Transcript Highlights:

• We are live online now. Good afternoon.
• and career dedicated to improving the lives of children across the Commonwealth.
• , from the Department of Youth Services, as well as some data on community services from the Department
• available and the connection from the court to those services.
• To those services.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• services.
• </c> Social media provides free services. Social media provides free services.
• </c> sales tax on consumer legal services sales tax on consumer legal services which<00:29:07.560><c>
• </c> and became the center of their lives. and became the center of their lives.
• </c> professional services. professional services.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 5055, the governor’s supplemental tax budget. Commissioner of Revenue Paul Marquart outlined the proposal as a balanced budget package that would leave a positive bottom line in the current biennium and beyond. He emphasized family-focused tax relief, especially a new refundable young child credit for children ages 0 to 4, which would provide up to $3,000 for one child or $6,000 for two or more, benefit about 104,000 families, and phase out at higher incomes. He also described federal conformity changes, including updates to business interest deductions, dependent care credits, and Section 179 expensing, along with omitted federal items such as research expensing and opportunity zones due to cost and policy concerns. Marquart also defended broader tax modernization proposals, including expanding the sales tax to selected consumer services such as accounting, banking, brokerage, and legal services while lowering the statewide sales tax rate, and creating a social media tax on consumer data collection that would fund an AI readiness special revenue fund rather than the general fund. He said these changes would make the sales tax less regressive and better aligned with the modern economy. Additional provisions mentioned included a gun-related gross receipts tax on firearms and ammunition, cannabis tax technical changes, historic structure rehabilitation conformity, and added auditors for tax compliance. Testimony from outside groups was mixed. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project supported the governor’s approach as a response to federal tax and spending changes, praised the decision not to conform to opportunity zones or federal no-tax-on-tips/overtime provisions, and urged even stronger revenue measures. Brian Lake of the Minnesota State Bar Association strongly opposed the proposed sales tax on consumer legal services, arguing it would burden low- and middle-income people in sensitive cases and create unfairness when individuals litigate against the state. Tanner Fritsinger of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the sales tax base expansion and the social media tax as ways to broaden revenue without raising the base rate. The committee chair thanked the commissioner and then began hearing public testimony, with additional testifiers queued up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 23, by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Human Services Division of Youth Services
• Disability Services reappropriation.
• Health Services reappropriation.
• Senate Bill 20 by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Human Services Division of Medical Services
• and Behavioral Health Services supplemental appropriation.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:28.560><c> so</c> changed in order to get that service so changed in order to get that service
• Family Services good morning Lisa Dennis Family Services good morning Lisa Dennis the<00:36:40.760><c
• </c> could be additional therapeutic services could be additional therapeutic services Staffing<00:46
• <00:48:34.800><c> and</c> services and services and supports<00:48:36.559><c> and</c><00:48:37.079><c
• Could I just also add, as a provider of these services and having done these high-level services for

