Transcript Highlights:

• Today we have numerous bills up for executive session, and then one bill up for public hearing.
• And before that leaves us, now with just one item remaining, which is a public hearing on House Bill
• But before I get to that, I do actually hear on policy cutoff.
• We're now on to one public hearing we have here for today.
• And with that, I will now close the hearing on Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1541.

Bills: SB6084 , SB6044 , SB5950 , SB6046 , SB5763 , SB6215 , SB6160 , SB6123 , SB6049 , SB6164 , SB6313 , SB5784 , SB5046 , SB5489

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: elections, double voting, voting twice, multiple voting, same-day election, primary election, general election, special election, cross-state voting, ballot fraud, election fraud, voter misconduct, RCW 29A.84.660, State v. Padilla, civil infraction, class C felony, Secretary of State, Washington elections, election law, voter eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, that will conclude the hearing on House Bill 1977.
• Up next, we'll hear House Bill 2146 sponsored by Representative Calverlo.
• Thanks, Chairman and committee, for hearing this this morning.
• Okay, seeing none, that will conclude our hearing.
• Okay, seeing none, that will conclude our hearing on House Bill 2146.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll have questions for the whole panel after we hear from each one of you. Thank you.
• testify for or against Senate Bill 1065, please make your way down to identify yourself so we can hear
• Seeing and hearing no public testimony, public testimony is closed.
• Seeing and hearing on public testimony is closed. Bills are pending at this time. No, your choice.
• I tell you, so y'all are going to hear some stories about Paul now.

Bills: SB1065 , SB2117 , SB2217 , SB2363 , SB2533 , SB2742 , SB2743 , SB2881 , SB2964 , SB3013 , SB3014

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1065, which would require government property contracts to prohibit contractors from barring licensed handgun holders from carrying firearms on leased or owned public property, with civil penalties and attorney general enforcement for violations. Senator Hall and invited witnesses from the Texas State Rifle Association, NRA, and Texas Gun Rights argued the bill would close a loophole exposed by the State Fair of Texas gun ban and protect law-abiding Texans’ self-defense rights. Opponents, including Moms Demand Action/Everytown, said the bill would undermine event organizers’ ability to set site-specific safety rules and could increase liability and insurance costs. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. The committee next took up Senate Bill 2742, which would create civil penalties for independent school districts and officials who use public resources for electioneering, waive immunity defenses, and expand attorney general enforcement. Senator Hagan-Bood said current law bans the conduct but lacks meaningful penalties, making injunctions the only remedy. No public testimony was heard, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2743, also by Senator Hagan-Bood, which would allow a court to disqualify local prosecutors who refuse to prosecute election offenses and appoint the attorney general to handle the case, with a committee substitute adjusting the removal process through an adjacent-county judge. Opponents from the Texas Civil Rights Project argued the bill would undermine prosecutorial discretion and was vague and open to abuse, while a Harris County election official described past instances where alleged voter fraud cases were not pursued. After testimony, public comment was closed and SB 2743 was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do I hear a motion? If I don't have any… Do I hear a motion?
• Now, is the bill as sub… do I hear a motion? All in favor say "Aye." Discuss, I'm… motion.
• All in favor, do I hear a motion? That's a motion. Do I have a second? Second.
• So I hear a motion? I... That second? All in favor say... I now back on the bill.
• Do I hear a motion? Motion. Second? Do I hear a motion? Motion. Second? All in favor say "Aye."

Bills: HB287 , HB280 , HB57 , HB252 , HB286 , SB36 , HB287 , HB280 , HB57 , HB252 , HB286 , SB36

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:

• WELCOME TO JOIN US AT THE PODIUM, MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE UP TAB ONE WHICH IS SB 136 ON PRESCRIPTION HEARING
• SENATE BILL 126 IS A BILL TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF HEARING AIDS. 40 MILLION
• AMERICANS SUFFER FROM SOME DEGREE OF HEARING AND THE MAJORITY HAVE NEVER USED A HEARING AID.
• TESTING AND PROCEDURES ARE CONDUCTED BY A HEARING AID SPECIALIST AND THAT'S THE BILL. >> Chair Burton
• THIS IS A BIG ISSUE FOR THE HEARING COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, WE THINK WE ARE WELL ON THE

Transcript Highlights:

• from us and hearing our concerns.
• I hear you.
• I couldn't hear it.
• previous two hearings.
• So if you all hear, the amendment that we are hearing right now is the bill.

