Transcript Highlights:

• So, there's a lot of dwellings that are at risk.
• So, there's a lot of of of um<00:37:37.280> dwellings<00:37:37.760> that<00:37:38.000><
• um dwellings that are at risk. um dwellings that are at risk.
• <00:44:04.240> that<00:44:04.400> were This is for older dwellings that were This is
• for older dwellings that were built<00:44:04.800> before<00:44:05.119> 1994<00:44:05.920

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• lawyer and putting it in tension with the general understanding that, you know, we recognize that our structure
• But maybe you need something broader that doesn’t just dwell on lawyers. I don’t know.

Summary: The Legislative Ethics Board approved the minutes from its September 8, 2025 meeting and reported that there were no employment disclosure forms. The board then discussed whether RCW 42.52.187(1) permits legislators to write letters of recommendation in a broader range of situations, including citizenship, clemency/pardon, immigration waivers, scholarships, and appointments. Members generally favored a broad reading for constituent-requested letters, while staff noted their existing advice had been narrower and suggested drafting an advisory opinion to clarify the definition and scope of “letter of recommendation.” The board also considered whether the statute’s reference to commemorations or celebrations of “persons who are not current legislators” allows use of state resources to recognize entities such as the Mariners or Seahawks. Members discussed whether “person” includes organizations under the Ethics Act’s definition, and the consensus leaned toward a plain-language reading that would allow posts about teams and other non-legislator entities, though some members suggested the language may need cleanup in the future. A third item addressed a previously retired advisory opinion concerning legislators who are attorneys and represent clients before state agencies. Staff proposed republishing or updating the opinion with current citations, but several members expressed concern that the old opinion could be read too narrowly or as implying legislators cannot do outside legal work involving agencies. The board agreed the issue needed more refinement and deferred further action to a future meeting. There was no public testimony beyond a brief check-in from Jerry Cornfield, and the meeting adjourned after a motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• How long is temporary? Until they refile the case the correct way and follow the law.
• To occupy an apartment, a dormitory, or dwelling, and to be wrongfully removed or kicked out.
• If an eviction is involved, this timeline is extended, often forcing families into expensive temporary
• Kristen Adams, on behalf of yourself, testifying against the bill as an appointed special temporary JP
• Today, I speak to you in my role as a special and temporary justice of the peace in Bexar County.

Bills: HB32, HB15, HB171, HB421, HB581, HB644, HB745, HB349, HB917, HB204, HB923, HB15, HB171, HB204

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• So, our first hearing is on SB 27FN relative to dwellings over water.
• Uh the Nukem's structure and whatever.
• <00:22:02.799> so will allow expansion of structures so will allow expansion of structures
• I believe it's more specifically within 25. structured, it talks about a homeowner a structured, it talks
• <03:23:52.880> that's with the the fee structure that's with the the fee structure that's

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 27FN, which would change how improvements to dwellings over water are handled and align those projects more closely with the state building code. The bill was presented by Trisha Milo on behalf of Senator Lang, and attorney John Cronin explained that it arose from a specific New Hampshire Supreme Court case involving the Newcombs’ lakeside property, but that it could affect a small number of older waterfront homes statewide. He said the intent was to give the Department of Environmental Services (DES) limited waiver authority for improvements that do not harm water quality, plant life, or fish, while still requiring DES review and local permits. Committee members asked several questions about the scope of the bill, including whether it was tied to one case, how many properties might be affected, what counts as “living space,” and whether the language could allow larger decks or other expansions. Cronin said the bill was meant to be narrow, focused on access and egress and not on creating new living space, and that DES would still be able to deny unreasonable requests. He also described the Newcombs’ project as a rehabilitation of an older structure that had been approved locally and later challenged by DES, leading to the current dispute. Darlene Forst, the Wetlands Bureau administrator at DES, testified in opposition. She said the department was surprised the bill was being heard because it believed the Senate had sent it to interim study, and she argued the language was unclear and could have broader statewide effects than intended. Forst also said the underlying case was still active and should not be effectively re-litigated through this bill. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, depending on how complicated the structures are if you're building a simple home that you know
• huge problem, and rising in costs and labor, those are all things you have to have to build any structure
• , but certainly residential structures.
• developing city that wants to move towards greater density, move towards lower lot sizes, accessory dwelling

