Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation, what could the state do if we were to say the state does have some obligation to support
• GOED's first state plan identified 11,000 jobs as possible across our state from these logistics clusters
• Section 19 expands it so that it's not just the State Treasurer; it's also the State Treasurer and the
• The university has over 35 dual-credit collegiate academy programs in the state, and we're grateful for
• For example, state tax credits may be one layer, right? Or the state administering federal funds.

Committee: Senate Government Affairs

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state of Missouri.
• these universities.
• Another example, and this is kind of a common thing as well: Missouri Western State University.
• Missouri State to Missouri State.
• I think it'll work for Missouri State and all the universities and for the Governor's Office.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On my left, your right is Martha Totte-Washing-Tater, and over here is George Washington.
• Here is George Washington, again, creatively designed by our wonderful treasurer, Julie Ellsworth, in
• And they're otherwise known as Martha and George Washington.
• And in real life, on January 6th, 1759, George Washington and the widowed Martha Dandridge Custis were
• The State Affairs Committee reports out Senate Bill 1297 and recommends that it do pass.

Summary: The Senate convened with 27 members present, established a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The prayer highlighted George and Martha Washington as a model of devotion and public service. The journal from the prior meeting was read and approved as corrected. In committee reports, several bills were advanced: Senate Bills 1329 and 1330 were printed and referred to committee; House Bill 512 was reported do pass from Commerce and Human Resources; Senate Bill 1285 was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment; Senate Bills 1294, 1314, and 1316 were reported do pass from Health and Welfare; and Senate Bill 1297 was reported do pass from State Affairs. The Senate also received House Bill 620 from the House, and enrolled House Bills 514 and 515 were noted as already signed by the President and to be returned to the House. During first reading, the Senate introduced Senate Bills 1331 through 1335, covering appropriations reductions and fund transfers, virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention, the governor’s authority over active duty combat service of the organized militia, and revisions to state-supported medical student provisions. These bills were referred to Judiciary and Rules for printing. On second reading, House Bills 526, 531, and 624; Senate Bill 1288; House Bill 518; and Senate Bill 1257 were advanced to the third reading calendar. The Senate then moved to miscellaneous business, heard an announcement about remaining girls’ basketball tickets, and adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• On my left, your right is Martha Totte-Washing-Tater, and over here is George Washington.
• Here is George Washington, again, creatively designed by our wonderful treasurer, Julie Ellsworth, in
• And they're otherwise known as Martha and George Washington.
• The State Affairs Committee reports out Senate Bill 1297 and recommends that it do pass.
• state-supported medical students and the Human Medical Education Reimbursement Fund.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state funds.
• At the state level.
• </c> state something has to be done. state something has to be done.
• At the state level.
• At the state level.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, this authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts and grants for
• and, in this case, in Washington State in particular.
• government that Washington State is asking for this independent investigation.
• To our federal government that Washington State is asking for this independent investigation to make
• State Historical Society.

