Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the first meeting of the Ways and Means Committee for the 2026 legislative session.
• This is my 43rd legislative session.
• Obviously, it's in the minority in this legislative session.
• Legislative staff visited.
• Legislative staff visited.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its first meeting of the 2026 session to hear Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget from OFM. Budget staff said the proposal uses nearly all of the roughly $400 million in available bond capacity, leaving about $5.4 million unused, and includes additional funding from the Common School Construction account, the Climate Commitment Account, and federal funds. OFM described housing as the largest priority, with $237 million total, including $225 million for the Housing Trust Fund for affordable rental housing, homeownership, preservation, and manufactured home community acquisition; it also highlighted urgent state facility needs, climate and clean energy investments, natural resource projects, and education funding for school seismic safety, small district and tribal compact school modernization, lead pipe remediation, and higher education preservation projects. Committee members asked about the timing of housing production, and OFM said the proposed supplemental projects would not be completed within the biennium. Public testimony in the housing section strongly supported the governor’s housing investments, especially the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and homeownership programs, while several speakers asked for larger appropriations for workforce housing, community land trusts, right-to-counsel, and specific local projects such as Thrive Center Tacoma, Alliance Place, Casa Mia, and Native and immigrant community facilities. One testifier criticized overall state tax policy, but the chair clarified that the capital budget is bonded and does not directly raise taxes. Testimony on K-12 education generally supported the proposed funding for small school modernization, seismic safety, and Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools lead remediation, with rural districts emphasizing the importance of planning and construction grants for aging facilities. Higher education witnesses supported preservation and deferred maintenance funding but asked for additional support for projects at Cascadia College, WSU Spokane, UW’s decarbonization work, and other campus infrastructure needs. Natural resources testimony backed Salmon Recovery Funding Board and community forest investments, while asking for more funding for ranked RCO projects. In the final section, local governments and utilities opposed a proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance account to the operating budget, warning it would reduce infrastructure lending capacity; other speakers supported the Washington State Green Bank, public works financing, and several local economic development and utility projects. No votes or formal committee action were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• To ensure patient access to health care, we ask you to oppose this legislation. Thank you.
• A lobbyist told legislators that malpractice attorneys get several calls a week from free kill families
• So let me An executive from the hospital where my mother died told legislators that the repeal would
• I have now spent years working inside of this legislative process studying this statute, negotiating
• It's my driving force as a legislator. Where is the balance?

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met to consider HB 6003, a bill to repeal Florida’s “free kill” law that limits certain survivors’ ability to recover non-economic damages in medical negligence wrongful death cases. The sponsor, Rep. Trabulsy, said the bill would restore access to the courts for a small class of families and noted the measure passed both chambers last year before being vetoed by the governor. She and supporters framed the bill as a fairness and constitutional issue, while opponents argued repeal would increase malpractice exposure, insurance costs, and pressure on physician access, especially in high-risk specialties and rural areas. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters included family members who described deaths they said were caused by medical negligence and who argued the current law denies accountability and equal treatment based on marital status or whether a decedent had minor children. Opponents included the Florida Hospital Association, Florida Medical Association, Florida Chamber, U.S. Chamber, Florida Insurance Council, and other health care and business groups, who warned that repeal could worsen already high malpractice premiums, contribute to physician shortages, and destabilize access to care. Several speakers on both sides discussed possible caps on non-economic damages as a compromise, though the bill itself was presented as a clean repealer with no amendments. During debate, several members spoke in support, emphasizing equal access to the courts and rejecting the idea that the law should treat some families differently from others. Opponents of the bill argued that the current system helps preserve market stability and that liability concerns, not the free kill law, are driving provider departures. After closing remarks from the sponsor, the committee voted 15 yeas and 1 nay to report HB 6003 favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• will not permit... conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative
• We have supported legislation to do that.
• Thank you You have two minutes Thank You chair Berman and members Talia Smith director of legislative
• I'm Legislative Specialist with the Department of Real Estate.
• I'd like to start by thanking Senator Ashby for authoring the Department of Sunset legislation.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If more are needed, The DCF must work with funding the legislative budget request to reallocate existing
• They will have to continue to follow the court's current IOTA regulation, yet if this legislation is
• That's the prerogative of the executive branch or the legislative branch. With that, Mr.
• This legislation This bill is modeled after the existing SunRail legislation, which was passed in 2009
• This legislation allows the jury to consider more circumstances when deciding the penalties for those