Transcript Highlights:

• Depending on how complicated the structures are, if you're building a simple home that you've built a
• Those are all things you have to have to build any structure, but certainly residential structures.
• developing city that wants to move... ...towards greater density, towards lower lot sizes, accessory dwelling

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• high-resolution video, but they capture video, and it's not of the highway necessarily; it's the structure
• high-resolution video, but they capture video, and it's not of the highway necessarily; it's the structure
• high-resolution video, but they capture video, and it's not of the highway necessarily; it's the structure
• Um, there was talk of an amendment to restrict under dwellings.
• uh I think that could have dwellings uh I think that could have been<04:27:07.960> something<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee opened with an announcement correcting the public hearing list: House Bill 209 was mistakenly listed as a continued hearing, but the chair said that hearing had already been closed and would not be reopened. The committee then moved to House Bill 305, which would allow municipalities to install and use speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement. The prime sponsor, Rep. Jones, said the bill was intended as a tool to address police staffing shortages and erratic driving, and emphasized that municipalities would pay the costs, work with DOT and the Department of Safety, and retain full control without using third-party vendors. He said the bill was meant to target speeding, red-light violations, and similar conduct, with enforcement handled locally and subject to state and federal law. Committee members raised questions about how citations would work, who would be held responsible in multi-driver or rental-car situations, whether due process would be affected, and whether cameras could identify the driver rather than just the vehicle. The sponsor and supporting witness Edward H. of Keene said municipalities would determine procedures, that an officer would still have to review and issue any summons, and that the bill was meant to be a limited enforcement tool rather than a catch-all. Edward H. also described the bill as adding guardrails such as a needs analysis, coordination with DOT, annual reporting, and public records of detections and fines. The Department of Transportation testified neutrally, saying it had no position on the bill and noting that current state systems include speed feedback signs, bridge security cameras, toll cameras that capture plates only, and traffic-signal detection cameras that do not record video. No vote was taken. The committee then held a brief hearing on House Bill 368, which would prohibit smoking tobacco products or e-cigarettes in a motor vehicle when a child under 16 is present and impose a $100 secondary fine. Rep. Miller introduced the bill in the sponsor’s absence, and there was no public testimony for or against it. The chair closed the hearing. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 390, which would add retired fire apparatus to the antique vehicle exemption so old fire trucks can be registered and used in parades without being stripped of their equipment. Rep. Parson explained that a strict reading of current law had led DMV to reject some antique fire engine registrations, and said the bill would fix that while preserving the ban on commercial use and on impersonating emergency vehicles. Members asked about the relationship to existing laws on emergency-vehicle impersonation, and the sponsor said the bill would not affect those laws. The hearing remained open as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The previous decentralized structure reduced the state's ability to focus on children's and families'
• within the four policy program structure within the four policy administrations<00:19:26.480> we<
• The transition-year accounting structure is one tool that is given DCF that flexibility this year, so
• Then, beginning July 1 of 2025, budgets will be set up in new DCF accounting structures.
• <01:46:35.679> in time which presentations can dwell in time which presentations can dwell

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This balance is achieved through carefully structured regulations to prohibit conflicts. Thanks.
• This balance is achieved through carefully structured regulations to prohibit conflicts.
• They're more likely protecting their yard, essentially, if it's around a dwelling in the curtilage.
• So if we wanted to say this doesn't apply to the dwelling in the curtilage, however we want to define
• And I would just say if we end up doing that, we need to think about barns and other structures where

