Transcript Highlights:

• allowance allocations consistent with the Climate Commitment Act's allowance budgets and state emission limits
• They're a real benefit that actually helps the plant stay in here.
• We have real-world best available technology limitations that we're facing.
• In addition to the technological challenges and limitations and the high capital costs, we have to think
• These are good family wage jobs with benefits and pensions.

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2537, which would change how energy-intensive, trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) are treated under the Climate Commitment Act. Committee staff and the bill sponsor explained that the measure would require Ecology to update its post-2034 report to include proposed allowance-reduction methods, leakage-risk adjustments, and consignment recommendations, and would add new reporting and decarbonization-planning requirements for EITEs to continue receiving no-cost allowances. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 2245, a separate Clean Energy Transformation Act bill, and later voted the proposed substitute out of committee on an 11-8 vote with 2 excused, after debate over exemptions for certain utilities and market customers. Supporters of HB 2537, including The Nature Conservancy, NRDC, Washington Conservation Action, Climate Solutions, Clean and Prosperous Washington, Ecology, and some utility representatives, said the bill would provide needed clarity, better data, and a path for long-term industrial decarbonization while helping prevent emissions leakage. They argued that EITEs receive substantial public value through free allowances and should be required to document emissions sources, energy needs, and feasible reduction pathways so the state can design a post-2035 policy consistent with climate goals. Ecology said it generally supports the bill, though it recommended streamlining duplicative reporting and noted the work would require significant agency resources not included in the governor’s budget. Opponents, including the Association of Washington Business, the Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, the Association of Western Pulp and Paperworkers, WISPA, the Alliance of Western Energy Consumers, Food Northwest, Simplot, Kaiser Aluminum, and Newcor Steel, warned that the bill could increase compliance burdens, expose sensitive business information, and worsen leakage risks by making Washington less competitive. They said many facilities have already made major investments and face high capital costs, limited clean electricity supply, permitting delays, and technologies that are not yet commercially viable at scale. Several speakers pointed to recent plant closures and job losses in pulp and paper, food processing, and metals as evidence that leakage is already occurring, and urged the committee to preserve flexibility, protect confidentiality, and consider targeted funding or other incentives rather than new mandates alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• I grew up during a major rise in technology, from having limited access as a child to a world in which
• </c> salary and and and health care benefits salary and and and health care benefits and<00:59:45.760
• It only matters if our students are there to take the benefit from it.
• But it is also very limiting to only have them.
• </c> limiting to only have them. limiting to only have them.

Bills: HF4213 , HF4198 , HF3930 , HF3585 , HF3451

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And it extends the statute of limitations for certain theft and fraud offenses. Mr.
• for certain theft and fraud limitations for certain theft and fraud offenses.<00:08:26.320><c> Mr.
• on other businesses that limitations on other businesses that intentionally<00:16:39.920><c> support
• Currently, it is limited to 72 hours after that offense. This would extend it to 14 days.
• </c> limited to 72 hours after that offense. limited to 72 hours after that offense.

Summary: The Public Safety Policy Conference Committee met on May 8, 2026, with all conferees present. The chair opened with decorum instructions, explained that the meeting was policy-only, and noted that no public testimony had been signed up. Members then introduced themselves, with several noting they were retiring at the end of the session or year. The committee adopted a series of provisions, mostly by unanimous voice vote, including House language on identity theft and financial crimes updates, supervision abatement and restitution considerations for corrections, protective-order enhancements for murder penalties, prediction markets, victim-notification requirements for plea and sentencing hearings, research data privacy, ignition interlock and impaired-driving license changes, DOC licensing and sanctions for juvenile/adult community-based residential facilities, criminal-conviction employment and licensing standards, jail medication procedures, domestic abuse law changes, and a grant-use extension for dual-status/crossover youth funding. Several items were described as technical or clarifying changes, while others updated law to address AI-related identity theft, foreign protective orders, victim privacy, and corrections oversight. The committee also heard discussion on a Senate provision allowing victims of domestic violence to petition for wireless account and phone-number transfers. A witness supported the concept but urged changes to better align the state language with existing federal law; members noted the issue might need another vehicle or further work. For the domestic abuse item, staff explained that an A15 amendment would later adjust the warrantless-arrest window from 28 days to 14 days. On the jail-medication item, a member emphasized the changes were clarifying and not an admission that last year’s law was flawed. All adopted provisions passed by voice vote without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also limits the charges and fees that may be imposed on a customer during a charging session
• income mechanisms to benefit eligible limited income customers.
• </c> engagement and local economic benefits engagement and local economic benefits within<00:31:53.440
• income mechanisms to benefit eligible customers by December 1, 2026.
• House Bill 216, Delegate Kaufman, criminal law benefits exploitation. Uh all right.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is not about limiting parents.
• It is about about limiting parents.
• </c> limited to were in there to cover us. limited to were in there to cover us.
• </c><01:13:04.560><c> to</c> including but not limited to including but not limited to &gt;&gt; 10<01
• :08:33.440><c> exceptions</c><05:08:34.080><c> to</c> limits and narrows the exceptions to limits and

