Video & Transcript : 'covered entity' :

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NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Health and Human Services (04/23/2025)

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Well, yeah, "Well, hey, I was covered."
  • those covered it.
  • </c> Almost all of this is currently covered Almost all of this is currently covered through<03:28:52.239
  • </c> requirement, but all of those covered requirement, but all of those covered it.<03:28:57.359><c>
  • ><c> of</c> distress. will cover um a questioning of distress. will cover um a questioning of gender<
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Children and Family Law (04/24/2025)

Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, I think that that covers so they wouldn't be given that designation if the parents were still part
  • So, I think that that covers<00:08:15.919><c> so</c><00:08:16.160><c> they</c><00:08:16.400><c> wouldn't
  • </c><00:08:16.639><c> be</c><00:08:16.800><c> given</c><00:08:17.039><c> that</c> covers so they wouldn't
  • be given that covers so they wouldn't be given that designation<00:08:18.000><c> if</c><00:08:18.319
  • So what I'm wondering is what's the objection to really expanding this to cover fentanyl and opioids?
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation Committee Apr 27th, 2026

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • We are actually discussing with the city and the county, both of those entities.
  • We have not reached any agreement with any of the entities.
  • We have not reached any agreement with any of the entities.
  • And I think most of it was covered already, so I'm not going to go over that in too much depth.
  • proceed without the express, meaningful, and freely given consent of any of the affected taxing entities
Keywords: 987, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Feb 6th, 2026 at 11:19 am

New Mexico House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We pray for our mountains to be covered in snow, that our farmers and our ranchers, that provide our
  • The only, the graduation rates only come into play if in the future an entity was going to require an
  • Do they have a, I'm sure they're a public entity, they have to report to somebody.
  • How does that work versus other entities? Mr.
  • Is that the treasurer, or is there some other entity within the treasurer's office overseeing this specific
Bills: HB111 , HJR1 , HB61 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB70 , SB3 , HJM3
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Feb 6th, 2026