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It protects contributing structures. It protects neighborhood scale through objective standards.
• It protects contributing structures. It protects scale.
• There has to be a threshold met in these historic neighborhoods of actual historic dwellings.
• Preserve historic structures.
• Third, there is a litigation-driven recovery structure here.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2079, which authorizes a memorial for Arizona journalist Don Bolles in Wesley Bolin Plaza. The sponsor described the memorial as a no-cost way to preserve Arizona history and honor Bolles, who was assassinated in 1976 while investigating corruption and drug cartels. The bill was moved and passed unanimously, 7-0, for a due pass recommendation. Members then considered HB 2080, a strike-everything amendment addressing deed and title fraud. The bill would require photo identification for certain county recorder filings, add identifying measures for deeds and real property documents when notarized, create an assessor alert system tied to property addresses, and increase penalties for knowingly filing false claims or forged real property documents from a misdemeanor to a class 4 felony. Testimony from county assessors, the Attorney General’s Office, and a fraud victim emphasized the scale of the problem and the need for layered protections. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 7-0. HB 4064, concerning municipal improvement districts, drew more debate. The bill would move the petition requirement earlier in the process before a city or town adopts a resolution of intention for an improvement district. Supporters from Camp Verde, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, a developer, and the Yavapai Apache Nation said the change would improve transparency, reduce wasted planning costs, and help finance sewer and infrastructure projects in rural areas. Opponents argued it could force property owners into infrastructure they do not want and infringe on property rights. The bill passed 5-2. The committee also approved HCR 2048, which would withhold pay for statewide elected officials and legislators if the general appropriations bill is not enacted by April 30 and send the measure to voters. Supporters said it would create a stronger incentive to finish the budget on time; opponents said more work was needed on session length and bill volume. The resolution passed 4-3. Later, HB 2324, allowing municipalities with their own fire codes to petition for county buildings inside city limits to be inspected under local code through an intergovernmental agreement, passed 7-0 after testimony from county and state fire officials who supported the concept but wanted technical amendments. The committee then passed HB 4087, authorizing a memorial plaque for former legislator Barbara Leff, with the family covering costs. Finally, HB 2239 created a child care grant program and infrastructure fund to expand child care in underserved and rural communities. Supporters described severe child care shortages, economic impacts, and safety concerns; the sponsor framed it as an investment in workforce participation and child well-being. The bill passed 5-0 with one present and one not voting. The committee then began hearing HB 2375 on historic districts and middle housing, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2384 targets three housing cost drivers that add expense without improving structural safety or life
• The IRC: structural safety. IECC: energy efficiency. Right? So, IECC: energy efficiency, right?
• And a lot of those changes to the foundation were directly related to the response of a structure in
• There's also a little bit of some different structuring of this bill.
• The building portion, the structure is 2024. The energy is 2009.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and<00:09:02.000> then<00:09:02.160> we'll Next bill is SB 1229 relating to the dwelling
• SB 1229 relating to the dwelling unit SB 1229 relating to the dwelling unit revolving<00:09:20.240>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So these public financial structures.
• are, what is the corporate structure are, what is the corporate structure that<02:22:58.640>
• obfuscation of the corporate structure obfuscation of the corporate structure of<02:27:14.880>
• <02:27:55.920> and<02:27:56.240> hides structure that moves money and hides structure that
• Thank you. repair of dwellings. It would lower the repair of dwellings.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, home ownership is a dream for many New Mexicans, or even just the fact of a dwelling place
• The structure already protects taxpayers and focuses the credit on real job growth.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had to give out a temporary pass today. Um, and uh, we have, you know, a real concern.
• So, they have temporary press passes. They're here on the floor. We said uh they could join us.
• had to give out a temporary pass today. had to give out a temporary pass today.
• So,<00:21:07.120> they<00:21:07.280> have<00:21:07.440> temporary<00:21:07.919><
• So, they have temporary p press passes. So, they have temporary p press passes.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 38 members present and a quorum, then began with an invocation and several ceremonial introductions. The chamber recognized pioneering women of the Maryland State Police for Women’s History Month, including the original six female graduates and other firsts in the department, and also introduced the day’s doctor and a student intern. The Senate agreed to journalize the remarks honoring the Maryland State Police guests. The body then took up several Finance Committee bills, adopting committee amendments and favorable reports without objection on Senate Bills 385, 387, 389, 753, 469, and 608, each of which was ordered printed for third reading. SB 385 concerns immunization, screening, and preventive-service recommendations and pharmacist administration; SB 387 restricts predatory pricing and use of personal data by food retailers and delivery services; SB 389 makes transit-oriented development changes; SB 753 addresses financial exploitation protections for seniors and vulnerable adults; SB 469 authorizes a Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund affordability program; and SB 608 requires coverage for pharmacogenomic testing. Senate Bill 626, dealing with birth certificate sex designation changes and related identification documents, was briefly set aside at the request of a senator seeking possible amendments, with the presiding officer agreeing to hold it until the next session. Senate Bill 739, a climate change, homeowners insurance, and emergency management study bill, was also introduced with one amendment and sparked debate over its scope and funding, including discussion of a $150,000 Strategic Energy Investment Fund allocation and whether the study would examine the General Assembly’s own climate policies. The transcript ends during that discussion, before any final action on SB 739.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not dwelling on past obstacles; we're here to act. We are here to help the leaders.
• The system is structurally broken, and I believe the intent of the bill is to change that structure because
• It is structurally broken and it needs to be changed.
• The system is structurally broke, and I believe the intended the bill is to change that structure because
• It is structurally broke and it needs to be changed.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee opened with remarks framing the meeting as a bipartisan effort to improve Arizona’s child welfare system, especially DCS oversight, accountability, and child safety. The chair said the committee would focus on reforms based on Auditor General findings and hear bills and testimony from youth, advocates, foster parents, and attorneys. Roll was taken, and the committee then began considering several child-welfare bills. HB 2611, dealing with group foster home safety, employee drug screening, resident rights, training, and advocates in congregate care, drew extensive testimony. Supporters, including current and former foster youth, described bullying, unsafe staff behavior, drug use in homes, trafficking concerns, and the need for posted rights, mental health services, and stronger accountability. The sponsor and members discussed an amendment that would require quarterly drug-screening results to be submitted, require removal from child contact pending confirmatory testing after a positive result, and give the DCS director more discretion. The amendment was adopted, and HB 2611 as amended received a do-pass recommendation by a 5-1 vote, with some members voting present or expressing procedural concerns but supporting further work on the bill. HB 2035, which expands kinship placement requirements by adding extended family members to search and notification duties and presuming kinship placement is in the child’s best interest, also received substantial testimony. Advocates argued kinship care reduces trauma and improves stability, while several witnesses described cases where children were not placed with available relatives and instead ended up in congregate care. The committee discussed whether the bill duplicated existing law and whether DCS was already required to search for kin; the sponsor said the bill strengthens existing policy and adds written documentation requirements. HB 2035 was given a do-pass recommendation by a 4-2 vote. The committee then heard HB 4049, which would authorize DCS to employ legal counsel or incur legal expenses, along with an amendment that would require the Attorney General or appointed counsel to represent the state’s interests independently in certain cases and not be subject to DCS retaliation for taking a different position. Testimony split between those who argued the current structure creates a conflict of interest and allows DCS narratives to go unchallenged, and those who said the AG’s office already has separate divisions and that keeping representation centralized preserves consistency and oversight. Discussion continued on whether the current system is structurally broken and where counsel would be housed if the arrangement changed; the transcript ends while that debate is ongoing, without a recorded final vote on HB 4049.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tragically, he was killed in the line of duty in November of last year while fighting a structure fire
• existing property that I would say that by far, when you look at an acquisition, the improvement structure
• amendment makes certain that all contract members and participants will be subject to a uniform rate structure
• Singular dwelling somewhere where they live.
• So depending on how you define it—homestead or a dwelling—that I think the intention of the amendment

