Transcript Highlights:

• We need low adult-child ratios to drive child safety and healthy development and learning.
• c><00:04:50.120><c> to</c><00:04:50.320><c> drive</c><00:04:50.639><c> child</c><00:04:50.960><c> safety
• </c> adult child ratios to drive child safety adult child ratios to drive child safety and<00:04:51.560

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 1384, which would create the “Great Start Child Care Tax Credit” by expanding the existing dependent care credit for families with children under age six. The bill would raise the qualifying expense limits for young children, allow more children to qualify, and phase the credit down starting at $125,000 of earned household income until it reaches zero above roughly $400,000. The author said the proposal is intended to better address the high cost of child care, especially for middle-income families who may not qualify for other assistance programs. Claire Sanford of the Minnesota Child Care Association testified in support. She said child care providers across Minnesota have unused capacity because many families cannot afford services, and argued that making care cheaper for families is important for workforce participation and child development. She also supported the bill’s focus on children under five and its expansion of help up the income scale, saying middle-class families have received little assistance with child care costs. Members asked about how the bill differs from current law, the cap for a family with one child age five, and the fiscal impact. The author explained that a family with one child under age six would have a $10,000 cap under the proposal and said a prior fiscal note estimated the bill at about $200 million per year. The author also noted the proposal had been introduced previously and said the Department of Revenue’s new ability to make advance payments could be relevant as the bill moves forward. The author renewed the motion to re-refer HF 1384 to the Committee on Taxes. The committee approved the motion by voice vote, and the bill was sent to Taxes.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOOD SAFETY IS THE PARAMOUNT CONCERN OF THE CPG INDUSTRY AND WE SUPPORT THE PROVEN SCIENCE AND RISK-BASED
• VERY IMPORTANT FOR BOTH THE MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTION AND RESALE OF GOODS AND OBVIOUSLY HEALTH AND SAFETY
• AND STRUCTURES, INFLATING ALREADY HEIGHTENED FOOD COSTS AND UNDERMINING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY
• WE WANT SAFETY AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE FLORIDIANS HAVE THOSE HEALTH CHOICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Gallegos and Senator Maestas, an act relating to public employee retirement, including public safety
• For elections pertaining to the adoption of the police member coverage plans for current public safety
• claims to be awarded to the state, limiting attorney fees and malpractice claims, creating the Patient Safety
• important key bills on behavioral health: the Behavioral Health Trust Fund... ...the Public Health and Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:05:30.160><c> focusing</c><00:05:30.639><c> on</c> The council is focusing on ensuring child safety
• </c><00:10:32.640><c> both</c><00:10:32.959><c> emotional</c> factors to ensure safety both emotional
• factors to ensure safety both emotional and<00:10:33.600><c> physical</c><00:10:34.560><c> for</c><00
• This report needs to highlight any systemic learnings that could improve child safety and well-being
• </c> legislative director for child safety legislative director for child safety and<01:52:38.239><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Before concluding, all ordinary consumer protection, anti-fraud, and housing safety legislation still
• </c> anti-fraud, and housing safety anti-fraud, and housing safety legislation<00:20:21.280><c> still
• Um, you need multiple access points so then those public safety personnel can reach residents.
• Um, that's often poses safety risks.
• Our deepest concern is with safety.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we did talk to the chairs of, I think, both Judiciary and Public Safety, and I think they have some
• Um, we did talk to the chairs of, I think, both Judiciary and Public Safety, and I think they have some
• Um, we did talk to the chairs of, I think, both Judiciary and Public Safety, and I think they have some
• </c> federal government on the social safety federal government on the social safety net<01:15:54.800
• for our safety of our children.

Bills: HF2436

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We must never allow radical left policies to threaten our nation's safety again.
• This isn't about politics; this is about fairness, safety, and protecting the integrity of women's sports
• of their own constituents public safety of their own constituents and<00:13:26.600><c> drain</c><00:
• We passed the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act to give law enforcement the tools they need.
• </c> medical community like vaccine safety medical community like vaccine safety information<00:21:12.520

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this provides a little bit of a safety net.
• We have to figure out how to do that risk and safety and who do we put around, you know, if that's his
• And so our families indicated that one of their biggest concerns with safety in the community, we do,
• many of you know, we do police safety.
• Yes, we always need to teach more about safety.