New Mexico House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We pray for our mountains to be covered in snow, that our farmers and our ranchers, that provide our
  • The only, the graduation rates only come into play if in the future an entity was gonna require an athletics
  • Do they have a—I'm sure that they're a public entity; they have to report to somebody.
  • How does that work versus other entities? Mr.
  • Is that the treasurer, or is there some other entity within the treasurer's office overseeing this specific
Bills: HB111 , HJR1 , HB61 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB70 , SB3 , HJM3
Summary: The House convened for a special American Indian Day celebration, with prayers, flag citations, a Navajo national anthem, and many members introducing tribal leaders, students, veterans, and community guests. Speakers emphasized Native sovereignty, government-to-government relations, cultural preservation, education, and the importance of representation in state government. The Speaker announced plans for a future tribal summit to discuss funding, capital, and policy priorities with tribes and nations. After the celebration, the House received executive messages, including gubernatorial authorization for new bills and notice that House Bill 9 had been signed into law. Committee reports were adopted on several measures, including House Bills 128, 285, 20, 52, 57, 58, 206, 109, 38, 66, 178, 198, 202, 224, 257, 103, and 247, with several health-related bills advanced via committee substitutes and referred onward. The House also adopted House Memorial 32 and enrolled House Bill 50 with a certificate of correction. On the floor, House Joint Resolution 1, as amended, passed 67-0. The resolution would create nominating committees for certain constitutionally named institutions, require no single party majority on those committees, and shift the student regent appointment to an elected student government body; members discussed the one-year party-registration requirement and the timing of implementing legislation. House Bill 8, which creates and funds the Major Capital Projects Fund for higher education projects, was then debated at length over its graduation-rate criteria and waiver provisions, and an amendment was offered to require Higher Education Department waiver findings to be reported to and approved by the State Board of Finance for added oversight.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • the nutritional portions are up to par to meet the USDA standards, and so having them... another entity
  • If it does result in a nonprofit organization or private entity receiving grants of public funds, then
  • would work um if it does result entities would work um if it does result in<00:28:59.399><c> a</c><00
  • receiving grants of public funds entity receiving grants of public funds then<00:29:04.399><c> um</c
  • we I will money um on a private entity we I will stand<00:29:14.320><c> by</c><00:29:14.480><c> for<
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Education heard several Department of Education-related bills and received extensive testimony on school meals and veteran diplomas. HB 628 would restore authority for the Department of Education to issue high school diplomas to veterans whose schooling was interrupted by World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The superintendent testified in support, explaining the authority had sunset in 2020 and describing the measure as a way to recognize veterans. No opposition or questions were raised, and the bill was left without further action in the excerpt. The committee also heard HB 1074 and HB 110, both supported by the Department of Education and the School Facilities Authority. HB 1074 was described as a cleanup measure to clarify land-related language and make the statute more consistent across state agencies and DOE. HB 110 concerned benchmarking and the farm-to-school/local food effort; DOE and several supporters, including county councils, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and the Hawaii Farmers Union, said the bill would help align metrics and support the 30% local food goal by 2030. Members questioned DOE about progress, and DOE said it was working on menus, procurement, and coordination with distributors and farmers. A Farm to School representative said the current bottleneck was poor communication with farmers and the need to bring them into planning earlier; DOE said it was still figuring out the process and that island-based procurement and separate RFPs were being explored. HB 328, relating to school meals and local resource food and plant-based options, drew the most testimony. DOE testified with comments, and the Attorney General’s office suggested revisions to clarify that the bill would apply to both DOE and charter schools, to separate public and private funds if donations or grants are accepted, and to add standards if nonprofit or private entities receive public money. Supporters included HSTA, the Hawaii Public Health Institute/Farm to School Network, Climate Protection Hawaii, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and numerous individuals and organizations. Supporters emphasized healthier school meals, student-requested plant-based options, support for local farms, and the 30% by 2030 goal. Some testimony urged more local purchasing and raised concerns about decentralization, while DOE said it was considering island-based procurement and separate contracts to better support local producers. No votes were taken in the excerpt.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (02/10/2026)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's it's covered in condition project. It's it's covered in paragraph<01:10:17.760><c> B.
  • </c> cover the lion share of the harms here. cover the lion share of the harms here.
  • </c><02:30:21.439><c> Uh</c> think is covered and what is covered.
  • Uh think is covered and what is covered.
  • </c><03:27:58.640><c> So</c> think we'll be covered. So think we'll be covered.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Part 2 Feb 24th, 2026

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • But I don't think that, um, the way the bill's written, it doesn't require entities to replace their
  • It applies the law to more situations and also changes so that any selling of personal data is covered
  • </c><01:43:30.719><c> Uh,</c> entities and higher education. Uh, entities and higher education.
  • If you want to create a license plate for a particular entity, person, name, organization, association
  • , name, &gt;&gt; for a particular entity, person, name, organization,<02:10:54.400><c> association.
Keywords: 1136, house, all
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

MS Senate Floor - 11 February, 2026; 10:00 AM

Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So in this bill, what has happened is all unserved areas have been covered.
  • But we have entities that are not high performing.
  • </c><01:58:28.719><c> that</c> entities, but we have um entities that entities, but we have um entities
  • </c><04:28:03.760><c> a</c> ice storm like we had that covers a ice storm like we had that covers a third
  • So, um, you're trying to cover the dollar side by having a 60% threshold. >> That's correct.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Feb 12th, 2026