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we have to oppose the legislation.
• That's something that has been addressed in other state legislation.
• This bill Bill is about concerns about right to pair repair legislation.
• This legislation really isn't necessary.
• So we have we oppose this legislation.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been championed by legislators of both parties, and I think hopefully is a good idea to set up direct
• passed to set up a direct legislation passed to set up a direct care<00:18:49.200><c> and</c><00:18:
• It's been championed<00:19:00.400><c> uh</c><00:19:00.559><c> by</c><00:19:00.799><c> legislators</c>
• <00:19:01.280><c> of</c><00:19:01.440><c> both</c> championed uh by legislators of both championed uh
• by legislators of both parties<00:19:02.480><c> and</c><00:19:02.640><c> and</c><00:19:03.280><c> I<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No, ideally if this legislation could be fast-tracked and passed as soon as possible, and if we could
• could no the ideally if this legislation could be<00:13:56.160><c> fast-tracked</c><00:13:56.759><c>
• </c><00:15:10.680><c> that</c><00:15:10.800><c> was</c> One Piece of legislation that was One Piece of
• legislation that was enacted<00:15:11.399><c> in</c><00:15:11.560><c> 2024</c><00:15:12.519><c> by</
• for the legislative Appropriations for the program<00:24:42.559><c> loans</c><00:24:42.960><c> issued

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of tax, budget, and policy bills. On SB 325 and SB 326, the Tax Foundation testified and the committee later recommended passage with amendments. SB 721, SB 1278, and SB 1465 also drew Tax Foundation testimony focused on technical corrections and effective-date issues; SB 1278 was strongly supported by the Hawaii Restaurant Association and other restaurant and business groups, who argued the bill should extend tax relief to the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund because it served the same purpose as earlier COVID relief programs. A bar owner also testified in support, describing severe pandemic-related losses and lack of government assistance. The Department of Taxation asked about the estimated fiscal impact of SB 1278, which was stated to be about $16.8 million and not including interest. The committee also considered SB 1464 through SB 1470, with the Tax Foundation supporting most of the conformity and tax measures and opposing SB 1465 as unnecessary. SB 1464 was recommended for passage unamended, SB 1465 with amendments, and SB 1466, SB 1467, and SB 1470 unamended. SB 1362 and SB 1363 were deferred so the administration could explore moving funds within the existing budget instead of using emergency appropriations. SB 1044 was amended to create a condominium loan program and special fund to finance essential repairs and improve insurability of condominium properties, with loans repaid over 20 years and the fund eventually sunsetted. The committee also acted on several other measures: SB 533 was amended to remove an appropriation and require a local investor-owned utility to support schools affected by a planned public safety power shutoff program; SB 1117 was amended to define electric motorcycles and prohibit operation by those under 18; SB 1186 was amended to move a food-production working group to the Agribusiness Development Corporation and remove an appropriation; SB 1391 was amended to require a one-to-one match of state funds with private donations; and SB 1669 was amended with committee-report language noting concerns about jurisdictional definitions and board qualifications. Later, the committee recommitted SB 933 and SB 938 to Ways and Means after adopting proposed SD1 versions. Most measures were adopted unanimously, often with members voting no with reservation.

Transcript Highlights:

• our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative
• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to a removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• Today, we also could pass bipartisan legislation that funds it.
• I'm very supportive of new housing legislation and things like that.
• I also want to mention last year, actually two years, for the last two years I've had legislation to

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> When um Chris Herr and I of Legislative When um Chris Herr and I of Legislative Solutions<01:05:
• </c><01:22:25.480><c> intent</c> packet about possible legislative intent packet about possible legislative
• </c> &gt;&gt; Added to our spreadsheet of legislative &gt;&gt; Added to our spreadsheet of legislative
• I'm here for the duration. personal, and legislative sides. We've personal, and legislative sides.
• ,</c> and they were aware of the legislation, and they were aware of the legislation, and<02:44:04.760

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with quorum and seating issues, including the temporary appointment of Representative Shaw to fill in for a House member, followed by approval of the previous minutes and the consent calendar. Two items were then postponed to next month: Mechanical Licensing Board item 25-241 and Board of Veterinarian item 25-223. The committee then took up Department of Energy rulemaking on distributed energy resources interconnection procedures, including items 25-220 and related sections on fees, additional controls, and equipment. The Department explained revised language to address concerns that the original draft improperly suggested agency or PUC approval of utility fees; under the amended language, utilities would set fees designed to recover costs, with complaints handled through existing complaint procedures. Committee members and the Department discussed the statutory basis for that approach, including cost responsibility versus fee-setting authority. Public testimony was mixed. A small solar developer argued the rules still exceed statutory authority, impose unfair costs on customer generators, and allow utilities to shift transmission-related study costs onto interconnecting customers. Clean energy advocates supported the Department’s revised language but asked for clearer limits on charging customers for later-added controls, arguing costs should be tied directly to the customer’s interconnection and not to later utility-driven changes. Eversource supported the revised fee language, said most prior concerns were resolved, and recommended conditional approval, while also suggesting a minor wording change in the “Additional Equipment” section to clarify that only operational performance is covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the only question I have is why do we need legislation to do that?
• Why do we need to have legislation?
• This is truly an important piece of legislation.
• Senator Cortese: I've supported this legislation, or close to this legislation, in the past, so I'm happy
• Senator Cortese: I've supported this legislation, or close to this legislation, in the past, so I'm happy