Summary: The committee met for its final meeting before cutoff and took executive action on a series of bills and memorials. It first reviewed several measures and amendments, including bills on Washington State Leadership Board fundraising and reporting, campaign finance reporting schedules, public records exemptions for student and employee information, and agency report reductions. Members also discussed amendments that would restore or add reports on topics such as newborn transfers, health plan reporting, clean fuel tax data, instream flows, child morbidity and mortality, and Ecology permitting data, with some amendments adopted and others rejected. The committee then voted on a joint memorial calling for an independent investigation into the killing of Aichner-Ezgi, with members speaking in support of accountability for Americans killed abroad; it passed 5-2. It also approved a bill recognizing Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, and a bill related to the state capital campus, both by do-pass recommendation. Substitute Senate Bill 6049, concerning public disclosure exemptions for student and employee information, advanced after an amendment to remove Healthy Youth Survey records from the exemption failed. Substitute Senate Bill 6160, which reduces agency reporting requirements, passed as amended after some proposed additions to the report list were rejected. The committee also advanced Substitute Senate Bill 5840 on campaign finance reporting, adopting an amendment to remove one new report deadline and rejecting another that would have extended the reporting adjustment window from two to three days. Substitute Senate Bill 5825, authorizing the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts and grants, passed after an amendment seeking biennial reporting on private funds was rejected. Additional bills on state symbols and veterans’ issues also received do-pass recommendations. Throughout, votes were mostly bipartisan, with some members noting concerns about transparency, reporting burdens, or scope, but the committee ultimately reported all listed measures out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:00.480><c> and</c><00:05:01.000><c> um</c> Washington and um Washington and um maybe<00:05:01.960
• </c><00:36:31.120><c> with</c> of success uh in Washington, D.C. with of success uh in Washington, D.C
• state state for<00:37:03.320><c> all</c><00:37:03.560><c> of</c><00:37:03.640><c> our</c><00:37:03.800
• </c> other states. other states.
• </c><00:37:18.720><c> that</c> Rather have somebody in the state that Rather have somebody in the state

Bills: SJ0001

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State House.
• </c> Senator from Washington. Thank you, Mr. Senator from Washington. Thank you, Mr.
• Many states are now banning them. all. Many states are now banning them.
• Senator from Washington.
• Washington. Senate Appropriations will Washington.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Presented at the Pennsylvania FFA State Convention, the award honors teachers in the state of Pennsylvania
• Presented at the Pennsylvania FFA State Convention, the award honors teachers in the state of Pennsylvania
• Presented at the Pennsylvania FFA State Convention, the award honors teachers in the state of Pennsylvania
• -led mission to defeat Islamic State.
• The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington. WASHINGTON, MS.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, all that's doing is taking all of the fuels that propel vehicles on Washington State highways
• The fuels that propel vehicles on Washington State highways are used for transportation purposes, whether
• And when we want growth, when we want people to come and build here in Washington State for the jobs,
• the economy, we want to make sure that... ...here in Washington State for the jobs, the economy.
• I think it's pretty clear that we're seeing enormous innovation in Washington State.

Bills: SB6013

