Transcript Highlights:

• districts and any adjacent cities that may be part of this annexation area, and it must give those entities
• Unwillingness to address other issues that might be important to both entities, such as economic concerns
• Development regulations that one entity might have that another entity doesn't like can also be an impediment

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• districts and any adjacent cities that may be part of this annexation area, and it must give those entities
• Unwillingness to address other issues that might be important to both entities that are economic, infrastructure
• Development regulations that one entity might have that another entity doesn't like can also be an impediment

Summary: The committee held a work session on local government issues, beginning with an update from the State Building Code Council on four legislatively mandated code amendments now in CR-102 rulemaking: temporary emergency shelters, reduced minimum dwelling unit size, multiplex housing up to three stories and six units, and single-exit apartment buildings up to six stories. Council staff also described a separate embodied-carbon appendix proposal that remains under public review, with testimony both supporting and opposing it. Members asked about the rationale for some of the code limits, including the restriction on connecting multiplex buildings. The committee then heard a panel on annexations from MRSC, Pierce County, and the Association of Washington Cities. Witnesses reviewed annexation methods, including petition, election, and interlocal agreement approaches, and said larger annexations are increasingly using interlocal agreements because they can address infrastructure, revenue sharing, and public process concerns. They described barriers such as inconsistent local standards, the cost of infrastructure, referendum risk, census requirements, and the difficulty of persuading residents and local officials to support annexation. Members asked about the five-year restriction on residential zoning changes in one annexation method and whether a hearing examiner could reduce political pressure on local decision-makers. A second panel discussed subdivision reform. The Master Builders Association urged raising the short-plat threshold within urban growth areas to 30 lots as a simpler first step, citing permitting delays and added housing costs. The City of Spokane described implementation problems with recent housing laws, including uncertainty about how to review plats under HB 1110, lot-splitting administration, and added notice requirements for unit lot subdivisions. AWC said there was broad agreement that subdivision decisions should be more administrative, but public hearings remained a point of disagreement. The committee also heard from FutureWise, the Washington State Association of Counties, and Lewis County on county development regulation and enforcement, with witnesses emphasizing underfunded code enforcement, inconsistent standards between counties and cities, and the need for better coordination, incentives, and possibly stronger enforcement tools. No votes were taken; the chair said the committee would continue working on possible solutions in future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, defining who might be a qualified entity to have somebody volunteer under, and then how
• to collect that information from that entity or that member.
• You mean, yeah, the quality data on all the entities we usually... Is that posted somewhere?
• The quality data on all the entities. Is that posted somewhere?

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Care Management Meeting opened with a DSS update on the PCMH program. Staff reported the program remained steady at 124 practices, 553 sites, and 2,548 providers, with some month-to-month fluctuation driven by practice consolidation, retirements, and a few practices leaving the program because NCQA requirements were burdensome. Members asked about declining provider and site counts, member attribution trends, and whether PCMH practices overlap with behavioral health homes; DSS said attribution changes are largely due to members becoming ineligible, moving, or getting other insurance, and that PCMH and behavioral health homes are separate programs that coordinate informally. The committee also discussed why some smaller practices leave the program and whether the requirements could be made easier to support retention. The committee then resumed a detailed presentation on the Husky Dental program. The presenter described the dental benefit’s history, the importance of preventive oral health, workforce and consolidation pressures in dentistry, and the lack of interoperability between dental and medical records. Network data showed year-over-year declines in enrolled dental practitioners and service locations, with access gaps concentrated in rural and eastern parts of the state. Appointment availability surveys showed average waits of 38 days for adults and 23 days for children, but much longer waits at FQHCs than private fee-for-service practices. The presenter said Connecticut remains above the national median on CMS pediatric dental quality measures, though sealant rates remain a concern, and noted that preventive care is associated with lower per-member costs. Members raised concerns about provider participation, large practices dropping Medicaid, mobile dental care, and whether the public directory accurately reflects which dentists are actually accepting new patients. The presenter said the plan uses secret-shopper calls, tracks appointment availability, and has begun using place-of-service coding to better identify school-based dental care. She also noted a new MOU with 20 Head Start programs to share data and provide oral health literacy and navigation support. The final major topic was implementation planning for HR1. DSS said CMS guidance was expected in early June and proposed using upcoming meetings to cover medical frailty, communication strategy, and data integration/ex parte verification. Committee members urged the department to create a dashboard to track disenrollments and other impacts of HR1, to build a process for complaints and problem resolution, and to think through cost-sharing, caregiver verification, exemptions, and notices. Members also asked about using existing eligibility structures such as the working-disabled program as a model. The committee agreed to move the next meeting to June 10 by Zoom, with the agenda to be circulated in advance and any PCMH Plus quality data shared if available.