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The committee/task force met with several disability service providers to discuss integrated employment, transition services, and barriers to community jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Robin Arder and Belinda Stevens of ThinkAbility described creating their own businesses when community employers were not hiring their clients, and said rigid service rules, employer readiness, bullying, and reimbursement structures often force the person to fit the service rather than the service fitting the person. They said they have not seen clients lose benefits, but they do closely manage reporting to Social Security and related supports. Tina Hannah of South Central Industries described a broad business model that includes manufacturing, janitorial work, city beautification, state-use contracts, a food truck, and an entertainment trailer, along with an adult day program and residential services. She said many employers are hesitant because of productivity and cost concerns, and that businesses are often more open to contracting with her agency than hiring individuals directly. Miranda Figueroa of A New Leaf said her agency is moving toward a more person-centered model with sheltered work, volunteer sites, paid contracts, and a Transition Academy. She said the academy is a two-year program focused first on independent living and then on employment, with internships and an 85% placement rate, but funding is a major barrier because the program is not accredited and students cannot access traditional aid. She also cited dual diagnoses, inconsistent job coaches, and employer uncertainty as major obstacles. Angela Decker and Deborah Copeland of DRTC described DRTC’s long-running enclave contracts, a new Community Skills and Connections program, and a plan to phase out 14(c) subminimum wage use by the end of the year. They said the new program is designed to keep people engaged in community-based skill-building and networking while families still need day supports, and that DRTC has developed more than 100 community partnerships. Senator Kirt, Rep. Hefner, and participants discussed broader system issues, including the need for better school-to-work transition, more social integration, transportation, safety, and employer education. DRS staff said the agency is already required to provide pre-employment transition services in schools starting at age 14 and offers employer accommodations support and job-carving assistance, though they acknowledged federal reporting expectations and service rules can be restrictive. Several participants raised concerns about line-of-sight restrictions, congregate living rules, benefit cliffs, and the difficulty of moving from DDS to DRS services. The group also discussed the need for better data and possible working groups focused on in-school transition, program support and blending services, and community integration. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the bill that gave cause to the Director of Public Safety to deny an application for a peace
• Speaker, we heard this bill in your Committee on Crime and Public Safety.
• It also has coaches, school or public safety officers, and somehow exempt from this law, even though
• I don't believe we heard this in the Crime and Public Safety Committee this session, so I will agree
• It's all about children's safety.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I might just add that this is a public safety issue.
• Let me rephrase that: this is a public safety crisis.
• why this is such a serious issue and it's critical and it needs to be addressed, not only for the safety
• why this is such a serious issue and it's critical and it needs to be addressed not only for the safety
• It's a safety issue. Well, that's all I needed right there. Yes, sir.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee first filed a report on the executive protection detail and then reviewed a long list of House and Senate bills that were ready for action, with members instructed to hold any items they wanted removed. The committee then took up several agency requests to amend bills: the Auditor of State’s request for a $370 increase for special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ requests for additional funding for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and requests tied to local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, emergency medical and law enforcement support, and Northwest Arkansas Community College tornado-related repairs. All of those amendments were adopted, and one amendment on House Bill 1034 was held over at Senator Johnson’s request. A major portion of the meeting focused on an amendment for the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program using mobile technology to identify and disable illegal inmate cell phones at Varner and Cummins prisons. The bill sponsors and Corrections officials described the problem as a serious public safety issue, saying inmates use contraband phones for criminal activity, trafficking, scams, and outside coordination. Members asked about FCC rules, procurement, whether the system would jam or only identify phones, whether it would affect staff or nearby users, how quickly