Alabama Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Cover this chamber with your peace. Steady the hearts of those who lead.
  • I know you got the runway cover, so I don't have to do that. But I do have to do that part. Okay.
  • /c><01:53:08.639><c> got</c><01:53:08.800><c> the</c><01:53:09.040><c> runway</c><01:53:09.440><c> cover
  • ,</c><01:53:10.800><c> so</c><01:53:11.040><c> I</c> I know you got the runway cover, so I I know you
  • got the runway cover, so I don't<01:53:11.360><c> have</c><01:53:11.520><c> to</c><01:53:11.679><c>
Keywords: 920, all
Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber also recognized guests, including members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and employees of the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative. A senator then delivered a Black History Month-style presentation highlighting James Weldon Johnson, A. Philip Randolph, Jan E. Matzeliger, and Percy Lavon Julian for their contributions to civil rights, labor, industry, and science. The Senate received House messages referring two Archives and History board appointments to the Committee on Confirmations, then took up numerous committee reports. Several bills from Finance and Taxation, Judiciary, Education Policy, Agriculture, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Healthcare, Tourism, Veterans and Military Affairs, State Government Affairs, and Local Legislation received favorable reports, some with amendments or substitutes, and were advanced to second reading and placement on the next legislative day’s calendar. The chamber also recommitted Senate Bill 266 to the Tourism Committee. The Senate confirmed multiple appointments, including Llaya McNair to the Alabama Trust Fund Board, several members to the Credit Union Administration Board, and Elizabeth Smithart, Leslie Sanders, and Wayne Sers to the Alabama State Board of Human Resources. It then adopted several resolutions, including commendations and memorials, such as resolutions honoring Mary Francis Holland, the Stanhope Elmore boys bowling team, and Alicia Cannon for more than 50 years of service to the Alabama judicial system. The Senate also adopted a resolution creating the Study Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Children’s Internet Safety, after discussion about its purpose, membership, and duties; an amendment to the commission resolution was adopted before the resolution itself was adopted.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 04/25/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • c> any</c><00:25:59.679><c> financial</c> and this would cover any financial and this would cover any
  • Can you help provide some clarity which entity in your drafting of this would be the entity that would
  • </c><04:06:32.239><c> Thank</c><04:06:32.479><c> you,</c> this entity run itself.
  • </c><04:12:09.359><c> Senator</c><04:12:09.840><c> Young,</c> to a specific entity?
  • Senator Young, to a specific entity?
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy Committee 1/21/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • My district covers many school districts as well: Farmington, Cannon Falls, Randolph, and a few others
  • . covers many school districts as well um covers many school districts as well um Farmington<00:01:58.439
  • so we'll hopefully limit some to cover so we'll hopefully limit some of<00:10:03.399><c> our</c><00:
  • um this is I committee typically covers um this is I think<00:10:44.880><c> this</c><00:10:45.000><c
  • This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but hopefully it covers most of the acronyms that you'll
Keywords: 1183, house
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary B May 14th, 2026