Transcript Highlights:

• given a P.O. box to use as their legal address, which must be accepted by the public and private entities
• :35:32.520><c> private</c> accepted by the public and private accepted by the public and private entities
• 34.040><c> don't</c><00:35:34.240><c> have</c><00:35:34.400><c> to</c><00:35:34.520><c> disclose</c> entities
• so they don't have to disclose entities so they don't have to disclose where<00:35:35.640><c> they</

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I know I'm not familiar with private, only public entity executive sessions, and you do your deliberations
• 06:56.960><c> public</c> private, only public private, only public &gt;&gt; Yeah.<00:06:58.200><c> entity
• ><00:06:59.120><c> sessions,</c><00:06:59.680><c> and</c><00:06:59.840><c> you</c> &gt;&gt; Yeah. entity
• executive sessions, and you &gt;&gt; Yeah. entity executive sessions, and you do<00:07:00.160><c> your

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What oversight mechanisms do you have in place, or are you looking to put in place, to ensure entities
• grantee in the communications that were going back and forth between them and the agency, those two entities
• Okay, so it was the miraculous happenstance of two separate entities essentially having their email systems
• also a verbal verification after the funds to make sure that they've been received by the proper entity

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations met to consider Ruby Dylan Williams for Director of the Arizona Department of Housing. Williams described her long career at the department, her work on operational improvements, housing development, manufactured housing, and efforts to expand supply, preserve existing housing, and improve transparency through data and technology. She also said she would work with the legislature, local governments, tribal nations, nonprofits, and private partners, and emphasized the department’s role in addressing housing affordability and homelessness across the housing continuum. Members questioned her about the department’s response to Auditor General findings, including fraud prevention, payment verification, site inspections, and oversight of grantees. Williams said the department had rewritten policies, retrained staff, added stronger controls, and implemented verbal verification steps for wire transfers after a fraud incident. Senators also pressed her on budget priorities, possible cuts, and her view of homelessness policy, with some members characterizing her approach as closer to shelter or transitional housing before permanent placement. Williams said interventions should be individualized and that the department works with local jurisdictions and service providers to match people with appropriate support. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Developers, housing industry representatives, and nonprofit partners praised Williams’ private-sector housing finance experience, her knowledge of LIHTC and the QAP process, and her leadership in making the agency more efficient and business-friendly. After debate, the committee voted 3-2 to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate. Two members voted no, citing concerns about her answers on fraud oversight, cost controls, and homelessness policy, while the majority supported advancing her nomination.

Transcript Highlights:

• What oversight mechanisms do you have in place, or are you looking to put in place, to ensure entities
• grantee in the communications that were going back and forth between them and the agency, those two entities
• Okay, so it was the miraculous happenstance of two separate entities essentially having their email systems
• also a verbal verification after the funds to make sure that they've been received by the proper entity

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally, when the state files a lawsuit, we can't seek on behalf of private entities, is my understanding
• 00:20:45.120><c> behalf</c><00:20:45.760><c> of</c><00:20:45.800><c> private</c><00:20:46.120><c> entities
• ,</c><00:20:46.640><c> is</c><00:20:46.840><c> my</c> on behalf of private entities, is my on behalf
• of private entities, is my understanding.<00:20:48.000><c> So,</c><00:20:48.320><c> that</c><00:20:48.800