Keywords: 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:22 Roll Call 00:01:56 Discussion on SB 85 00:14:03 Vote on SB 85 00:16:15 Explanation of Agency Amendment 00:19:04 Voice Vote on Amendment 00:19:33 Discussion on Kentucky Foster Children Housing, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 85, sponsored by Senator Meredith, which would move the Office of the Ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the State Auditor’s office and make related cleanup changes. Meredith said the bill grew out of a prior task force and a two-year transition from Senate Bill 48, and he argued the move would create independence, improve access to the ITWIST database, ensure complaints are not lost in the handoff, and add confidentiality protections for whistleblowers. Auditor Allison Ball and her staff said the bill would codify access and procedures after earlier disputes and a court-mediated settlement, and they described the measure as necessary to make the new structure work effectively. Members asked how the Ombudsman would handle complaints and verify services in cases involving waiver recipients and other cabinet services. Ball and her staff said the Ombudsman would investigate complaints, make inquiries, and provide accountability outside the cabinet structure, with timelines and procedures similar to the Auditor’s office. The committee also discussed staffing and whether the office would need more personnel; Ball said the office already had about 100 people but could use more. The bill passed 10-0 with favorable expression. The committee then approved an agency amendment to administrative regulation 922 KAR 1:001490 concerning foster parent background checks. Cabinet staff explained the amendment corrected a drafting error by removing references to civil determinations in a second section of the regulation because the system cannot search those determinations, while still allowing the required checks under state and federal law. Senator Herron asked what a civil determination meant, and staff said it could involve a court finding in a custody or abuse case, though such findings are now typically handled through the child abuse and neglect registry. The amendment was adopted. Afterward, the committee began a discussion on Kentucky foster children housing and related issues. Ball and Ombudsman staff presented a preliminary assessment of children placed in office buildings, saying the review covered 49 children placed over a four-month period and showed a different picture than the public narrative of only older, high-acuity youth. They reported that some children had no documented behavioral or disability issues, many came directly from home, the average age was 13, the average stay was four nights, and placements were spread across several regions rather than centered only in Louisville. Members raised concerns about the lack of formal policies and procedures, staff safety, and how to ensure children are treated appropriately, and Ball said the Ombudsman was continuing a deeper review. No final action was taken on that discussion in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know it saves lives.
• </c> really allowed me to kind of like live really allowed me to kind of like live my<01:30:56.639><c
• </c> life is going to be like when I'm living life is going to be like when I'm living someplace<01:32
• Human Services just to to tie this all Human Services just to to tie this all up<02:15:11.559><c> um<
• </c><02:35:51.720><c> a</c> having having been denied Post Service a having having been denied Post Service

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1386, Bains, hospital perinatal services: hold in committee.
• AB 353, Berman, home internet service: due pass as amended to exempt certain small service providers,
• AB 1161, Herabedian, social services: holding committee.
• AB 548, Celeste Rodriguez, Social Services: holding committee.
• AB 548, Celeste Rodriguez, Social Services: holding committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know what services work.
• I currently live in Stanis House County.
• Having legal services in the community is transformational.
• There's just a desire here to create some transition.
• They provide a service.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on civil rights, housing, public safety, and administrative process. Early items included SB 46, which would authorize the Secretary of State to remove constitutionally ineligible presidential and vice presidential candidates from California ballots; SB 1078, requiring notice to the Civil Rights Department when court filings involve civil rights violations; SB 989, expanding access to Care Court by letting first responders refer cases through county behavioral health agencies; SB 998, clarifying and expanding discrimination prevention coordinators in the new Office of Civil Rights; SB 1146, requiring disclosure for AI-generated health advertisements and giving physicians a limited private right of action; SB 1164, a California Voting Rights Act expansion responding to federal voting-rights rulings; SB 1256, a housing bill aimed at limiting repeated litigation over the Harmony Grove Village South project; SB 1267, addressing HOA liability and indemnification for EV charger installations; and SB 1425, authorizing an encroachment permit program for high-speed rail right-of-way management. The committee also later heard SB 873, restricting ICE arrests near courthouses, and SB 1160, requiring eviction data reporting by zip code. Most bills drew support from sponsors, advocacy groups, labor organizations, or local officials, while opposition centered on concerns about county workload, due process, fire safety, civil liberties, or the scope of the policy changes. Members generally expressed support for the bills while noting unresolved issues and the need for amendments or further stakeholder work, especially on SB 1164, SB 1256, SB 1267, SB 1425, and SB 1160. The Judicial Council opposed SB 1160 because of the burden of adding zip-code reporting to court systems, while the author and supporters argued the data would help target eviction-prevention efforts. SB 873 drew strong support from public defenders, immigrant-rights groups, and court-related stakeholders, with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department opposing. SB 989 drew support from firefighters and family advocates, while Disability Rights California opposed, arguing Care Court is too costly and diverts resources from community-based services. SB 1164 received broad civil-rights and voting-rights support, with cities opposing unless amended over definitions, cure periods, and litigation risk. SB 1256 drew support from housing and labor interests and opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about fire safety and evacuation. SB 1267 was supported by the HOA and utility stakeholders after amendments addressing liability concerns. After quorum was established, the committee voted to pass a consent calendar and then approved the listed bills, sending them to the appropriate committees or to Appropriations, including SB 46, SB 873, SB 989, SB 998, SB 1078, SB 1146, SB 1164, SB 1256, SB 1267, and SB 1425. The transcript ends with SB 1160 still under discussion, with members indicating support for the bill’s goals but acknowledging the Judicial Council’s implementation concerns and the need for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> department of human services. department of human services.
• </c><00:44:36.960><c> or</c> normal in any sort of like transition or normal in any sort of like transition
• Privatization of government services has made it ripe for fraud.
• </c> So privatization of government services So privatization of government services is<01:06:03.280>
• </c><01:40:58.320><c> period</c> going through this transitional period going through this transitional