Judiciary B

Transcript Highlights:
  • compensation program needed to be updated to reflect current statutory references of crimes that are covered
  • So we're just creating them as two separate entities so that there's no confusion.
  • And we are also So we're just creating them as two separate entities so that there's no confusion.
Committee: Senate Judiciary B
Summary: The Senate Committee on Judiciary B met on May 14, established a quorum, approved the May 5 minutes, and then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions. The committee first heard House Bill 1252, which would expand and modernize local court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish by enlarging the Marksville and Bunkie city courts, adding small claims, misdemeanor, juvenile, and civil jurisdiction, and allowing online payments and virtual appearances. Supporters said it would keep justice local and reduce pressure on district court, while opponents urged more study and warned about impacts on existing courts and funding. The committee adopted Amendment Set 3835 and reported HB 1252 with amendments. It also reported HB 167, requiring state prisons to provide release documentation to inmates; HB 1038, after amendments and continued negotiation with marshals and constables; HB 1077, allowing microbreweries to sell at certain special events; HB 1204, changing administration of the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program to the Office of Juvenile Justice; HB 492, placing the Governor’s Impaired Driving Task Force into statute; HB 175, dedicating $500,000 in lottery proceeds annually to a veterans service grant fund; HCR 41, directing ATC to allow electronic beer rebates; HB 833, creating a Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force; HB 656, creating a pilot program for inmate-administered services; HB 978, raising the population threshold for mayor’s courts to remit indigent defender fees; and HB 969, updating and expanding the crime victim compensation program. The committee also approved HB 985, which adds QR codes to sex offender identification cards, after adopting Amendment Set 3861, and HB 579, updating the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, after adopting Amendment Set 3830. Several bills drew notable opposition or requests for further work. HB 968, which creates a framework for electronic monitoring providers to notify courts before removing ankle monitors for nonpayment, drew objections from the ACLU and a vendor representative who argued it would turn criminal courts into debt-collection forums and could lead to jail for inability to pay; the author said the bill was intended as a public-safety framework, not debt collection. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 968 favorably and agreed to move a 10-day-to-15-day notice change on the floor. HB 525, requiring DOC to publish more incarceration data, especially from local facilities, was opposed by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, which said the bill would impose substantial new reporting burdens; DOC said it was already posting most of the data and would continue updating it. The committee ultimately deferred HB 525, with members encouraging further work. HB 1005, a cleanup-and-restructuring bill for the Office of the State Public Defender, was reported favorably after the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about substantive changes, including removal of board approval for the state public defender and changes to district defender protections; Vice Chair Harris said he would work with stakeholders on those issues. HB 1029, a local alcohol-permit moratorium bill for House District 3, was voluntarily deferred to next week so the author could address concerns about the length of the moratorium. The meeting ended after all scheduled business was completed, with the committee agreeing to revisit the deferred items later.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • And so when people are on vacation or call in sick, we do have to utilize staff from other houses to cover
  • Is there someone who does that on a regular basis, some entity?
  • Does that on a regular basis, some entity? No, no. That's something that we need to look at doing.
Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve the October 8, 2025 minutes and then held an extended hearing on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. DHS officials Lori McDonald, Jennifer Brise, and Melissa Weatherton described the HDC system, staffing and resident needs, and said Moore died after being held in a prone restraint for about 13 minutes, followed by a delayed chemical restraint and delayed CPR. They said the family settled a wrongful death claim for $725,000, 13 staff were terminated, the facility leadership was changed, and at least five staff had been criminally charged, with the death certificate later described as homicide and the cause of death as physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. Members pressed DHS on why the family was not kept informed, whether there was a written restraint protocol, how staff are trained, and why the agency did not have more complete information ready for the hearing. DHS said staff receive CPI restraint training, annual restraint training is mandatory, and a consultant is reviewing policies, retraining staff, and conducting a root cause analysis under a directed plan of correction from the Office of Long-Term Care. Legislators also raised broader concerns about low pay, staffing shortages, use of float and contract staff, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based care. DHS said it is working on a retention and recruitment plan and a rate report for certain PASS services, but that the PASS rate study does not cover CNA pay. Several members said the incident reflected both a failure of restraint practice and a broader staffing and oversight problem. DHS acknowledged that prone restraint should not have been used, that the chemical restraint was given at the wrong time, and that multiple breakdowns occurred in supervision, communication, and equipment use. The committee also discussed whether there should be more regular independent audits of HDC policies, and DHS said it does not currently have a separate annual policy audit beyond existing oversight. At the end of the meeting, the committee asked DHS to keep it updated on recruitment, consultant reports, and to contact Moore’s mother about the communication she had been promised. The meeting adjourned without any additional formal action beyond approving the minutes.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 14th, 2026

Administration of Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • employer obtain their own background check rather than relying on information shared from another entity
  • employer obtain their own background check rather than relying on information shared from another entity
  • Currently right now, they're covered by either the parish government or the city government. Okay.
Summary: The Committee on Criminal Justice met on April 14, 2026, and first handled several voluntary deferrals, including HB 343, HB 491, HB 523, HB 426, HB 439, HB 378, and later HB 1025. HB 676 by Rep. Spell, which creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals or “body brokering,” was amended and reported favorably. Testimony from Louisiana Blue, Odyssey House, and others described the practice as exploiting vulnerable addiction and mental health patients for profit, while supporters said the bill targets organized fraud and protects patients, families, and insurers. The committee also reported HB 394 by Rep. Chenevert, which extends the conditional parole period from nine months to 24 months for offenders who must complete programming before release. Supporters, including the Louisiana Parole Project, said the change gives the parole board more flexibility and does not create new parole eligibility, while the bill was amended to remove some language tied to rehabilitation programming review. HB 622 by Rep. Coates, dealing with confidentiality and handling of criminal history records, was reported favorably after testimony that it is needed to align state law with federal FBI/CJIS requirements and tighten safeguards on background-check information. HB 396 by Rep. McMakin, concerning admissibility of autopsy photographs, was amended to apply to criminal proceedings generally and then reported favorably. HB 772 by Rep. Martinez, which modernizes notice requirements for arrest warrants by allowing electronic notice and clarifying mailing procedures, was also reported favorably despite concerns from Orleans Parish prosecutors about costs and surety liability. HB 1038 by Rep. Boyer, addressing marshal authority to issue deputy commissions and related liability/insurance issues, drew substantial testimony from marshals, city officials, and local government groups; after amendments requiring insurance coverage and clarifying funding and applicability, it was reported favorably on an 8-2 vote. HB 1025, which would have created an exception allowing reconciliation after a protective-order violation, drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and prosecutors and was voluntarily deferred by the author.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Higher Education Committee Mar 17th, 2026

