Transcript Highlights:

• by providing a preference to community banks in our state.
• Beginning January 1, 2028, the state renewable energy tax is...
• There are provisions relating to the administration of the state...
• tax, for a net of $1.2 million loss to the state general fund.
• Not Paul Jewell, could you state your name for the record, please?

Summary: House Finance met on Friday, January 23rd, and heard three bills. On House Bill 2194, staff explained that the bill would allow a county and a city within that county to both impose the cultural access sales and use tax at the same time, with the county providing a credit for the city tax. Representative Parsley said the change would let more jurisdictions support cultural, arts, science, and school-related programs. Olympia and Thurston County officials testified in support, describing grant funding for cultural organizations, free programming, and school access benefits; a committee member raised a question about how the change could affect county bond obligations. The committee then heard House Bill 2089, which would narrow a B&O tax preference for first mortgage interest by removing the requirement that a financial institution be located in 10 or more states, and direct the resulting revenue to the wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account. Staff said the bill would raise significant revenue and have implementation costs for the Department of Revenue. Representative Scott said the bill was intended to restore wildfire funding and limit the preference to community banks, while opponents from the Washington Bankers Association and Community Bankers of Washington warned the bill could harm community banks and mortgage lending if not drafted carefully. The Department of Natural Resources and a public employee representative supported restoring wildfire preparedness funding. Finally, the committee heard a proposed third substitute for House Bill 1960, which would replace property taxation for new or repowered large renewable energy facilities and battery storage systems with a state and local excise tax structure, while also creating a local investment distribution account and a tribal capacity grant program. Staff and the sponsor described the bill as a way to reduce property tax shifts onto nearby taxpayers and provide more stable, predictable revenue for local governments and tribes. County officials, assessors, treasurers, and some clean energy and conservation groups supported the concept but asked for clearer definitions, payment timing, and rate adjustments; utilities and renewable developers said they supported the goal but opposed the bill as drafted because of concerns about the rates and the treatment of centrally assessed utilities. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after closing the hearings on all three bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• the state of Wyoming.
• </c><00:18:54.200><c> bankrupt</c><00:18:54.679><c> bankruptcy</c><00:18:55.280><c> code</c> United States
• bankrupt bankruptcy code United States bankrupt bankruptcy code as<00:18:56.280><c> specified,</c><00
• Convention of states.
• </c> state of Wyoming. state of Wyoming.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you can please come forth, state your name, organization, and position on the bill.
• And it was because of a drastic need in the state that you know better than anyone.
• Please state your name, affiliation, and position. Thank you.
• Jessica Sankis with the California State Association of Counties, here in support.
• then not to build a child care center.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Human Services met on January 12, 2026, beginning without a quorum but hearing four bills. SB 557 by Senator Hurtado would update California’s statutory definition of family resource centers to align with the federal definition and reflect their prevention-focused, low- or no-cost, multi-generational role. Supporters from the Child Abuse Prevention Center and California Family Resource Association said the change would clarify state law and help position California for future federal partnerships; no opposition was heard. SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon would correct a prior CEQA exemption for child care facilities so it applies in residential as well as nonresidential areas. Supporters, including Napa County Supervisor Liz Alessio and the Rural County Representatives of California, said the current language unintentionally blocks child care projects in places families need them most and has been used to delay or stop projects; several local government and early care organizations also supported the bill, and there was no opposition. SB 837 by Senator Gomez-Reyes would require aging and disability resource connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Testimony from the California Commission on Aging and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers emphasized recent wildfire deaths and the need for better evacuation and preparedness support; no opposition was presented. SB 479 by Senator Arreguín would allow the cities of Berkeley, Pasadena, and Long Beach, as local health jurisdictions, to use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across teams and departments, similar to counties under existing law. Supporters said the bill would improve coordination and outcomes for unsheltered residents, while noting confidentiality safeguards already exist; a privacy letter from Oakland Privacy was mentioned, but no formal opposition testified. After quorum was established, the committee voted 5-0 to pass each bill: SB 299 to Senate Environmental Quality, SB 557 and SB 837 to Senate Appropriations, and SB 479 to Senate Judiciary. All four measures were placed on call briefly and then cleared with unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, SB 557 brings needed clarity and alignment to state law.
• It was because of a drastic need in the state that you know better than anyone.
• Please state your name, affiliation, and position.
• Please state your name, affiliation, and position. Thank you.
• then not to build a childcare center.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jordan, I think you make some good points, but I think also having a patchwork, state-by-state framework
• In insurance, that's the very premise of McCarran-Ferguson: to have a patchwork of state by state because
• each state is different.
• And so it is best left to the states to regulate insurance in the best interests of their state.
• Companies are writing across state lines.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> formula using data provided to the state formula using data provided to the state that<00:04:42.280
• Please state your name and your two-minute testimony. Go ahead. Thank you, Mr.
• Please state your name and your two minutes for your testimony.
• </c> something goes wrong our city council something goes wrong our city council and<00:17:26.919><c>
• </c><00:18:37.840><c> government</c> at the local city councils government at the local city councils

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 337, a bill addressing long-term funding for rural and Greater Minnesota EMS and ambulance services. The author offered the A2 amendment, moved to divide it, and the committee adopted lines 1.2 to 1.19 of the amendment. The bill, as amended, was described as creating a policy framework for identifying ambulance services with operating deficits, requiring financial audits, and setting up a future grant program, with the author emphasizing that the proposal was still being developed and was intended to be a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix. Testimony was largely supportive. Eric Simonson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said the bill builds on last session’s one-time aid and would target grant dollars using state data, clarify eligible uses, allow audits, address uncompensated care and readiness costs, and require reporting back to the legislature. Mike Warner of the Red Wing Fire Department said his city’s ambulance service operates with a heavy government-funded payer mix and a persistent operating shortfall. Tim Meyer of Sanford Ambulance said low-volume rural services face widening revenue gaps, staffing pressures, and the loss of the volunteer model. Nathan Zacharias of the Association of Minnesota Counties and Kevin Lee of North Memorial Health also supported the bill, citing rising costs, staffing shortages, stagnant reimbursement, and the need for a sustainable statewide funding model. Members raised concerns about how the bill would work in practice, especially around communities that straddle metro and non-metro boundaries and around local control over grant dollars. Representative Pel asked how the eligibility language would apply to places like Northfield and New Prague; the author and a testifier said eligibility would depend on whether a service area is mostly outside the metro area, but acknowledged more review was needed. Representative Huitt argued the bill should give more local control and should address EMS as a statewide issue, not only a Greater Minnesota issue. Representative Ryer asked whether the bill would eventually include revenue recapture or another funding source, and the author said the proposal was still at an early stage and all options were being considered. The committee laid HF 337, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• , we're also the Brain State.
• Austin Strawhacker, who is the Associate State Director at America's SBDC in Iowa at Iowa State University
• resources in all 99 states. counties.
• You've been to Nevada so you know deep frontier rural states, most mountainous state in the lower 48
• The Small Business Technology Council.

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer

Summary: The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about zip codes. You want to talk about school choice? You should not be tied to a zip code.
• It's about zip codes. You want to talk about school choice? You should not be tied to a zip code.
• You know, there's at least 27 states You know, there's at least 27 states, by my count, that have already
• Look at the other states. Like I told you, there’s already a majority of states that are doing it.
• And we heard in committee about the state not being made...” “...the state not being made whole.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in this part of the state, will involve building new power generation capacity.
• , building.
• What I'm saying is that in the state of New Mexico, it looks like under House Bill 93, they can build
• energy-producing states that are part of the council—except for New Mexico—talk a lot about SMRs.
• You build a big building, maybe you add on to that.

Transcript Highlights:

• 65, Title 67, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section, 67-6541, Idaho Code, to establish provisions
• Safety Act, amending Title 48, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new Chapter 21, Title 48, Idaho Code
• 65, Title 67, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section, 67-6541, Idaho Code, to establish provisions
• Safety Act, amending Title 48, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new Chapter 21, Title 48, Idaho Code
• Just out of caution, city council. I don't think there's any doubt. Out of caution, city council.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think there were 4 that, that were in favor of 663 across the state.
• So You have the letter in front of you from the judicial advisory council.
• So how does someone get on the judicial advisory council?
• So a lot of the major cities are not represented on the judicial advisory council.
• These are state funds, OK. These aren't county funds.

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• We maintain and operate 96 buildings throughout the state, including many office buildings, so the headquarters
• including</c> buildings throughout the state including buildings throughout the state including many
• new buildings for the state or maintaining buildings that the state already owns.
• main building being the oldest building on the State Hospital campus, the big building where Corrections
• bit more money on fixing up state buildings.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining that it maintains and operates 96 state buildings and uses annual facility walkthroughs, condition assessments, and rough cost estimates to rank projects for the governor’s capital budget. Officials described how requests are triaged, how the governor’s office and Public Works refine estimates, and how the resulting capital budget book serves as legislative intent for approved projects. They also noted that this year the governor’s office asked for estimates on all selected projects, which increased workload but reduced detail. The department highlighted several requested projects, including $1.5 million for the ERP system sustainability fund, which officials said is critical because the state is upgrading its core financial, HR, and budget system to the cloud. Other priorities included courthouse HVAC and boiler work, brick repointing at the State House annex/main building, window replacement at the Spalding building, and elevator replacement on the hospital campus. Officials also said the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and asked the committee to consider funding closer to historic levels. The committee then reviewed lapse and reallocation items. DAS said most older projects are still in design, bid, or construction because projects now take four to six years rather than two to three, in part due to ARPA-related workload and post-COVID construction backlogs. Members discussed lapsing $81,000 from the completed Spalding roof project and redirecting small remaining balances from several 2019 projects toward the Hillsboro County South cell block project through the Capital Project Overview Committee. Officials also confirmed ARPA-funded projects are expected to be completed before the December 2026 deadline and explained that the ERP system is the main state IT exception outside DOIT’s usual centralized control, though it still requires DOIT consultation and approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• This effort will help the state build a stronger, more diverse, and more effective safety inspection
• Judy He, State Bill & Trace, in support.
• I think we should believe that as a state.
• workers building AI products that companies will want to sell to the state of California.
• What this bill will not do is waste state resources.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the Youth Advisory Council and other programs.
• It also limits the use of state and federal funds for executive compensation while allowing non-state
• This issue is not a state issue. It is going to be a federal issue.
• That shortage is felt across our state.
• Every patient in Florida deserves access to care regardless of zip code.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> exclusively on the Secretary of State. exclusively on the Secretary of State.
• In the committee, we just ran an amendment to remove the provisions around the state apprenticeship council
• :00.560><c> council</c> apprentichip council apprentichip council &gt;&gt; and<02:43:02.479><c> I</c>
• </c> all, they're a multi-state provider. all, they're a multi-state provider.
• . state. state.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sanitary code.
• sanitary code.
• This bill builds upon the Affordable Homes Act and ensures that state resources are maximized to efficiently
• This policy, this bill, will build upon the ...success by bringing together state agencies and nonprofit
• This policy, this bill that is, will build upon the success by bringing together state agencies and nonprofit

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of housing and homelessness bills. Chairs Rich Haggerty and Julian Cyr opened by noting the committee’s focus on EOHLC programs such as RAFT, MRVP, and HomeBASE, and several members and advocates emphasized the urgency of the state’s homelessness crisis, including rising family homelessness and the need for earlier intervention, more stable subsidies, and stronger long-term housing tools. A major theme was homelessness prevention and rehousing. Multiple witnesses supported bills to codify and strengthen RAFT and HomeBASE, arguing that assistance should be available earlier in a crisis rather than only after a notice to quit or imminent loss of housing. Testimony from legal services, homelessness coalitions, social workers, municipal housing staff, and tenant advocates said the programs help families avoid eviction and shelter, but need more flexibility, higher benefit caps, and permanent statutory protection. Several speakers also urged support for codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), describing it as a critical long-term subsidy for low-income households and older adults, and warning that codification would protect the program from future budget or policy changes. The committee also heard testimony on housing stability for older adults, affordable homes for people with disabilities, supportive housing, housing cooperatives, home sharing, local preference, and reentry housing for returning citizens. Advocates for older adults described a Somerville bridge subsidy pilot that helped stabilize seniors while they waited for permanent housing, and urged statewide expansion. Supporters of supportive housing called for an interagency board to streamline funding and development, while cooperative housing proponents backed creation of a Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives and a dedicated funding reserve. A bill to secure housing for returning citizens drew support from reentry providers and Senator Adam Gomez, who said stable housing is essential to successful reintegration. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses generally asked the committee to report the bills favorably, and some members asked follow-up questions on data and program details.

Transcript Highlights:

• Existing law states that the policy of the state of California is to afford all persons in public schools
• Existing law states that the policy of the state of California in existing law states that the policy
• You stated that very, very well.
• that the state, that the CSUs need in order to continue and really educate the students in the state
• And that's not uncommon in the urban areas of the state because we can only build so many universities

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee first heard SB 998, which would clarify and expand school discrimination prevention coordinator roles, including new coordinators focused on disability and anti-AAPI discrimination. The author and supporters said the bill would strengthen school climate, provide clearer guidance and training, and help schools address discrimination before it escalates. Support came from education, civil rights, and LGBTQ+ groups, while some witnesses expressed support if amended but raised concerns about gubernatorial appointments and preferred civil service hiring. Several senators debated whether the bill duplicated existing protections and whether it diverted attention from academic priorities, but the chair and coauthors emphasized it as follow-up legislation tied to prior civil rights commitments. The committee voted SB 998 out on a due pass motion to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the bill was placed on call. The committee then took up SB 1082, which would streamline inter-district transfer appeals by requiring faster district action, concurrent review, and clearer notice when applications are incomplete. The author and sponsor said families often face long delays and inconsistent practices, and supporters argued the bill would improve fairness and reduce administrative burden without changing local approval authority. The California School Boards Association had an oppose-unless-amended position but said it was re-evaluating after amendments, and some other groups said they were removing opposition. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended motion to the Senate Appropriations Committee and placed it on call. Next, the committee heard SB 960 on community college baccalaureate degrees. The author argued the bill would create a statewide framework allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in unmet workforce areas when CSU programs are unavailable or effectively inaccessible because of impaction, while also limiting growth so community colleges do not drift from their core mission. Supporters said the bill would expand access for place-bound students and align with workforce needs, while CSU and faculty opponents warned it could duplicate programs, affect faculty jobs, and worsen pressure on the CSU system. Members debated the master plan, impaction, funding inequities, and whether the bill would siphon students from CSU. The committee ultimately moved SB 960 out on a due pass as amended motion to the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the bill was placed on call. Finally, Senator Blakespear presented SB 965, which would make it easier for 16- and 17-year-olds to obtain public library cards without a parent or guardian physically present. The author and her son described inconsistent local rules and said the bill would reduce barriers while preserving local library policies on checkout and liability. The transcript ended during testimony on SB 965, before any committee vote or further action was recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• There have been a number of state or multi-state lawsuits challenging various provisions of this, and
• at the state level to support tsunami resilience efforts across the state.
• gap, to help build capacity at the local and state level, and to increase our tsunami resilience before
• You've got nine eligible states. You've got nine eligible states.
• We are building the capabilities.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we're building on building on building on, and so I just, you know, I think that's where we're
• And so we're building on building on building on, and so I just, you know, I think that's where we're
• And so we're building on building on building on, and so I just, you know, I think that's where we're
• And so we're building on building on building on, and so I just, you know, I think that's where we're
• And so we're building on building on building on, and so I just, you know, I think that's where we're

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We became, I believe, the 49th state in the country that left the state-run system and had a privatized
• This bill amends a code section that requires the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management, commonly
• And this is an example of something that is outside of our control, because it's in state code that we
• State agencies.
• council Mr.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee. Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.