Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, a person is guilty of the offense of patronizing a prostitute if the person pays
• I never worked the streets to fund a drug habit or pay a pimp.
• I did it to refill my refrigerator and pay my bills, period.
• I never worked the streets to fund a drug habit or pay a pimp.
• I did it to refill my refrigerator and pay my bills, period.

Bills: HB1591 , HB2209 , HB2403 , HB2526

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, survivor protections, legal remedies, defendants, theft, robbery, sentencing enhancements, criminal justice, property crimes, failure to register, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, prostitution, public health, criminal justice reform, community safety, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• . $139 million of that would go toward paying our fire costs for this past fire season, and another about
• one in FY 27, for a total of right around a billion dollars. $139 million of that would go toward paying
• backfill of the account's current deficit over four years, and it also allocates funds to agencies to pay
• health center in King County that provides care to 100,000 patients regardless of their ability to pay
• When a cap is in place, that same family would go on a wait list, and they would continue to pay about

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• is facing projected budget deficits for the next few years, and it has not identified how it would pay
• Into our budget, and we had the payments for that to pay it off in our budget.
• To pay for, which are very significant. We honor all legislative earmarks going back to the 80s.
• The remaining beds have to pay for the market rate bond on that project.
• UC Merced, 20 years old with an R1 classification, is rising and paying off.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ability of our judges and magistrates to utilize a tool that is unbiased to a defendant's ability to pay
• a non-profit whose posted goal is paying a defendant's bail bond.
• We have to pay for everything on our own. There's misaligned sympathies, but this is wrong.
• We decided not to pay that price.
• In 2022, the belt bond was $135,000 and I could not afford... to pay that.

Bills: SB9 , SB1047 , SB1048 , SJR17 , SJR49 , SB40 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SJR 1

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, criminal procedure, public safety report, victim notification, family violence, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunction, taxpayer rights, violent crimes, sexual offenses, community safety, constitutional amendment, trafficking

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:53.840><c> a</c> federal agencies are kind of paying a federal agencies are kind of paying
• House Bill 35, Firefighters Paid Leave and Hazard Pay.
• </c> costs more money than paying for it. costs more money than paying for it.
• Um, and then when we get to pay for it.
• We pay have gone up dramatically.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um we pay more in about it here today.
• </c><00:53:41.200><c> We've</c> 100% with zero member co-pay. We've 100% with zero member co-pay.
• Um we'll pay their kids up for sports.
• </c><01:35:18.400><c> for</c> over and it we utilize that to pay for over and it we utilize that to pay
• </c> state uh pays for. state uh pays for. preventative<01:48:36.960><c> transportation.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force opened with a moment of silence for the Louisville UPS plane tragedy, approved the October 15 minutes, and reminded members to submit policy recommendations before the December 16 meeting, when the group will discuss its report to LRC. The first informational presentation, from the Department for Public Health, focused on youth vaping. Elizabeth Good and Julie Brooks cited a recent Surgeon General report warning that youth vaping can harm brain development, mental health, lungs, asthma, and hormones, and noted Kentucky survey data showing 8.7% of students reported daily vaping and 19.7% used vaping products in the prior 30 days. They described prevention and cessation resources including Catch My Breath, I Can End the Trend, Not on Tobacco, My Life, My Quit, Quitline services, and the Kentucky TRUST retailer education program, which trained 3,371 individuals in 2024 and distributed 253 Tobacco 21 toolkits. The next presentation came from Kentucky ABC on implementation of SB 100, which created the division of tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing. Commissioner Scotty Tracy and Jamar Carter said all retailers selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products must be licensed, regulations were filed October 31, 2025, and the online application portal is live. In response to questions about sales to minors, they said violations carry escalating fines for clerks and owners, with a fourth violation resulting in no license renewal for two years and unpaid fines also blocking renewal. They said complaints can be submitted through the portal, by phone, or on the ABC website, and enforcement investigates tips and may use underage compliance checks. The committee then heard from Kim McKenna Johnson of One Cross Community Health, who argued for a “deficiency-first” and holistic approach to care centered on nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation. She said her clinic serves more than 7,000 patients in Taylor and Marion counties and described a model that includes primary care, behavioral health, functional medicine, addiction recovery, and chronic care. She cited Kentucky health rankings, claimed nutritional deficiencies cost the state billions, and said many children are overprescribed while undernourished. She urged broader insurance coverage for nutritional testing and supplements, rural demonstration grants, and Medicaid pilots for clinically prescribed supplements. Members asked about testing costs, dietitian support, long-term cost savings, compliance, and whether medications are often used to prevent damage from noncompliance; the presenter said the lab tests are generally covered, supplements are the main cost barrier, and seeing lab results can improve family buy-in. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, when you can't get enough people to run your business, no matter what you can afford to pay them,
• </c> things that we have to pay things that we have to pay for<01:31:36.360><c> uh</c><01:31:36.840><
• <01:42:35.760><c> really</c><01:42:36.599><c> good</c> paying really good paying really good wages<01
• </c> above the 500% level because if they pay above the 500% level because if they pay more<03:14:24.520
• for, whereas the bedroom communities do not have to pay for any of that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in a work session on revenue estimates and reviewed updated spreadsheet pages for several tax categories, using prior agreements and new testimony to refine FY 2025-2027 estimates. Early discussion covered insurance tax estimates, where members reviewed a letter from the insurance commissioner saying he was comfortable with the numbers provided; the committee accepted those estimates without opposition. Members also discussed utility property tax, with testimony about recent infrastructure buildout, tariffs, depreciation, and the difficulty of forecasting future growth. After debate over whether to use the average of high and low estimates or lean lower, the committee unanimously adopted the utility property tax numbers. The committee then turned to real estate transfer tax and communications tax. For real estate transfer tax, members cited county input, housing market conditions, interest rates, lumber costs, and uncertainty about future policy; they agreed to use the averages and adopted those estimates unanimously. For communications tax, members noted the decline in landline-based revenue and the shift to data services. After discussion of whether to use the low estimate or the average, the committee settled on the average with a small rounding-down adjustment when the figure ended in .5, and adopted the numbers unanimously. The chair also clarified that these estimates remain subject to change until the final resolution is adopted. The committee next accepted interest and dividends estimates as presented, with members noting the decline in that revenue source and the lack of additional information beyond the department’s analysis. Finally, the committee began discussing tobacco tax revenue, with members noting long-term declines in smoking, offsetting effects from out-of-state sales, and a suggestion to take a slightly conservative approach by reducing the average by 0.5. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, so no final vote on tobacco is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• That becomes their base pay.
• I have no idea what to pay." I don't believe that. They know what to pay. They know what to pay.
• to another's pay. >> Yes.
• </c> probate judges pay away with that. probate judges pay away with that.
• </c><02:46:25.200><c> They</c> to pay for these two positions. They to pay for these two positions.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> going to happen because they were paying going to happen because they were paying for<02:01:35.360
• But all 4.62 million is for that student teachers, like, to pay their tuition and to pay our mentors
• They do what they can, but they only pay $200, $250 maybe.
• They do what they can, but they only pay $200, $250 maybe.
• The DOE does sometimes pay for that via charter schools, but not always.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are 65 and older but not Medicare eligible would be enrolled into Medicare by having the Commonwealth pay
• We are ineligible because the Commonwealth failed to pay into the federal program.
• We are ineligible because the Commonwealth failed to pay into the federal program.
• Many of those affected have small pensions because they were in lower-paying state jobs, such as office

