Transcript Highlights:

• Simone Boe with the Washington Education Association, in support of House Bill 2259. Our member...
• Washington Education Association, in support of House Bill 2259.
• I'm the Tumwater Education Association president, and I'm here on behalf of the Washington Education
• I live and vote in the 46th District and serve as president of the North Shore Education Association.
• Committee, Simone Boe, with the Washington Education Association, here in support of House Bill 2260.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2260, House Joint Resolution 4209, and House Bill 2259, with testimony and questions on each. HB 2260 would require petition signature gatherers to sign and date each petition sheet, provide their address and county, and require voters’ residence addresses for signature verification; supporters said this would improve accountability and help prevent fraud or duplicate signatures, while opponents argued it would burden volunteers, risk disenfranchising voters who move or use incomplete addresses, and add unnecessary penalties. The Secretary of State and former Secretary of State opposed the bill, saying existing verification methods are effective and that the measure could create costly, unintended barriers. HB 2259 would require 1,000 registered-voter signatures before filing an initiative or referendum and prohibit pay-per-signature compensation, with civil penalties and a private right of action; supporters said it would reduce frivolous filings, title shopping, and fraud incentives, while opponents said it would chill initiative activity, especially for rural communities and referenda with tight timelines. The Secretary of State and former Secretary of State also opposed HB 2259, saying the initiative process should remain accessible and that the bill would add barriers and workload. House Joint Resolution 4209 would amend the state constitution to allow the legislature to modify congressional districts mid-decade by simple majority if another state adopts a new congressional map absent a court order. The prime sponsor argued Washington should not unilaterally stay passive if other states engage in partisan mid-decade redistricting, while opponents said the proposal would weaken Washington’s bipartisan redistricting system, set a bad precedent, and invite retaliation. Testimony on the resolution was sharply divided, with supporters warning that partisan redistricting elsewhere threatens fair representation and opponents saying Washington should preserve its existing commission-based process rather than respond in kind. The hearing on HJR 4209 was concluded after testimony. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt. The chair suspended and reopened hearings as planned, and testimony was taken on all three measures, with HB 2260 and HB 2259 drawing extensive public comment and questions about fraud, access, and administrative burden.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes a person's experiences, such as their education, involvement with the justice system or child
• to 11 to add the Department of Revenue, the Health Care Authority, and the Workforce Training and Education
• Interventions cross education, disability, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems, and conflicting
• Interventions cross-education, disability, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems, and conflicting
• The Workforce Training and Education Board and helps us comply with the Nothing About Us Without Us Act

Bills: HB2429 , HB2171 , HB2314 , HB2364 , HB2415

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: behavioral health, youth support, mental health services, children's health, support services, foster youth, child welfare, education, mental health, dental care, habilitation centers, residential services, healthcare access, patient rights, poverty, task force, legislative, executive, social programs, fatalities

Transcript Highlights:

• special guest and a great friend sitting on the front row that serves our Alabama State Board of Education
• Representative Brown, regarding income tax, is referred to the Committee on Finance and Taxation Education
• > taxation</c> to the committee on finance and taxation to the committee on finance and taxation education
• c> John</c><00:40:10.880><c> signed</c><00:40:11.280><c> John</c><00:40:11.520><c> Treadwell</c> education
• John signed John Treadwell education. John signed John Treadwell clerk. clerk. clerk.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed a quorum, and adopted the prior day’s journal. The chamber then handled a series of confirmations, including Thomas Ellis to the Agriculture Exhibition Center Board of Directors, Evelyn Vans Malden, Robert C. Brock, Mila Calhoun, and Elena Baranco to the University of Alabama or University of Montevallo boards of trustees, Chip Fugquay to the Alabama Workforce Board, and Thornton Stanley and Jemsticken Pum to the Alabama Forestry Commission. All of these confirmations were approved overwhelmingly, generally by 29–30 votes with no nays. Committee reports advanced several county and municipal government bills, including SB 23, SB 71, SB 105, SB 109, SB 115, SB 131, SB 148, and SB 165, with some receiving amendments. The Senate also adopted and passed multiple resolutions, including SJR 14 honoring Drew and Lauren Winland as America’s top young farm family, and resolutions mourning Mary Anne Peak Phelps and Sam Palmer Faucet III. A local bill package for Marshall and Walker counties was taken up, with several bills receiving BRs, final passage, and certification resolutions. The Senate also received numerous House messages referring local and finance-related bills to committees, including measures on county subdivision regulations, homestead exemptions, unclaimed property, sales and use tax, income tax, municipal audits, and other local matters. The Rules Committee report set a special order calendar for the next legislative day, listing SB 126, SB 33, SB 55, SB 102, SB 118, and SB 128. On that calendar, SB 126 extending the Alabama Private Investigation Board, SB 33 updating veteran license tag provisions, SB 102 extending the Board of Home Medical Equipment, and SB 128 reorganizing the Alabama Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission were passed; SB 55 on military spouses was amended and carried over; and SB 118 on the Alabama Justice Information Commission was amended and carried over. The Senate adjourned until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21st.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Elder Affairs would contract with nonprofits that focus on Alzheimer's education and
• We must do everything we can to educate the community and ensure people have access to early and timely
• But the more folks that are educated, and the more we can get out in front and get tested sooner, the
• But the more folks that are educated, and the more we can get out in front and get tested sooner, the
• The program instructs youth in independent living and workforce education and culminates in a workforce