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Also on the federal side, the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
• There's a number of overlapping services that have the opportunity for with water.
• It would just be those support service positions.
• me... shop for those locals to come and get the services they need.
• me Board through this transition would be really helpful to keep ensuring that the agency maintains

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So today, I'm happy to congratulate the YMCA on 175 years of service.
• Budget Subcommittee 3 will be meeting in Room 1200 on health and human services.
• Rob carried forward a legacy of resilience, service, and purpose.
• Today, we honor not only his service, Barriers are put in front of them.
• and public service.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the policy analyst covering education support services, including STEM education and students.
• In fact, I live in the back pasture where my parents lived, so I bleed maroon.
• We live in the land.
• It's a very critical transition point for students.
• , but they do have to services required by a student's individualized education plan.

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> MY NAME IS KATIE ROSS AND I LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE.
• MY FAMILY HAS LIVED AND OPERATED A TIMBER FARM FOR OVER 80 YEARS.
• MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LIVES IN A CONDO ASSOCIATION.
• IF IT CHANGES LIVES, IT SAVES LIVES.
• THIS CHANGES LIVES AND IT'S A GREAT THING FOR FLORIDA TO HAVE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate your service. Continue. We appreciate having you.
• We have 46,000 students living on our campus.
• I miss living over there, but I'm back. I said I miss living in the Third Ward, as we call it.
• Thank you for your service. We sure appreciate that.
• John Shannon of Houston Service.

Committee: Senate Nominations

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> several</c><00:41:37.200><c> other</c> Human Services among several other Human Services among several
• </c><01:16:06.159><c> to</c> that provides free legal services to that provides free legal services to
• ,</c> safety programs, public health services, safety programs, public health services, or<01:47:43.679
• </c><01:53:15.199><c> Anthony</c> lives. My experience in St. Anthony lives. My experience in St.
• </c><01:54:25.280><c> body</c> of from facial recognition live body of from facial recognition live body

