Transcript Highlights:

• I know that we get pretty wonky when it comes to ranked choice voting, but I think we practice ranked
• This bill is framed as giving local governments more choice in elections, but in practice it fragments
• I think the Secretary's statement had a lot of practical points that are hard to argue against.
• This required environmental justice assessments by state agencies.
• In practice, the requirement increases paperwork and costs without proving transparency.

Bills: HB2210 , HB2123 , HB2206 , HB2281 , HB2411

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: local representation, fair elections, government accountability, voter rights, transparency, foreign nationals, elections, Washington state, voter participation, government oversight, voting rights, uniform standards, overseas voting, civilian voting, state legislation, tribal relations, government, state policy, sovereignty, federalism

Bills: HB1519 , HB1541 , HB1737 , HB1782 , HB1854 , HB1860 , HB2023 , HB2104 , HB2276 , HB2335 , HB2455 , HB2468 , HB2551 , SB177 , SB411 , SB874 , SB2053 , SB2069 , SB2108 , SB2268 , SB2360 , SB2363 , SB2405 , SB2407 , SB2530 , SB2543 , SB2568 , SB2803 , SB2818 , SB2851 , SB2907 , SB2934 , SB2969 , SB2999 , SB3097 , SB3103 , SB3233 , SB3238 , SB3245 , SB3001 , SB3138 , HB1946 , HB389 , HB1510 , HB469 , HB1573 , HB1705 , HB1858 , HB1875 , HB1961 , HB1962 , HB2001 , HB2093 , HB2096 , HB2097 , SB888 , SB2169 , SB2367 , SB2557 , SB2575 , SB2698 , SB3082 , HB344 , HB939 , HB1688 , HB1853 , HB2443 , HCR103 , HCR117 , HCR180 , HCR112 , HCR18 , HCR105 , HCR173 , HCR35 , HCR98 , HCR42 , HCR53 , HCR181 , HCR101 , HCR179

Keywords: campaign contributions, lobbyists, transparency, election funding, ethical regulations, HB1541, Act 057, Department of Health, Hawaii State Hospital, Developmental Disabilities Division, civil service, civil service exemption, HRS 76-16, HRS 334-4, mental health program, state hospital, secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility, associate administrator, project manager, security manager

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's make sure that we fully assess this veteran to see if they can work, make the work requirement,
• Let's make sure that we fully assess this veteran to see if they can work, make the work requirement,
• Let's make sure that we fully<01:18:50.400><c> assess</c><01:18:50.840><c> this</c><01:18:51.080><c>
• 51.440><c> to</c><01:18:51.560><c> see</c><01:18:51.680><c> if</c><01:18:51.800><c> they</c> fully assess
• this veteran to see if they fully assess this veteran to see if they can<01:18:52.120><c> work</c><01

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 878, Insurance Business Practices. The motion is due pass.
• SB 878, insurance business practice. 70. SB 878 insurance business practices.
• SB 1158, Energy Reliability Planning Assessment.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• children's injuries or illness to be further examined for a second opinion, which is really just best practices
• Ranking Member: So, you know, I've seen this in my practice.
• this evolution is critical for informed policymaking, community relations, and national security assessment
• So everybody now is revolving around changing of the rules and time frames because it's not practical

Transcript Highlights:

• The distribution amount equals the district timber assessed value, or TAV, times the excess levy rate
• One example is a recent rulemaking by the Washington Forest Practices Board that will take an additional
• Practically, what that means is that if you have a staffing company, blood testing lab, or doctor's office
• As you heard from staff, this is a bill that is trying to change a longstanding tax practice in the state

Bills: SB5872 , SB5879 , SB6047 , SB5988 , SB5923 , SB5832 , SB5970 , SB5994 , SB5949

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: preK promise account, early childhood education, child care, preschool, pre-kindergarten, DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, state treasury, trust fund, investment earnings, gift grants donations, dedicated account, general fund, nonreverting balance, appropriation, treasurer, Washington early learning, school readiness, education assistance program, legislative audit

Transcript Highlights:

• He specializes in the treatment of adult spinal conditions and primarily practices at Tucson Medical
• Outside of his practice, his interests include history, hiking, and gardening.
• kind of upset some Republicans because it meant increasing tax revenue, but that was the standard practice
• HB 2261, court fees assessed, judiciary. HB 2266, school attendance purposes, education.