Bills: HJR1, HB9, HB21, HB26, HB30, HB37, HB116, HB630, HB879, HB913, HB1151, HB1318, HB1593, HB1899, HB2703, HB2809, HB2890, HB2970, HB3307, HB3526, HB5092, SB128, SB203, SB317, SB393, SB397, SB644, SB731, SB801, SB913, SB1071, SB1073, SB1086, SB1087, SB1232, SB1250, SB1262, SB1285, SB1310, SB1359, SB1444, SB1483, SB1705, SB1782, SB1861, SB1897, SB1944, SB2023, SB2043, SB2082, SB2133, SB2215, SB2297, SB2298, SB2309, SB2532, SB2549, SB2566, SB2617, SB2619, SB2639, SB2688, SB2696, SB2717, SB2790, SB2841, SB2847, SB2850, SB2857, SB2891, SB2919, SB2928, SB2972, SB3052, SB3053, SB1, SB260, SB1506, SB1637, HB37, HB109, HB334, HB1130, HB1238, HB1327, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB1689, HB2081, HB2809, HB2884, HB2890, HB4215, HB5092, HCR7, HCR75, HCR86, HCR92, HCR93, HCR126, SB644, SB1086, SB1230, SB1310, SB1361, SB1553, SB1778, SB1790, SB2344, SB2460, SB2515, SB2600, SB2747, SB2751, SB2785, SB2790, SB3047, SB3048, SB3050, SB3051, SB3052, SB3053, SB3056, SB3058, SB3061, HJR1, HB1130, HB1689, HB2884, HB1393, HB2559, HB26, HB3012, HB1327, HB109, HB1238, HB2890, HB9, HB4215, HB2970, HB37, HB1899, HB1593, HB2607, HB3526, HB3810, HB5092, HB388, HB2809, HB1151, HB913, HB3307, HB879, HB116, HB12, HB2703, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB30, HB21, HB2712, HB2692, HB1633, HB1318, HB685, HB630, HB4753, HB2742, HB303, HB198, HB1535, HB762, HB148, HB1520, HB5061, HB2286, HB1606, HB1041, HB132, HB11, HCR7, HCR75, HCR86, HCR92, HCR93, HCR126, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB1310, SB2972, SB1073, SB2847, SB2532, SB2619, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB511, SB2309, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1359, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB2891, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1285, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB2460, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB2994, SB2747, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1861, SB2043, SB1367, SB2857, SB128, SB3058, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SB3036, SB3057, SB3056, SB3043, SB3050, SB3063, SB3035, SB1790, SB1778, SB203, SB3061, SB2799, SB2790, SB2688, SB2515, SB1230, SB2522, SB2639, SB2459, SB3051, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2617, SB2751, SB2928, SB2566, SB1897, SB1749, SB1361, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1782, SB1705, SB2696, SB1944, SB2215, SB644, SB1232, SB2850, HB45, HB48, HB1261, HB1465, HB1778, HB2596, HB5238, HB33, HB1188, HB210, HB1022, HB1458, HB5560, HB1240, HB1950, HB2027, HB2768, HB2788, HB2791, HB3146, HB3698, HB3699, HB1893, HB3700, HB4850, HB4187, HB1397, HB4885, HB4804, HB3751, HB3611, HB2775, HB2061, HB2003, HB1729, HB1242, HB791, HB2029, HB647, HB2522, HB4738, HB3033, HB3594, HB3474, HB2563, HB2802, HCR90, SJR87, SB2969, SB3073, SB2497, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB781