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the October 15, 2025 minutes and then held a broader discussion on current challenges with data retention and government transparency. Judy Randall of the Office of the Legislative Auditor said historical data is essential for post-audits, which often look back three to five years, and that retention decisions must balance audit needs with the burden of separating public and nonpublic data. She described the records-retention panel process as informal and largely based on individual judgment, noting she had objected to a proposed 60-day email retention period and generally uses a three-year guideline, though she said that standard is not grounded in a formal rule. Members discussed whether auditing standards should set retention periods, with Randall saying auditing is a good starting point but other offices, including the attorney general, also have needs, and that some agency discretion is unavoidable because of the gray area between official records and non-records. Representative Elkins raised the related principle of data minimization, arguing that government should not keep data longer than needed and citing a University of Minnesota legacy data warehouse breach as an example of the risks of retaining unnecessary sensitive information. Randall agreed that data no longer needed is a liability and said her office purges workpapers after five years. Representative Scott pressed whether three years is enough for fraud investigations and financial records; Randall responded that a reasonableness standard is needed and that longer retention can produce diminishing returns, though she said she would follow up on whether financial records should be treated differently. Tanya Tacker of the Rum River Special Education Cooperative testified in support of updating Minnesota’s data-retention laws for schools. She said districts want to protect student information and maintain transparency, but the current general retention schedule dates to 1985 and 2000 and does not reflect digital records, modern systems, or the volume of special education data. She urged modernizing the schedule, clarifying what must be kept in paper versus digitized form, aligning state rules with IDEA and other federal requirements, and providing practical guidance and tools. Members praised the specificity of her recommendations. Dr. BB Newman testified that retention failures in St. Anthony Village have made it difficult to obtain routine municipal and police data, with records delayed, missing, or inconsistently produced and no clear explanation of what systems were searched or whether records were destroyed. Newman argued these gaps undermine statutory access rights and force residents into costly litigation, and recommended stronger retention auditing, documentation of destruction, mandatory disclosure of systems searched, and consequences for noncompliance. In response to questions, Senate counsel said there is generally no direct penalty, but affected parties may seek mandamus, Data Practices Act claims, or informal mediation/opinions from the Data Practices Office. The discussion closed with calls for clearer standards and possible legislative updates to improve compliance and transparency.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Human Services placed under second reading of bills.
• You try living on $320 a week.
• President, your Committee on Health and Human Services, having had under...
• I think it's time for our services to keep up with our population growth.
• In particular, I always think about our water services and our services to help people with child care

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ARE ROLLING OUT THE SERVICES MODULE.
• HIGHER MORE ACUTE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
• IF WE HAVE MONEY AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEED SERVICES WE SPENT THE MONEY ON THE PEOPLE WHO NEED SERVICES
• I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE AN IDENTIFIER WHO NEEDS SERVICES TODAY RATHER THAN WHO NEED SERVICES
• Asztalos: WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES, THE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES IS ANOTHER PROGRAM

Transcript Highlights:

• And a lot of these warrior transition unit hospitals would have guys who were injured... ...transition
• injured, gals that were injured, and a lot of times military chaplains would go to these warrior transition
• As a nonprofit, we've been able to raise those funds and be able to provide those services free of charge
• and every one of them loves our military, loves our country, and wants to dedicate their time and service

