Transcript Highlights:

• lot about how third graders are not reaching the desired goals in regard to reading proficiency, but part
• They were part of the attack, so in essence we funded the UN who gave money to UNRWA. ...of the attack
• My understanding is that part of the reason potentially to gather this information was, and to report
• Could you read that last part where it’s— It already prohibits, I think.
• Could staff read that last part where it’s— It’s pretty strict. Class 2.

Keywords: 1182, all

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:

• Finally, H3240.1 has a couple moving parts as well.
• Under the bill, the employer is not required to bargain if the implementation or modification is part
• Under the bill, the employer is not required to bargain if the implementation or modification is part
• It also allows the employer to implement or modify AI technology without bargaining if it's part of an
• It also allows an employer to implement or modify AI technology without bargaining if it's part of an

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2565, which would require University of Washington gifts, grants, and similar funds to be invested through the Washington State Investment Board instead of UW’s internal investment office. Staff and the prime sponsor argued the change would lower fees and improve returns, while UW’s representatives opposed the bill, citing concerns about donor intent, legal restrictions on thousands of individual endowments, and differences in portfolio management and liquidity needs. No questions were raised in the hearing, and no action was taken on the bill at that time. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills. On Third Substitute House Bill 1607, related to recycling and waste reduction, members adopted a technical amendment but rejected amendments that would have directed unredeemed deposits to the Working Families Tax Credit and litter programs, added accountability requirements for grants, or created a SNAP-related benefit. The bill was then reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation on a 17-13 vote. On Second Substitute House Bill 1622, concerning bargaining over public employers’ use of artificial intelligence, members adopted one amendment updating the AI definition and rejected three others that would have narrowed bargaining triggers or limited the bill to technologies with demonstrable material impacts. The bill was reported out with a do pass recommendation on a 19-11 vote. The committee also advanced House Bill 2254, which would cover administrative costs for the Partnership Access Line assessment, and House Bill 2385, which extends timelines for the Medicaid access program after federal changes affected implementation; both were reported out with do pass recommendations. House Bill 2531, continuing and adjusting the ground transportation quality assurance fee structure, also passed out of committee. Finally, House Bill 2543, allowing county clerks to increase certain fees to cover court-related costs, was reported out with a do pass recommendation on a 22-6 vote. The committee adjourned after completing its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the public hearing part of it, as testifiers are called upon to provide testimony, the chair or the
• I've already told people, if you don't like part of it, you know, there's next session.
• I've already told people, if you don't like part of it, you know, there's next session.
• He said he has let the prime sponsor know he is working on amendments to solve the deconfliction part
• Part of the funds also supported sourcing ingredients from local vendors.

Summary: The Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee first met in executive session on House Bills 2157, 2351, 2365, 2357, and 2446. Staff briefed proposed substitutes and amendments for each bill. HB 2157, concerning high-risk AI systems, was amended to exempt activities regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and covered entities under HIPAA; members discussed balancing consumer protections with flexibility for developers and deployers. HB 2351, addressing protections for emergency responders and emergency operations, was described as clarifying definitions and procedures, including a mental health crisis defense and changes to emergency operation zone notifications; some members raised concerns about deconfliction and implementation details. HB 2365, on digital equity, was amended with several definitional and data-sharing proposals, though some amendments were rejected over fiscal concerns. HB 2357, creating the Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol within the Military Department, passed without amendment. HB 2446, on developing a quantum technology industry strategy, was amended to extend the strategy deadline, broaden who Commerce may contract with, and correct terminology; members noted concerns about industry involvement in the strategic plan and fiscal impacts. All five bills were reported out of committee with do pass recommendations, with recorded votes of 8-5 on HB 2157, HB 2351, and HB 2365, unanimous support for HB 2357, and 12-1 for HB 2446. The committee then held a public hearing on HB 2523, which would make the community reinvestment program ongoing, require periodic updates and reporting, and direct a study of fund distribution and use. Testifiers from workforce boards, tribal programs, reentry services, community organizations, and Commerce described successful uses of the program for job training, reentry, small business support, legal services, and economic mobility, and urged the bill’s passage. Some suggested strengthening accountability, reporting, and access for new organizations. Commerce staff said the program has served more than 190,000 people and supported over 400 organizations, and asked for technical adjustments to keep administrative costs low. The bill was then closed for hearing. The committee also heard HB 2606, which would revise the Office of Privacy and Data Protection’s duties and performance measures, remove some reporting requirements, and add review of agency AI projects. The prime sponsor described it as a “stay-in-your-lane” cleanup bill responding to JLARC recommendations, and the state chief privacy officer testified in support, saying the office could implement the changes within existing resources. After questions about local government support and public resources, the hearing on HB 2606 was closed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it expands the reimbursement from the LEO fund for Medicare Parts A and B premiums, and also requires
• between free and about $500 a month, and the Part B premiums are about $175 a month.
• between free and about $500 a month, and the Part B premiums are about $175 a month.
• It's just Parts A and B. That's correct.
• and Part B.