Bills: S0036 , S0620 , S0796 , S0934 , S1080 , S1096 , S1366 , S1536 , S1548 , S1580 , S1588 , S1620 , S1756 , S7034 , S7044

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee first took up SB 354, the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, which creates a framework for large planned communities on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area and a streamlined local review process. Senator McLean presented the bill and a strike-all amendment, and members raised concerns about local control, conservation enforceability, data centers, concurrency, multi-county projects, and whether reserve lands could later be converted. Audubon Florida and 1,000 Friends of Florida opposed the bill, arguing the conservation protections were not permanent enough and that the reserve areas could be changed later; small-county representatives also worried about tax-base impacts. Supporters argued the bill would better manage growth, preserve green space, and provide a more orderly alternative to sprawl. After debate, the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates for federal, state, county, district, judiciary, school, and school board offices to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship. Amendments added disclosure about whether federal candidates intend to trade stock if elected and adjusted 2026 congressional qualifying procedures in the event of redistricting, including a new qualifying window and petition rules. The bill was reported favorably after brief support from a member of the public and discussion about candidate vetting. The committee also reported favorably CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill with amendments addressing My Safe Florida Home notices, condo pilot eligibility, firefighter hiring, unclaimed property, and related financial-services provisions. Next, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1620, a school board members’ bill of rights. A substitute amendment narrowed the bill to access to records, fiscal transparency, and nondisclosure agreements, while preserving board members’ rights to timely documents, budget information, and public comment, and setting deadlines for records requests. Superintendents and a school board member testified in support, saying the bill clarifies roles and prevents board members from being frozen out. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material”; one senator supported the terminology change but warned about preserving legal precedent and avoiding appellate issues. The committee then reported favorably SB 1548, an update to the Live Local affordable housing law expanding eligible sites and clarifying setbacks, airport proximity, and fair-housing protections. Finally, the committee took up the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates. The bill allows trained master’s-level VPAs to perform limited veterinary services under a veterinarian’s supervision, and an amendment tightened the standard to immediate supervision on premises. Supporters said the measure would expand access to care, especially in rural areas with vet shortages, while opponents argued it added unnecessary regulation. After testimony from veterinary educators and others, the bill continued with support expressed by committee members, including praise for the direct-supervision amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none.
• Hearing none. Um members, uh Okay. Hearing none.
• Uh, vice chair t uh hearing? None.
• Joshua, can I hear a copy of that?
• Can you hear me? Yes. Just want to thank you so much for hearing this measure.

Bills: SB2709 , SB3154

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The hearing began with SB 2709, which would require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules to enforce the Okami arrival program and strengthen quarantine enforcement for plants, non-domestic animals, and microorganisms. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the bill, as did DAB, saying it would improve biosecurity and make some provisions mandatory rather than optional. Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines supported the goal but raised concerns about language changing inspections from “may” to “shall” for aircraft, warning of possible federal preemption and operational conflicts unless the bill is clarified to align with federal aviation safety, security, and operational requirements. Committee members questioned DAB about inspection timing, scope, and compliance; DAB said the measure is intended to increase enforcement, improve form completion rates toward a 90% goal, and expand beyond airlines to other entry modes, while also noting plans to restore detector dog use and improve software/AI tools for processing forms. Decision-making on SB 2709 was deferred to February 17 at 3:02 p.m. in Room CR229. The committees then took up SB 3154, an administration measure authorizing the Department of Transportation to assume certain National Environmental Policy Act responsibilities for highway, rail, public transportation, and multimodal projects, with the aim of streamlining environmental review. DOT supported the bill and explained that it would allow the department to work directly with federal resource agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife and SHPO rather than routing everything through federal highways. After brief discussion, the Committee on Transportation voted to pass SB 3154 with technical amendments, and the AEN committee followed with the same recommendation; the measure was adopted with five votes in favor. A later portion of the transcript shifted to SB 2374 on the blue economy. DBED said it supported the concept but noted that it already sits on many working groups and would need resources if a new working group is created. DBED suggested the committee could instead request research through a letter or memo, and said agencies including ADC, HTDC, and Agriculture had already begun internal discussions. Testimony in support came from IMUA Alliance, Hawaii Food Policy, and others, emphasizing the potential for blue economy ventures to support survivors, align with climate and cultural goals, and create economic opportunity. No final vote on SB 2374 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, we can't hear you. Can't quite hear you yet. Still not hearing you. One moment. Mr.
• Can you hear me now? Thank you.
• I think that's where we're hearing some of the public health concerns.
• I think that's where we're hearing some of the public health concerns.
• </c><01:29:50.239><c> about</c> represented that we did not hear about represented that we did not hear