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• These benefits are for individuals who are seniors and for children.
• You cannot buy pet food with SNAP benefits.
• I, Madam Chair, never understood SNAP benefits to be a hand up.
• make him pay SNAP benefits.
• We've never had a shutdown where SNAP benefits were not still being released.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll limit your testimony to stating your name, the organization, or what city you're from, and your
• But like all general legal principles, there are... ...rights, privacy, and limited government.
• SB 1373 would significantly limit the use of mental health diversion.
• And this trend is not limited to jails. We see the same pattern in the state's prison system.
• And the actions of the sheriff, you know, there's a limit to what the board can do.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It is limited in scope, and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission is limited to licensing
• The Compact Commission is limited to licensing, to recording, and sharing disciplinary action.
• power, in regards to, you know, the timeline for doing investigation, the statute of limitations on
• So this benefits our doctors. have out in, say, some other state that's in this compact, they're able
• So this benefits our doctors as well from a, you know, from a business development standpoint, if you

Transcript Highlights:

• countless others across the country, faces many key healthcare challenges from increasing costs, limited
• </c><00:03:58.760><c> patients</c><00:03:59.319><c> nurses</c> how it could benefit patients nurses how
• it could benefit patients nurses Physicians<00:04:00.879><c> and</c><00:04:01.079><c> caregivers</c>
• So this new other opportunity provides many more benefits for the state than that other solution.
• </c> opportunity provides many more benefits opportunity provides many more benefits for<01:23:19.520

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Salaries and benefits... Salaries and benefits, so this you may have heard called Objects A and B.
• When we say employee health benefits, we're talking about the incremental cost of maintaining current
• health benefits for our employees.
• Future changes to salaries and benefits, unless they're required by statute.
• Either tax increases or cuts to services, or at least limit those two tools in a recession.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• But, you know, it's going to result in our office having to deploy many of our already limited resources
• We don't divert money from salaries and benefits.
• We put money into salaries and benefits if we need to.
• We have a very low reversion rate in salaries and benefits. I think it was 0.24% last year.
• State Treasurer, we're going to start limiting some time here.

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the State Land Office, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State said its requested general fund budget of $15.88 million was intended to maintain baseline operations, replace lost federal cyber and election support, and address a 12% vacancy rate. Officials warned that the House recommendation still left major gaps for election security, tabulator replacement, campaign finance system upgrades, overseas and military ballot services, ballot tracking, and a new tax lien filing system. Senators pressed about the election fund, county burdens, and the risk of underfunding election administration; the office said the House had provided $15 million for the election fund for the primary and another $15 million for the general election, but not enough for operations or all capital needs. The State Land Office said it was satisfied with the House budget action and had no additional request. Staff described the office’s record revenues, low vacancy rate, clean audits, and proposed new positions tied to forestry, economic development, petroleum, geothermal, and royalty compliance work. Senators asked about long-term revenue trends, forest thinning and biomass opportunities, and bookkeeping around the land maintenance fund; the office said the new positions were intended to generate revenue and support land management, including fire mitigation. The Attorney General’s office presented a budget built around a 0% general fund increase, greater use of the Consumer Settlement Fund, and $4.5 million in special/extraordinary litigation funding. The AG emphasized active litigation and investigations involving consumer fraud, Medicaid fraud, federal funding cuts, Meta and other technology platforms, AI and child safety, gaming compacts, tobacco, and possible litigation over abandoned uranium mine cleanup. Senators asked about scam enforcement, the structure of settlement funds, and whether the office could take on uranium-related litigation; the AG said the office could prepare a litigation budget but warned such efforts would require sustained funding. The State Auditor said the House budget added only modest increases while the office faced about a 40% vacancy rate, difficulty recruiting auditors, and a shrinking pool of public accounting firms, creating risks for constitutional audit responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the benefits of them. to think through is the limitations and the benefits of them.
• the same types of exams—those types of benefits.
• The detraction from this is that it's very limited in what it actually assesses.
• I have the benefit of leading a great panel she put together.
• In my opinion, I believe that teachers there who would really benefit from it.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:51.000><c> to</c> leaders and the minority whip limited to leaders and the minority whip limited
• cut in their benefits the average benefit<00:34:04.880><c> for</c><00:34:05.159><c> social</c><00:34:
• </c> 7% cut in benefit 7% cut in benefit so<00:34:58.920><c> proposals</c><00:34:59.520><c> by</c><00
• </c><00:35:16.000><c> for</c> benefit and as I said that benefit for benefit and as I said that benefit
• for limited water.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the interest time, I'm going to try to limit this to one question.
• Madam Speaker, a debt limit statement for fiscal year 2027.
• Available debt limit prior to appended legislation: $363.88 million.
• Remaining debt limit: $363.88 million. Remaining debt limit: $363.88 million.
• For example, the benefit is applied to both people.