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, beginning with AB 387 on youth sports safety and AED access. The author and supporters, including youth sports and cardiac safety advocates, said the bill would improve coordination between youth sports organizations and facilities to ensure AEDs are available and emergency response is better prepared. School administrators, county groups, and school business officials opposed unless amended, citing liability, cost, staffing, maintenance, and school security concerns. Members asked about AED portability, CPR training, and liability; the author said committee amendments were accepted, but the bill was held due to lack of quorum while negotiations continued. AB 467 would codify the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, allowing it to seek multi-year grants and other outside funding after an initial state appropriation sunsets. Supporters said the center has already trained faculty, supported paid internships and fellowships, and reached thousands of Californians, while opponents were absent. Members questioned whether codification was premature before the required report is due in 2027; the author said the measure was needed now to stabilize fundraising. The bill was also placed on hold for lack of quorum. A major portion of the hearing focused on AB 664 and AB 2694, both dealing with community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 664 would authorize Southwestern College to seek up to four targeted bachelor’s programs to address local workforce shortages in South San Diego County; students, local officials, and community college advocates supported it, while CSU and UC opposed, arguing for a statewide solution and concern about the master plan. AB 2694 proposed a broader statewide framework for community college bachelor’s degrees with stronger workforce and partnership requirements, reduced program caps, and limits on duplication; it drew support from community college groups and students, but CSU and UC again opposed or opposed unless amended. Members discussed place-bound students, workforce needs, transfer pathways, and the need for a master-plan-level approach, but no votes were taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard AB 917, which would require certificated employees in very small school districts and certain county-run programs to receive permanent status under the same rules as larger districts. CTA and many educators supported the bill as a fairness and retention measure, while small school district and ROP representatives opposed, saying the current flexibility is necessary to manage enrollment swings, staffing, and specialized regional programs. Testimony emphasized the tension between job security for educators and operational flexibility for small LEAs; the hearing continued with more opposition testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was that Senate and also legislation.
• </c><00:26:15.400><c> we</c> need to going forward any legislation we need to going forward any legislation
• </c> to discuss a handful of legislative to discuss a handful of legislative proposals proposals proposals
• He said the 2022 legislation was a great piece of legislation and that he was very appreciative of the
• ><c> proposals</c><01:24:52.880><c> that</c> These are the legislative proposals that These are the legislative

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:12 Approval of Minutes: 00:01:34 Actuarial Valuation Update – KPPA: 00:02:10 Actuarial Valuation Update – TRS: 00:25:32, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from KPPA officials Ryan Barrow and Erin Saratt on the annual actuarial valuations for the retirement and insurance systems. They said the systems’ funding status improved overall, with three of five insurance funds fully funded, CERS hazardous dropping from over 100% funded to 90.9% because of premium changes, and KRS receiving $650 million in supplemental funding over the biennium. They also reported strong investment returns above assumed rates, higher payroll and membership counts, and resulting actuarial losses tied to higher salaries and premiums, especially on the insurance side. Members asked several questions about what drove the actuarial losses and whether legislation affected them. KPPA said the CERS insurance loss was driven by premium increases and Senate Bill 10, while the pension-side losses were largely due to higher payroll and benefits for Tier 1 and Tier 2 members. They explained that new Tier 3 employees are designed to add no additional unfunded liability, and that the state administers the systems but does not directly control all hiring. Questions also focused on retiree health premiums, which KPPA said rose about 15% for non-Medicare retirees and 38% for Medicare retirees, with the increase attributed to utilization, prescription costs, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The committee then heard from TRS Deputy Executive Secretary and General Counsel Beau Barnes on the 2025 TRS actuarial valuation. He reported that the Retirement Annuity Trust and Health Insurance Trust both received full funding, the retirement trust’s funded ratio improved to 61%, TRS 4 remains well funded with no liability, and the health insurance trust improved to 89.1%. Barnes said TRS is on track to fully fund legacy liabilities within the amortization period, with 2044 as the point when the system reflects 100% funding and 2046 as the last year needing additional dollars for the legacy liability. He also explained that lower assumed investment returns and updated mortality assumptions increased liabilities, but that TRS uses direct rate smoothing for budgeting purposes. At the end of the meeting, the chair circulated a proposed set of “do’s and don’ts of pensions,” emphasizing that future legislation should not create unfunded liabilities. Barnes also noted he would later discuss several legislative proposals for the 2026 session, but the transcript provided ends before that discussion or any votes on those proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> specifics in this piece of legislation specifics in this piece of legislation and<00:46:00.079><
• And I'm happy to take any legislate. And I'm happy to take any questions.
• <01:03:23.359><c> as</c><01:03:23.680><c> there</c><01:03:23.839><c> are</c> legislate as there are legislate
• </c> comprehensive data privacy legislation. comprehensive data privacy legislation.
• What this says basically is they can't expand that without legislative authority.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, support the legislation.
• </c><00:05:23.759><c> charter</c> by the way is the legislative charter by the way is the legislative
• ,</c><00:07:07.440><c> albeit</c> any effect on that legislation, albeit any effect on that legislation
• </c> appropriated in the 2023 legislation. appropriated in the 2023 legislation.
• </c> year uh youth prize invited legislators year uh youth prize invited legislators to<01:29:26.719>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington and Tennessee, which had previously passed legislation, now have legislation pending to expand
• </c> this year to date pathway legislation this year to date pathway legislation for<00:10:09.839><c>
• <00:10:50.360><c> all</c><00:10:50.560><c> this</c><00:10:50.800><c> legislation</c> legislation all
• this legislation legislation all this legislation including<00:10:52.440><c> 509</c><00:10:53.440><c>
• </c> healthare provider the legislation healthare provider the legislation contains<00:11:28.600><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Court ruling and their action, Evers can put things into rule that carries the force of law without legislative
• ... ...put things into rule that carries the force of law without legislative oversight.
• The result of that ruling was to sort of sever the legislative review track from the rule promulgation
• Legislative deliberations and public policy programming, where our mission is to provide Wisconsinites
• an opportunity to access the legislative process and connect with conversations that inform our citizenry