Transcript Highlights:

• c> and</c><00:43:56.800><c> I'll</c><00:43:56.960><c> be</c> hearing this measure and I'll be hearing
• Thank you for hearing this.
• Thank you for hearing this. testimony. Thank you for hearing this. Thank<01:00:35.079><c> you.
• DO will much for hearing this bill.
• Uh and we the committee uh hearing it.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, for hearing this bill and for giving us an opportunity to talk it through.
• </c> really good chance we're going to hear really good chance we're going to hear the<00:02:50.000><
• That's what we're hearing.
• That's what we're hearing.
• </c><00:56:37.160><c> these</c> officers when I say that we hear these officers when I say that we hear

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• If you couldn't tell, this will be my first committee hearing so far.
• So we're going to hear from a number of agencies today that receive their budget appropriations from
• We appreciate you being here, and we look forward to hearing what you have to say.
• </c><00:35:48.280><c> these</c> judicial officers who are hearing these judicial officers who are hearing
• Members, the next hearing is going to be Monday, January 27, 2025.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this parole or set a hearing.
• </c> for some type of administrative hearing. for some type of administrative hearing.
• </c> &gt;&gt; would you like to hear the amendment? &gt;&gt; would you like to hear the amendment?
• </c> to parole hearings. to parole hearings.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Sorry to hear that. &gt;&gt; Sorry to hear that.

Transcript Highlights:

• To ensure members of the public and the media have access to our proceedings today, this hearing will
• There will be no phone testimony option for this hearing.
• We are going to begin today's hearing as a subcommittee until we have quorum.
• This hearing is not... All of the bills are out. It's on calendar.
• This hearing is now adjourned. Thank you, everyone. Are you? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact heard AB 2516 by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris, which would create the California Grid Manufacturing Initiative within GO-Biz. The author and supporters said the bill is intended to address supply chain delays and rising costs for critical grid equipment, speed clean energy deployment, improve reliability, and encourage in-state manufacturing and high-road jobs. Support came from labor and industry representatives including UAW, IBEW, the California Labor Federation, CWA District 9, BlueGreen Alliance, California Labor for Climate Jobs, TURN, and Ingersoll Rand; no opposition was registered. Committee members raised affordability concerns, and the bill was moved to Appropriations and passed 7-1. The committee also heard ACR 173 by Assemblymember Carrillo, which would formalize a sister-state relationship between California and Jalisco, Mexico. Carrillo emphasized cultural, economic, and demographic ties, cooperation on issues such as agriculture, labor, technology, and education, and immigrant protections. There were no witnesses in opposition, and the resolution was adopted. The consent calendar included AB 2163 by Gonzalez and ACR 164 by Bains and ACR 166 by Avila Farías, all of which were approved. After quorum was established, the committee took roll, recorded multiple aye votes from absent members, and then adjourned after reporting all items out.

Transcript Highlights:

• To ensure members of the public and the media have access to our proceedings today, this hearing will
• There will be no phone testimony option for this hearing.
• We are going to begin today's hearing as a subcommittee until we have quorum.
• This hearing is not... All of the bills are out. It's on calendar.
• This hearing is now adjourned. Thank you, everyone. Are you? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Transcript Highlights:

• Sergeant, please contact any absent members and have them come down to the hearing room so we can get
• I want to welcome everyone to today's hearing.
• This is my first hearing as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• I'd like to thank everyone for participating in today's hearing. We have now concluded.
• I'd like to thank everyone for participating in today's hearing. We have now concluded.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm just going to move House Bill 887 to the bottom of the order, hearing none.
• In some cases, it's just granted unless a hearing is held within 150 days.
• And if they do request a hearing, then it is to be done within 60 days.
• In some cases, it's just granted unless a hearing is held within 150 days.
• And if they do request a hearing, then it is to be done within 60 days.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear me? Yeah. Okay, great. No, I think it's a conversation that we need to have.
• I'm willing to chat with the House and hear them out on their proposal to use the left one dollars.
• I hear those concerns every day.
• Well, thank you so much, everybody, and I appreciate the way that we're going to hear today.
• Well, thank you so much, everybody, and I took attention to the way that we're going to hear today.