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: ski areas, winter sports, terminology, recreation, economic development, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We operate the state-operated psychiatric hospitals throughout the state.
• We also operate the state-operated habilitation centers and some state-operated community programming
• Then they would probably fall back into the state system. They would need a state bed.
• And the cost of that state—I don't know. Would need a state bed. They would need a state bed.
• “A state program?

Summary: The Budget Committee heard the Department of Mental Health’s FY 2027 budget presentation, with Director Valerie Hoon outlining a $4.4 billion department budget, including $1.7 billion in general revenue, and describing the department’s roles in substance use, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities services. Early questioning focused on marijuana-related mental health impacts, but the main discussion centered on the department’s new decision items, funding sources, and expected wait lists. The director explained several increases tied to Medicaid growth, mental health youth services, outpatient competency restoration, crisis residential services, developmental disability waivers, and provider tax adjustments, along with offsets such as reduced wraparound funding at the Kansas City Assessment and Triage Center and cuts to some youth and self-directed DD services. A major portion of the hearing focused on competency restoration for people found unfit to stand trial and currently held in county jails. Members pressed the department on the cost, effectiveness, and legal implications of keeping people in jail while awaiting services, noting a reported wait list of roughly 524 to 538 individuals and average holds of about 14 months. The department said it currently has eight outpatient competency restoration beds in the community, is seeking funding for 50 additional outpatient slots, and also operates jail-based restoration for about 40 people at a time. Members repeatedly asked for breakdowns of violent versus nonviolent cases, success rates, cost per person, and the split between state and federal funding, while the department explained that Medicaid can cover only the treatment portion, not residential housing or other non-billable costs. The committee also discussed broader capacity constraints in state hospitals and developmental disability services. Hoon said Fulton, Center for Behavioral Medicine, and FTC North are full, with 183 vacancies across the department, and that the department is working on a new Kansas City hospital that would add 150 beds, though completion is now expected closer to 2029 or 2030. In the developmental disabilities section, the department warned that the governor’s recommendation would create wait lists for in-home waiver services and crisis residential services, and members questioned proposed reductions to self-directed services rates and other provider payments. No votes were taken, and the committee recessed before finishing the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently only one U.S. state has adopted such a program: Washington, and they passed their law in 2017
• has adopted such a program US State has adopted such a program that's<00:19:14.200><c> Washington</c
• I've been working very intensively in Washington, California, and in other states around the country
• I've been working very intensively in Washington, California, and in other states around the country
• , and that's the problem that Washington State has had, and it's a bigger market than Minnesota.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• University, contracts limiting liability to the state. just asking them to, you know, if there are any
• University, contracts limiting liability to the state. ...and Minot State University, contracts limiting
• The university would encourage—we look forward to collaborating with DOT and state fleet.
• And so one of the things that we've looked at, the State of Washington actually has a very robust cybersecurity
• over to the state.