Summary: The House convened with quorum, offered prayers and moments of silence for community members who had recently died, and recognized several guests and family members in the chamber. After routine communications and passage of consent calendar 29, the chamber took up a series of measures on the main and colored agendas, with several bills and resolutions passing by voice vote or roll call. Among the measures approved were House Concurrent Resolution 157, which as amended requested a State Lottery report on options to support traditional lottery retailers; Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program; Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecommunications carriers; Senate Bill 339 clarifying health directive forms in mental health facilities; Senate Bill 235 on manufactured home community rent increases; Senate Bill 325, as amended, updating fire prevention and volunteer fire/EMS background check rules; Senate Bill 309 on inmate work and discharge of incarceration-related balances; Senate Bill 324 on deadly weapons and constable agency representatives; Senate Bill 293 on youth camp child care licensing; Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication delivery; and Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment protecting the right to marry regardless of race or gender while preserving religious freedom. House Bill 188, changing Delaware primary elections to allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after debate. Two measures drew extended discussion and amendments. Senate Bill 233, requiring snow and ice to be removed from vehicles, was tabled once, then later amended and passed after debate over whether the law was workable for truck drivers and other vehicle operators; a proposed truck-related exemption amendment failed. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a pilot program for artificial intelligence and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, privacy, and educator oversight, alongside concerns from members about data, bias, and long-term effects. Several items were tabled or reconsidered during the session, and the House adjourned after completing the day’s business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think that there's anybody in here who wants to set seasons and talk about bag limits and all
• There’s no bag limit. It’s very much unrestricted. And so...
• And yes, it will limit Game and Fish a little bit, and we will, you know, it'll limit them a little bit
• All buyers serve the benefit of as much transparency as possible.
• All buyers serve the benefit of as much transparency as possible.

