Transcript Highlights:

• I know that there was extensive negotiation and collaboration, not only from you, but from the opposition
• And really, we're trying to pay for it in negotiating and implementing that bill.
• And so, after extensive negotiations and opposition conversations with the opposition coalition, facilitated
• We thank the author for his flexibility in continuing to negotiate this, but...
• with, written by a couple of, I think, Harvard professors about a process called interest-based negotiation

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• A local government must negotiate a mitigation plan with a public hospital district, fire protection
• the local government designating the increment area and any impacted taxing district must begin negotiations
• This is a highly negotiated bill over the summer; many meetings occurred, and we're trying to create.
• It is a highly negotiated bill over the summer.
• This bill, as mentioned, has been painstakingly negotiated.

Bills: HB1983 , HB1974 , HB2334 , HB2367 , HB2650 , HB2655

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: timberland, real estate, excise tax, governmental entities, property taxation, land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation

Transcript Highlights:

• Our growth targets are negotiated with our partners, as it is elsewhere.
• The growth targets are essentially given to counties, and the negotiation exists between counties and
• And so it's the same process that Alan was referring to, where we negotiate between cities to accept.
• Alan was referring to where we negotiate between cities to accept growth targets, and then those growth
• I joined Snohomish County after the comprehensive plan was adopted, so I wasn't involved in the negotiation

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee held a work session to review implementation of recent housing, planning, and climate-related laws. Department of Commerce staff outlined the 2023 climate planning requirements under the Growth Management Act, including the climate resiliency sub-element for all jurisdictions and greenhouse gas reduction requirements for larger ones. They described Commerce’s guidance, the use of the University of Washington’s Resilient Washington tool and FEMA hazard mitigation resources, attention to overburdened communities through the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Disparities Map, and the climate policy explorer. Members asked about specific climate impacts, flood mapping, evacuation language access, and how environmental justice and local stakeholder input are incorporated. Commerce also said climate planning grants are being drawn down from Climate Commitment Act funding and should be sufficient through the 2029 deadline for remaining Puget Sound jurisdictions. Local government witnesses described their comprehensive plan updates and implementation challenges. Pierce County said its adopted plan was a major multi-year effort that retracted some urban growth area acreage, concentrated growth near transit, expanded middle housing and streamlined permitting, and created capacity for far more housing than its 32,000-unit growth target. County staff emphasized the difficulty of balancing rural protection, urban growth, transportation constraints, climate goals, and limited transit funding, and asked for more technical assistance. Redmond said its update leveraged light rail investments, added transit-oriented development, middle housing, planned actions, and climate resilience policies, but also required costly mid-course corrections from changing state laws and agency guidance. Redmond urged more regulatory stability, clearer statutes, and streamlined certification and accountability processes. Snohomish County said it is now in early implementation, focusing on translating adopted policy into regulations, aligning with new state housing and parking laws, and coordinating across departments and with cities; it stressed the need for clearer comp plan language, realistic timelines, and more staffing and coordination support. The committee also heard from the Washington chapter of the American Planning Association about inconsistencies in recent planning laws. APA identified three issues: the use of the undefined term “guidelines” in the design review statute, the use of “variance” in a middle housing/design review context where APA said “departure” would better fit the intended flexibility, and the lack of a cross-reference or definition for “administrative design review” in the subdivision statute. APA said these ambiguities can create confusion and delay in permit processing and offered to work with the legislature on technical fixes. Senators asked whether local codes already use “departure” and whether the proposed changes would conflict with current law; APA responded that many cities already use departure provisions and that the goal is to align the RCW with existing planning practice. The meeting ended without any votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• That new agreement has been negotiated and it is in effect at this time, um.
• in the process of continuing to remediate the site, uh under now this new consent order that was negotiated
• Uh, we negotiated those conditions in real time, and we wound up not only agreeing to the permit conditions
• industry to get something like the nation's only geologic repository for nuclear materials, um, Negotiated
• Um, And then I saw in one of your handouts that right now you're negotiating milestones for FY 26 with

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the two and two has been negotiated. We talked yesterday about addressing...
• And then the two and two has been negotiated.
• negotiations that I wasn't privy to, but.
• I understand the rationale in terms of the negotiations, but just so we're aware of that, Negotiations
• We're trying to put ourselves in the best position to negotiate.