Summary: The task force reviewed survey results from state agencies on potential statutory revisions, with Levi reporting 70 proposals from 20 agencies and noting that about 33 might become agency pre-file bills. Members discussed the need to share the survey more broadly within higher education and to better coordinate issues involving IT and other cross-agency functions. The task force then heard from the Office of Management and Budget on three topics: concessions, architect/engineering pre-qualification, and legal notices. OMB said the concessions law is outdated and inconsistent with current practice, and suggested a collaborative rewrite to allow best-value evaluation, raise the threshold, and standardize solicitation templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB proposed expanding authority beyond current state-agency limits and creating uniform templates. On legal notices, OMB proposed modernizing publication requirements, exploring online and abbreviated notices, and working with newspapers and other stakeholders on technology and accessibility improvements. Members asked about where concession revenues go, whether political subdivisions must follow the same rules, and how to move from discussion to action. The task force agreed to have OMB work with Legislative Council and affected stakeholders to develop bill drafts, and the motion passed unanimously. The University of North Dakota then presented a series of proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND asked to rework the definition of construction so routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements over $250,000 would not automatically trigger public-improvement requirements, suggested raising the threshold to $500,000, and asked for more flexibility based on project complexity and risk. UND also proposed changes to public bid advertisements to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement rules, an increase in the direct-hire design threshold, and a higher legislative-consent threshold for privately funded projects. The task force supported having UND work with counsel and OMB to develop bill drafts, and that motion also passed. The Department of Public Instruction concluded with proposed cleanup to credentialing and education statutes. DPI recommended reviewing its credential categories for relevance, possibly transferring credentialing authority to the Education Standards and Practices Board, removing outdated school safety patrol language, clarifying waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so the statute reflects current practice. Members focused mainly on whether the dyslexia reporting requirement should remain, and DPI said the screening itself would continue even if reporting language were revised. No votes were taken on DPI’s suggestions, and the task force recessed after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• State in Washington over the shutdown right now.
• When the State Auditor made a comment yesterday about not being able to get the state budgets in line
• State of New Mexico.
• Other states, like Texas, many of our adjoining states, Texas is almost 100 percent private property.
• So I think it's a good plan if we're gonna be the quantum state in the United States, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• And we think that it is so necessary for every state, but especially our state, to be a leader in that
• </c> Cameron Hurt, I'm here today as state Cameron Hurt, I'm here today as state director<00:24:21.279
• </c><00:25:17.360><c> to</c> every state, but especially our state to every state, but especially our
• </c><00:26:27.840><c> of</c> presenters were from the University of presenters were from the University
• And so other states have living.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Education and Higher Education first heard HCR 75 and HR 67, which ask the Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi to assess criteria for building an educational pipeline and curriculum for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. The Department of Education said it would stand on its written testimony, and UH supported the measure, noting existing community college and four-year programs related to the topic. Members asked how DOE promotes cybersecurity opportunities and whether it provides funding; DOE said schools usually connect with partners and its office works with them, but it does not have separate funding for such efforts. UH also explained that some advanced manufacturing concepts may overlap with 3D printing, material sciences, and entrepreneurship, and described P20 as a forum for aligning K-12 and higher education pathways. The committees then recessed the joint hearing and moved to the Education Committee agenda. The committee next heard HCR 46 and HR 39, which would make DOE recreational facilities available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. DOE said it already uses facilities agreements with insurance, liability waivers, indemnification, and certificates of insurance to protect schools. The Attorney General opposed the resolutions, warning that unrestricted public use without safeguards could create substantial liability and cost risks for the state. The measure’s introducer said the goal was to help underserved communities that lack access to public recreation spaces, and DOE said it would be open to joint-use arrangements with larger organizations but remained concerned about vandalism and liability. The committee also heard HCR 86 and HR 80 on creating an Aloha Civics working group, with DOE offering comments and Common Cause Hawaiʻi strongly supporting the idea. DOE described a civic learning and engagement task force that met with stakeholders, including UH and the PACE Commission, and produced recommendations such as building partnership inventories, integrating civic learning across grade levels, and aligning the work with DOE’s HA framework and learner outcomes. Common Cause said civic education can be implemented effectively and affordably, citing existing school projects such as ranked-choice voting and classroom constitutions. Later, the committee took up HCR 87 and HR 81, urging an annual Climate Week in public schools. DOE again stood on written comments, while the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Future Forum, a student from Kaimuki High School, and other supporters argued that a dedicated week would ensure consistent climate education, build resilience, and connect climate issues to health, food security, and disaster preparedness. Supporters said existing climate-related opportunities are uneven across schools and that a formal Climate Week would create a more equitable approach. The committee then heard HCR 95 and HR 91 on informing students about changes to gun safety and storage laws; DOE asked for clarification on the measure’s intended outcome, and one individual testified in support. Finally, the committee heard HCR 104 and HR 100 on strengthening farm-to-school initiatives. DOE said it is already working to improve menus, emphasize local products, and meet with distributors to increase local procurement, while the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience offered food science, nutrition, and extension support. Climate Future Forum, the Hawaii Youth Food Council, and other supporters said farm-to-school efforts are important for student health, local farmers, and food sovereignty, noting that local food procurement in schools remains far below the state’s 30% by 2030 goal. DOE explained it is trying to provide distributors and farmers with more predictable demand and is meeting with distributors to set up next year’s supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I will state that member.
• </c><00:55:56.200><c> state,</c> Alabama, California, Washington state, Alabama, California, Washington
• The University of Washington found that mothers who lost custody of a child due to substance use were
• The University of Washington found that mothers who lost custody of a child due to substance use were
• </c> all have to the state of New Hampshire. all have to the state of New Hampshire.