Keywords: constitutional amendment, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, equipment exemption, machinery, local government finance, school district revenue, county taxes, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax relief, commercial property, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 936, a bill to be entitled an act relating to temporary door locking devices.
• Senate Bill 936, a bill to be entitled and act relating to temporary door locking devices.
• The bill defines temporary door locking devices and the criteria it must meet when installed, directs
• Senate Bill 936, a bill to be entitled an act relating to temporary door locking devices.
• First, ensure all doors and windows leading to direct access to the exterior of the dwelling unit are

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and several introductions recognizing visitors, students, local officials, and professional groups in the gallery. The chamber then took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee confirming 42 executive appointments; the report was adopted by a vote of 36-0. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the Ripple Project for childhood cancer awareness and funding. The bulk of the meeting was spent on special-order bills, many of them open-government sunset review measures and policy bills. The Senate passed bills preserving or updating public records exemptions for aquaculture records, trade secrets, and cybersecurity information; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; a commercial driving schools bill; a human trafficking training requirement for nursing graduates; a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and its companion public-records bill; a nature-based coastal resiliency bill with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve; a chiropractic patient-funds bill; specialty license plate legislation; a one-time waiver for late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation changes; the Florida Farm Bill with amendments protecting Everglades lands and technical corrections; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders; disability presumption clarifications for firefighters and law enforcement; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity changes; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and a blue envelope program; public post-secondary safety policy requirements; and a bill allowing licensed agents to market health care sharing ministries. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. Members debated a number of measures, especially the health care sharing ministries bill, where opponents raised consumer-protection and commission concerns and supporters argued for free speech, religious liberty, and expanded consumer choice; it passed 32-5. Other debated bills included the autism law enforcement bill, the school athletics bill addressing coach support for student-athletes, and the Farm Bill, where senators discussed surplus land safeguards and biosolids timing. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, often 37-0 or 38-0, with a few closer votes such as the patriotic displays bill (36-2) and the health care sharing ministries bill (32-5).