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Journal of the House, 94th Session 2026, 69th Legislative Day, St.
• 00:06:33.320><c> 2026</c> House 94th Session 2026 House 94th Session 2026 69th<00:06:35.840><c> Legislative
• </c><00:06:37.440><c> Paul,</c> 69th Legislative Day, St. Paul, 69th Legislative Day, St.
• Report from the committee on rules and legislative administration.
• Niska from the committee on rules and legislative administration pursuant to rules 1.21 and 3.33 designates

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation clears the way.
• favor of the motion, I really appreciate the hard work that's gone into crafting this piece of legislation
• So I just thank the sponsor for bringing this legislation. comment on the motion? Sure.
• And so I just thank the sponsor for bringing this legislation. ...support voting.
• And so I just thank the sponsor for bringing this legislation and heartily endorse it.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in an attempt of good faith to try to get this legislation introduced and to work with the good committee
• members here, I did strike that cause of action from this legislation.
• I would like to briefly discuss once again the intent of this legislation.
• I know Health and Welfare has their consultant, but we're looking for one from the legislative standpoint
• just to try... ...consultant, but we're looking for one from the legislative standpoint just to try

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Concurrent Resolution 115 will be referred to the 10th order of business and held for one legislative
• appointment for Michael Kennedy will be referred to the 10th order of business and held for one legislative
• concurrent resolution number 115 will be referred to the 10th order of business and held for one legislative
• day. legislative day.
• appointment for Michael Kennedy will be referred to the 10th order of business and held for one legislative

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and proceeded through routine orders of business. The journal for the previous day was approved as corrected, and the chamber briefly noted that no substantive work would occur in the 10th or 13th orders. In petitions and memorials, Senate Joint Resolution 103 was introduced, proposing a constitutional amendment related to state trust lands and directing the required publication and ballot statement procedures. Committee reports were received on several measures. The Judiciary and Rules Committee reported Senate Bills 1252 through 1257 as correctly printed, with referrals made to Finance, Health and Welfare, and Judiciary and Rules. The Resources and Environment Committee reported Senate Concurrent Resolution 115 with a do-pass recommendation, and the Judiciary and Rules Committee reported Senate Bill 1239 with a do-pass recommendation. The committee also recommended confirmation of Michael Kennedy to the Idaho Judicial Council. The Education Committee reported Senate Bill 1234 as correctly printed and sent it to second reading. In messages from the House, the Senate received House Bills 515, 511, 518, and 504, along with House Joint Memorials 9 and 10, and referred them to the appropriate committees. During first reading, Senate Bills 1258, 1259, and 1260 were introduced, addressing liquor licensing for distilleries, juvenile corrections arrest authority, and immigration enforcement provisions. In miscellaneous business, Senator Harris announced a majority caucus after adjournment, Senator Wintrow welcomed American Heart Association students and thanked senators who attended a lengthy Medicaid forum, and the Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Chief at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
• They can be found on page 448 through page 452 of your legislative review book.
• To repeal docket number 24-0901-2501, starting on page 437 of your legislative review book.
• here today to request approval to repeal docket number 24-1901-2501, starting on page 446 of your legislative
• Additionally, Idaho House Bill 28 passed during the legislative session and was enacted on July 1, 2025

Keywords: 989, all