Bills: SCR118 , SCR173

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: climate change, insurance affordability, working group, disaster recovery, fossil fuel companies, insurance stability, Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, ticket scalping, task force, consumer protection, event accessibility, local economy, 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection heard two resolutions. SCR 118 SD1 would urge the Insurance Division and the Attorney General to convene a working group on climate change impacts on insurance availability and affordability. The Insurance Division deferred to written testimony, while the Attorney General opposed the measure because of an ongoing lawsuit, asking that references to legal recovery and the AG’s role in convening the group be removed. Members questioned how the resolution might relate to the state’s climate damages litigation and whether it could inform damages calculations. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including removing the Attorney General as co-convener and changing certain membership references to board chairs; the motion passed unanimously with one excused member. The committee also heard SCR 173 SD1, which would create a task force on event ticket scalping. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the concept but asked to be added as a task force member and said the draft left its role unclear. Supporters, including the National Independent Venue Association and D-BAT, described high resale prices, fraudulent or speculative tickets, and harm to consumers and local businesses. StubHub and the Ticket Policy Forum supported the task force but urged broader scope to include the primary ticket market and ticket sellers, and StubHub also sought inclusion on the task force. Members discussed whether the task force should focus on the secondary market or the broader ticketing ecosystem, and whether the Office of Consumer Protection should be part of the task force or only consulted. The vice chair recommended passage with amendments adding the Office of Consumer Protection as a member and clarifying the consultation language, and the committee adopted that recommendation unanimously with one excused member.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just see some fundamental challenges that will arise when we take an entity whose strategic focus is
• on preservation and force them into an administrative relationship with a non-existent entity whose
• focus will primarily be on development. ...with a non-existent entity whose focus will primarily be on
• action to enforce the law on page 2, line 29, it says if a public officer, public employee, or public entity

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Agreement as compared to how that appointment is presently handled, which is, as you know, by a single entity
• You know, by a single entity absent the all-important second step of Senate review and confirmation.
• And what my grandparents wanted was not to be a political entity.
• And what my grandparents wanted was not to be a political entity.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of those are entities that are commonly discussing these federal funding opportunities and other
• Would we also have the ability to have information about how many entities applied for each grant and
• How many entities applied for each grant and maybe, for example, in this area, what criteria?
• University system, the K-12 system, with various agencies and entities and looking at starting that recruitment

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this would be Department of Transportation as a potential entity that might incur some costs associated
• 13:41.920><c> potential</c> of transportation as a a potential of transportation as a a potential entity
• 43.440><c> might</c><00:13:43.680><c> incur</c><00:13:44.160><c> some</c><00:13:44.480><c> costs</c> entity
• that might incur some costs entity that might incur some costs associated<00:13:45.600><c> with</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And the way these dollars are spread out through different entities, they probably, a lot of them, are
• programs receive funding, and now the federal government began prioritizing funds through regional entities
• already taken a more efficient and accountable approach, rather than dividing this among many regional entities
• For comparison, Oregon has eight different entities. Washington has four. California has 44.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 751, which would expand the STARS program for commercial transportation infrastructure by lowering the minimum project floor from $6 million to $5 million and raising the cap from $35 million to $100 million. Representative Monks explained that STARS lets developers front infrastructure costs and be repaid from a portion of new sales tax generated by the development, and supporters said it helps fund major roadway improvements without costing the state upfront. The committee advanced the bill on a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1347, a transparency measure for Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s pass-through homelessness grants, specifically the Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grant programs. Sponsors said the bill would require annual reporting on grant recipients, uses of funds, and outcomes such as housing exits, income changes, and referrals, while not changing funding levels. Testimony included support from transparency advocates and concerns from a senator and nonprofit/housing professionals that the bill could duplicate existing federal and IHFA audits and add unnecessary reporting burden. The committee sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with Senators Robbie and Taylor voting no. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 1352, which would create state standards for “starter home subdivisions” on parcels of at least four acres in cities over 5,000 population by limiting minimum lot sizes and allowing higher density, while preserving local authority over infrastructure, safety, and environmental requirements. Supporters argued the bill would help address Idaho’s housing shortage by enabling smaller, more attainable homes and reducing regulatory barriers; opponents from city, planning, and local government groups said it would override local control, lacked an income-based affordability requirement, and could create infrastructure and neighborhood impacts. After extensive testimony, the committee’s initial motion for a due pass recommendation failed on a 4-5 roll call, and the bill was then moved to the 14th order for possible amendment. Senate Bill 1354 was held over until the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the way these dollars are spread out through different entities, they probably, a lot of them, are
• programs receive funding, and now the federal government began prioritizing funds through regional entities
• already taken a more efficient and accountable approach, rather than dividing this among many regional entities
• For comparison, Oregon has eight different entities. Washington has four. California has 44.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think one of the biggest complaints in talking with multiple entities that receive those grants, and
• Multiple entities are involved.
• I think it was 5,000 in navalloum for this, so some of the very small entities it wouldn't apply to in
• proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the personal property of lawfully recognized business entities