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met with all members present to review the medical services portion of the HHS budget. Sarah Aker, Executive Director of Medical Services, walked the committee through several budget items, including HCBS cost-to-continue adjustments, the DD bed assessment, expansion of value-based purchasing, targeted rate increases for home health and QSP services, and the cross-disability waiver. Members generally supported the targeted increases for home health and QSP, and Aker explained that the cross-disability waiver funding would support startup work, service design, and infrastructure ahead of a planned July 1, 2028 implementation. The committee spent significant time on rate-setting and provider payment issues. Members discussed ambulance rate rebasing, with several senators expressing concern that the proposed increase was too high relative to peer states; the committee ultimately moved toward reducing that item to $1 million rather than zero so it could be revisited in conference committee. They also discussed a House-added critical access hospital networking grant and similarly leaned toward reducing it to $1 million. Aker explained the department’s value-based purchasing plans, including use of a vendor selected through RFP, and clarified how the department’s existing Medicaid managed care and hospital value-based programs work. A major portion of the meeting focused on long-term care and basic care payments, including a House-added extension of the $5 per day basic care add-on and a proposed shift in nursing facility incentive grants toward a withhold-based model. Senator Mathern indicated he would bring an amendment to delay or modify the withhold change, and Aker said the department would prefer language that directly addresses whether a withhold may be implemented. Members also discussed 1915(i) services, FMAP changes, the Medicaid legacy system modernization carryover, and a House-added legislative intent section on medical assistance. The committee adjourned for the morning with plans to return later to continue Human Services budget work and revisit unresolved items in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• criminalizes the theft of mail, it does not adequately address the growing problem of stolen... negotiable
• Spanning the mail theft statute to include negotiable instruments and creating a specific offense for
• This bill addresses a critical gap. in our current laws by specifically including negotiable instruments
• We also note that their tiered penalty structure for theft of negotiable instruments mirrors the gravity
• routing number, which allowed the criminal to create checks, which he proceeded to fraudulently negotiate

Bills: SB1281 , SB1300 , SB1379 , SB1451 , SB1497 , SB1498 , SB1499

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• The unions are ready to negotiate in June.
• We also have deadlines with regards to negotiations with TSIA money, which is the starting teacher salary
• So when you're going into negotiations and when you're having discussions with your various union partners
• What that means is we sit down and negotiate with our union, and they know our budget inside and out.
• So what that means is we sit down and negotiate with our union and they know our budget inside and out

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to review how Florida’s Education Finance Program (FEFP) works, receive an update from the Department of Education on the October 2024 FTE survey and third FEFP calculation, and hear from three county superintendents about forecasting enrollment and reconciling scholarship students. The chair explained that FEFP is funded by both state and local dollars, is recalculated multiple times during the year, and is now closely tied to school choice policy. Department staff said the third calculation was still being rerun but should be completed soon, and described the forecasting process as collaborative among districts, DOE, and the Education Estimating Conference. Superintendents from Polk, St. Lucie, and Hendry counties said enrollment shifts, especially students moving to Family Empowerment Scholarships, homeschooling, or private schools, make budgeting and staffing difficult. They said districts often must hold back funds to protect against midyear losses, which affects collective bargaining, staffing, transportation, and classroom organization. Several members raised concerns about duplicate counting, transparency, and whether students receiving scholarship funds can also remain in district classrooms. DOE said districts can access scholarship information through a secure portal and that scholarship funding organizations are paid quarterly, with a new process requiring certification and possible future payment adjustments to reduce duplication. The superintendents urged better real-time tracking of students through a statewide ID or student information system and suggested scholarship students should be funded separately from district FEFP calculations. Members also discussed whether more frequent or daily attendance-based calculations would improve accuracy, though some warned that daily attendance could create new problems for high-poverty districts. The committee also briefly discussed categoricals, including mental health and ESE funding, with DOE saying it evaluates programs through studies, reporting requirements, and legislative direction. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with a motion to rise and adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a mix of an hourly rate, and it's negotiated.
• We negotiate at a much lower level.
• So we negotiated at a relatively low level.
• They compete for this business and we negotiate with them. We didn't pay them 35%.
• They compete for this business and we negotiate with them. We didn't pay them 35%.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, Attorney General, budget recommendations, funding swaps, salary increases, Landowner's Compensation Program, public testimony, law enforcement