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • State groups and entities that are neither in support nor in opposition will be allowed to give testimony
  • If a measure has more than two entities in the neutral category, only two would be allowed to speak for
  • Grants and direct aid help me cover basic needs such as housing, food, transportation, extracurriculars
Keywords: 988, house, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/16/2026 - Senate Federalism and Family Law

Senate Federalism and Family Law Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:
  • recovered and recovered well, according to the Endangered Species Act, that the federal government has covered
  • consider enacting legislation to regulate or restrict ownership of real property from communist entities
  • any organization that is going to be deemed a foreign terrorist organization has to be a foreign entity
Summary: The committee first considered HB 2908, which would require any approved U.S. constitutional amendment to be ratified by a bill passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, and would impose oaths, reporting duties, civil penalties, and felony liability on “faithless” constitutional convention delegates. The committee adopted a Fincham amendment changing recall to disqualification and giving the Senate President and House Speaker authority to determine disqualification. Supporters argued the measure would add guardrails against a runaway Article 5 convention, while opponents said the safeguards would be ineffective and could falsely reassure the public. The bill, as amended, passed 4-3. The committee then took up HCR 2047, a resolution recognizing Judea and Samaria as the proper terms for the West Bank and rejecting that label in official state communications. Supporters framed it as a matter of historical and biblical accuracy, while opponents argued it injected the state into foreign policy and raised First Amendment concerns. The resolution passed 4-3. The committee next heard HCM 2006, urging Congress to reform the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Conservation Act and to reduce burdens on ranchers affected by Mexican gray wolves and related federal rules. The sponsor and supporters said wolf recovery goals had been exceeded and that ranchers were suffering livestock losses, while opponents said existing compensation already exists and that the memorial mischaracterized endangered species protections. The memorial passed 4-3. HB 4042, dealing with paternity actions in termination-of-parental-rights cases by requiring service of the mother within the 30-day timeframe, drew no testimony and passed unanimously 7-0. The committee also approved HCM 2005, which urges Congress to consider restricting foreign ownership of U.S. real property by communist or authoritarian governments; supporters said it was a national security and land-use issue, while opponents criticized the measure as discriminatory. It passed 4-3. HCM 2001, urging the President and Congress to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization and directing Arizona law enforcement to identify linked groups, drew testimony from civil rights advocates and community members who said the measure stigmatized Muslims and exceeded state authority; supporters said it was a legitimate federal-policy memorial. It passed 4-3. Finally, HCM 2002, urging Congress to review CAIR for possible terrorist designation, prompted extensive opposition testimony from CAIR representatives and supporters who described the organization’s civil-rights work and warned the memorial would fuel discrimination; supporters argued it was a proper federal request and a response to concerns about CAIR. The memorial passed 4-3, and the committee adjourned.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Ways and Means Mar 16th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Right now, I think we have 26, let's call them, available entities that you can donate to.
  • Right now, I think we have 26, let's call them, available entities that you can donate to.
  • I think Chairman Bacala covered it.
Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 16, 2026, and heard several bills dealing mainly with tax checkoffs, severance tax revenue, and estimated tax administration. The first major item was HB 156 by Rep. Bagley, a proposed constitutional amendment to remove the cap on the 20% share of severance tax revenues remitted to parishes where production occurs. Supporters from local government and the Police Jury Association argued that the cap prevents parishes from receiving the full share intended to help repair roads, bridges, drainage, and other infrastructure damaged by oil and gas activity. Members raised concerns about the bill’s roughly $42 million fiscal note and the state budget outlook, and the author ultimately agreed to voluntarily defer the bill after discussion of possible phase-ins and other compromises. The committee then took up HB 602 by Rep. Bamberg, another severance-tax-related constitutional amendment that would phase in a higher parish cap over five years, with a separate amendment tying the increase to parishes that exempt business inventory from ad valorem taxes. After questions about how it would interact with the pending inventory-tax amendment and its fiscal impact, the committee adopted the amendment and voluntarily deferred the bill pending a fiscal note. The committee also heard HB 852 by Rep. Lyons, which restores the income tax checkoff for donations to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence by lowering the performance threshold from $10,000 to $5,000; members discussed the number of checkoffs on the return and the need to keep the form manageable, but the bill was reported favorably as amended. Next, the committee considered HB 474 by Rep. Young, creating an individual income tax checkoff for the Grambling University National Alumni Association. Members again debated whether tax-return checkoffs amount to government-facilitated fundraising and whether they crowd the return, but the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 633 by Chairman Bacala, a cleanup bill adjusting estimated tax penalty timing and calculations to match current tax law; an amendment set was adopted to replace references to personal exemptions with the standard deduction, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The meeting concluded with adjournment.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/16/2026 - Senate Federalism and Family Law