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Education.
• So it's another issue on the... on that side to educate those that are not educated about it.
• It's just about keeping on it, paying attention, and educating, because there are so many factors when
• Well, there's another factor there, and that's been historically ineffective education.
• Educational systems have not been adapted culturally to be effective at times. That's time, sir.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Just front-end certainty, education, and ensuring that we've got best practices going. ...certainty,
• education, and ensuring that, you know, we've got best practices going on out in the field and nobody
• I mean, it... certainty, education, and ensuring that, you know, we've got best practices going on out
• Or, in my example, you know, some sort of licensure on the front end that educates employers as well.
• .. ...in my example, you know, some sort of licensure on the front end that educates employers as well

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee work session focused first on Civic Commons’ “starter home production plan,” a statewide strategy intended to increase production of homes affordable to households roughly between 60% and 120% of area median income. Presenters said the Covenant Home Ownership program will not succeed without more starter homes, and outlined recommendations including a temporary cross-sector crisis task force, a developer network, new financing tools, public seed funding, and a multi-site demonstration program to test off-site construction and standardized designs. Committee members asked about silos in the current system, the role of off-site and modular construction, target income ranges, and where the plan would be most useful. Civic Commons said the plan is meant to be statewide, community-informed, and respectful of local context, with pre-approved plans and standardized approaches for both single-family and multi-unit housing. The Department of Labor and Industries then gave an update on factory-built housing oversight. Officials said residential factory-built structures are a small but important part of their work and described progress in prioritizing residential plan reviews, which they said has reduced review time from months to about two days. They also reported creating a plans examiner supervisor position, moving forward with rules for third-party plan review and inspection, and beginning analysis of national standards from the Modular Building Institute to see whether they align with state code. Committee members and L&I discussed the value of standardized plans, real-time tracking for applicants, and the role of state inspection in reducing local jurisdictional variation. The Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council testified that it supports efforts to reduce permitting delays and increase housing production, but warned against weakening safety standards or labor protections. The labor representatives said prefabrication and modular construction can help if the workforce is protected, wages and apprenticeship opportunities are preserved, and projects use tools such as community workforce agreements. They also raised concerns about wage theft, misclassification, and unlicensed contractors in residential construction, and suggested stronger front-end contractor education or licensing. Committee members responded that the goal is to expand production without sacrificing safety or good jobs. The committee also heard city perspectives on local housing reforms. Olympia described its affordable housing emergency ordinance, which gives qualifying projects priority in the permitting queue, and said success depends on communication among housing staff, planners, engineers, and developers. Walla Walla, an early adopter of middle housing, reported increased ADUs, duplexes, and smaller-lot development after eliminating single-family zoning and expanding tools such as MFTE and ADU flexibility. Des Moines described adopting middle housing and ADU ordinances in June 2025 after a lengthy public process, while Poulsbo described proactive code changes including duplexes on corner lots, unit lot subdivisions, manufactured home protections, expanded ADU allowances, and pre-approved ADU plans shared with neighboring jurisdictions. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've spent about half my career in industry and half my career in higher education.
• In higher education, I'm an educator and an administrator.
• It's shown its commitment to higher education, like Texas A&M, and how we are working to bring these
• They are in educational facilities to train these folks to be ready so that we can have Texans occupy
• Because of the support I received as a young I was able to expand my education as a performing artist