Summary: The meeting focused on the budget recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), where key issues included the proposed decrease of $163.9 million for the 2024-25 biennium and various methodology swaps for funding. Attorney General Paxton discussed ongoing litigation expenditures and emphasized the need for continued investments in agency staffing to address rising demands within law enforcement. Notably, he requested a 6% salary increase for 2026 and 2027 to retain talented personnel amidst competitive job markets. Public testimony highlighted community awareness challenges regarding the Landowner's Compensation Program, indicating a need for enhanced outreach efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, there's also a lot of difficulty for a small retailer in negotiating and understanding their
• You know, there's also a lot of difficulty for a small retailer in negotiating and understanding their
• I really think a lot of the solution is in support for small and medium-sized retailers in negotiating
• I really think a lot of the solution is in support for small and medium-sized retailers in negotiating
• It would be interesting, but I’m in no position to negotiate for the banks.

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses heard testimony from credit union, retail, banking, and payments industry representatives. Much of the discussion focused on proposals to exclude sales tax and tips from interchange fees, the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and related litigation, and whether similar state action in Massachusetts would help small businesses or instead create a patchwork that burdens state-chartered institutions. Witnesses from defense and community credit unions argued interchange helps fund fraud prevention, cybersecurity, member services, and low-fee products, while retail and NRF representatives said merchants are paying significant swipe fees and that state laws like Illinois’s are aimed at reducing costs that are not being passed on to consumers. Several witnesses emphasized that the current payment system provides security, fraud protection, rewards, and access to credit, and that many of the costs merchants complain about are actually bundled processor or acquirer fees rather than interchange itself. Others countered that small businesses are struggling with rising overall costs and that Massachusetts should consider reforms such as allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs. There was also discussion of the recent Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement, with industry witnesses describing it as meaningful relief for merchants and opponents saying it is temporary and incomplete. No formal votes were taken on legislation. The commission accepted oral testimony, noted that written testimony would be accepted through July 31, and concluded the meeting by unanimously voting to adjourn. The chair and members said they would continue gathering testimony and work toward recommendations, with the chair stressing the need to find a fair middle ground that supports both small businesses and the broader payments ecosystem.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the toughest negotiations are between the two bodies, not with others involved as well.
• 16:02.640><c> be</c><00:16:02.720><c> going</c> But as a leader, you're going to be going into negotiations
• for using other, you know, bargaining elements as these negotiations move forward?
• In negotiations coming up in the along.
• In negotiations coming up in the next<00:23:40.480><c> couple</c><00:23:40.760><c> of</c><00:23:40.840

Summary: Senate leaders and bill authors held a post-debate press availability after completing floor debate and passage of a comprehensive gun violence package developed in response to the Annunciation school shooting and other recent violence. They described the package as combining mental health funding, school safety aid, and gun restrictions, including an assault-weapons ban, and said it reflected months of work with families, advocates, law enforcement groups, and members from both parties. They emphasized that the approach was intended to address both access to firearms and the people involved in violence, along with prevention, intervention, and consequences. The speakers said the bill reached 34 Senate votes after extensive conversations with colleagues, including some who had personal connections to Annunciation or concerns about their districts. They framed the vote as historic and said it showed Minnesotans where lawmakers stand. They also urged the House to take up the measure, warning that avoiding a vote would signal that politics were being placed ahead of public safety. They said they would continue lobbying House members and expected negotiations with House and gubernatorial leaders in the coming weeks. Mike Moyski, a family member of an Annunciation victim, praised the Senate action as meaningful and lasting for children and communities, while also criticizing a floor speech he said repeated the shooter’s name and platformed the attacker. In response to questions, senators said they remained open to further talks with House Republicans and Democrats, but stressed that the families wanted a comprehensive package. They said if the House sends over separate school safety legislation, the chambers would conference the bills to resolve differences.