it would work, whether it would be a one-time or ongoing cost, and whether the department had existing budget authority. Officials said the proposal would require an RFP, that current funding was not available in the department’s budget, and that the technology would be a two-year pilot. The committee ultimately adopted the amendment and then gave the underlying bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee also considered an amendment for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, which sought a $4 million increase in appropriation authority. Senators discussed the division’s role in county extension offices, 4-H, research, and salary competitiveness, while others questioned why the division needed more appropriation room when it already had about $10 million in headroom and had requested a different funding level through higher education. Division representatives said the increase would help with salaries and provide flexibility for future funding, and Higher Education staff clarified the original request and recommendation amounts. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and gave it a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a homestead property tax credit increase, insurance department conference travel, property appraisal analysis support, career and technical education professional development, regulatory and casino gaming appropriations, a new program integrity line for the Department of Inspector General, consolidation of licensing board appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation package for prison expansion that included special language limiting use of the funds. Members asked several questions about the prison reappropriation, including whether it still related to the earlier Calico Rock project and whether special language should be considered separately; the committee moved the governor’s letters forward for drafting and further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those have all given way to the idea that this is a public safety bill, too. Okay.
• This does not cut any building codes, energy codes, or safety codes.
• It's not jeopardizing public safety.
• Teachers are responsible for the safety of students in their classrooms.
• I was concerned about my own safety, but I was more concerned about protecting those children.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a brief roll call and a chamber introduction of Doug Pitt and Crystal Simon of Care to Learn, an organization described as serving students’ basic needs and esteem-building across Missouri. The body then moved through House Bills for Perfection, Informal, taking up several measures focused on public safety, housing, broadband, historic preservation, adoption, regional planning, and school safety. House Bill 2848, creating the offense of masked intimidation, was debated and advanced after members discussed examples ranging from harassment at homes to historical hooded intimidation and concerns about whether the bill could affect ICE agents; the sponsor said it would not apply to lawful duties. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1791, dealing with faster building permit timelines to help address housing costs and disaster recovery, was amended to require code-enforcement certification for nationally recognized codes and then perfected and printed despite concerns from some members about local government capacity. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2465, allowing sole proprietors and very small businesses to buy group health coverage outside the ACA framework, was also adopted and perfected and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2711 reduced the assessment rate for broadband infrastructure investment and drew extended debate over whether the tax break should apply to upgrades within existing territories or only to expansion into underserved areas; an amendment clarifying that the incentive was for expanding fiber and broadband services was adopted, and the bill was perfected and printed. House Bill 3080 restored historic preservation tax credit language that had previously been struck down, with broad support from members citing tornado recovery, downtown revitalization, nonprofit projects, and preservation of historic districts. House Bill 1772 increased state payments for adoption attorneys and separated guardian fees to reduce barriers to adoption, and House Bill 2096 increased state matching funds for regional planning commissions and updated the commission list; both were advanced after supportive testimony about local planning and the need to keep pace with inflation. Finally, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2913 and 3228 was presented to protect teachers and other school personnel from liability when reasonably intervening to protect themselves or students during violent incidents, while making intervention permissive rather than mandatory. Members from both parties and several educators spoke in strong support, emphasizing that teachers should not fear discipline or lawsuits for acting to keep children safe. The bill was advanced after discussion about the scope of the teacher definition and whether related issues like school buses should be addressed separately.