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, recognized the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several guest groups, including JAG students and students from Heila Ben High School. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider HB 2153, the annual tax conformity bill, which was described by supporters as aligning Arizona tax law with recent federal changes and providing relief through no tax on tips and overtime, a larger child tax credit, a new child care expense deduction, and a deduction for certain retirement income. Opponents argued the measure would primarily benefit wealthy individuals and corporations, reduce state revenue, and leave some seniors out because the retirement-income deduction is tied to retirement accounts. Members also discussed the Department of Revenue’s already-issued tax forms and the need for certainty for filers. After extended debate, the Committee of the Whole gave HB 2153 a do pass recommendation by a vote of 31-26, and the House adopted the report and sent the bill to engrossing. The House then took up the Senate mirror bill, SB 1106, substituted for HB 2153, and after floor explanations of vote, passed it 31-27 with 2 not voting. Supporters said the bill would help working families, seniors, and small businesses and prevent filing confusion, while opponents repeated concerns about cost, fairness, and impacts on public services. The bill was transmitted to the Senate. Following the tax vote, members made several announcements, including birthday wishes and a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and committee chairs announced upcoming cancellations. The House then recessed and reconvened for first reading and referral of a long list of new bills covering topics such as elections, health care, education, transportation, public safety, taxation, housing, and appropriations. The session ended with a motion to adjourn until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• He specializes in the treatment of adult spinal conditions and primarily practices at Tucson Medical
• Outside of his practice, his interests include history, hiking, and gardening.
• kind of upset some Republicans because it meant increasing tax revenue, but that was the standard practice
• HB 2261, court fees assessed. Judiciary. HB 2266, school attendance purposes. Education.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the past several years, a series of troubling financial management practices have come to light
• come here and explain why they had excess permit fees and why, since 2019, they have continued this practice
• that they have available to them, and six of the districts utilized this, was a non-ad valorem assessment
• that we talked about that are active, six that are inactive, two of the districts have financial practices

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items related to local government accountability. The committee heard requests for operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member cited concerns about transparency, financial management, or compliance with state law. Representatives from Delray Beach DDA testified that an internal audit had already been completed, that findings were limited, and that they were working to cure issues such as procurement, credit card, and disbursement policies; the DDA chair also said the organization was willing to cooperate and was considering transitioning out of operating Old School Square. For Daytona Beach, the sponsor pointed to excess building permit revenues, vehicle purchases, and reported P-card irregularities as reasons for a broader audit. The committee approved all three audit requests, directing the Auditor General to finalize the scope while considering the stated concerns. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide performance reviews of 21 neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 districts were active and six inactive, with common issues including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and recommended that several districts be reviewed to determine whether they were still needed. Members asked about staffing, inactivity criteria, and how the districts were administered, and staff explained that city or county liaisons often supplement district staffing. Later, staff reviewed enforcement actions for local governments that failed to file required financial reports or omitted required information from submitted audits. The committee discussed a list of noncompliant counties, municipalities, and special districts, including the town of Rayford, which staff said had long-standing reporting problems, no apparent municipal services, and no response to repeated outreach. The committee voted to send a letter to the Union County legislative delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve Rayford. It also approved staff recommendations to proceed against entities still missing required filings or missing audit information, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is later provided in good faith.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we have county roads that are nicely paved and end at the county line, and then there's practically
• And of course, with fuel economy, more hybrid vehicles, that's practically flat.
• And of course, with fuel economy, more hybrid vehicles, that's practically flat.
• I'm trying to assess what the impact is as we remove that prairie bucket and merge it with the flexible

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to consider Senate Bill 2012, the Department of Transportation budget, with Representative Brandenburg presenting a detailed House amendment package and Speaker Robin Weisz explaining the overall funding strategy. The discussion focused on restructuring transportation funding streams, including moving Prairie Dog money into a flexible transportation fund, adjusting gas tax distributions, increasing the legacy earnings transfer from 7% to 8%, and authorizing a $155 million bond for Highway 85. Members also discussed DOT operations, bridge funding, rest areas, electronic titling, and the use of funds for grants to counties, cities, and townships. A separate provision would let the DOT consider whether local ordinances or policies unreasonably restrict permitted agriculture or energy projects when scoring grant applications, which drew significant debate about local control and whether the language was punitive. Testimony from Brandenburg and Weisz emphasized that the plan was intended to provide more predictable funding, preserve the ability to match federal dollars, and direct money where needs are greatest through a grant process. Weisz said the package was designed to simplify multiple revenue buckets, ensure DOT can meet federal match requirements, and free up money for the general fund while still supporting transportation needs. Several members raised concerns about whether cities, counties, and townships would receive as much as under the prior Prairie Dog structure, whether the bridge allocation was correctly reflected in the bill, and whether the local-policy language would penalize subdivisions that oppose energy projects. Supporters argued the state needed to protect revenue tied to energy development and that local governments would still receive distributions plus additional grant opportunities. The committee adopted the House amendment to SB 2012 by a vote of 19-1-3, then rejected an amendment to remove the local-policy language on a 5-15-3 vote. The committee then passed SB 2012 as amended on a 20-0-3 vote, with Representative Brandenburg designated as the carrier. The chair announced that Senate Bill 2014 would not be taken up at that time and the committee recessed until called back.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to continue the practice of taking members in order of, uh, seniority present, except for
• And so I would like to continue the practice of also reserving the questions at the end of each person's
• seize a million dollars, you know, $500,000 and so, and I see that frequently, especially in my practice
• document which counties use the administrative system and review the 25 years of historical data to assess

