Transcript Highlights:

• That would be soda, energy drinks, snacks, nutritional things that don't have nutritional value.
• That would be soda, energy, drinks, snacks, nutritional, things that don't have nutritional value.

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jake Lipson, staff to the Environment and Energy Committee.
• Every week, we spend an hour picking up litter in our parking lot: soda cans, energy drink bottles, items

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and briefing on several bills, with House Bill 2441, House Bill 2159, House Bill 2521, House Bill 2531, House Bill 2543, and House Bill 1607 discussed in that order after agenda changes. HB 2441 would expand reimbursement from the LEO retirement fund for survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, covering Medicare Parts A and B premiums and retroactive health insurance premiums during the period before a death is officially determined to be work-related. Staff described a relatively small number of affected survivors and modest actuarial impacts, and the prime sponsor spoke emotionally in support. A representative from the L&I Board also testified that the board had studied the issue and endorsed the bill. HB 2159 would create the Pre-K Promise Account to receive philanthropic funds for ECEAP expansion. Staff explained ECEAP eligibility and the proposed non-appropriated account structure, noting Governor Ferguson’s budget included $34.5 million in non-appropriated authority for about 2,000 new school-day slots. Testimony was strongly supportive from Ballmer Group, DCYF, Head Start/ECEAP advocates, a Yakima provider, and the governor’s office, all emphasizing the public-private partnership, expanded access, and support for children furthest from opportunity. HB 2521 would remove the $18 cap on the State Patrol’s firearm background check fee and allow the fee to be set to cover total program costs. Staff said the fee could rise to about $33 per check based on current costs, and the State Patrol testified that the cap no longer matches actual expenses and threatens staffing and service levels. One member of the public opposed the bill, arguing the state system should be scrapped or capped and that consumers would face higher costs. HB 2531 would freeze the ambulance quality assurance fee at its July 4, 2025 level to comply with federal law and adjust Medicaid add-on payments accordingly; the Washington Ambulance Association strongly supported it as essential to preserving federal matching funds and improving wages and benefits. HB 2543 would update county clerk fees and modernize outdated references, with county officials supporting the changes as necessary to reflect current electronic-record practices. HB 1607, the Recycling Refund Act, drew the most extensive testimony. Staff described a 10-cent refund system for covered beverage containers, a producer responsibility organization, Ecology oversight, and fiscal impacts tied to program administration and lost tax revenue. Supporters, including environmental groups, youth advocates, Seattle Public Utilities, and some industry voices, argued the bill would reduce litter, increase recycling rates, support reuse systems, and complement the existing recycling reform law. Opponents from recycling haulers, grocers, beverage interests, counties, and solid waste providers argued it would function like a tax, raise consumer and retailer costs, duplicate or undermine curbside recycling and EPR, and create siting and implementation problems. No votes were taken on the bills in this transcript; the hearing concluded with public testimony and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we focus a lot of energy on those, and we also put a lot of energy on those who are already convicted

Bills: S0054 , S0156 , S0296 , S0298

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $117.4 billion overall and includes $8.2 billion for the public safety silo. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office outlined proposed funding and reductions across FDLE, DJJ, DOC, and related justice agencies. Agency heads then presented major budget requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, a career offender registry unit, a missing persons alert system upgrade, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and illegal immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested funds for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility repairs; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications technology, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about the scope of immigration-related enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, inmate health care, substance use treatment, prison capacity, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. A public commenter also urged attention to basic conditions in prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and facility maintenance. The committee then considered several bills. CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, was presented as a response to the killing of Daytona Beach Officer Jason Rayner and would clarify that a person may not use violence against an officer performing official duties, while also increasing penalties related to manslaughter involving law enforcement. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after debate and a roll call vote. CS/SB 54, dealing with substances affecting cognitive function and law enforcement access to certain medical records, also received an amendment clarifying that only records relevant to an investigation of a violent offender may be furnished; the amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee next heard CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from advocates and survivors strongly supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, a public records exemption for victims of domestic and dating violence in the Address Confidentiality Program, was also reported favorably. The meeting concluded after the committee approved all four bills and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even with low-water years, there's still a lot of energy to be had from the Columbia River.
• It had to use so much energy to pump the water up the hill that the farmers could not pay for the water

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Summary: The committee heard first from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco, who reviewed the weather and snowpack conditions that contributed to Washington’s 2025 drought. She said the state had a very warm and dry water year, with April through September ranking among the warmest and driest periods on record, and that three straight years of below-normal snowpack and precipitation had compounded drought impacts, especially in the Yakima Basin. She also explained that a weak La Niña could bring a wetter-than-normal winter, though temperature forecasts were less certain, and noted that long-term climate projections point to continued snowpack decline and earlier runoff timing. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then described the state’s drought declaration process and response. They said Washington’s statutory drought threshold is less than 75% of normal water supply plus a hardship finding, and that Ecology extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it statewide in June. They discussed reliance on federal monitoring data and staffing at NRCS, USGS, Reclamation, and NOAA, and said federal staffing and funding instability has created concerns for snowpack and water data. They also reviewed drought response funding, noting that grants have supported projects in the Yakima and Dungeness basins and that the drought emergency account still has a balance available for current needs. Burns gave a detailed update on the Yakima Basin, saying it experienced unprecedented conditions this year, including nearly empty reservoirs, curtailment orders sent to about 1,500 water users, and the first time even the most senior 1855 surface water rights were turned off. She said widespread compliance occurred, though the process exposed areas for improvement, especially coordination with federal partners. Committee members asked about the long-term basis for climate projections, the 75% drought threshold, federal impacts, drought insurance, reservoir storage, and whether the state should consider more drought funding or new storage projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have high energy and high water use by crypto and AI all over the state.
• I love my community, its diversity, its energy, its mix of cow pastures and tech campuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And NV Energy reached out with these type of questions.
• So that is the objective, 100%, and NV Energy reached out with these type of questions, AT&T reached

Bills: AB93 , AB204 , AB414 , AB504 , AB598

Committee: Assembly Commerce and Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• shift in ownership and control of long-term care facilities by for-profit entities, including private equity-backed
• , Bethany, that was up and running wonderfully for years and then started going down this private equity
• :01.120><c> private</c> then started going down this private then started going down this private equity
• 02.800><c> piece</c><02:20:03.120><c> and</c><02:20:03.359><c> then</c><02:20:03.520><c> they</c> equity
• firm piece and then they equity firm piece and then they eventually<02:20:04.880><c> had</c><02:20:05.280

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a matter of public health, equity, and basic human dignity.
• It's a matter of public health, equity, and basic human dignity.
• It's a matter of public health, equity, and basic human dignity.
• It's a matter of public health, equity, and basic human dignity.
• It's a matter of public health, equity, and basic human dignity.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard testimony on HB 1875, which would expand Hawaii’s existing protections to include gender-affirming health care, clarify permitted disclosures of protected health information, and bar certain adverse actions by malpractice insurers and health carriers against providers of lawful reproductive or gender-affirming care. The Insurance Division of DCCA supported the bill with a technical amendment, suggesting language tied to actuarial analysis rather than the phrase “actuarially sound.” The Office of Information Practices also provided comments. Most testimony was strongly in support. State agencies and advocacy groups, including the Hawaii State Youth Commission, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Stonewall Caucus, ACLU of Hawaii, PFLAG Oahu, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the bill would protect patient privacy, reduce chilling effects from out-of-state litigation, and help retain providers in a state already facing shortages. Several testifiers said gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and life-saving, and emphasized that Hawaii should protect its own health care decisions from outside political pressure. A few individuals testified in opposition, arguing the bill was unnecessary or that it protected providers more than opponents of the bill, but these views were not echoed by most of the testimony. The chair repeatedly reminded testifiers to keep comments brief and maintain decorum. The transcript provided does not include a final committee vote or disposition on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Management and Maintenance to grant easements to NSTAR Electric Company, doing business as Eversource Energy

Summary: The House convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Committee on Rules reports and related procedural orders. Members adopted a resolution recognizing the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The House also adopted multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines, including for the Election Laws, Environment and Natural Resources, and Revenue committees, and concurred in Senate petitions after suspending Joint Rule 12 for several matters. The chamber then advanced a series of local and House bills. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered several bills to a third reading, including measures on electronic scanning of identifications, police age-limit waivers or civil service eligibility for named individuals in Boston and Haverhill, and a bill on the contracting of digital replicas. Later, the House passed to be engrossed bills including a Department of Conservation and Recreation Title IX compliance bill and additional police-related local bills, and passed to be enacted a land conveyance bill for Wellesley and other enacted measures such as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, a Fall River police chief appointment bill, a Seekonk charter amendment, and a Billerica police age-limit bill. The House also adopted an order for a joint convention with the Senate to receive the Governor’s communication on January 22, 2026. At the end of the session, members adopted an order to meet again Thursday at 11 a.m. and a special adjournment in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, former Quincy legislator, mayor, and clerk magistrate. The House then adjourned to meet Thursday next at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is referred to Energy. Next is S. 8482A. Sponsor: Senator Stec. An act to amend the Tax Law.

Committee: Senate Investigations And Government Operations

Summary: The Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee met on May 12, 2026, with Chair James Skoufis noting it could be the committee’s final meeting of the session and that the agenda included 44 bills, many involving local tax matters. Most measures were moved and reported with little discussion, including several Tax Law, Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, Public Officers Law, and local authorization bills. A number of bills were also referred onward, including S. 3649, which Skoufis recommended against because noncompliant municipalities could lose significant funding; it was defeated. Other measures were referred to Finance, Judiciary, Energy, or Codes, including S. 8221B, a bill on ticket resale and consumer protections, which Skoufis said would cap many fees, limit live music resale above face value, require disclosure of ticket holdbacks, tighten broker licensure, and close refund loopholes. Members briefly questioned the ticket-resale bill, asking what consumer benefit it would provide and which tickets would be covered. Skoufis explained that the bill was aimed at reducing price gouging, especially for concerts and some smaller events, while carving out Broadway and sports. He also said the bill would address hidden ticket allocations and refund practices that had been problematic during the pandemic. The committee then voted to report the bill to Finance. Several other bills drew negative recommendations or were defeated, including S. 8447 and S. 8619, both of which were defeated after no-vote recommendations. S. 9284 was referred to Judiciary, S. 9741A to Finance, and S. 9924 to Codes. The committee also reported a state land transfer bill for the Richardson Center Corporation and approved or reported numerous other bills, ending with S. 10188, which approved Section 2 of Chapter 316 of the Laws of 2025. Skoufis thanked the clerk, staff, and members at the close of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> [laughter] >> New energy. I'm like...

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• H.J.R. 1090 is the resolution approving all energy- and agriculture-related agency rules.

Bills: HJR1090 , HJR1091 , HJR1092 , HJR1093 , HJR1094 , HJR1095 , SJR49

Committee: House Administrative Rules

Summary: The committee took up several joint resolutions dealing with agency rules. H.J.R. 1090, approving energy- and agriculture-related agency rules, was adopted and passed 10-0. H.J.R. 1091, covering business and commerce rules, was also adopted and passed 10-0. H.J.R. 1092, which had been split out from the business and commerce packet because of a reported $10 million cost impact on one business, was adopted after discussions with regulators about delaying remodeling requirements and addressing safety concerns; it passed unanimously. H.J.R. 1093, approving health-related agency rules, passed 11-0, with some Oklahoma Health Care Authority major rules noted as being handled separately in the Senate. The committee then discussed H.C.R. 1094, a major rule from the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission. Members raised concerns that the agency’s rule impact statement contained errors, incorrect notice and hearing information, and an incomplete economic analysis. After debate over whether the resolution could be amended or had to be accepted or rejected as a whole, the committee voted 11-0 that it did not pass. The committee then considered H.J.R. 1095 with an amendment to specifically disapprove a proposed permanent rule change by the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission that would have allowed the commission to ignore its own rules in the “best interest of the state.” The amendment was adopted 11-1, and the resolution as amended passed. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked members and staff for their work and said the committee would try to move the resolutions to the floor on Thursday, with another meeting likely needed to address additional major rules coming from the Senate. A committee member also suggested a brief educational review of a prior procedural issue at a future meeting, and the chair agreed to discuss broader concerns about the administrative rules process in a later wrap-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we have in both the House and Senate, I think we are well served by the expertise, but also the energy

Summary: The conference committee met to act on the conference agreement for gross substitute Senate Bill 6005, the state’s two-year transportation budget. Staff summarized the agreement as a $16.6 billion appropriations package for the biennium, compared with $17 billion in the Senate version and $16.5 billion in the House version. The budget includes about $800 million in reappropriated capital funds to continue existing projects, plus new funding for preservation, maintenance, and ferries, and it is tied to a six-year plan with project lists referenced in the bill. Members from both chambers praised staff and described the agreement as a compromise focused on maintenance, preservation, ferries, and traffic safety. Several speakers emphasized that the budget addresses immediate needs while acknowledging broader long-term challenges, including the need for sustainable transportation revenue and future planning for ferries, culverts, and capital projects. Some members noted concerns about the financing approach and the use of bonds, but still supported the overall agreement. On the motion to approve the conference report, the committee voted 5-1 to recommend the conference budget. Representative Barkis voted do not recommend, while Representatives Donaghy and Fey, and Senators King, Krishnadasan, and Leavitt voted to recommend. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we have in both the House and Senate, I think we are well served by the expertise, but also the energy

Summary: The conference committee met to act on the conference report for gross substitute Senate Bill 6005, the state’s two-year supplemental transportation budget. Staff summarized the agreement as a $16.6 billion budget for the biennium, compared with $17 billion in the Senate version and $16.5 billion in the House version. The package includes about $800 million in reappropriated capital funds to continue existing projects, along with new funding for preservation, maintenance, and ferries, and it is tied to a six-year transportation plan and two project lists referenced in the bill. Members from both chambers spoke in support of the compromise while noting ongoing concerns about long-term transportation funding. Several emphasized that maintenance, preservation, ferries, and safety were the central priorities, and that the budget would help keep workers employed and projects moving. Chair Fye and Ranking Member Barkas both said more work is needed in the interim and next session to develop a sustainable long-term revenue and capital strategy, while Senator King, Representative Donaghy, and Senator Krishnadasan highlighted the preservation, maintenance, ferries, and jobs impacts of the agreement. After debate, Representative Fine moved to approve the conference report. The committee then took a roll call vote and recommended the conference budget by a tally of five to one, with Representative Barkas voting do not recommend and the other members voting to recommend. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So something just pumped me up, and I had this burst of energy and determination, and I started my way

Bills: HB3880 , HB3263 , HB2970 , HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940 , HB4117 , HB3428 , HB4275 , HB3257 , HB3901 , HB4298 , HB4260 , HB2981 , HB3695 , HB2960 , HB3967 , HB3968 , HB4339 , HB4341 , HB4342 , HB2940 , HB4295 , HB4196 , HB3134 , HB1016

Transcript Highlights:

• biggest and widest-ranging types of appropriations, everything from natural resources, water security, energy

Bills: HB2 , SB48 , SB64 , SB100

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask in this time for ears to hear, for eyes to see, see, for minds to discern, and for energy enough

Bills: SB1519 , SB1775 , SB1900 , SB1948 , SB2080 , SB1226 , SB1456 , SB1462 , SB1463 , SB1980 , SB1479 , SB1608 , SB1923

Transcript Highlights:

• Technologies are directed-energy weapons and so forth.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• He will be remembered by his infectious positive energy and unwavering dedication. dedication to his

Transcript Highlights:

• immigration policy and enforcement is a federal responsibility, which deserves a renewed focus and energy

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Secretary then read Governor DeSantis’s proclamation calling the Legislature into special session from January 27 to January 31, 2025, limited to five subjects: combating illegal immigration, condominium regulation, agricultural relief after natural disasters, replenishing the My Safe Florida Home Program, and changes to the citizen initiative petition process. The chamber read the filed bills within the call, including several Senate bills on illegal immigration and petition process issues, all referred to Fiscal Policy. A motion was adopted to send any bills filed outside the call to the Rules Committee to determine whether introduction was warranted. The Senate President then discussed President Trump’s immigration executive orders and said Florida would align with federal efforts while preserving the Legislature’s constitutional role. He announced that Senator Gruters would sponsor legislation to implement Trump’s border and immigration plan, including funding to reimburse law enforcement costs and incentives to recruit more officers. He said the bill would be posted, referred to Appropriations later that day, and heard on the floor the next day. The session then adjourned sine die by motion without objection, with senators told the chamber would reconvene momentarily for the special session.