Transcript Highlights:

• They sent me back in there, excuse me, for her safety and my own, since I had to go back in there and
• and they had to have this loan, and insisted that I finished out the signing, which I did for her safety
• difficult for the state to enact or enforce everyday regulations that protect children's health and safety
• public health measures like school immunization requirements, child protective services actions, or safety
• carefully drafted statutory protections for parental involvement that explicitly preserve public safety

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 718, which would limit liability for landowners who allow free use of private property for aeronautical activities at non-public airports. The author said the bill was modeled on Arkansas law and was intended to help private airstrips. After brief questions about fees and the effective date, the bill was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 134, dealing with material harmful to minors online, was then amended to clarify that interactive computer services may not deliver harmful material to minor accounts they created, while removing algorithm restrictions and cure language; it was reported as amended. House Bill 410, which would require notification before recording direct in-person conversations, drew substantial testimony. The author said the bill was aimed at privacy concerns raised by wearable AI devices and hidden recording tools, and the adopted amendments changed the measure from consent to notification and added exceptions for first responders, evidence preservation, civil or administrative proceedings, criminal matters, and recordings in one’s own residence. Supporters said the bill protected ordinary people from secret recordings, while opponents warned it could chill family-law recordings, citizen journalism, HOA disputes, and other legitimate uses. The bill was ultimately reported as amended. House Bill 318, which would reduce the presumption of paternity period from 300 days to 150 days, was heavily criticized by family-law practitioners and a law professor who said the current 300-day rule tracks gestation and that shortening it would shift burdens onto mothers; the author then voluntarily deferred the bill. A companion study resolution, HCR 19, directing the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the presumption of parentage, was reported favorably. The committee also heard House Bill 970 on competing custody orders. The author described cases where different courts issued conflicting custody rulings for the same child, but judges and attorneys raised concerns about the bill’s “earliest order controls” rule, its effect on out-of-state orders, protective orders, and the lack of a clear mechanism for judges to discover prior orders. After testimony from judges and committee discussion about possible fixes and a unified filing system, the bill was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 163, another private-airstrip liability bill, was reported favorably, and House Bill 170 and House Bill 194, both dealing with construction/design professional contracts and preemptive periods, were reported as amended or favorably after testimony that they would align design-professional rules with contractor rules and keep Louisiana projects under Louisiana law. House Bill 254, limiting acts of donation of motor vehicles to certain relatives and charities, was reported as amended after discussion about tax treatment and possible loopholes. Finally, the committee began House Bill 485, a proposed constitutional amendment declaring parental rights fundamental and subjecting government restrictions to strict scrutiny. Supporters argued it would protect parents’ authority over children’s upbringing, education, care, and control, while opponents said the language was overly broad and could complicate child welfare, public health, and school safety measures. The author said the amendment would not protect abuse or neglect and was meant to ensure government interference meets strict scrutiny, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• They sent me back in there, excuse me, for her safety and my own, since I had to go back in there and
• and they had to have this loan and insisted that I finished out the signing, which I did for her safety
• unpredictability about whether routine public protections from child abuse investigations to school safety
• difficult for the state to enact or enforce everyday regulations that protect children's health and safety
• carefully drafted statutory protections for parental involvement that explicitly preserve public safety

Bills: HCR6 , HCR19 , HB81 , HB134 , HB154 , HB163 , HB170 , HB194 , HB254 , HB318 , HB410 , HB473 , HB485 , HB718 , HB970

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: HCR 6, House Concurrent Resolution 6, successions, intestate succession, testate succession, disinheritance, disinherison, forced heirship, forced heir, legitime, estranged heir, estranged child, inheritance, estate planning, wills, testaments, Civil Code Article 1617, Civil Code Article 1618, Civil Code Article 1619, Civil Code Article 1620

Transcript Highlights:

• What's highly sensitive is the abuse of the data to target and to deny benefits, safety, and protection
• more of the functions that are currently done by Californians who, again, we rely on to sustain our safety
• I mean, we're looking 20 years after, what are the impacts of self-checkout on the consumer, on safety
• and working conditions. ...which is to really talk about the wages and the benefits and the safety and
• Nonprofits are the true backbone of our social safety net.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Summary: The committee began with an informational hearing on the second amendment to the tribal-state gaming compact with the Yurok Tribe. Governor’s office staff and Yurok Tribal Chairman Joseph James explained that the amendment is a narrow, technical one that extends the existing 2006 compact through December 31 to preserve the status quo while longer-term negotiations continue. Members asked about the compact process and why Bureau of Indian Affairs approval is not needed for a simple extension; staff said only substantive compact changes require federal approval. No vote was taken on the informational item. The committee then heard AB 2156, which would designate March 31 as Farm Workers’ Day in California. Supporters, including the authors’ representatives and members of the committee, described the bill as a way to honor farmworkers and the broader farmworker movement, especially in light of recent allegations involving the holiday’s prior namesake. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to the floor. The committee also approved several consent calendar items and later advanced SB 1044, which raises the small business procurement cap from $250,000 to $350,000 and indexes it to inflation; supporters from the Hispanic and Asian Pacific chambers of commerce and veteran business groups said the change would expand access to state contracts for small, micro, and disabled veteran-owned businesses. That bill was sent to Appropriations. Senator Cabaldon presented SB 1114, which would restrict state agencies from sharing LGBTQ-related SOGI and intersex data with federal agencies except where legally required. Equality California and other supporters said the bill would protect trust and prevent misuse of sensitive data, while no opposition testified. The committee passed the bill to Privacy. Cabaldon also presented SB 1248 on automated decision systems in state government, arguing it would create baseline guardrails, require human review for adverse decisions, and improve service delivery. Labor groups opposed it, saying the bill authorizes use before establishing enforceable standards and that workers were not adequately included in stakeholder discussions. After extensive debate about AI, collective bargaining, and implementation, the committee voted to send the bill to Privacy. The committee also advanced SB 1273, which would allow short-form social media videos to promote instructional events at wineries, and SB 917, which would loosen farmers’ market rules so more small wineries can sell wine there; both were supported by wine industry representatives and sent forward on due pass motions. The transcript then began SB 1240, which would create an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to help nonprofits navigate state procurement, grants, and payment systems, with strong support from nonprofit organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's highly sensitive is the abuse of the data to target and to deny benefits, safety, and protection
• more of the functions that are currently done by Californians who, again, we rely on to sustain our safety
• I mean, we're looking 20 years after: what are the impacts of self-checkout on the consumer, on safety
• Which is to really talk about the wages and the benefits and the safety and working conditions, but not
• Nonprofits are the true backbone of our social safety net.

Summary: The committee began with an informational hearing on the second amendment to the Yurok Tribe’s 2006 tribal-state gaming compact. Governor’s office staff and Yurok Tribal Chairman Joseph James explained that the amendment is a narrow, technical one that extends the compact’s expiration to December 31 of this year to preserve the status quo while the parties negotiate a long-term replacement. Members asked about the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ role, and staff explained that because the change is only a deadline extension and not a substantive compact change, it does not require BIA approval. No vote was taken on the informational item. The committee then heard AB 2156, which would designate March 31 as Farm Workers’ Day in California. The authors and supporters said the bill is intended to honor the farm worker movement and shift the holiday away from any one individual in light of recent allegations, while recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of farm workers. Several members spoke in support, including personal reflections on family histories in farm labor and on the need to center victims and farm workers’ dignity. The bill was moved to the floor, with the roll held open for absent members. Next, the committee heard SB 1044, which would raise the small business procurement cap from $250,000 to $350,000 and index it to inflation. The author and supporters from the Hispanic and Asian Pacific chambers of commerce argued the current cap is outdated and limits opportunities for small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran business enterprises. Some support was qualified, with one coalition noting concerns about access to capital for microbusinesses but still leaning in favor. The bill passed to Appropriations, with the roll held open. The committee also heard SB 1114, which would restrict state agencies from sharing LGBTQ-related data with federal agencies except where legally required. The author and Equality California said the bill is meant to protect sensitive data from misuse and preserve trust in voluntary state data collection. Support came from Planned Parenthood affiliates and Health Access California, with no opposition. The bill passed to the Privacy Committee, with the roll held open. Finally, the committee heard SB 1248 on automated decision systems in state government, SB 1273 on short-form video advertising for winery instructional events, and SB 917 on allowing more small wineries to sell at farmers’ markets. SB 1248 drew the most debate: the author said it would create baseline guardrails for automated systems, require human review for adverse decisions, and help state agencies use automation responsibly, while labor groups opposed it as authorizing use before meaningful stakeholder engagement and collective bargaining input. Several members supported moving it forward but stressed the need for labor participation in future negotiations; it passed to the Privacy Committee with the roll held open. SB 1273 and SB 917 were both presented as modest measures to help the wine industry adapt to current marketing and sales conditions, and both passed to Appropriations with roll calls held open. The hearing then moved on to SB 1240, which would create an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to help nonprofits navigate state procurement and grant processes; the author described nonprofits’ economic importance and the need for a liaison, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's highly sensitive is the abuse of the data to target and to deny benefits, safety, and protection
• more of the functions that are currently done by Californians who, again, we rely on to sustain our safety
• I mean, we're looking 20 years after: what are the impacts of self-checkout on the consumer, on safety
• and working conditions... ...which is to really talk about the wages and the benefits and the safety
• Nonprofits are the true backbone of our social safety net.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• statewide jail-based participation in 2023 with the support of its sheriff's association as a public safety
• Because without clear direction, cooperation becomes inconsistent, and public safety standards should
• HB 659 provides transparency, consistency, and public safety.
• federal enforcement programs should be made locally based on community needs, staffing, and public safety
• That's mainly one of my main concerns: traffic safety, bike safety.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The cash boost from the Working Families Tax Credit is an important component of our social safety net
• that would otherwise be invested in those companies to support growth as well as adding a margin of safety
• We had safety and justice.
• And their health care safety net begins to unravel.
• I love where I work because we protect people's health through food safety, clean drinking water, disease