Transcript Highlights:

• This issue was just negotiated in Senator Allen's SB...
• This issue was just negotiated in Senator Allen's SB 495 last year, where insurers agreed to provide
• We appreciate the author's commitment to continue negotiations as the bill moves forward, particularly
• Not allowing us to modernize the way we saw insurance in a changing climate and really work to negotiate
• Well, more comment, and I heard you state right now about the 60% negotiation that we worked so hard

Committee: Senate Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Was the Hemp Trade Association in any of these negotiations of codifying this bill?
• They have been involved in negotiations for most of it.
• I just wanted to hear what you had to say when it came to who was at the negotiation table, who was a
• They were not a part of this negotiation.
• I had the amendment six minutes before we came for finalizing the language of what was negotiated.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous journal by roll call. Members then offered personal privilege remarks honoring Dr. Penelope Martin Knox of Raytown Schools for Black History Month and introduced guests, including Adeline Overcast, who was made a page for the day, and visitors from a rural hospital in Rolla. Several new bills were first read, including measures on blind pensions, penalties for impeding first responders, and flag display in the state capitol. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 2596, dealing with multiple employee self-insured health plans for small businesses, passed unanimously after supporters said it would help small employers offer affordable health coverage. House Bill 1644, addressing franchisor liability and joint-employer issues, passed 103-45 after debate over whether it protected small businesses or limited workers’ ability to sue franchisors. House Bill 2423, increasing funding for the Division of Finance through fee authority, passed 146-0 despite concerns about higher costs being passed on to consumers. House Bill 2641, regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products and aligning state law with federal changes, drew extensive debate over a beverage carve-out, impacts on hemp businesses, and public safety; it passed 109-34. The House also passed House Bills 2498 and the combined House Bills 2637 and 3155. HB 2498, a juvenile justice reform bill shifting some referral responsibilities to prosecutors and expanding information sharing, passed 100-44 after strong debate over whether it would politicize juvenile cases and overburden treatment facilities, versus claims it would improve accountability and public safety. The combined sentencing bill, HB 2637/3155, passed 102-45 amid disagreement over whether it was truly a transparency measure or instead increased mandatory minimums and reduced judicial discretion. Finally, the House considered House Joint Resolution 154, which opponents described as an attack on Medicaid expansion tied to work requirements. Supporters argued it would encourage able-bodied recipients to work, volunteer, or attend school and reduce administrative costs, while opponents warned it would increase bureaucracy and risk coverage losses for vulnerable Missourians. The transcript ends during the procedural vote on the previous question for HJR 154, before the final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was the Hemp Trade Association in any of these negotiations of codifying this bill?
• They have been involved in negotiations for most of it.
• I just wanted to hear what you had to say when it came to who was at the negotiation table, who was a
• They were not a part of this negotiation.
• I had the amendment six minutes before we came for finalizing the language of what was negotiated.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those of you who are familiar with it, it's negotiating from a position that everybody needs to be
• We talked about the session, about the hard and protected negotiation and relief that a budget was on
• </c> about the hard and protected negotiation about the hard and protected negotiation and<00:27:03.919
• Through tough negotiations and heated debates, Melissa and I could always look across the table and know
• Through tough negotiations and heated Through tough negotiations and heated debates,<00:32:44.720><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• And those of you who are familiar with it, it's negotiating from a position that everybody needs to be
• We talked about the session, about the hard and protracted negotiation, and relief that a budget was
• Through tough negotiations and heated...
• Through tough negotiations and heated... to learn those lessons both from her and with her.
• Through tough negotiations and heated...

