker education, possible direct offers to policyholders after a period of time, and changes to commission and appointment rules to reduce barriers to insurer participation. The second panel of industry witnesses generally agreed the clearinghouse is not a stand-alone solution and said its effectiveness depends on a healthier admitted market and actuarially sound Fair Plan rates. Independent agents and brokers, admitted-market insurers, and surplus lines representatives said the current system is constrained by low rate adequacy, limited insurer appetite for high-risk properties, operational friction, and misaligned incentives. Several witnesses suggested improvements such as better data sharing, clearer depopulation procedures, stronger broker education, and more flexible appointment or compensation rules. Some supported giving the program more time under the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, while others said the Legislature should consider whether to strengthen, modify, or potentially sunset the program if it continues to produce limited results. A public witness later reported that a new carrier had recently joined the clearinghouse and was working with brokers to bring in additional capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• What are you guys going to do to actually mitigate this risk so that we stop meeting in your city?'
• We've helped in Texas, we've helped in Colorado, South Carolina.
• in our community.
• Case in point: a community in Larkfield, all on septic tanks.
• San Diego came in. And they built close to 200 homes in the Larkfield area.

Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and local partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Assemblymembers emphasized that the region has become a model for the state, with a shift from suppression to prevention, and panelists described improvements in defensible space, home hardening, vegetation management, alerting, and community coordination. The discussion also highlighted the continuing importance of sharing Sonoma County’s experience with other wildfire-impacted communities across California and beyond. Fire officials and local leaders described specific prevention measures now in place, including Santa Rosa’s vegetation management ordinance, ignition-free/Zone Zero requirements in rebuilding, restrictions on certain mulches, removal of dead and dying trees near roads and defensible space zones, and expanded prescribed burning authority. They also stressed the importance of community organization through block captains, Firewise/COPE-style networks, and the Mark West Area Community Fund. Speakers said these networks helped residents navigate recovery, avoid fraud and bad contractors, coordinate with local agencies, and support neighbors, but they argued that such efforts need more formal structure and stable funding. Water and permitting officials discussed how the fires changed their work. Santa Rosa Water described new regional coordination, generator and backup power upgrades, emergency training, and lessons learned about wildfire-related contamination in water systems, including the need to restore pressure, flush, and test quickly after a fire. Permit Sonoma said rebuilding was balanced by streamlining permits while still requiring safer, more resilient construction, and noted that reduced fees and one-stop permitting helped speed recovery. United Policyholders described helping residents maximize insurance proceeds, organize information, and avoid scams, while warning that insurance availability and affordability remain major barriers and that insurers are increasingly rewarding risk-reduction measures. Across the panels, the main policy requests were for faster and more flexible grant processes, more stable long-term funding for prevention and community programs, stronger support for home hardening and defensible space, better training and tools for local governments and legislative staff, and continued attention to insurance and utility-related resilience. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript excerpt; the hearing was informational and ended with a transition toward public comment and further discussion of remaining statewide wildfire policy needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The commissioner believes in the importance of mitigation and how these wildfire risk models need to
• The commissioner believes in the importance of mitigation and how these wildfire risk models need to
• As a participant in the wildfire mitigation and resiliency standards work group, I heard extensively
• Homeowners want a clear picture of what mitigation steps will result in more affordable insurance, and
• Additionally, clarifying the regulatory expectation that hazard mitigation is a factor in insurance modeling