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Charles County is provided by a private entity, and we're not requiring any city that's going to annex
• Tried to get two entities in there. Didn't happen. Thank you, Lord. It's about time. Thank you, Mr.
• The idea that an entity, even though it's voluntary schools go together and elect people from their schools
• where I get to my role with the bigger picture: we have to get to a better place where schools and entities

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Charles County is provided by a private entity, and we're not requiring any city that's going to annex
• Try to get two entities in there. Didn't happen. Thank you, Lord. It's about time. Thank you, Mr.
• The idea that an entity, even though it's voluntary, schools go together and elect people from their
• of the committee in regards to appeals, that we need to get to a better place where schools and entities

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2330 in executive session. A committee substitute narrowed the bill’s annexation-related scope to St. Charles and Jefferson counties and removed water and sewer language because those services are provided by private entities in those counties. The committee adopted the substitute, but the final do-pass motion failed on a 6-8 vote after the chair changed his vote to no. The committee then considered House Bill 1817, which drew discussion about reporting public assistance information in a generalized way rather than identifying individual households. An amendment clarifying that the report would use averages and not specific addresses was adopted, rolled into a committee substitute, and the substitute was then passed on an 11-1 vote with one present. Members raised concerns about SNAP, TANF, and WIC-related provisions and about consistency in the bill’s population threshold, but the bill advanced. Public hearing testimony followed on House Bill 2291, a bill creating deadlines for local governments to act on building permit applications. Supporters, including the sponsor and industry advocates, said permit delays raise costs, slow housing and economic development, and argued the bill would not change zoning or inspections. Opponents, including the Missouri Municipal League, warned the bill’s language could be read to affect zoning and that a single 30-day deadline may not fit projects of different sizes or allow enough time for public input and safety review. No vote was taken on the bill. The committee also heard House Bill 2336, a state property disposal bill. The sponsor said a substitute would be needed because additional properties and corrected legal descriptions had been identified, and the Office of Administration confirmed support and explained that five properties, including former DESE schools and a Springfield regional office, would be added. Finally, House Bill 2403, the “Rue Wells Act,” was heard to create an independent appeal board for student transfer eligibility decisions by activities associations. Supporters described the case as unfair and costly to challenge in court, while others questioned whether a new board would add bureaucracy or bias. Testimony from school administrators said most appeals are already resolved within the existing process, but they were open to a narrowly tailored appeals mechanism with clear recusal rules and independence.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's referring to security officers and officers of the House as one entity.
• So we're going to have four, at minimum, different police forces reporting to different entities. ...
• four, at minimum, different police forces reporting to different entities inside this room at any given
• Don't you dare call yourself a patriot and say, I'm cool with a political entity arresting people.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by roll call vote, 102-1. Members then used points of personal privilege and special guest introductions to recognize constituents, advocacy groups, students, school officials, physical therapy advocates, domestic violence service providers, and others. One member delivered an emotional statement about the arrest of the suspect in his sister’s 26-year-old murder case, thanking law enforcement and prosecutors involved in the cold-case investigation. The chamber then took up House Bills 2097 and 1905, a measure to expand an agriculture education pilot program into a statewide option for elementary schools. Supporters from both parties described it as a way to teach children where food comes from, connect agriculture with literacy and math, and encourage interest in farming and related careers. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bills. Members also considered House Bill 2167, which would codify and expand authority for Attorney General investigators and, through amendments, address House and Senate security officers and certain other state officers. Debate centered on whether the bill improperly broadened the original subject and whether it would give too much arrest power or create safety and constitutional concerns. One amendment to the amendment failed on a roll call, 62-68-1, but the House adopted the St. Charles amendment 61-43 and then perfected and printed HB 2167 as amended. Finally, the House took up House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2747 and 2047, a clean-slate/automatic expungement bill. Supporters said it would give people who have completed their sentences a second chance and improve access to jobs and stability; the sponsor also explained a related change limiting death-penalty sentencing in hung-jury cases so judges would not impose death in that circumstance. The House adopted an amendment requiring expungements to be shared with consumer reporting agencies, then adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill as amended. The House also announced upcoming events and then recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hudson, that if payments are suspended or reduced or withheld, then the person, then the entity
• Representative Hudson, that if payments are suspended or reduced or withheld, then the person, then the entity
• Representative Hudson, that if payments are suspended or reduced or withheld, then the person, then the entity
• Representative Hudson, that if payments are suspended or reduced or withheld, then the person, then the entity