Transcript Highlights:

• savings, and whether the Commission previously determined that the preference was critical to the tax structure
• we've got a set of preferences which the commission has previously labeled as critical to the tax structure
• The commission is permitted by statute to label certain tax preferences as critical to the tax structure
• So first is a property tax exemption for accessory dwelling units rented to low-income households in

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 6, 2026, with quorum present and unanimously approved the October 21, 2025 minutes. The Attorney General’s Office then provided its annual refresher on Washington’s Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, emphasizing broad disclosure requirements, records retention, prompt routing of records requests to staff, and OPMA rules for meetings, conference calls, emails, special meetings, and executive sessions. JLARC staff next reviewed 2026 tax preference legislation, noting 20 bills affecting tax preferences. Examples included repeal of the coal sales tax exemption, changes to data center exemptions, new property tax exemptions for renewable energy facilities and land bank authorities, and a broad tax package in Senate Bill 6346 that created credits and deductions, expanded the working families tax credit, and exempted items such as diapers and hygiene products. Staff also presented the 2026 expedited review report covering 64 tax preferences and explained that it is based on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies rather than full new reviews. The commission approved unchanged 2026 public testimony questions and then adopted the draft 2027–2036 tax preference review schedule, along with a new rolling 10-year schedule format that will be updated each May. During discussion, Representative Pollitt questioned how preferences are prioritized for full review versus expedited or no review, especially for large preferences without performance statements, and staff explained that legislative mandates, expiration timing, and staff capacity drive the schedule. The commission agreed staff would meet with members to discuss possible future adjustments. The meeting concluded with public and staff recognition of Commissioner Grant Forsyth, who is leaving the commission after 13 years of service. Speakers praised his leadership, consensus-building, and long tenure as both commissioner and chair. The next commission meeting was announced for August 4, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• savings, and whether the Commission previously determined that the preference was critical to the tax structure
• we've got a set of preferences which the commission has previously labeled as critical to the tax structure
• The commission is permitted by statute to label certain tax preferences as critical to the tax structure
• So first is a property tax exemption for accessory dwelling units rented to low-income households in

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 6, 2026, with quorum present and unanimously approved the October 21, 2025 minutes. The Attorney General’s Office then provided its annual open government refresher, covering key points of the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, including broad disclosure requirements, records retention, response timelines for public records requests, and rules for meetings, special meetings, emergency meetings, and executive sessions. JLARC staff gave a 2026 legislative session update on tax preference bills. They highlighted 20 bills affecting tax preferences, including repeal of the coal-related sales and use tax exemption, changes to data center exemptions, new property tax exemptions for renewable energy facilities and land bank authorities, and a broad tax package in engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6346 that created multiple credits, deductions, and exemptions. Staff also presented the 2026 expedited tax preference review report covering 64 preferences, noting it is based on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies and is now available in an interactive searchable format. The commission approved the 2026 public testimony questions without changes and then adopted the 2027–2036 tax preference review schedule, along with a new rolling 10-year schedule that will be updated each May. During discussion, commissioners raised concerns about how preferences are prioritized for full review versus expedited review, especially for older or high-revenue preferences without performance statements, and staff explained that legislative mandates, expiration dates, and workload constraints drive the schedule. The meeting also included a public and staff recognition of Commissioner Grant Forsyth’s 13 years of service and leadership, with remarks praising his collaborative approach and long tenure; the next meeting was set for August 4, 2026.