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, I didn't hear where you live. What city do you live? Oh, Meridian. Okay. Good job. Thank you.
• their lives free of sexual and physical abuse.
• I live in Sandpoint, Idaho. Thank you, Mr.
• The trans women I know are caring, hardworking people, simply trying to live their best lives.
• Women I know are caring, hardworking people, simply trying to live their best lives.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 9, 2026, then heard House Bill 860, a cleanup bill revising Idaho’s parental rights and 988/suicide-crisis-related statutes. Representative Ehart said the bill clarifies when schools, hospitals, and crisis responders may provide non-emergency first aid, emergency treatment, suicide-related follow-up, and evidence collection without parental permission, especially in cases involving abuse or when a parent may be the alleged perpetrator. Support came from the Idaho Medical Association, Idaho 988, and several youth testifiers who described being hung up on or harmed by current law; the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association raised a late concern about language affecting time-sensitive evidence collection in child sex abuse cases and proposed a narrow amendment. Despite that concern, the committee voted unanimously to send HB 860 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 680, which would require audio or video recording of all interviews of alleged child abuse victims unless good cause exists. Representative Skog said the bill is intended to protect children, improve the reliability of interviews, and aid prosecutions. Supporters included the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association and a virtual witness who said recording preserves the child’s statement and reduces repeated questioning. No one testified in opposition, and the committee unanimously sent HB 680 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 752, a bill creating criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully entering opposite-sex public restrooms and changing rooms, with listed exceptions for emergencies, maintenance, law enforcement, family assistance, and similar situations. The sponsor and supporters argued it protects privacy and safety for women and girls and aligns with existing sex-based facility restrictions; opponents, including transgender Idahoans, clergy, parents, civil rights advocates, and Planned Parenthood, said it would criminalize transgender people, invite harassment, and be difficult to enforce. Law enforcement representatives testified that existing trespass laws already address unwanted presence and that officers cannot reliably determine sex in the field. The bill drew extensive debate over enforcement, privacy, and safety, but the transcript ends before a final committee vote on HB 752 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kelley, thank you for your distinguished service. Thank you for your response on 9/11.
• If you own half a dozen gas stations in the area, and let me tell you, if you live where I live and drive
• If you own half a dozen gas stations in the area, and let me tell you, if you live where I live and drive
• their life and buy products and services at a reasonable rate.
• their life and buy products and services at a reasonable rate.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, approved the journal, and welcomed several guest groups, including Saugerties student government officers, the Marlboro High School boys bowling state champions, a civics group, a National Guard/9-11 responder advocate, family members honoring Salvador Vizcarrondo Jr., architecture professionals, correctional officers and employees, and small business representatives. Members also offered resolutions recognizing Architecture Week, Correctional Officers and Employees Week, and Small Business Week, along with tributes to community leaders and student achievements. The chamber then took up a series of bills on the non-controversial calendar, passing measures on education leave for incarcerated people, utility interconnection study, property tax exemption, alcohol regulation, executive law, school drill requirements, victim sentencing rights, public health, public officers, public authorities, election law, environmental conservation, veterans/homeland security, labor, and other topics. Several bills were laid aside. Some measures drew brief explanations of vote, including concerns about school safety drills, correctional staffing and safety, and a victims’ rights bill that one senator said mirrored an earlier version he had carried. The most extended debate centered on the 21st Century Antitrust Act (Calendar 879), with supporters arguing it would modernize antitrust enforcement against dominant firms, especially big tech, and opponents warning it would create vague standards, invite private lawsuits, and harm small and rural businesses. Another debated bill (Calendar 818) would restrict sharing of utility consumption data with police; supporters framed it as a privacy measure requiring normal legal process, while opponents said it would hinder law enforcement while still allowing state regulators access. Both bills were ultimately restored to the non-controversial calendar and passed, and the Senate adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to mention the amazement I have for his public service career.
• I earned their trust through that service.
• And it I earned their trust through that service.
• They're the ones who had to live through the elections.
• They're the ones who had to live through the sessions.

Bills: SCR8410

Keywords: returning bills to house of origin, sine die, end of session, legislative procedure, Rules Committee, third reading, unfinished business, pending bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, joint memorials, special session, bill numbering, legislative records, House of Representatives, Senate, Washington Legislature, session adjournment, procedural resolution

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, suspended rules to allow committee work and additional floor resolutions, and referred committee and gubernatorial appointment reports as designated. It then took up several gubernatorial appointments in third reading. Megan Matthews was confirmed as director of the Washington State Office of Equity by a 45-2 vote, and Robert A. Zupon, Denise E. Gideon, Andrea Buchanan, Michelle R. Smith, and Edison A. Valerio were each confirmed to various community and technical college boards of trustees by large bipartisan margins. The chamber then considered Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation revenue and policy measure. After rejecting the Transportation Committee’s original striking amendment and adopting a narrower floor striking amendment, senators debated the bill’s changes, including repeal of the luxury aircraft tax and replacement with higher aircraft fuel taxes, registration fees, and an annual excise tax, along with technical corrections and safety-related transportation provisions. Supporters said the bill was a workable compromise that would sustain transportation funding and support future aviation investments; opponents argued it would raise costs on small aircraft owners and general aviation. The bill passed final passage 33-15. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 8703 honoring Senator Steve Conway for his 34 years of legislative service. Multiple senators spoke in praise of his leadership on labor, pensions, veterans, and district advocacy, as well as his institutional knowledge, mentorship, and personal integrity. Senator Conway then offered a personal statement thanking colleagues, staff, family, and constituents, and saying he would continue advocating for working people after leaving the Legislature. The Senate then recessed for lunch and caucus.