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:

• the Health and Safety Code, the statute and our regulations, our strategic plan has been a critical part
• So I think it's a two-part answer.
• The other part of your question is, I believe, that generally the knowledge of the vulnerable people,
• But lived experience and stories are so important as a part of our data.
• I'm center director and senior research scientist there, also serving as part of the Native American

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair and membership appointments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 Senate holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by 4-0 votes. The committee then heard confirmation testimony from Hernando Garzon, M.D., nominated as Chief Medical Officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Senators asked about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, local flexibility in statewide standards, ambulance patient offload regulations, stakeholder engagement, disaster response, rural access, and alternatives to transporting 9-1-1 callers to emergency departments. Garzon emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local EMS agencies, collaboration with hospitals and providers, and the use of community paramedicine, telehealth, and pre-positioned resources in disasters. Public commenters and members supported his confirmation, and the committee approved the appointment 4-0 for referral to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. She described her tribal background, prior state, county, tribal, and nonprofit experience, and her focus on serving communities facing health disparities. Senators questioned her about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, balances equity work amid political opposition to DEI language, and tailors technical assistance to rural and tribal communities. Weldon pointed to work on tribal consultation, behavioral health, youth mental health, the California Reducing Disparities Project, gender-affirming care, reproductive health, housing and climate-related supports, and community advisory boards. Numerous public witnesses, including tribal and health equity advocates, spoke in strong support, and the committee approved her appointment 4-0 for the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is only a small part of the step forward.
• And so that's still part of the process, correct? Yeah. Okay, Senator Otting.
• This part of our housing stock is almost always overlooked. It's the most fragile.
• There was a comment on Part 4, on page 6 of the analysis, that talked about liability.
• That's going to be part of all— we have various things that we're going to be talking with the local

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard six bills. SB 828 by Senator Cabaldon would require fireworks license applicants to disclose storage locations and prove they have local permits, with the state fire marshal notifying local agencies when permits are denied or revoked. Supporters, including fire chiefs and fire marshals, said it would close dangerous enforcement gaps exposed by recent fireworks explosions; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 799 by Senator Allen would make technical and governance changes to the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, including more flexibility on board leadership and allowing non-elected alternates under certain conditions. Supporters said the changes would help the new housing trust function more effectively; questions focused on accountability for non-elected alternates, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Senate Floor. SB 762 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the city of Hercules to ask voters to approve up to a 1% sales tax increase to fund local services and infrastructure. Supporters said Hercules has limited revenue options, while some senators cautioned about how such measures are presented to voters; the bill passed 5-2 to the Senate Floor. SB 722 by Senator Wahab would add protections for mobile home residents from displacement tied to transit-oriented development and redevelopment, with supporters describing it as an urgent cleanup to protect vulnerable seniors, veterans, and low-income residents. There was broad support and no opposition, and it passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 222 by Senator Wiener would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, with supporters arguing it would reduce costs and speed electrification, and opponents raising concerns about local control, fees, liability, and HOA authority. After extended debate, it passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 677 by Senator Wiener would make technical clarifications to SB 79’s transit-oriented housing provisions; local government groups opposed or opposed unless amended, warning it could expand SB 79’s scope, but the bill passed 5-2 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• AS I MENTIONED PART OF WHAT WE HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS BILL IN OUR STATE IS TO DO A LOT
• THAT WANTED TO CONVERT THE CLASS FIVE BY SUBMITTING AN UPDATED LICENSURE APPLICATION TO US AND AS PART
• WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO REVIEW THIS AND THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS.
• THERE IS ANOTHER PART OF THE PLAN THAT REQUIRES MANAGE CARE COORDINATION.
• I WAS PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE HOSPITAL GROUP.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And those are individuals needing medical housing services or whatever part of this slide is covering
• So that's part of the MAT program, the Medical Assisted Treatment, or the MOUD, the...
• When you say detox, a lot of society believes detox is part of intake when they come in.
• I've always felt that leads to part of the big problem in Albuquerque.
• So part of our engagement to go from 15% to almost 89% Is the staff training that we have.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So once you check that box, it should automatically bring you to the next part of the form.
• Um, so because it's part of the form, it will be in there, but it will not automatically open up to the
• </c> to the next part of the form. to the next part of the form.
• of the form it will be because it's part of the form it will be in<00:07:02.319><c> there</c><00:07:
• </c> us to adopt rules for the adopt a part us to adopt rules for the adopt a part program.<00:11:50.640