Bills: SB5928

Keywords: wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, 904, all

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade and Economic Development Committee held a work session on protecting children online, centered on a proposal to limit addictive algorithmic feeds for minors and restrict push notifications during school hours and at night. Supporters included an Assistant Attorney General, former Meta executives, and a University of Washington psychologist, who argued that social media design exploits adolescent development, that the bill would still allow minors to access content by searching or following accounts, and that companies can implement age assurance and safety tools while remaining profitable. They also said the measure is a moderate, constitutionally defensible approach compared with broader bans, and that self-regulation by platforms has been insufficient. Opponents from NetChoice and the Association of Washington Business argued that the bill would burden protected speech, require age verification and disclosure of proprietary systems, and could reduce personalization that also supports safety and parental controls. Committee members asked about profitability, age verification methods, and possible peer-support tools, but no vote was taken during the work session. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5928, requested by the insurance commissioner, which would require property insurers to provide more transparency around wildfire risk scores, classifications, models, and related discounts or mitigation factors. Staff explained that the bill would require disclosures to consumers, allow appeals and reconsideration of scores, require insurers to include certain mitigation information in rate filings, keep model information confidential, and post information about available discounts. Senator Warnick said the bill responds to rising wildfire-related nonrenewals and premium increases in her district and elsewhere, and is intended to help consumers understand what is driving insurance decisions and how to mitigate risk. Testimony on SB 5928 was mixed. The Office of Insurance Commissioner, a Colville tribal representative, fire district leadership, climate advocates, Washington Realtors, the Washington Hospitality Association, and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington generally supported the bill, emphasizing consumer transparency, the importance of mitigation, and the need to include community and local fire protection efforts in risk scoring. Several supporters said wildfire risk information should help property owners appeal inaccurate scores and reduce losses. Insurance trade groups, including NAMIC, the Northwest Insurance Council, and APCIA, opposed or signed in as other, warning that the bill could expose proprietary underwriting information, increase compliance costs, trigger more regulation and litigation, and potentially discourage insurers from using wildfire scoring at all. Some of those groups said they were willing to continue working on amendments, including narrowing the bill to rate-setting or clarifying commercial line coverage. No vote was taken, and the chair closed the hearing after thanking the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• in.
• You need to go ahead and mitigate that. Well, you've been in this policy for a period of time.
• And in fairness, and I've said this, I think when I first presented the bill, it still has to be mitigated
• So, but in fairness, if you want to say that somebody said, hey, look, I mitigated to what I thought
• No, I think in fairness that there's always a potential for litigation.

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on May 6 and first heard H.R. 196, which would create a special study committee to examine the impacts of fallen trees on residential property, property values, daily life, and the insurance market. Representative Owen said the goal was to explore whether homeowners who proactively remove hazardous trees should receive some kind of insurance incentive or discount. Members generally supported the idea, with comments noting tree-related losses in hurricane damage and suggesting the study also consider homeowners association restrictions on tree removal. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 100, concerning proof of insurance for transportation network company drivers. Senator Jenkins explained the bill would require ride-share drivers involved in accidents to provide the correct ride-share-specific insurance and disclose whether they were logged into the app or on a prearranged ride, with penalties for failing to do so. Supporters from the Chiefs of Police were noted, and the bill was reported favorably. House Bill 408, dealing with homeowners insurance cancellations when policyholders timely mitigate risks, drew the most discussion. Representative Jordan said the bill was intended to prevent mid-policy cancellations after homeowners complete requested mitigation work, and committee amendments changed the bill from renewal language to cancellation language and shortened a notice period from 90 to 60 days. Insurance industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing the problem was not occurring in practice, that current notice rules already address the issue, and that the bill could create confusion and litigation. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment and then voluntarily deferred the bill. The committee also took up House Bill 625 on peer-to-peer car sharing programs. Representative Jordan described it as a measure to clarify insurance and liability rules for services like Turo, and the committee adopted two sets of technical and substantive amendments, including a requirement for admitted or approved physical damage coverage when no contractual protection package exists. Enterprise Rental Car’s representative said the company supported the broader policy discussion but disagreed with the amended version and wanted the issue revisited through NCOIL. The bill was reported favorably as amended, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The commissioner believes in the importance of mitigation and how these wildfire risk models need to
• The commissioner believes in the importance of mitigation and how these wildfire risk models need to
• As a participant in the wildfire mitigation and resiliency standards work group, we discussed extensively
• Homeowners want a clear picture of what mitigation steps will result in more affordable insurance, and
• Additionally, clarifying the regulatory expectation that hazard mitigation is a factor in insurance modeling