Committee: House House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several wildlife-related bills. HB 2197, concerning camping near watering facilities, was amended to change the distance standard and remove language tied to domestic stock access; supporters said it would help protect ranch and wildlife water sources, while one member opposed it over expanded criminal penalties. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a do pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote. HB 2497 would establish a statutory right to lawfully hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife and limit restrictions on those activities. Supporters described it as an affirmation of existing rights and wildlife heritage, while opponents argued it would weaken Game and Fish authority and conflict with the 2010 voter rejection of similar language. After a technical amendment, the committee approved the bill 5-3. The committee also advanced HB 2147, which requires landowner deer permits under certain conditions to address crop damage and wildlife conflicts; Game and Fish said population management hunts are already being used, while opponents warned against privatizing wildlife. HB 2158, which would classify bears, cougars, mountain lions, and wolves as predatory animals, drew strong opposition from Game and Fish and conservation groups over science-based management and endangered species concerns, but was still recommended do pass 5-3. HB 2159, allowing landowner permits for Mexican gray wolves and a compensated trapping program, was likewise opposed as conflicting with federal law and the Endangered Species Act, but was approved 5-3. The committee then began HB 2162, which would require at least one Game and Fish commissioner to be a cattleman or rancher; Game and Fish opposed it, saying ranchers already have representation through the appointment process, and testimony continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to remind everyone to please limit your testimony to three minutes.
• In order to attract them and unlock far greater economic benefits for the state down the line.
• And critically, the benefits of tax avoidance are heavily skewed by race.
• The changes all in all benefit the state. They strengthen your ability to do so.
• So I got to see how our fair share taxes helped benefit that.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you remind the body one more time under what rule we're operating and the limits of our debate?
• </c><00:24:05.720><c> of</c><00:24:05.840><c> our</c> and the limits of our and the limits of our debate
• </c> examination that has no medical benefit examination that has no medical benefit uh<00:40:47.920>
• a uniform 35 miles an hour speed limit across the state.
• M an hour um uh speed limit across the M an hour um uh speed limit across the state<01:08:43.560><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Am I on a time limit? Because I could talk all day. Yes. But I do.
• Could you talk to us about why that's the limitation that's now put in place?
• It is shameful that this body is limiting political interaction instead of supporting it.
• Can we not limit these people from speaking? That's just my request and ask.
• Floridians value limited government, individual liberty, and real democratic protection.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for CS for CS for SB 462 on transportation. A substitute amendment was adopted that would require counties receiving transportation surtax proceeds to report how the money is used to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, prohibit certain airport fees tied to collegiate aviation flight training, create a Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority pilot program, and dedicate $10 million annually for a traffic signal modernization program. The amendment also removed several provisions from the bill, including a sales-tax transfer to the State Transportation Trust Fund, a bid-protest-related contracting requirement, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. A late-filed amendment was tabled, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for CS for CS for SB 628, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and reckless operation. After the sponsor withdrew a pending amendment, the committee heard emotional testimony from Lucy’s parents and others in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee next considered CS for CS for SB 700, the Florida Farm Bill, under a strike-all amendment. The bill’s major provisions included removing non-purity additives from public water systems, requiring clearer labeling for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, criminalizing drone harassment over farmland, updating agriculture disaster recovery programs, creating an honest services registry for charities tied to countries of concern, expanding FFA-related scholarships and school infrastructure, and allowing the state to repurchase certain former agricultural lands converted to solar fields. Testimony included strong support from agriculture and related groups, opposition from the Florida Bankers Association over a private right of action related to financial discrimination, and criticism from speakers opposed to fluoride removal. The bill was amended and then reported favorably despite some opposition. The committee also reported favorably SB 796, which authorizes DEP general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems to replace failing septic tanks. The committee then took up a large strike-all for CS for SB 1618, a K-20 education package. The amendment combined provisions on VPK flexibility, early grade success, agriculture education, financial literacy, reading intervention, teacher assignment transparency, restrictions on spending public funds for political or social activism, emergency opioid antagonists, corporal punishment consent, teacher certification pathways, and other higher-education and workforce items from SB 1624, including guardrails for certain private religious postsecondary institutions. Members questioned the new prohibition on using public funds for political or social activism, with the sponsor saying it was intended to keep public schools from being a battleground for ideology; Equality Florida and the ACLU opposed that section. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee began extensive debate on CS for SB 7016, a major initiative-petition reform bill. The sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse documented in a large Office of Election Crimes and Security report and would impose tighter rules on petition circulators, including Florida residency and U.S. citizenship requirements, training, shorter submission deadlines, stronger penalties, new identification requirements on petitions, and a 25% invalid-signature trigger for investigations by election-crimes officials. Senators raised numerous questions about due process, public records, penalties, the treatment of volunteers and former felons, the verification process, and the practical effect of the new deadlines and thresholds. The discussion was ongoing when the transcript ended, and no final vote on SB 7016 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unpaid invoices, minor contract breaches, and service disputes that exceed this limit are still too small
• The bill would increase the jurisdictional limit to $15,000 per case and allow businesses to file up
• I didn't realize some of these existing limitations on small businesses, and given the challenges of
• Requests for ASL interpretation arise in many contexts, including, but not limited to, potential deaf
• ASL interpreters are also limited to 100 working hours per year as independent contractors because we

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Supporters say the venues benefit the state's economy by millions of dollars.
• Should access to free meals be limited to families earning $150,000 or less a year?
• However, under certain conditions, cities and counties can limit the maximum number of eligible cannabis
• </c> Should access to free meals be limited Should access to free meals be limited to<00:03:37.120><c
• the maximum number of counties can limit the maximum number of eligible<00:04:44.560><c> cannabis</c

Summary: The segment presented the results of the 2025 Minnesota House legislative opinion poll, which asked fairgoers about a range of policy issues tied to recent or possible future legislative action. Topics included school calendar flexibility before Labor Day, state funding for sports stadiums and arenas, undocumented immigrants’ access to state programs, unemployment benefits for hourly school workers in the summer, banning guns in the Capitol, budget-balancing options for a projected 2028-29 deficit, removing party labels from legislative ballots, limiting free school meals by income, free fishing licenses for residents age 65 and older, local control over cannabis businesses, a post-employment lobbying ban for legislators, and a higher income tax rate for the highest earners. For several questions, the segment noted the underlying legislative context. It referenced the 2023 law making undocumented immigrants eligible for MinnesotaCare and the 2025 law ending adult eligibility at year’s end, the school meals program’s higher-than-expected costs, and a 2025 proposal to remove party designations from legislative ballots that did not receive a committee hearing. It also mentioned the projected nearly $6 billion budget shortfall for the 2028-29 biennium, the Xcel Energy Center renovation funding request, and the recent killings of House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of Senator John Hoffman and his wife as part of the discussion about Capitol gun restrictions. The poll itself was presented as a public opinion survey rather than a legislative vote, so no formal committee action or roll call occurred. The segment closed by thanking participants and saying the poll would return next year at the fair.