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hybrid hearing focused on insurance and retirement-related bills. Representative Hendricks testified in support of H.2874, which would create a Medicare buy-in program for certain state retirees age 65 and older who are not currently Medicare eligible, with the Commonwealth paying Part A premiums and late penalties. He argued the bill would reduce retiree health costs for the state and municipalities while improving benefits for retirees. Don Buckley also testified in support of H.2874, describing his own situation as a long-serving state retiree without Medicare coverage and urging passage of the bill. Paul Jakes of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Michael Riley of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems testified in support of H.2999/S.1862, which would provide fair worker representation on joint purchasing group committees. Riley also supported H.2933/S.1816, which would add a seat on the PRIM Board for non-state teacher retirement systems, and H.2954/H.1813, which would change the criteria and duration for systems considered underperforming in the public employee retirement system funding rules. He said the changes would better reflect current conditions and limit forced participation in PRIT to five years rather than in perpetuity. Committee members asked no questions during the hearing. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• don't know the employer, but insurance is all about risk mitigation, so it may be cheaper for them to pay
• a premium than actually pay for this.
• So it's just giving the companies an... ...to pay a premium than actually pay for this.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The Senate Insurance Committee met on May 20, confirmed a quorum, and approved the May 13 minutes. The first bill heard was House Bill 591, which would create the Paid Family Leave Insurance Act as a voluntary private-market insurance option for employers, with no mandate, state program, or taxpayer cost. Senator Bass presented the bill, offered technical amendments, and after brief questions about why the framework was needed, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably with amendments. The committee then took up House Bill 76, dealing with coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications. Representative Amy Freeman and former Representative Julie Stokes explained that the bill updates Louisiana’s oral chemotherapy coverage law, which had not been revised since 2012, and addresses insurer rejection of newer oral cancer drugs. They also explained Amendment Set 4063, which was intended to restore the bill to the proper posture after changes made in the Appropriations Committee and to prohibit copayment adjustment programs such as accumulator or maximizer programs from reducing credit for manufacturer assistance toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Senator Bass raised a concern about prior authorization language and possible ERISA litigation, and department staff responded that the bill would not alter ERISA enforceability and that the fiscal note already reflected about $67,000 in OGB costs. After the amendments were adopted, Senator Bass moved to report HB 76 favorably with amendments, and the committee did so without opposition. Senator Carter thanked the bill authors for their advocacy on cancer-related issues and offered to help during the interim. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• don't know the employer, but insurance is all about risk mitigation, so it may be cheaper for them to pay
• a premium than actually pay for this.
• So it's just giving the companies an option to offer this as an optional coverage. to pay a premium than
• actually pay for this.