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The JLCAR meeting opened with approval of the prior minutes and the consent calendar, after one Fish and Game item was pulled from consent for separate discussion. The committee then reordered the regular calendar and postponed an HHS item at the agency’s request because work on the proposal was still ongoing and the sponsoring representative was absent. The committee next considered OPLC item 2547, dealing with amendments to licensure and discipline forms for regulated professions. Members raised concerns that the form appeared geared toward health professions and that boards were not sufficiently involved in the process. OPLC responded that the form was being moved toward a dynamic online format with logic to collapse irrelevant questions, and that the agency was trying to make the application more user-friendly. The committee approved the item. DNCR item 2551, concerning volunteer/adopt-a-park program rules, was approved after the agency acknowledged it had been operating the program and using forms before formal rules were adopted, and said it was now correcting that issue. Fish and Game item 2570, on electronic OHRV and snowmobile registration applications, drew discussion over processing times. The committee chair argued for consistency with the five-day mail-in processing period, while Fish and Game said it had concerns about file-transfer delays and workload and preferred 10 days. The committee ultimately approved the proposal with an oral amendment and conditional approval. In other business, staff described a broader move to an online agency portal for submitting rulemaking documents, replacing email submissions. Members supported the change as a modernization effort and noted it would also make it easier to see which rules are nearing expiration. The committee approved the manual change, with implementation planned for early August after agency training.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a budget-neutral proposal because it doesn't expand the total part of Money available.
• So the plans are for that to be part of the provider hub.
• But where does the million dollar appropriation come from if it's part of an existing system? Ms.
• Thank you, and be added to our base appropriation, yes, as part of our ongoing funding.
• And I mean, part of the strength in our kinship programs, part of the strength of our child protection

Bills: HF2436 , HF470 , HF2643 , HF2456 , HF102 , HF1367

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, early education, scholarships, funding, children, families, Minnesota education, child care licensing, family child care, child care center, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, correction order, conditional license, fix-it ticket, documented technical assistance, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• So oftentimes, in other parts of that road, we're called late at night.
• The history behind this goes way back to Henrietta King-Claiborne, part of the King Ranch.
• Everyone who worked for him, including his staff and secretary, was considered part of his family.
• There are parts of it that are very specifically tortuous and a bit dangerous.
• Are they generally from parts throughout the United States?

Bills: HB767 , HB 1242 , HB1373 , HB1404 , HB1708 , HB1936 , HB2041 , HB2198 , HB2270 , HB2315 , HB2415 , HB2427 , HB2455 , HB2457 , HB2522 , HB2523 , HB2686 , HB2763 , HB2775 , HB2944 , HB3034 , HB1683 , HB1695

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate you taking part in our committee hearing this morning.
• administrative justice. but it is a problem and we have, I believe, a public defender's office in parts
• It shields an FFL from liability when they return a firearm to its owner as part of a firearm.
• Part of that journey also involved a pursuit of financial restitution from Robert in 2007 at the age
• Part of which occurred during the childhood. Part of which occurs during the adulthood.

Bills: HB170 , HB865 , HB748 , HJR112 , HB 1110 , HB1495 , HB786 , HB 1130 , HB170

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: civil liability, self-defense, force, deadly force, legal immunity, attorney's fees, criminal justice, firearms, liability, veterans, gun ownership, immunity, firearm hold agreement, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, parental rights, child upbringing

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also part of the Texas Living Water. Potter's group, and we echo many of their statements.
• of our economic development and part of our economy and a driver of our economy.
• Their credit rating will come on as part of the PUA.
• I promise you, I'm still part of the shooting squad.
• I'm part of the management team.

Bills: HB 1089 , HB 1163 , HB 1177 , HB 1238 , HB1318 , HB1400 , HB1407 , HB1532 , HJR7 , HJR7

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: coastal protection, environmental management, Gulf Coast, storm risk management, funding, Texas General Land Office, healthcare, insurance reform, patient access, insurance regulation, affordable care, health insurance, consumer rights, coverage transparency, claims process, insurance regulations, aggregate production, environmental impact, financial responsibility, reclamation

Transcript Highlights:

• Dovetailing into that, my favorite part of the bill is the adult day health care provision.
• It's such a blessing to be part of that mission for a couple of years.
• They want to come back and serve the country and be a part of it.
• And it is going to create opportunities for families and businesses in parts of Florida that may have
• of the demanding class but are instead part of the contributing class.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an important part of the step to make sure the providers know it's been thoughtful.
• to get him through this this part is to get him through this this part is there<00:08:09.599><c> any<
• <c> step</c><00:09:12.920><c> to</c><00:09:13.079><c> make</c><00:09:13.200><c> sure</c> important part
• of the step to make sure important part of the step to make sure the<00:09:13.519><c> providers</c><
• He added that this is an important part of the process of making sure patients, when they need to come