Bills: HB4568 , HB5458 , HB4543 , HB2703 , HB3728 , HCR113 , HCR126

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Caucus, Caucus
• Critical vacancies across the departments, including health, education, human services, corrections,
• Critical vacancies across the departments, including health, education, human services, corrections,
• Critical vacancies across the departments, including health, education, human services, corrections,
• Critical vacancies across the departments, including health, education, human services, corrections,

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• district, who left me some pretty large shoes to fill, is a veteran teacher and a respected voice on education
• the bill is an appropriation of $250,000 invested in three critical areas: public awareness and education
• The $250,000 investment is for three critical areas: public awareness and education, the implementation
• President, your Senate Education Committee will... Mr. Beard. Mr.
• President, your Senate Education Committee will be meeting at 3 o'clock in J-216 and then again tomorrow

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4. The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote. The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• am directed to inform the Senate that the duly enrolled engrossed copies of Senate Bill 7, Senate Education
• House Bill 251 would allow retired educators a one-time option to change their beneficiary.
• President, I'm hoping that we'll be able to have many more discussions in education about exactly what
• We've talked about those in education for many, many, many, many years.
• Maybe the Education Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our credential. counseling, education, field services, and special services.
• for that. and that you have the appropriate training, both the basic training and the continuing education
• Finally, providing web applications, including free online continuing education courses. data distribution
• telecommunicators across the great state of Texas. of TNPA is to promote professionalism through education
• And, of course, it's very popular in so many ways. for the committee's education on that, but I think

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As an educator, I oppose this bill. As a scientist, I oppose this bill.
• </c> mother I oppose this bill as an educator mother I oppose this bill as an educator I<00:31:26.600
• She is 16 years old and, like any teenager, she is busy navigating school, driver's education, sports
• I'm a Hooksett resident, educated and proud Granite Stater.
• My daughter knew who she was when she was 5 years old, and her dad, who spoke earlier, and I educated

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, which Rep. Jim Kofalt said is the same language as last year’s HB 396, vetoed by the governor. He described the bill as allowing, but not requiring, separation by biological sex in three areas: bathrooms and locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions. Kofalt argued the bill would give local school boards and other policymakers discretion to set practical rules, citing concerns about safety, privacy, and a Milford incident involving a biological male in girls’ locker rooms. Committee members pressed him on the lack of a definition of “biological sex,” and he said he did not think one was necessary because males and females are commonly understood. He also said the bill was meant to address situations where outside groups threaten lawsuits and leave local boards with no latitude. Testimony then split sharply. Supporters, including Executive Counselor Karen Hill and several others, said HB 148 would roll back anti-discrimination protections, contradict New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” values, and harm transgender and non-binary people. Opponents described the bill as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that existing bathroom and sports policies already work and that the bill would invite harassment, invasive enforcement, and legal conflict. Several speakers, including trans residents and parents of trans children, said they had used public restrooms without incident and warned that enforcement would be impractical or abusive. One supporter argued the bill was needed to protect girls’ privacy and safety and cited school sports disputes and a concern about a sex offender at a game as examples of why sex-segregated rules should be restored. Committee members asked questions about how biological sex would be defined, whether the bill was responding to real incidents in New Hampshire, and how any restrictions would be enforced. Kofalt said he was aware of issues in several school districts and at the State House, but did not have detailed documentation for every case. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the chair instead moved through public testimony under a strict two-minute limit and noted that follow-up questions would be limited so the committee could hear multiple bills that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> request so that we can do more education request so that we can do more education um<00:27:53.120
• Department of Education in &gt;&gt; Thank you. Department of Education in support.
• ><c> decided</c><02:31:00.720><c> to</c> Department of Education decided to Department of Education decided
• </c> workers at the Department of Education workers at the Department of Education with<02:31:04.399>
• </c> Uh, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Uh, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus<02:31:44.240