Committee: House S/C on Transportation Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeking to codify the current practice of agreements between DCF and military installation installations
• A qualified physician or medical professional is needed to properly assess these entries and determine
• we're talking about in terms of mandatory reporters, it's referring to a physician or and advanced practice
• started my career working for the Guardian ad litem office and now I have my own state, my private practice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may know, this board convened for the first time in July of 2024 with a clear mandate to assess
• To guide our assessment, we reviewed the findings of the condo and property insurance task force, engaged
• Based on the extensive assessment performed, the recommendation was that the HHRF could provide insurance
• But if you think about it in practical terms, if you write two associations valued at $100 million each
• Is that best practice to do that for the industry? Yes. Yeah.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Public cemetery districts are funded primarily through taxes and assessments or fees for services.
• California law currently prohibits sales for recreational purposes, but in practice what's going on is
• California law currently prohibits sales for recreational purposes, but however, in practice, what's
• This bill offers two practical ways to encourage biosimilar use to bring down the same.
• That's not how we practice. Okay. And if I may, as a pharmacist, we do.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He has shared custody on paper but not in practice. Good afternoon, everybody.
• He has shared custody on paper but not in practice.
• He has shared custody on paper, but not in practice.
• I am a practicing chiropractor for nearly 40 years.
• And in my practice, I frequently assist Massachusetts trustees with decanting.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on a wide range of state, probate, and family bills, with chairs Edwards and Day outlining strict testimony limits and accepting written testimony. Early testimony focused on H. 1911/S. 1138, which would clarify that a durable power of attorney may create a trust if that authority is expressly granted; sponsors and elder law advocates said the bill would resolve uncertainty created by the Barbetti decision and align Massachusetts with other states. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1102, a proposal to establish medical panels in Probate and Family Court. Supporters, including attorneys, parents, physicians, and advocates, said neutral three-doctor panels would help judges resolve disputed medical issues in guardianship and custody cases involving children, elders, and people with disabilities. Testifiers described cases where medical treatment was blocked or contested by one parent or guardian, arguing the panels would provide impartial expertise and protect vulnerable people. The committee also heard support for bills addressing disability discrimination in family court, military parents’ custody rights, and a shared parenting bill, H. 1710, which drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and others who said a 50-50 presumption could harm survivors and children. The committee also took testimony on several probate and court-administration measures. Senator Lovely supported a bill on nominee trust partition, and Senator Comerford and probate officials backed legislation to codify additional registry staff positions and modernize registry operations. Other bills discussed included foster care liability insurance, with providers warning that rising premiums and loss of coverage could force program closures; health care proxy storage and activation; access to decedents’ email accounts; uniform trust decanting; the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act; heirs’ property partition protections; a constitutional right to health care; alimony-related reforms; child-centered family law; and a right of disposition for funeral arrangements. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• in your school district to continue the decrease in the restraint data in terms of practice?
• So really needing to monitor what practices are being used in those locations.
• And what we're hearing is that this is not just a promising practice.
• When we lean into practices that do not address these issues, we waste precious time.
• isolation practices.