Summary: Senate budget writers, led by Chair June Robinson with Senators Noel Frame and Derek Stanford, rolled out the Senate operating budget and described it as a difficult supplemental budget shaped by flat revenue growth, rising maintenance costs, and uncertainty from federal actions, including H.R. 1 and tariffs. They said the proposal aims to preserve core services such as K-12 education, health care, food assistance, housing stability, and long-term care while making targeted reductions and avoiding broad-based tax increases like sales, property, or B&O tax hikes. A major focus of the discussion was how to pay for the Working Families Tax Credit and how to handle cuts in the Working Connections child care program. Robinson said the Senate budget uses policy changes, especially an attendance-based payment adjustment, rather than the governor’s proposed enrollment cap and waitlist, because lawmakers wanted to avoid destabilizing the child care workforce and reduce harm to families. She also said the Senate is open to negotiating with the House on the Climate Commitment Act use of funds for the tax credit, noting that the statute allows it, though some advocates oppose that approach. The senators defended using $750 million from the rainy day fund, saying it was preferable to deeper cuts and still leaves reserves above $1 billion in the near term. They also argued that Washington’s revenue system is too dependent on property and sales taxes and that a future “millionaires tax” could help stabilize funding, especially for education and other core services. In response to criticism from educators and Republicans, they said the state has made progress on school funding and that rising program costs reflect increased need and utilization rather than waste. No votes were taken in the transcript, and the event was a budget rollout and press Q&A rather than a formal committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, so ordered. First order, reports of standing committees.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered. Senator Ritchelley. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered. Senator Ritchelley. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered. Senator Ritchelley. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
• Hearing no objection, the Senate now stands adjourned.

Summary: The Senate convened with a roll call, presentation of colors by Senate pages, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a prayer led by Reverend Rennell C. Jones of Tacoma. His daughter, Gabrielle Jones, then performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The chamber also recognized Girl Scout Troop 41752 from southeast Seattle later in the session. After approving the previous day’s journal and handling routine committee and referral motions, the Senate advanced engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5994 on biosimilar medicines to the floor calendar. It also received new introductions and referrals, including Senate Bill 6204, which was referred to the Committee on Transportation. No substantive debate occurred on those measures in this transcript. The main item of business was Senate Resolution 8661, recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and calling on Washingtonians to continue the work of justice, equity, and perseverance. Senator Nobles sponsored the resolution and several senators spoke in support, emphasizing Dr. King’s legacy, courage, nonviolence, and the need to keep working on issues such as racial justice, housing discrimination, and community investment. The Senate adopted the resolution by voice vote, and then adjourned until Tuesday, January 20 at 12:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning and welcome to the August 29th, 2025 Assembly Appropriations Suspense hearing on Senate
• our most vulnerable folks in our communities and making sure that we're doing everything we can. hearing
• There are also a limited number of hard copies of the agenda in the hearing room.
• Later this afternoon following today's hearing, the committee will post the results of the suspense file
• hearing on the same website.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing and hearing none, the public testimony is closed. The bill is left pending at this time.
• Seeing and hearing none, public testimony is closed. The bill is left pending at this time.
• It means you've got to hear both sides of the story.
• Seeing and hearing none, public testimony is closed. The bill is left pending at this time.
• The commission lied to the legislature at a hearing by saying they could...

Bills: HB668 , HB677 , HB766 , HB3133 , SB3070

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The committee met to hear several bills, beginning with House Bill 766, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both on their applications while keeping that contact information confidential. No one testified for or against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 677, a companion to a previously approved Senate bill, would bar county election administrators from simultaneously holding another office or position appointed by an elected official; it also drew no public testimony and was left pending. Members then heard House Bill 3133, which would add explicit deepfake material to the list of content social media platforms must handle through complaint systems, including prompt acknowledgment, investigation, and status updates. Senators discussed concerns about how platforms would verify whether reported content was actually a deepfake, and the sponsor indicated the bill may be held pending while federal law on the subject is reviewed. House Bill 668 would create a one-year grace period for renewing an expired Texas handgun license to carry, codifying an existing DPS practice; it also received no testimony and was left pending. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 3070, a major overhaul of the Texas Lottery system. The bill would move oversight from the Lottery Commission to TDLR, dissolve the commission, impose new restrictions on ticket sales and internet play, create a lottery advisory committee, increase transparency and audit requirements, and include a sunset review that could lead to abolishing the lottery if not continued by 2027. The author described the bill as a response to alleged misconduct and illegal practices by the commission, while a witness from the Christian Life Commission testified in favor, supporting changes to prize anonymity and other lottery restrictions. After testimony, the bill was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.