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2021, a transportation measure creating a framework for electric bicycle and micromobility regulation. The bill would define electric bicycle and electric micromobility device, set age and helmet rules, restrict class 3 e-bikes from sidewalks, allow limited sidewalk use for class 1 and 2 bikes, prohibit high-speed electric devices and certain nonconforming devices in specified locations, update county tax definitions, and change related terminology. Testimony was largely supportive from DOT, police, Honolulu officials, Hawaii Bicycling League, AAA Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and several individuals, while DCCA’s Insurance Division asked for clarity on whether insurance would be required. Committee discussion focused on safety, enforcement, and the fact that no insurance market currently exists for these e-bike classes; members also discussed the need to target bad actors rather than ordinary riders. The chair then proposed and the committee adopted amendments to HB 2021, including clarifying that road-legal, permitted, classified electric bicycles are not subject to insurance requirements at this time; allowing properly classified electric bicycles on sidewalks at 10 mph or less subject to county restrictions; barring high-speed electric devices and other nonconforming devices from public roadways; authorizing impoundment of non-road-legal or improperly registered devices; and requiring direct parental supervision for riders under 16 on class 2 or 3 e-bikes. The committee also made technical and effective-date changes. The recommendation to pass HB 2021 with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present. The committee next took up HB 1641, a related transportation bill addressing high-speed electric devices. The chair explained that the measure would prohibit the sale, lease, rental, distribution, possession, or operation of high-speed electric devices and establish penalties, but the committee’s version would narrow the focus to devices covered by HB 2021. The amended bill would prohibit offering high-speed electric devices for lease or rent, require sellers to comply with the new regulatory framework, ban operation on bicycle lanes, highways, roadways, and streets, and set a civil penalty of $250 to $1,000 per violation. After no further questions, the committee voted to pass HB 1641 with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then moved to HB 1709, which would transfer regulation of the Hawaii Water Carrier Act from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Transportation and make conforming changes with an appropriation. DOT testified in support, while the PUC and DCCA’s Consumer Advocacy Division raised concerns about preserving consumer protections and the complexity of moving the regulatory framework. Young Brothers supported the bill and said the current system is outdated, but the discussion remained ongoing; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 1709 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• know, when I think about small farmers, I think about the farmers I met in El Nido that retired educators
• Education... ...and technical assistance to help local agencies succeed in SGMA implementation.
• Our three focus areas are centered around health, wellness, education, and civil assistance.
• The fear is very much still there, and what the foundation has been able to do to support with education
• To bring that ease, to bring that awareness, to bring that education once again in the field, in the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, creates extra sort of education that needs to go on a question that, um, if our cities and towns
• Um creates extra<00:14:43.040><c> sort</c><00:14:43.199><c> of</c><00:14:43.360><c> education</c><00:
• that needs to go extra sort of education that needs to go on<00:14:44.720><c> on</c><00:14:44.959><c
• We're going to have to do a lot of education on the local level based on this drafting.
• We're going to have to do a lot of education on the local level based on this drafting.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think just in the implementation, we have to figure out what kind of education is provided to the
• We have been very clear, and I think we do need better education going forward that some mortgages...
• ...education going forward that some mortgages aren't going to apply because if investor guidelines
• This has been very educational.
• I think that we have to do a better job of educating the public.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's educated me and helped me to understand, and so we're so happy to have all of you here today.
• It hosts civic activities such as protests, speeches, and educational forums.
• I sit on Budget 1, educational funding.
• But we are not formulaic like education, as you would say.
• But we are not formulaic like education, as you would say.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused on courthouse facility funding and the Governor’s budget proposals for the judicial branch. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the state’s courthouse funding structure, including the Trial Court Facilities Act, the main facility funds, the fixed county facility payment, and the heavy reliance on General Fund backfill. LAO also explained that the state’s construction funds were depleted after large transfers and declining fine-and-fee revenue, leaving a backlog of roughly 80 construction projects and more than 22,000 deferred maintenance projects statewide. Members and witnesses discussed the long timelines for capital projects, the need for reassessments, and the impact of inflation, CEQA, and site acquisition delays. Judicial branch representatives, including Justice Hill, Judge Moorman, and Judge Tapia, testified that courthouses across the state face serious seismic, ADA, security, and maintenance problems. They described cost-cutting efforts in design and construction, but emphasized that many facilities are aging and unsafe, with examples from Los Angeles, Compton, Ukiah, and other courts involving flooding, elevator failures, asbestos issues, and closures that disrupted thousands of cases. Judge Moorman highlighted the Ukiah courthouse replacement as an example of a project that is on time and on budget and would improve access, safety, and community services. Judge Tapia stressed that deferred maintenance in Los Angeles County alone exceeds $1.4 billion and argued that preventive maintenance is fiscally prudent because emergency repairs and closures are more costly. Committee members pressed the panel on how priorities are set, whether caseload and population growth are adequately reflected, how quickly projects can be accelerated, and what level of funding would actually meet statewide needs. The Department of Finance and Judicial Council staff explained that the county contribution is fixed and not inflation-adjusted, that acquisitions require willing sellers and can be delayed by CEQA and market conditions, and that the Judicial Council’s prioritization process was based on 2019 criteria that may need updating. LAO cautioned that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other state priorities and suggested the Legislature decide what level of funding it is willing to support. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for courthouse facilities, which include backfill for the construction fund, selected new construction and judgeship-related projects, and major facility modifications such as the Orange County Central Justice Center and relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's educated me and helped me to understand, and so we're so happy to have all of you here today.
• It hosts civic activities such as protests, speeches, and educational forums.
• It hosts civic activities such as protests, speeches, and educational forums.
• I sit on Budget 1, educational funding.
• But we are not formulaic like education, as you would say.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is kind of an education problem. "Thank you. This works over.
• So with education, economy changing, there's a lot of prospects for future use.
• So with education, economy changing, there's a lot of prospects for future use.
• However, I can be helpful to better educate, whether it's on the developer end or work with our local
• And that would be continued education.