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, I think it's important to ensure that it goes out into other parts of the county.
• So I'm guessing that that's probably part of the process that HUD uses if they're using that on that
• We can move, but we have to solve this part of it. We have to, or it shouldn't advance.
• That's a part of it as well. Also, we need more residencies.
• The Indian Health Service is one, particularly in my part of the state.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• February is National Children's Dental Health Month and is part of the foundation's Give Kids a Smile
• </c><00:16:14.880><c> of</c> Dental Health month and is the part of Dental Health month and is the part
• Much of the last bill is basically all the residents of Hawaii; part of their state income tax goes to
• </c><00:22:10.039><c> in</c><00:22:10.159><c> rais</c> private sector to have a part in rais private
• </c><00:22:30.960><c> of</c> all the residents of Hawaii part of all the residents of Hawaii part of

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So generally the exercise that we went through in facility planning since we last met, and part of this
• Yeah, so again, I think part of that savings is we would have found, based on the exercise we’ve been
• You know, a big part of the benefit of the savings we found for the Senate is driven simply by time,
• You know, the benefit, a big part of the benefit of the savings we found for the Senate is driven by
• Well, and the other part of that is all of that $50 million in savings was found in Facility Planning

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on May 26 and first took up Senate Bill 406, which authorizes the city of Slidell to seek voter approval for a local hotel and motel occupancy tax. The bill was described as a local measure giving the city council authority to place the tax on the ballot, with members noting that similar taxing authority exists in many other municipalities. Representative Wiley moved favorable passage, there was no objection, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then received an update from the Division of Administration’s Office of Facility Planning and Control on capital outlay savings identified through cash-flow review and project “scrubbing.” Officials said they found about $50 million in savings from updated cash flows, over-appropriations, projects bid under budget, and reduced appropriations in bundled projects. They explained that bundling projects, including some LED-related projects, allows agencies to shift savings within a bundle and manage overruns or underruns more flexibly. Members praised the savings work but asked whether the process could be moved earlier so the House could benefit sooner, and whether similar reviews could be expanded to other administering agencies and non-state projects. One member raised concerns about whether some projects, including schools and certain NGO-related items, should qualify for capital outlay funding at all, and urged a review of the statutory definition and project approval criteria. Staff said they would look at the definition, review recommendations from prior discussions, and consider ways to tighten the process. The committee then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there were a lot of moving parts, but I think for the most part, many of the things that we somewhat
• We did remove the liaisons of the police department actually being a part of the bill.
• So we included that language that was part of the training that she wanted.
• So having that employee as part of this team—that was the Secretary's suggestion—and I think is a very
• So I plan to ask someone from the House to be a part of that task force. Thank you.

Bills: SB237

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: child welfare, Department of Children and Family Services, mandatory reporting, abuse prevention, investigative teams, child ombudsman, forensic interviews, confidentiality, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were waiting on the FAA to actually put out some rules on Part 108, and they're going through the
• if we want to put them back in, let's take number 27, which is the Highway 70 one across the bottom part
• Number 10, in kind of the bottom right part of the page, is missing a section from Duncan over to near
• So where these strikes came from, these were part of a study that we requested at OTA to look at what
• And, I mean, when I see something go away in our part of the world, it don't come back.

Bills: SB1475 , SB2049 , SB1966 , SB1531 , SB80

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: memorial, infrastructure, transportation, dedication, Toby Keith, SB 2049, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, ODOT, Transportation Commission, surety bond, surety company, performance bond, contractor nonperformance, construction contract, public works, transportation contracts, bond claim, state transportation projects, Title 69, OMES

Summary: The committee considered several naming and transportation-related bills. Senate Bill 1475 renamed the I-35 Indian Hills Road interchange as the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, and House Bill 1996 was the Senate’s Memorial Bridge naming bill; both passed without substantive opposition. Senate Bill 2049 required the Department of Transportation to notify the Transportation Commission before disapproving or making a surety claim against a contractor, with supporters describing it as an accountability and transparency measure; it passed after some questions about its purpose and sponsor. The committee also approved Senate Bill 1531, a cleanup measure related to the Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics’ role in unmanned aerial systems and advanced air mobility, in anticipation of possible FAA rulemaking. The most extensive discussion centered on Senate Bill 80, a turnpike bill that updates statutory language, removes some unused or unbuilt route locations from statute, and codifies more formal communication with landowners, communities, and legislators. Members raised concerns about removing routes, the five-year design deadline for reauthorization, and whether the bill could slow future turnpike projects; OTA Executive Director Joe E. Kelly testified that the changes were based on updated infrastructure studies, that the five-year requirement only needed design to begin, and that the notification process would include mailers and digital posting. Senate Bill 80 passed after debate, and the committee adjourned, noting it was the final meeting of the session.