Federalism and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • recovered and recovered well, according to the Endangered Species Act, that the federal government has covered
  • consider enacting legislation to regulate or restrict ownership of real property from communist entities
  • any organization that is going to be deemed a foreign terrorist organization has to be a foreign entity
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Labor & Commerce Feb 23rd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • respect to those non-solicitation agreements, and that is for an agreement between a health care entity
  • respect to those non-solicitation agreements, and that is for an agreement between a health care entity
  • work fighting wage theft, we have found that even a single delayed paycheck can mean an inability to cover
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 2479 would create a wage recovery program within L&I to advance part of unpaid wages to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship, funded by civil penalties, while also increasing and restructuring wage theft penalties and complaint prioritization. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, labor advocates, and employer representatives from the work group, said it would help workers get paid faster and was a consensus proposal; questions focused on how the current complaint process works and whether general fund money would be needed. Engrossed House Bill 1941, as amended, would allow licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, with the striking amendment limiting any cooperative to three producer licenses; supporters said cannabis producers should have the same cooperative tools as other agricultural sectors, while some testimony urged future changes for interstate commerce and warned against consolidation. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476 would expand the spirits, beer, and wine theater license from 120 to 200 seats per screen and add stronger alcohol-control measures when minors are present; theater operators and LCB supported the change, and committee questions focused on youth access and enforcement. House Bill 1526 would allow snack bar licensees to sell wine by the glass in addition to beer; the sponsor said it simply modernizes the license, and LCB noted a likely fee alignment issue and a small revenue impact. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155 would void non-compete agreements and expand related notice and non-solicitation rules, with testimony split between labor and worker advocates supporting broader worker mobility and business and health care groups seeking narrower exemptions for executives, physicians, and financial institutions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting or coercing employees to accept microchip implants, with no testimony offered. Substitute House Bill 2405 would create a three-year pilot for earlier PTSD treatment coverage in workers’ compensation for eligible occupational disease claims, with L&I supporting it as a way to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The committee also took public testimony on these bills, with strong pro and con positions noted on the wage recovery, cannabis cooperative, and non-compete measures. In executive action, the committee adopted a striking amendment and passed House Bill 1069, narrowing it to Department of Corrections employees and making supplemental retirement bargaining mandatory, despite concerns from one member about the change. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on House Bill 1347 concerning cannabis testing labs, then passed it to Rules; passed Second Substitute House Bill 1701 on liquor licensees sharing property; passed House Bill 291 on employee information for public employers to Ways and Means; passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2229 updating engineer registration provisions; passed House Bill 2264 on unemployment eligibility for workers in employer-initiated layoffs; passed Substitute House Bill 2472 adding enforcement for sprinkler contractors and fitters; and passed Second Substitute House Bill 2345 on paid family and medical leave premium allocation. A striking amendment to Second Substitute House Bill 1128 creating a child care workforce standards board was not adopted, and the bill then passed to Rules. The committee also announced it would hold House Bill 1066 for later action and planned to return the next day for its final executive session.