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3542 was heard in committee and moved forward with a recommendation to be re-referred to the Children, Families, Finance, and Policy Committee. The bill would change current law so that the commissioners of Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families must disclose the existence of an investigation, rather than may disclose it, with the stated goal of increasing transparency to the public and legislature. Members and agency officials discussed concerns that mandatory disclosure could tip off subjects of investigations, especially in fraud cases, allowing them to destroy evidence, coordinate stories, or otherwise interfere. The Department of Human Services and the Inspector General said disclosure can compromise investigations and noted that providers are typically notified when payments are reduced, suspended, or withheld, though federal law can sometimes require delayed notice. Representative Pinto offered an A2 amendment to require disclosure within 30 days unless it would compromise an investigation, but it was rejected. Representative Hudson then offered an oral amendment stating that disclosure would be required if the commissioner has taken action to reduce, suspend, or withhold payments to the subject of the investigation. The chair waived the rule to allow the oral amendment, and it was adopted. Staff clarified that the bill would only require disclosure of the existence of an investigation, not underlying details, and would not address trade secret redactions. After the amendment, the committee approved the motion to re-refer the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The year-end for those entities is September 30th.
• The year end for those<00:27:14.400><c> entities</c><00:27:14.799><c> is</c><00:27:15.120><c> September
• </c><00:27:16.640><c> Um</c><00:27:17.120><c> in</c> those entities is September 30th.
• Um in those entities is September 30th.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on February 20, 2026, first approving the minutes and then adopting the consent calendar as amended, with item 26045 removed for separate consideration. The committee then heard item 26045 from the Department of Health and Human Services on the Real Health Transformation Grant for Go North. HHS explained that the first-year award is $204 million, with most funds passed through to Go North and only limited administrative and audit costs retained by HHS. Members asked about staffing, procurement, the program’s spending plan, and whether future grant amounts would be fixed. HHS said Go North will administer the grants, staffing is expected to be about 20 positions, procurements will be competitive, and future awards will depend on federal review of performance and spending. The commissioner said the money is intended to create transformative changes that must be sustainable after the grant period. The committee then approved the item. The committee next took up regular calendar item 26041 from HHS and adopted it without discussion. It also approved two adjusted items on tab 11, FIS26028 and FIS26029. Item 26027 from the Department of Transportation was adopted as well. Item 26034 from the Department of Corrections was withdrawn, and members noted that any request for new overtime money would be closely scrutinized, especially given the tight budget and the need to explain how existing salary funds were being used. Committee staff said they would follow up with Corrections on vacancy rates, available funds, and other class lines and provide answers to the committee. The committee then received audit presentations on the state’s college savings plans, including the Unique College Investing Plan and the Fidelity Advisor 529 Plan. Auditors reported clean opinions, no material weaknesses, no audit adjustments, and no unadjusted items requiring reporting. The State Treasurer said the plans are performing well, now total more than $32 billion in assets under management, and are expected to generate about $20 million in revenue this year, with the proceeds supporting scholarship programs for low-income students. The committee placed the audits on file and released them in the usual manner. In other business, members set the next Fiscal Committee meeting for Friday, March 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., and then adjourned.