Transcript Highlights:

• Levitt mentioned, it mostly tracks the bill from Utah that we were heavily involved in the negotiations
• The property owner is therefore unable to control the litigation, unable to negotiate a settlement Unable
• We have found OIC to be an honest broker, a tough but fair negotiator, and we sincerely appreciate the
• way in which Commissioner Couterer and our staff have responded to and negotiated with the industry
• A licensed producer is the only one allowed to sell, solicit, or negotiate.

Bills: HB2428 , HB2399 , HB2087

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: life insurance, policy lapse, policy cancellation, nonpayment of premium, premium grace period, lapse notice, termination notice, third-party notice, third-party designee, beneficiary protection, consumer protection, insurance regulation, insurer notice requirements, policyholder, beneficiary, Washington RCW, insurance code, unintentional lapse, coverage continuation, premium delinquency

Transcript Highlights:

• hearings through the process, and throughout that we were asked to enter into a conversation, a negotiation
• 00:17:38.400><c> a</c><00:17:38.720><c> conversation</c><00:17:39.280><c> a</c><00:17:39.559><c> negotiation
• </c> enter into a conversation a negotiation enter into a conversation a negotiation in<00:17:40.799>
• 21.599><c> the</c> uh that need to be completed uh in the uh that need to be completed uh in the negotiation
• negotiation negotiation uh<00:40:23.599><c> before</c><00:40:23.920><c> we</c><00:40:24.160><c> can<

Transcript Highlights:

• We hope that in your negotiations you'll define risk. It's very important.
• We hope that in your negotiations you'll define risk. It's very important.
• We hope that in your negotiations you'll define risk. It's very important.
• We hope that in your negotiations you'll define risk. It's very important.
• We hope that in your negotiations you'll define risk. It's very important.

Bills: HB4568 , HB5458 , HB4543 , HB2703 , HB3728 , HCR113 , HCR126

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> negotiations, they're not contracts. negotiations, they're not contracts.
• </c> do with negotiating with uh PBMs. do with negotiating with uh PBMs.
• “Okay, we don’t like negotiating.
• So removing ‘and negotiate’...” Okay, we don't like negotiating.
• 05:34:16.320><c> with</c> mentioned, we negotiate benefits with mentioned, we negotiate benefits with

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Sen. Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would codify the department’s interpretation that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary coverage for a newborn, unless the mother has no insurance or coverage under an employer-sponsored plan. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure is a clarification of existing practice and intended to protect vulnerable newborns; a question from Rep. Miles clarified that if a young woman is on her parents’ policy, the newborn would generally be covered under that family coverage. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Sen. Kevin Avard, which would require insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, Medicare Advantage plans. Commissioner Benton Court said the bill arose from disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers, brokers, and the department were confused by carriers changing or ending offerings; he said the department wanted a simple notification requirement so it could better advise consumers. Members discussed network adequacy, county-based service areas, and the fact that the bill would make notice a condition of licensure, with possible fines or license action for noncompliance. Witness Paula Rogers of AHIP said her group supported the bill if amended, and the department indicated it would support a change from a 120-day notice period to 90 days to align with state rules; the committee planned to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Rep. Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion of pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole argued the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell drugs at a loss, describing PBMs as middlemen and saying the measure is a compromise that protects local pharmacies. Members questioned whether consumers would pay more and whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts; Cole responded that the bill would let pharmacies refuse unprofitable fills while consumers could still obtain the drug through mail order or other channels. He also said the issue has changed over time because the practice now affects a much larger share of generics and is concentrated among a few PBMs. The hearing remained open as questions continued, with no vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're willing to negotiate with anybody reasonable to create the freedom to do what we want to do as
• And then, you know, I think the proponents of this bill said that they'd be willing to negotiate.
• Well, sounds like the other side, the proponents are willing to negotiate.
• There's always room for negotiation.
• So that being said, I do believe there would be some room for negotiation.

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment