Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. primary workers at the time. But now, as primary workers at the time.
• Senator Dziedzic: My questions are, are you open to opening it up to the minority leaders of both sides
• My questions are you open to provide.
• My questions are you open to opening<01:25:14.240><c> it</c><01:25:14.320><c> up</c><01:25:14.440><c>
• </c> and I think there should be an open and I think there should be an open dialogue<01:25:36.160><c

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will take them up in open session tomorrow at the appropriate time.
• </c> moved to hear the nominees in open moved to hear the nominees in open session<00:13:47.360><c> and
• at the up in open session tomorrow at the appropriate<00:14:00.320><c> time.
• Senator Kagan, open &gt;&gt; Senate bill 99.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Senate Bill 99, Senator Kagan, open &gt;&gt; Senate Bill 99, Senator Kagan, open meetings

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, February 19, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Usually we have opening remarks. This is our very first meeting for State Affairs.
• I'm curious, would you be open to an extension of your deadline on new projects?
• I'm curious, would you be open to an extension of your deadline on new projects?
• You know, being open to some of those restrictions versus a complete elimination.
• I'm always open to any conversation.

Summary: The committee first heard CS/HB 69, which would preempt local land-use decisions for presidential libraries to the state. The sponsor said the bill was intended to make it easier to site a presidential library in Florida. Members asked about whether the bill could affect nontraditional uses such as hotels or casinos, and the sponsor said it only addressed land-use and development-order decisions. There was no public testimony, and the bill was reported favorably 16-7. The committee then took up CS/HB 289, “Lucy's Law,” on boating safety. The bill expands boating education requirements, aligns boating penalties more closely with driving offenses, prohibits false information in vessel accident reports, and requires certain nonresidents to obtain boating safety cards. An amendment requiring boating safety courses for those convicted of civil boating infractions was adopted. The committee heard emotional testimony from Lucy Fernandez’s mother, who described the fatal 2022 boating crash that inspired the bill, along with support from industry and local-government witnesses. Members from both parties spoke in favor, emphasizing accountability, education, and enforcement. The bill passed unanimously, 25-0. HB 7003, an open-government/sunshine bill, preserved a public-records exemption for sensitive business information submitted with applications to the Office of Financial Regulation’s financial technology sandbox. It drew no public testimony or debate and was reported favorably. HB 4007, a local bill for Martin County, capped reimbursement for inmate emergency health care at 110% of Medicare, mirroring the Department of Corrections standard; it also passed favorably after supportive public testimony. The longest discussion was on HB 991, which would prohibit creation of new community redevelopment agencies after July 1, 2025, bar current CRAs from starting new projects or issuing new debt after October 1, 2025, and sunset existing CRAs by 2045 or their charter date, whichever is earlier. The sponsor argued CRAs have become long-lived funding vehicles used beyond their original anti-blight purpose and said local governments have other tools. Many members from both parties objected that CRAs remain important for affordable housing, small business support, infrastructure, and redevelopment in blighted areas, and several said the bill would harm ongoing or multi-phase projects. Three amendments were offered: one defining “new project,” one striking the new-CRA prohibition, and one striking the new-debt/new-project language; all were defeated except the first, which was adopted. Public testimony was split, with redevelopment groups, cities, and the Florida League of Cities opposing the bill and Americans for Prosperity supporting it. The committee did not reach final disposition in the portion provided, but the debate showed substantial opposition and concern about the bill’s impact on local redevelopment efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• thing that drives the the levy primary thing that drives the the levy and<00:52:20.480><c> the</c><00
• There's a district printout in your last green sleeve that you haven't opened yet that's on legal-size
• There's a district printout in your last green sleeve that you haven't opened yet that's on legal-size
• There's a district printout in your last green sleeve that you haven't opened yet that's on legal-size
• There's a district printout in your last green sleeve that you haven't opened yet that's on legal-size

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so the American Community Survey is our primary demographic instrument, which asks about country
• OK, so the American Community Survey is our primary demographic instrument, which asks about country
• from a national census count, how, and I think I know the answer, but I'm going to ask it in a more open

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census met on December 8 at 9:32 a.m. to examine the dynamics that drive census undercounts and overcounts, with testimony first from Joseph Salvo and then from Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute. Salvo explained the Census Bureau’s two main evaluation tools: demographic analysis, which uses vital records, migration estimates, and Medicare data to produce a national benchmark, and the post-enumeration survey (PES), which compares a separate sample-based count to the census. He said the 2020 census showed a small national net undercount, but larger age- and race-based disparities, including the highest undercount among children ages 0 to 4, higher undercounts for men, substantial undercounts for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and overcounts among some older and college-age groups. He also described how self-response, non-response follow-up, administrative records, proxy responses, and imputation affected data quality, arguing that proxies and imputation were especially weak and that outreach remains critical for 2030. Committee members asked Salvo to clarify the methods and error bands, the role of international migration estimates, and how the PES differs from the census address list and LUCA. He explained that PES is based on a separate sample of blocks and can add units within sampled blocks, but it does not measure units missed entirely from the original address list; LUCA matters because it improves that list before enumeration. He also discussed age heaping, duplicate responses among older adults, and why group quarters and COVID-related disruptions complicated the 2020 count. Senator Driscoll briefly interrupted to describe Randolph’s successful appeal of its 2020 count after an undercount in disability care homes, and Salvo noted that the post-census group quarters review helped correct some missed facilities. Susan Strait then focused on Massachusetts-specific results. She said Massachusetts’ 2020 count was strong overall, with population growth above the national average and a PES-based finding that the state was overcounted by 2.24 percent, though she emphasized that this did not mean all areas were accurately counted. Using demographic analysis, she said Massachusetts had an estimated 4.15 percent undercount of children ages 0 to 4, with the largest county-level undercounts in Hampden, Suffolk, and Essex, and she linked higher child undercounts to lower educational attainment and female-headed households. Strait also reviewed operational metrics showing that Massachusetts had relatively strong internet self-response, but that non-response follow-up relied heavily on household interviews, administrative records, proxies, and imputation in different counties. She highlighted higher proxy use in college-heavy counties such as Hampshire and Suffolk, and said counties with more minority residents were more likely to have population-count-only cases and other indicators of harder-to-count populations. The hearing ended with discussion of how these findings could inform outreach and census planning for 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• the new penalties are in effect for reports due on or after August 12th, which is the day after the primary
• make sure that as we're moving into this general election, people have an opportunity during the primary
• Reports due on or after August 12th, which is the day after the primary, to make sure that as we're moving
• into this general election, people have an opportunity during the primary to understand these and really

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair then opened it up for questions. Senator Rarick had a question or comment.
• Pell and opened it up for questions. Senator Farnsworth had a question for staff.
• I think I addressed it in my opening statement.
• There's over 60 open investigations into fraud in the Walz Administration.
• </c> Administration there's over 60 open Administration there's over 60 open investigations<02:06:44.480

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:29.400><c> to</c> and um and we we're we're open to and um and we we're we're open to committee
• MOTANS for Open Government, MN. MOG.
• </c><00:25:57.120><c> their</c><00:25:57.399><c> files</c> they open their files they open their files
• </c><00:51:30.920><c> government</c> where minnesotans for open government where minnesotans for open
• </c> on close enough okay Minnesotan for open on close enough okay Minnesotan for open government<01:

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:49:50.800><c> a</c> to these lower-level things um at a to these lower-level things um at a primary
• care doctor and they might be primary care doctor and they might be forced<01:49:52.840><c> to</c><01
• </c><02:13:10.960><c> Care,</c><02:13:11.880><c> Compass</c> Services, Bi-State Primary Care, Compass
• Services, Bi-State Primary Care, Compass Pathways, Pathways, Pathways, HIV<02:13:14.960><c> and</c><
• Open an account at a state or federally chartered bank or credit union. J.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, members will be opened in prayer by Senator Boudreaux, but before he opens us in prayer, open
• The machine is open in favor, yes. Put the machine open. Vote on the machine, members.
• When the machines open in favor, yes, opposed? Open the machines.
• When the machines are open in favor, yes, opposed? Open the machines.
• When the machines are open in favor, yes, opposed? Open the machines.

Bills: SR125 , SCR70 , SCR12 , HB4 , HB251 , HB623 , HB819 , HB944 , HB986 , HB1098 , HB1222 , HB1257 , HB221 , HCR58 , SCR22 , SCR24 , SB29 , SB30 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB43 , SB47 , SB84 , SB93 , SB113 , SB192 , SB199 , SB219 , SB220 , SB221 , SB222 , SB241 , SB253 , SB255 , SB289 , SB292 , SB306 , SB314 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB14 , SB102 , SB133 , SB151 , SB165 , SB169 , SB170 , SB200 , SB217 , SB280 , SB291 , SB300 , SB303 , SB330 , SB449 , SB489 , SB521 , SB45 , SB156 , SB181 , SB203 , SB274 , SB304 , SB379 , SB396 , SB410 , SB425 , SB427 , SB436 , SB424 , SCR61 , SCR9 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , HCR31 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1239 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB210 , HB220 , HB228 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB750 , HB813 , HB815 , HB826 , HB870 , HB949 , HB953 , HB1045 , HB1092 , HB1151 , HB1162 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB22 , HB28 , HB33 , HB41 , HB47 , HB87 , HB115 , HB162 , HB195 , HB214 , HB217 , HB233 , HB283 , HB290 , HB319 , HB324 , HB345 , HB362 , HB363 , HB368 , HB377 , HB380 , HB382 , HB386 , HB392 , HB406 , HB431 , HB441 , HB466 , HB503 , HB533 , HB559 , HB575 , HB590 , HB593 , HB618 , HB636 , HB655 , HB664 , HB685 , HB692 , HB707 , HB715 , HB732 , HB738 , HB741 , HB748 , HB776 , HB807 , HB822 , HB856 , HB860 , HB868 , HB887 , HB888 , HB905 , HB908 , HB961 , HB980 , HB990 , HB992 , HB999 , HB1000 , HB1010 , HB1146 , HB1157 , HB1233 , HB1236 , HB1243 , HB54 , HB137 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB321 , HB396 , HB512 , HB552 , HB578 , HB638 , HB663 , HB708 , HB717 , HB718 , HB1009 , HB1082 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1198 , HB1246 , HB1250 , HB17 , HB36 , HB73 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB166 , HB211 , HB226 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB354 , HB399 , HB677 , HB712 , HB723 , HB726 , HB728 , HB759 , HB789 , HB844 , HB850 , HB966 , HB1036 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441 , HB134 , HB258 , HB359 , HB782

Keywords: SR125, Senate Resolution 125, MUSV, Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel, MASC, Modular Attack Surface Craft, Conrad Shipyard, Morgan City, Louisiana shipbuilding, U.S. Navy, Department of the Navy, unmanned naval vessels, autonomous ships, defense procurement, military contracting, shipyard jobs, maritime workforce, advanced manufacturing, robotics, software engineering

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received an opening prayer from Pastor Elizabeth Ali Frank, and adopted the journal. The chamber then handled a large number of messages, committee reports, resolutions, and House bills, including several ceremonial resolutions and many House measures returned with amendments. Notable resolutions included recognition of World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, commendations for Louisiana sports honorees, and a resolution urging higher reimbursement rates for behavioral health crisis centers, which was adopted. The Senate also concurred in SCR 22 on opioid settlement fund reporting, with Senator Myers explaining the House changes were technical and improved the reporting deadline and detail. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to concurrence or rejection of House amendments on Senate bills. The Senate concurred in several bills involving telehealth, prenatal bereavement care, official journals, ambulance Medicaid coverage, insurance and licensing disclosures, peptide regulation, psychosocial rehabilitation services, university records confidentiality, the Inspector General, religious exercise protections, child care assistance, eye care coverage, teacher retirement, and electronic service of pleadings. The chamber rejected House amendments to SB 42 on AI-created child sexual abuse materials and SB 43 on psychedelic-assisted therapy, and also rejected amendments on SB 29 and SB 32 before later concurring in many other technical or clarifying House changes. Several members explained that the House amendments were mostly technical, clarified effective dates, or adjusted definitions and contact information. The Senate then took up numerous House bills on final passage. Bills passed included measures on inmate workforce development cleanup, jury bond filing by mail, free transcripts for victims testifying before pardon/parole hearings, public awareness on illegal firearm discharge, special masters in complex litigation, paternity acknowledgments in hospitals, juvenile court filing fees in East Baton Rouge Parish, drug-free school zone penalties, criminal history record confidentiality, body brokering/fraudulent patient referrals, bail notice and residence requirements, sex offender registration updates, parish court jurisdictional amounts, court technology fees, deferred retirement options, shared custody standards, women’s policy and research commission membership, sickle cell and uterine fibroids commission membership, child exploitation reporting on online platforms, recreation of the state civil service department, children’s cabinet membership, DCFS employee background checks, AI disclosure in health care visits, the psychology inter-jurisdictional compact, mental health advisory board updates, foster children’s rights, automatic renewal contract disclosures, Orleans sheriff term alignment, access to death records for financial institutions, insurance referral disclosures, radiologist assistant regulation, plumbing licensure reforms, legislative auditor thresholds, developmental disabilities office renaming, insurer investment rules, Medicare Advantage coverage for integrative care services, and more. Some bills were returned to the calendar for further work, including HB 571, HB 475, HB 750, and HB 1162, and HB 490 was set aside after extensive debate on private-use electrical networks and data-center power arrangements. The most prominent floor action was final passage of HB 636, the Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act, which Senator Boudreaux described as a comprehensive response to hazing tragedies on Louisiana campuses. He said the bill was developed by a task force that included the Wilson family and would strengthen education, reporting, accountability, and penalties, including permanent banishment for organizations involved in hazing deaths. After the bill passed 37-0, the Senate recognized the Wilson family and presented flags in Caleb Wilson’s honor. Throughout the day, many bills passed overwhelmingly, though a few drew dissent, including HB 296, HB 538, HB 568, HB 635, and HB 784. The meeting ended with continued consideration of additional House bills and unfinished items returned to the calendar for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now open up to discussion. 656.
• So I’ll open up the further discussion.
• So I'll open placed in this amendment.
• I'm open So that's one thing about it.
• Um, so I'm opening the uh Okay.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session began with HB 656, as amended, which would treat federal funds received by school districts as unanticipated money unless already listed in the annual report, and would require notices and school board minutes to identify the grant and summarize any obligations attached to accepting it. Supporters said the bill was aimed at transparency so voters would understand the “strings attached” to grants, while opponents raised concerns that the amendment was new, potentially vague, and could require districts to publish lengthy or redundant information, increasing costs and administrative burden. Several members suggested alternative approaches, such as a state-level list of common grant obligations or posting grant documents online. No vote was taken, and some members argued the bill was not ready for action. The committee then moved to HB 665, which would expand eligibility for free school meals to households at up to 300% of federal poverty guidelines and use education trust fund money to cover the added cost. Representative Damon strongly supported the bill, citing food insecurity and arguing the fiscal note likely overstated costs because the bill requires at least one free meal, not necessarily both breakfast and lunch. The discussion was just beginning when the transcript ended, and no vote or final action on HB 665 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to open the hearing on HB 563, and we'll begin by hearing from the prime sponsor, Representative
• What I want to mention is that there are three primary, or a number of, real priorities which we have
• Thank you, and I’m open to any questions.
• So with that, I'm going to close this hearing and open up 717. That's the next bill.
• </c> involvement however it the primary involvement however it the primary purpose<02:12:27.920><c> of

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on HB 563, which would revise the education funding formula for pupils receiving special education services by replacing the current single special education amount with three differentiated categories. Representative Rick Ladd, the prime sponsor, said the bill largely tracks a House-passed version from the prior session with minor figure adjustments, and explained that the proposal uses projected FY26 amounts for three categories based on time in general education versus more intensive placements. He also noted that the bill does not address catastrophic aid directly, but that special education aid, CAT aid, and proration all remain issues for later work sessions. Ladd and supporters argued that weighted categories better reflect actual costs and are more sustainable than treating all IEPs the same. Representative Margaret Drye said the approach was one of the best ideas from the education funding subcommittee and urged the committee to support differentiated aid. Representative Ames asked how the category amounts were derived, and Ladd said Category A follows the FY26 base, Category B is a higher weight, and Category C is a still higher weight for more intensive services, though he acknowledged the exact multipliers were developed earlier and could be revisited. He also said the committee would continue discussing whether the weights are appropriate and how they interact with CAT aid. Testimony from Bonnie Dunham strongly opposed the bill. She argued that funding based on placement rather than actual service need would create incentives to move students into more restrictive settings, could stigmatize children with labels such as "Category C," and would undermine the least restrictive environment requirements under federal special education law. She described her son’s experience in inclusive settings as beneficial and said the bill would have penalized the district for serving him there. In response to questions, she said schools and parents should base funding on the child’s actual needs and costs, not on placement, and urged the committee to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate.

Transcript Highlights:

• :10.959><c> the</c> openness will give consumers the openness will give consumers the knowledge<00:03
• National biomonitoring data show that the primary source of phthalates for most ... the US.
• We are open to toxic load we all carry.
• We can open up to some questions if members have any. All right.
• Um we uh can open up to some issue.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so kind of the combination of two primary reasons make up two chunks of what you might be looking
• But once you go to visit an agency in the tower and the elevator doors open, the first thing you see
• And the public fence would be open, you know, business hours and for events and things like that.
• That's when we open up the mall loop or the visitor parking.
• This facility will be for personnel only and will not be open to the public.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity in North Dakota. Ron Ness said production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with efficiency gains and longer laterals helping offset lower rig counts. He discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, northward movement of drilling activity, and the importance of new infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilots. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, pipeline impacts, and the outlook for Continental and other operators. Ness said the industry is likely to remain steady rather than see a major ramp-up or decline. Matt Pearl of the State Tax Department then explained the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. He said the law extends or makes permanent several federal provisions and creates temporary deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, with the biggest state impact coming from the standard deduction increase and business tax changes. He revised earlier estimates downward, saying the net cash impact on state collections is likely in the $30 million to $35 million range after accounting for business prepayments and one-time FY25 oilfield transaction effects. Committee members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns. OMB staff gave a detailed update on major capital projects and facility funding. Topics included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, seating, lighting, tree management, and restroom and lobby upgrades; security work at the governor’s residence, which has been delayed by the discovery of human remains; and space reconfiguration efforts in Bismarck-Mandan to reduce leases and create shared offices and conference rooms. They also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, including roof, window, boiler, and kitchen projects at state facilities, and on the state hospital project in Jamestown, which remains on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028. OMB also updated the committee on the Minot North Central State Office Building, the use of federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the status of legislative intent and trust fund reports, including school aid turnback, the school construction loan program, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund, the Legacy Fund, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The committee ended by discussing future agenda items, including government efficiency, cash management, Bank of North Dakota lines of credit, and the rural health transformation program, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The company of concern, I looked at it, the primary concern is BYD, called Beyond Your Dreams.
• And it's very interesting, because if a U.S. company goes to China to open up, they're required to be
• Idaho is what we call an open state.
• So this would be closing current permissions of Idaho's open-state status.
• That would be a factory coming in, opening their own thing and competing against their franchise dealer

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee began with routine business, approving the March 12 and March 17, 2026 minutes. It then heard House Bill 927, which would restore consequences for unpaid moving violations by requiring the DMV to notify drivers with delinquent traffic fines and giving them 60 days to pay, while preserving limited driving privileges for work and medical emergencies and excluding parking, cycling, and jaywalking violations. The sponsor and supporters, including the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police and AAA, argued the bill would improve public safety and accountability and help address more than $23 million in unpaid traffic debt; opponents said collection agencies and existing tools were preferable and raised concerns about license-related penalties. After debate, a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee passed, so HB 927 was not advanced. The committee next considered House Bill 508, a follow-up to prior bicycle/pedestrian facility legislation. The bill would clarify that federal grants or funds may be used for highway projects involving bike or pedestrian improvements and would limit a violation provision to elected officials rather than consultants. After questions about how the underlying law works, the committee rejected a motion to hold the bill and instead voted to send HB 508 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1424 followed, a measure to close Idaho’s direct-to-consumer vehicle sales model to new manufacturers while grandfathering existing manufacturer-owned dealerships. Supporters framed it as a response to Chinese economic and national security threats and argued it would protect Idaho’s franchise dealer system; opponents, including Scout Motors and the Electrification Coalition, said it would harm American startups and consumer choice. Despite concerns about federal preemption and impacts on future direct-sales companies, the committee voted to send SB 1424 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee took up House Bills 666 and 717, both aimed at requiring new Idaho residents to register vehicles and obtain Idaho licenses within a set time. HB 666 would have imposed a 30-day deadline, but members raised enforcement and fairness concerns and moved it to the 14th order for possible amendment. HB 717, an amended version, was also sent to the 14th order for possible amendment, but the roll call failed, leaving the bill held in committee. The meeting ended with thanks to members and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now open it up to anyone who is here speaking in lead in opposition.
• It is not open-ended. It is a reasonable, time-limited fix.
• We'll now open it up to two lead witnesses in opposition. Please come forward.
• We will open up file item number 1, SB 895.
• All right, we will open the roll if there are any other members who wish to add on to the roll.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health heard several health-related bills, with extensive public testimony and multiple roll-call votes. SB 895, by Senator Wiener, would create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research and place a bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to support science and health research in California amid federal funding cuts. The author and UC researchers argued the measure would protect jobs, public health, and the state’s research leadership; many universities, labor groups, and patient advocates testified in support, and there was no opposition. The committee members praised the bill, and it passed 6-0 to the Committee on Natural Resources and Water. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would make acupuncture a permanent Medi-Cal benefit regardless of federal matching funds. Supporters, including acupuncturists, patients, community organizations, and health access advocates, described acupuncture as effective, low-cost, and culturally important care; there was no opposition. The committee discussed access for API communities and Medi-Cal patients, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 987, by Senator Wiener, would create a California Health Access Fund to capture state savings if federal Medicaid changes cause Medi-Cal enrollment losses, with the goal of redirecting those savings to care for affected patients and providers. Support came from disability, consumer, family physician, emergency physician, psychiatric, medical, and safety-net hospital groups. Committee members discussed prioritizing indigent care, prevention, and other vulnerable populations if savings materialize. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations. SB 964, by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, would limit prior authorization barriers by allowing certain dose or frequency adjustments for covered medications without repeated authorization, up to two clinically appropriate changes. The bill was supported by a Crohn’s and colitis patient and sponsor testimony describing delays in care, while health plans and insurers opposed it over safety, FDA-labeling, and cost concerns. Committee members raised questions about off-label use and clinical standards, but the author said the bill was intended to reduce delays and avoid emergency care; it passed 11-0 to Appropriations. SB 1099, by Senator Reyes, would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA-related exemptions, to reduce legal uncertainty for local safety-net programs. County counsel and city attorney representatives said the bill would preserve local flexibility to provide services such as health care, shelter, crisis response, and food distribution without unnecessary eligibility barriers; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 11-0 to the Committee on Human Services. SB 1033, by Senator Padilla, would require manufacturers of protein products to test for heavy metals and disclose results. Supporters cited Consumer Reports findings of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in protein powders and beverages, while opponents asked for narrower scope and raised concerns about naturally occurring metals and over-warning consumers. The committee discussed narrowing the bill and the need for transparency, and it passed 11-0 to the Committee on Environmental Quality. Finally, SB 1049, by Senator Weber-Pearson, would give providers a fair opportunity to correct certain claim errors after a health plan action, rather than being barred by original filing deadlines. An OBGYN testified that a missing diagnostic code led to large clawbacks and delayed payments despite appropriate care; the bill was presented as a limited fix for honest mistakes. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1049, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have any questions of me again, I am open to listen to them, and I hope that the members on this
• and Payson and transported the equipment to help these people get mucked out, to help roads get back open
• blood, sweat, and tears in the past four weeks, spent a lot of their money to get their businesses open
• One of the major projects, the primary projects that we're working with right now, is within NRCS.
• People are very thoughtful about their legislation, which then does open up time for a budget process

Committee: House Government

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I'm open to working on that.
• I'm going to go ahead and open up the public comment for Senate Bill 6289.
• All right, let's go ahead and open up our public testimony for Senate Bill 6250.
• Let’s go ahead and open up public testimony for Senate Bill 5976.
• Our next panel is Tess Moore with Green Lake Primary Care, coming to us remotely.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 5976 would revise the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by narrowing liability for misleading email subject lines and changing damages and Consumer Protection Act claims. Business, retail, hospitality, and e-commerce witnesses supported the bill, saying recent litigation has created uncertainty and exposed routine marketing emails to excessive penalties. Consumer advocates and the Washington State Association for Justice opposed it, arguing the current law protects consumers from deceptive marketing and that the bill would weaken enforcement and class actions. SB 6111 would require age verification and parental consent for minors creating social media accounts, restrict providers’ use of minors’ data, and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General and a limited private right of action. The sponsor and several parents, medical professionals, and advocacy groups supported the bill as a response to social media harms, including addiction, depression, cyberbullying, eating disorders, and exposure to harmful content. Technology and civil liberties witnesses opposed it, warning about privacy, data security, constitutional concerns, and the difficulty of implementing reliable parental consent and age verification. The committee also heard SB 6250, which would raise the maximum small loan amount from $700 to $1,200 and index it to inflation. The sponsor and a lender representative said the change would update an outdated limit and preserve existing consumer protections. Opponents, including legal aid, poverty, housing, labor, AARP, and community advocates, argued the higher cap would increase debt burdens and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. Staff also briefed SB 6257, which would allow illness-related tolling for trainee real estate appraiser licensing timelines, and SB 6289, which would direct Commerce to create a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan; SB 6289 drew supportive testimony from Commerce, ports, economic development groups, and business interests. The committee also held confirmation hearings for several Gambling Commission and Lottery appointees, who described their backgrounds and service, but no votes or final actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, friends, we're going to go ahead and get started by opening up the public hearing on House
• And if at this point the committee sees this as something that needs more work, I'm going to be open
• And if at this point the committee sees this as something that needs more work, I'm going to be open
• So I'm open to any suggestions on that by Chair Morgan, because we have worked on other projects together
• We're going to open the... Thank you.

Bills: HB2279 , HB2463 , HB1941 , HB2238

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: PFAS chemicals, agriculture, environmental impact, regulation, food safety, farmers, food security, Washington, support for farmers, cannabis, cooperatives, marijuana industry, HB 2238, HB2238, statewide food security, food security strategy, hunger, food insecurity, food access, food assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, friends, we're going to go ahead and get started by opening up the public hearing on House
• With that, friends, we're going to go ahead and get started by opening up the public hearing on House
• And if at this point the committee sees this as something that needs more work, I'm going to be open
• So I'm open to any suggestions on that by Chair Morgan, because we have worked on other projects together
• We're going to open the... Thank you.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2279, which would require the Department of Agriculture to create a program and criteria to evaluate PFAS chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides. The prime sponsor argued PFAS are persistent “forever chemicals” that are entering soil, water, wildlife, and people, and said Washington should begin acting now rather than waiting for federal action. WSDA said the bill is implementable but would require rulemaking, ongoing staff resources, and likely a 12-month extension to complete stakeholder engagement; it also noted the bill should be clarified to address all pesticides, not just new ones. Agricultural and industry witnesses opposed the bill as duplicative of EPA review and warned it could reduce product availability and put Washington farmers at a competitive disadvantage, while environmental advocates supported it as a needed food-safety and environmental measure. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2463, which would expand the Washington Commodity Donation Program and create a Farm to Food Pantry Program to help hunger-relief organizations buy Washington-grown food directly from farmers. The sponsor said the bill is part of a broader state response to reduced federal food-security support and is intended to keep families fed by strengthening local food purchasing. Testimony was largely supportive from food banks, food hubs, farmers, AARP, and hunger-relief groups, who said the programs help move surplus produce, dairy, protein, and other products to people in need while supporting local farms and reducing waste. Several witnesses, however, raised concerns about language limiting participation to organizations that “solely” function for food sourcing, saying it could exclude many existing regional organizations and reduce resilience; one tribal representative also requested an amendment to include tribally owned small-scale farms. No action was taken on HB 2463 during the hearing. After the hearings, the committee went into caucus and then held executive session only on House Bill 1941, which authorizes licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural associations for collective processing, handling, and marketing. Supporters said it would help smaller cannabis producers cooperate and prepare for possible federal changes, while opponents argued it was premature given marijuana’s federal status and too broad in scope. The committee approved HB 1941 on a 6-5 vote and reported it out of committee with a do-pass recommendation. House Bill 2238 was deferred to the following day for further review of amendments.