Bills: HB591 , HB766

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: family leave, insurance, paid leave, employment benefits, caregiver support, cancer treatment, anti-cancer medications, health insurance, copayment, cost-sharing, health policy, 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the processors and some of the producers that they would like to maybe add a category of how they can pay
• just allows them to look into that category and decide if there are going to be some type of rules to pay
• just allows them to look into that category and decide if there are going to be some type of rules to pay
• We do not do any of the samples that are for pay; we just do the individual cow samples.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee met with a quorum and first approved the minutes from February 24, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 662, which would allow milk buyers and sellers to consider bacteria counts in milk testing and give the Idaho State Department of Agriculture a role in developing rules for that process. Representative John Vander Woude explained that current milk payments are based on components like butterfat, protein, somatic cell count, and lactose, and said the bill would only open the door to possible future bacteriology standards, not require them. Testimony in support came from Jamie Neal of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association and Travis Jones of the Intermountain Milk Processors Association. Both described the bill as a compromise between producers and processors that would create a fair, transparent process for resolving disputes over milk quality testing and pricing. Vander Woude also answered questions about his lab’s role, explaining that it tests individual cow samples as a management tool and does not currently perform bacteriology testing. After closing testimony, Senator Cole moved to send House Bill 662 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, seconded by Senator Lent. The motion passed without opposition, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Producers were not going to pay the commissions that we built into these products.'
• The federal government has shrunk what they're paying for Medicare, which is causing tremendous price
• in our state and they have to agree to be solvent—in other words, have enough financial resources to pay
• with regard to the product design, the pricing of the product design, which includes what they would pay

Summary: The committee began by removing Senate Bill 1374 from the agenda at the chair’s request, citing the need for more time to meet with stakeholders and clarify the bill. The committee then took up House Joint Memorial 16, introduced by Representative Ben Furman, which expresses support for the Idaho Department of Insurance and asks the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to clarify rules affecting Medicare Advantage marketing and commissions. Representative Furman and Insurance Director Dean Cameron described problems in the Medicare Advantage market, including carriers withdrawing plans, limiting access to applications, and later refusing to pay commissions after enrollment periods. They said these practices have reduced consumer choice, especially in rural counties, and have made it harder for seniors to enroll through local agents. Cameron said the department issued a bulletin and cease-and-desist orders, some carriers sued, and the issue is now in federal court; he also noted that CMS and about 26 other states recognize the problem and are working on possible rule changes. Senator Wintrow thanked Director Cameron for his work on behalf of seniors. Representative Furman closed by asking for support for the memorial, and the committee moved House Joint Memorial 16 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The motion passed without opposition, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So fewer changes probably enacted now might pay dividends in the next budget when that's actually being
• enacted<00:02:42.160><c> now</c><00:02:42.480><c> might</c><00:02:42.959><c> might</c><00:02:43.680><c> pay
• </c><00:02:43.920><c> dividends</c><00:02:45.040><c> um</c> enacted now might might pay dividends um
• enacted now might might pay dividends um in<00:02:45.440><c> the</c><00:02:45.599><c> next</c><00:02:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the inspectors, and then myself, you know, I'll be there, and Heather and the The promoter will pay
• But they pay for those.
• Licensed through us just in order to be in the back or in the cage or the ring, but the promoter does pay
• The Association of Boxing Commissions will help pay for people to come in And to educate our officials

Committee: House A&B Finance Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the doctors who do this for, for what, uh, for what a county would pay, right?
• Now, I'm gonna quote Chairman on you, get around the way we pay for some of that is we, you know, Dallas
• appreciate that, but we do like the idea of allowing counties to combine and, and then, uh, jointly pay
• import top talent from, from across the world to do these jobs because like you said, they're high paying

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to the fees, the utility pays a... ...the utility pays a separate 3% gross receipt tax and
• We pay everybody the business license tax. That is uniform across the state, 3%.
• And that franchise agreement just says we pay nothing. Correct.

Bills: SB271 , SB295 , SB309

Committee: Senate Transportation and Energy

Keywords: SB271, Alabama, municipalities, city fees, town fees, franchise fees, utility franchise, natural gas, manufactured gas, gas utility, public streets, public places, right-of-way, municipal consent, gross receipts tax, license tax, privilege tax, Public Service Commission, PSC, utility regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• I would be paying that $50 fee.
• And I've heard from many, many people who would pay that $50 fee, who want to pay that $50 fee so that
• I would be paying that $50 fee.
• And I've heard from many, many people who would pay that $50 fee, who want to pay that $50 fee so that
• And who pays? 20% because of fire risks. And who pays?

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll pay it. How's that? I'll pay it. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• [Applause] Representative Garcia, please join us at the well to pay...
• Please join us at the well to pay tribute to Representative Ceroda.
• Someday you'll pay the price.
• Um, please stay close, pay attention.

Keywords: 981, all