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from January 1st of the year in which the registration is approved to one year after the issue in state
• , or local government records; Providing information that is lawfully available from federal, state,
• Moving on, 2274, modifying the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act.
• Modifying the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act.
• That is standardized among all storage units across Washington.

Bills: HB2483 , HB2477 , HB2274 , HB2394 , HB2624 , HB2240

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: data broker, registry, consumer protection, privacy, data regulation, real estate, appraisal, business operations, regulatory compliance, email regulation, commercial communications, data privacy, electronic mail, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties, real estate transactions, nonprofit

Transcript Highlights:

• Jacqueline Deal, and I'm an advisor to State Armor based in Washington, D.C.
• Who is State Armor? Is it State Armor?
• I'm interested when you come back up, who is State Armor and State Shield?
• by state.
• And the way we protect the sovereignty of our state is state by state by state.

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The Committee for the Administration of Criminal Justice met on April 8, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several criminal justice bills. HB 322, which would prohibit fees for victims or family members requesting transcripts of executive-session testimony before the Board of Pardons and Parole, was described as a cleanup measure and was reported favorably without objection. HB 635, dealing with criminal activity by agents of foreign adversaries or foreign terrorist organizations, received extensive support testimony from advocacy groups focused on foreign influence and transnational repression; the committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 132, which expands battery of a police officer to cover intentional sound directed at an officer and related conduct, drew strong support from law enforcement groups and significant opposition from civil liberties and criminal defense organizations concerned about vagueness, First Amendment issues, and impacts on parades and protests; after adopting an amendment moving the sound-related language into the general battery definition, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also considered HB 275, which increases minimum sentences when domestic abuse occurs in the presence of a child and extends the penalty to battery of a dating partner. Supporters argued the bill recognizes the lasting trauma to children exposed to domestic violence, while opponents warned that mandatory minimums reduce judicial discretion and that the child-presence language is broad; the committee adopted two amendment sets and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 808, revising Louisiana’s HIV exposure law to require a substantial likelihood of transmission based on current medical science and to narrow criminal liability for negligible-risk conduct, drew broad support from physicians, advocates, and people living with HIV, with testimony emphasizing that the law should reflect modern science and avoid overcriminalization; after adopting an amendment set, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. Finally, HB 1054, sponsored by Chair Villio, would allow certain law-enforcement drone footage to be self-authenticating with notice requirements; it received support from prosecutors and sheriffs’ groups and was reported favorably without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• , outlining concerns with state-by-state AI regulation.
• talking about 10 states have instructed state agencies to inventory..." ...talking about 10 states have
• But I would say we get our information from our states, from universities—for example, from MIT—and various
• universities.
• the state.

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please come forward and state your name and affiliation, if any.
• We were a state partner in engaging hard-to-reach Black residents.
• Since that time, seven states have enacted state VRAs, and just last week, an eighth went to the governor's
• Seventy-eight percent of voters across the country support a state VRA in their own state, and two-thirds
• California is again the most diverse state.

Committee: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several election-related measures. SB 884 by Senator Umberg proposed expanding polling-place buffer zones, limiting certain law enforcement activity near polling sites, increasing ballot drop boxes and vote center access, and extending the vote-by-mail receipt deadline; supporters said it would protect voters from intimidation, while county election officials opposed it as operationally difficult and costly. The bill was amended in committee to allow county supervisors discretion over expanding the buffer zone and to permit law enforcement entry for crimes against persons or property. It was ultimately passed out of committee on a 4-1 vote after members’ roll calls were completed later in the day. SB 1164 by Senator Cervantes would expand California voting-rights protections by codifying and broadening anti-dilution and anti-suppression rules, adding preclearance for some jurisdictions, and directing courts to favor voting access; it drew strong support from civil rights and voting-rights groups, while one city raised concerns about effects on pending litigation. The committee advanced the bill to Judiciary on a 4-1 vote after later roll call completion. The committee also considered SB 900 by Senator McNerney, which would streamline political advertisement disclosures by shortening required disclaimer language, allowing standard abbreviations, and increasing the number of top funders disclosed on political mailers from three to five. Supporters from the outdoor advertising industry and campaign finance reform groups said the bill would preserve transparency while making disclosures more readable; it passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations. In contrast, SB 1225 and its companion SCA 3 by Senator Niello would transfer responsibility for drafting ballot titles and summaries for initiatives and referenda from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Supporters argued this would improve neutrality and public trust, while opponents said the current elected Attorney General system is accountable and efficient; both measures were advanced on narrow votes after roll calls were completed later. Finally, SB 1360 by Senator Cervantes, part of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 package, would expand language-access requirements for election materials by lowering the threshold for coverage, adding a petition process, and extending protections beyond current federal language categories. Voting-rights and immigrant-advocacy groups strongly supported the bill, while county election officials opposed it unless amended, citing concerns about the precinct-based determination model and implementation details. The committee passed SB 1360 to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote after the later roll call. The committee also approved a consent calendar of seven measures at the start of the hearing.