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He also thanked members for seeing him in the Community Safety Committee the previous week.
• Nathan Olson, Public Safety Policy Advisor for Governor Ferguson, testified in strong support of House
• We are on the forefront of what I think is a public health crisis and a public safety crisis.
• So I think this is a new wave product that we can get ahead... ...community safety committee, we heard
• We are on the forefront of what I think is a public health crisis and a public safety crisis.

Bills: HB2543

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: county clerk, fees, local government, administrative costs, revenue generation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nathan Olson, Public Safety Policy Advisor for Governor Ferguson, testified in strong support of House
• In the House Community Safety Committee, we heard compelling testimony from a young woman who lost her
• We are on the forefront of what I think is a public health crisis and a public safety crisis.
• safety committee, we heard compelling testimony from a young woman who lost her cousin to an overdose
• We are on the forefront of what I think is a public health crisis and a public safety crisis.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2158 would authorize remote notarization of tangible records and remote oaths/affirmations, with record-retention requirements and no fiscal impact; the prime sponsor and staff described it as an access-to-justice measure, and the bill drew strong support in signed-in testimony. Substitute House Bill 2239 would create a framework for family burial grounds on private land, including setbacks, notice, recording, local regulation authority, and grandfathering of existing sites; supporters said it would help rural families and some tribal members bury loved ones on family land, while WSDOT raised a technical concern about the setback from rights-of-way. Substitute House Bill 2178 would reconcile statutes with court rules on malicious mischief aggregation, infraction deadlines, payment plans, and treasurer handling of certain funds; the sponsor and AOC described it as a technical cleanup with no fiscal impact, and it was supported by AOC. The committee then heard Engrossed House Bill 2445, which would tighten probate procedures to curb “probates for profit” by extending the time to petition, narrowing who qualifies as a suitable personal representative, changing venue, adding notice and reporting requirements, and regulating agreements with transferees for value and heir-finding firms. The sponsor, Attorney General’s Office, and Northwest Justice Project said the bill would protect grieving families from predatory actors, while some probate attorneys warned it could sweep too broadly and affect legitimate heir-finding services; the sponsor said he was open to further discussion and written recommendations. Substitute House Bill 2543 would update county clerk fees to match new appellate court rules and modernize outdated references such as CDs; county clerks and county officials supported it as a technical, cost-recovery measure. Finally, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165 would create a standalone gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer, replacing part of the criminal impersonation statute and adding prohibitions on badges, vehicles, and attire that mimic law enforcement, with exceptions for lawful, artistic, and inherited items. The sponsor, the governor’s office, and a city representative supported it as a public-safety and trust measure, citing impersonation incidents and protections for immigrant communities. The committee also began hearing Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2532 on nitrous oxide, which would make it a gross misdemeanor to sell or distribute nitrous oxide canisters for personal use while exempting medical, veterinary, dental, food, industrial, and automotive uses; members questioned how the law would be enforced and whether additional controlled-substance treatment would be needed. No votes were taken during the hearing excerpts provided.