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade and Economic Development Committee first held a work session on protecting children online. Testimony focused on a proposed Kids Online Protection Act that would limit addictive algorithmic feeds for minors and restrict push notifications during school hours and at night. Supporters included a former tech executive, a Meta whistleblower, and a psychology researcher, who argued that social media design exploits adolescent development, harms well-being, and that the bill gives parents and children more control without banning access to content. Industry and trade group witnesses opposed the approach, arguing it would violate the First Amendment, create privacy risks through age verification, and could reduce useful personalization and safety tools; they said companies are already implementing teen protections and parental controls. The committee did not take a vote during the work session. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5928, sponsored by Senators Warnick and Short at the request of the Insurance Commissioner. The bill would require property insurers using wildfire risk scores or models to disclose more information to consumers, explain adverse factors, provide appeal and rescoring processes, and account for mitigation actions in rate filings and discounts. The Office of Insurance Commissioner, a Colville Tribal representative, fire district testimony, climate advocates, realtors, hospitality businesses, and insurance agents generally supported the bill as a transparency and consumer-protection measure, with some urging inclusion of commercial lines and stronger recognition of local fire mitigation. Several insurance trade groups opposed or were neutral, warning that the bill goes too far, could expose proprietary underwriting information, increase regulation and costs, and should be narrowed to align with other states’ approaches. No vote was taken, and the chair adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other things would be to mitigate dark pavement and roofs and increase midday shade in urban areas, all
• Our mission is to serve as the voice of these communities in trying to mitigate the impacts created by
• Our mission is to serve as the voice of these communities in trying to mitigate the impacts created by
• . participate in a state-led working group to mitigate the impacts of air quality from Logan Airport.
• And last year we passed our first-ever climate action plan in Malden, focused on resilience, mitigation

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing focused on a broad set of climate, energy, and environmental justice proposals. Early testimony strongly supported the Climate Change Superfund or “Polluter Pays” bill (H.1014/S.58), which would assess the largest fossil fuel emitters for a one-time fee based on historic emissions to fund climate adaptation. Sponsors argued the bill is modeled on Superfund cleanup principles, would target only the largest multinational polluters, would not be passed on to consumers, and would direct a significant share of funds to environmental justice communities. Committee members asked about the number of companies covered, consumer impacts, and whether the bill would address other forms of environmental destruction; sponsors said it was limited to major fossil fuel companies with a Massachusetts footprint and did not cover other pollution sources. The committee also heard testimony on a fusion energy compact proposal (S.673) that would direct the administration to develop a framework for a New England regional compact to accelerate fusion research, workforce development, and supply-chain growth. Supporters from MIT and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities said fusion could become a major clean-energy and economic opportunity, but acknowledged the technology is not yet commercially viable and still has unresolved technical, cost, and waste-management questions. Members pressed on environmental impacts, siting, waste, costs, and whether the bill would create a compact or only a framework; sponsors said it would only create the framework and that the administration would need to negotiate with other states. Another major topic was a pilot program for nature-based climate solutions (H.971/S.??), backed by legislators, Boston Harbor Now, and UMass Boston’s Stone Living Lab. Witnesses said the bill would help speed permits for research and demonstration projects such as living shorelines, marsh restoration, and hybrid “green-to-gray” flood protections, while maintaining safeguards and protecting Indigenous and historic resources. Committee members asked how the proposal would interact with other permitting reforms and whether it could conflict with housing or wetland-related streamlining; supporters said it was complementary and aimed at making projects faster, more affordable, and more data-driven. The hearing also covered climate-safe buildings and climate adaptation funding bills. Supporters of H.1004/S.583 said current building codes do not adequately account for future flooding, heat, and wind, and the bill would add climate expertise to the building board, allow stretch resilience codes, expand floodplain standards, and create a retrofit program. Related testimony backed H.938/S.572, which would create a dedicated climate and community resilience fund financed by a small fee on property insurance premiums; advocates said it would provide stable long-term revenue for adaptation, especially in environmental justice communities, and help replace unreliable federal funding. One witness from CLF supported the climate-safe buildings and funding bills but opposed S.560/H.939 as too broad. The committee also heard testimony on airport air-quality legislation (H.997) calling for more monitoring and mitigation of ultra-fine particulate pollution around Logan Airport and Massport communities. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Bills: SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700

Keywords: conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> fairness within our legal system. fairness within our legal system.
• way for people to come uh and uh a fair way for people to come in<00:09:58.200><c> and</c><00:09:58.320
• </c> Always civil and respectful in dialogue. Always civil and respectful in dialogue.
• in the in the house when I first<00:10:31.280><c> got</c><00:10:31.440><c> elected,</c><00:10:32.120
• > business</c> fairness and accountability in business fairness and accountability in business practices

Bills: SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700

Keywords: conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health