Summary: The hearing was an outcome review of AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022, focused on whether the law is being used as intended to speed housing production on commercially zoned land while maintaining labor and affordability standards. Chair Haney and Assembly Member Wicks emphasized that the point of the review was not to relitigate the bill, but to assess implementation and results. The first panel of researchers and policy experts said AB 2011 has had real but still limited uptake so far, with roughly 5,800 homes proposed, entitled, or permitted under the law through 2024, concentrated mainly in San Francisco and Los Angeles counties. They also noted that the broader housing market remains constrained by high construction costs, interest rates, and flat rents, making it hard to isolate the bill’s effects from overall market conditions. Witnesses generally agreed that AB 2011 has been most effective for 100% affordable projects and for projects already using public subsidies or prevailing wage, where the ministerial process and CEQA streamlining help move developments forward. Several speakers described the law as a useful bargaining tool that can push jurisdictions to rezone or approve projects more quickly even when AB 2011 is not formally invoked. At the same time, developers and advocates said the mixed-income pathway is much less usable in most of the state because prevailing wage and the 15% affordability requirement add significant cost, especially in lower-rent markets. They also pointed to implementation issues such as narrow site eligibility rules, the “substantially surrounded by urban uses” test, industrial-use exclusions, and confusion about whether the law applies to homeownership projects. The second panel, made up of practitioners using the law, described specific projects that moved forward under AB 2011, including affordable housing developments in the San Joaquin Valley and large mixed-use projects in San Francisco. They said the law’s biggest benefit is certainty: projects that once took years to entitle can now move in months. However, they repeated calls for changes such as clarifying homeownership eligibility, loosening density and site restrictions, narrowing the industrial-use exclusion, and making the law easier to understand for developers and local staff. Members also raised concerns about uneven use across regions, especially the relative lack of AB 2011 activity in Los Angeles and Santa Clara County, and about the accuracy and lag in annual progress report data. The final panel, including the original sponsors, said they remain supportive of the law but are open to adjustments to reduce costs and improve usability while preserving labor protections and affordability goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am very well-versed in data security measures and help educate others in my office about what they
• I am very well-versed in data security measures and help educate others in my office about what they
• While I am a member of the Washington State Board of Education, I'm testifying here on behalf of the
• This law is one small step toward safer education and a safer Washington. Thank you.
• This law is one small step towards safer education and both safer Washington. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: 904, all