Summary: The House Education Committee held a work session on reducing restraint and eliminating isolation in schools, then moved into a public hearing on House Bill 1795 and its proposed substitute. Chair Sharon Santos reviewed committee procedures and emphasized the short session timeline, then framed the discussion as part of a longer-running effort to address student restraint and isolation. Representative Callan, the bill sponsor, said the committee’s pilot and demonstration sites would help identify both benefits and implementation challenges for legislation. OSPI Acting Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs Misha Cherniski presented an update on the state’s demonstration project, saying it is in its third year and has $2 million per year in the current budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. He described intensive, targeted, and universal supports, including grants to pilot and demonstration districts, a technical assistance manual, and statewide professional learning. He reported that 68% of project sites saw reductions in restraint and isolation compared with the prior year, and said OSPI’s immediate policy recommendations are to extend prohibitions on dangerous restraints such as prone, supine, wall, mechanical, chemical, and noxious spray restraints, and to clarify the definition of “imminent likelihood of serious harm.” Committee members asked for more detailed disaggregated data by race, ethnicity, grade level, incident type, and sample size, and raised questions about authorized entities, student movement, and whether data captures incidents in nonpublic settings. Representatives from Auburn, Bainbridge Island, and Concrete school districts described how the grant-funded work has affected their districts. Auburn reported major reductions in isolation after removing its last isolation room, expanding behavior supports, and training staff through multiple professional development options; the district said the biggest challenge has been shifting staff mindset and navigating delayed access to vendors and grant systems. Bainbridge Island said it has used grant funds for universal staff training, administrator training, social-emotional MTSS work, and partnerships with multiple providers; it reported zero isolations and sharply reduced restraints, while noting the need to monitor nonpublic agencies closely. Concrete, a much smaller district, said the grant allowed it to hire a part-time BCBA, adopt Safety-Care training, and use OSPI’s manual and tracking tools, but staffing shortages and limited substitute coverage make it hard to attend demonstration sites or training in person. During the public hearing, the substitute bill was summarized as prohibiting certain restraints, banning isolation as a planned intervention, narrowing the definition of serious harm, and extending requirements to other providers of public educational services, while preserving lawful duties of school resource officers. Proponents included disability advocates, the Washington Education Association, and public school employees, who said the bill would reduce trauma and align practice with student safety and dignity. A parent testified about a child harmed by a room that was later used for involuntary confinement. A representative from a specialized learning center testified in opposition, arguing that a complete elimination of isolation for younger students could increase danger in some settings, that medical-provider requirements could be difficult to meet, and that specialized providers need broader exemptions. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was like, I'm a little out of practice, but I'm going to get there, I promise. Thank you so much.
• The commission also assesses the Commonwealth's Unemployment Compensation Program and examines ways to
• So we can get the best practices and be off and running without any glitches.
• We are truly drawing on best practices, and we're glad that we get to build on that foundation of learning
• Hopefully we can do—we can take best practices from our UI program, as well as we are taking best practices

Summary: The Commission on Unemployment Compensation met, established a quorum, and elected Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling as chair and Senator Mike Jones as vice chair. The commission also adopted its electronic meeting policy and heard introductions from new members, staff, and officials from the Secretary of Labor’s office and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). Secretary Jessica Lumen outlined the administration’s workforce and labor priorities, including supporting workers, employers, and program transparency, while members raised concerns about business climate, job losses, labor participation, and the implementation of paid family and medical leave. Staff provided legislative updates on recent unemployment-related bills. These included increases to the weekly unemployment benefit amount enacted in 2025 and 2026, a bill on labor dispute disqualification that changed how lockouts are treated for benefit eligibility, and a budget item providing $75,000 for actuarial support to the commission. The commission also discussed the 2025 work group on annual adjustments to weekly benefit amounts; staff reported that the work group did not complete its charge, and members agreed to revisit whether to reconstitute it at a future meeting. Delegate Martinez expressed support for continuing the work, and the chair said the issue would be taken up at the next meeting. Deputy Commissioner Joanna Darkus gave a detailed presentation on Virginia’s unemployment insurance system, including current claims data, eligibility rules, employer tax structure, benefit levels, trust fund solvency, fraud prevention, and customer service operations. She reported that Virginia’s unemployment rate remains low, weekly claims are modest, the current weekly benefit range is $160 to $478, and the trust fund balance factor is projected at 50.9 percent, near the threshold for additional employer charges. Members asked about the taxable wage base, trust fund solvency, the effect of benefit increases, fraud controls, and the planned paid family and medical leave program. VEC said it is implementing that program through regulations, staffing, IT procurement, public listening sessions, and consultation with other states. A public commenter from the Virginia Poverty Law Center urged the commission to strengthen state investment in unemployment insurance and warned that federal support is uncertain. The commission then adjourned without taking further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was like, I'm a little out of practice, but I'm going to get there, I promise. Thank you so much.
• The commission also assesses the Commonwealth's Unemployment Compensation Program and examines ways to
• So we can get the best practices and be off and running without any glitches.
• We are truly drawing on best practices, and we're glad that we get to build on that foundation of learning
• Hopefully we can do, we can take best practices from our UI program as well as we are taking best practices

Keywords: Commission on Unemployment Compensation, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• terms of how we compare nationally and benchmarks to see how we've been progressing on in-state assessments
• One from out-of-state who are telling their friends to move to New Mexico and practice medicine because
• Practices before we did this, and you know, I know sometimes when the first time people get insurance
• loop with the Office of Inspector General when they notice there are certain kinds of prescribing practices
• trying to balance that and also look at the percent increase coming from concerning prescribing practices

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this was the first part of the bill is relative to insurance assessments.
• So this is a housekeeping piece to say that what we did and what we've been in practice for the last
• So this is a housekeeping piece to say that what we did and what we've been in practice for the last
• c><00:35:09.760><c> we've</c><00:35:09.880><c> been</c><00:35:10.000><c> in</c><00:35:10.080><c> practice
• </c><00:35:10.520><c> for</c> did and what we've been in practice for did and what we've been in practice

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all