Transcript Highlights:

• They hire employees, develop products, commercialize research, and grow Missouri's innovation economy
• Again, one-stop shop, fast-track permitting, permit and fee waiver and deferrals, and building code flexibility

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee met in executive session and unanimously voted do pass on House Bill 1707, House Bill 2927, and House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2057. The committee then moved into public hearing on House Bill 1664, which would extend the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims from age 26 to age 41. Representative Brian Sites presented the bill as a needed step for survivors, and multiple witnesses and organizations testified in support, including survivors and advocacy, tort reform, chamber, and insurance groups. No opposition was heard, and the hearing concluded without a vote. The committee also heard House Bill 1845, a startup and angel investor tax credit proposal sponsored by Representative Gallick. The bill would create incentives for Missouri-based startups under $5 million in revenue, with higher credits for rural investment, annual caps, oversight by the Missouri Technology Corporation, and a sunset in 2033. Members questioned what taxes the credit would apply to, how it would work if Missouri changes its income tax structure, and what safeguards would prevent businesses from leaving after receiving credits. Business and economic development groups testified in support, saying the bill would help fill an early-stage capital gap and keep investment in Missouri. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3231, a broad economic development and “Missouri Innovation Zone” proposal sponsored by Representative Brad Christ. The bill would let cities opt in to create innovation zones with local permitting and governance changes, tax incentives, office-to-residential conversion tools, and reinvestment of net new revenues into public safety, infrastructure, and a rural development fund. Members and witnesses discussed local control, prevailing wage, revenue diversion, and implementation concerns, especially from the City of St. Louis and labor groups, while chambers, developers, municipal groups, and historic revitalization advocates generally supported the concept. The hearing ended with no opposition testimony and no committee vote on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• regulatory approvals required for an individual, business, or organization to engage in regulated or commercial
• a target for threats or harassment or cyber harassment as those terms are defined in the criminal code

Bills: HB2198 , HB2401 , HB2462 , HB2419 , HB2210 , HB2205 , HB2249

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: regulatory efficiency, permitting, licensing, executive order, state government, commission, gender equity, boys, men, advocacy, state policy, unpiloted aircraft, drones, regulation, airspace safety, privacy, address confidentiality, administrative law judges, privacy protection, staff employment

Transcript Highlights:

• regulatory approvals required for an individual, business, or organization to engage in regulated or commercial
• a target for threats or harassment or cyber harassment as those terms are defined in the criminal code

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2462 would direct the governor to create rules for countering threats from unpiloted aircraft systems and authorize National Guard support for law enforcement in certain circumstances; the prime sponsor and National Guard witnesses said it would improve coordination for events like the FIFA World Cup, while one testifier supported it with amendments related to law enforcement authority, data privacy, and a web portal. HB 2401 would create a Washington State Boys and Men’s Commission, contingent on non-state funding through 2029; supporters described concerns about boys’ and men’s mental health, suicide, loneliness, education, and workforce outcomes, while some asked that physical health and fatherhood be more explicitly addressed. HB 2198 would expand and standardize statewide credential and permit reporting, require agencies to publish timelines and fee refunds for missed deadlines, and consolidate reporting; the governor’s office, business groups, labor, ports, and the Department of Health testified in support, citing faster processing, predictability, and economic benefits. HB 2419 would extend Address Confidentiality Program eligibility to administrative law judges and certain Office of Administrative Hearings staff; OAH, county officials, and county clerks supported the bill, citing threats and safety concerns, and some asked to include county clerks as well. The committee then took executive action on HB 2210, HB 2205, and HB 2249. It adopted an amendment to HB 2210 preserving existing ranked choice voting systems and advanced the bill 4-2 with one excused. It adopted an amendment to HB 2205 making threats against sports officials, coaches, or participants involved in wagered events a Class C felony and barring offenders from future wagering, and advanced the bill 5-1 with one excused. HB 2249, reclassifying certain WATEC employees performing network and security duties, was advanced unanimously 6-0 with one excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he had shared a link to the federal code in advance of the hearing.
• Mike Steele: So they have both a winery and a brewery, and then they've built in a commercial kitchen

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on several alcohol-related bills. HB 2128 would expand the sports entertainment facility liquor license to cover publicly or privately owned facilities where patrons engage in sports, amusement, or recreational activities, such as the Leavenworth Adventure Park. The prime sponsor and supporters said it would modernize the license while keeping LCB safety controls in place; one member questioned whether it amounted to an expansion of alcohol access. A fiscal note had been requested but not yet received, and the public hearing was closed without action. The committee then heard HB 2207, which would create a bonded beer warehouse license and make related changes to bonded wine warehouse law. The sponsor said it would help a Ridgefield logistics warehouse store beer the same way it can already store wine and spirits, while supporters from the Washington Brewers Guild said it would give breweries parity with wineries. Distributors and other opponents raised concerns about direct-to-consumer shipping, public access to warehouses, and federal tax-and-trade restrictions; the sponsor said amendments were being considered to address some of those issues. The hearing was closed without action. HB 2536 would allow wineries to hold spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses, or beer and/or wine restaurant licenses, at additional winery locations. The sponsor and winery representatives said the bill would reduce administrative burden and let wineries operate tasting rooms and restaurant-style spaces more flexibly, while opponents argued it could broaden alcohol access and create tied-house concerns. HB 2476 would remove the 120-seat-per-screen limit for theaters seeking a spirits, beer, and wine theater license; the sponsor and theater operators said existing alcohol control plans and other safeguards would remain in place, and the change would help theaters compete and attract patrons. The committee also heard HB 1701, which would allow multiple liquor licensees to operate within a shared facility and was described as a way to support a mixed-use winery/brewery/restaurant project; the sponsor said he was willing to remove the Public Records Act exemption again, and distributors urged transparency and guardrails. In executive action, the committee took up HB 2229, revising the Professional Engineers Registration Act. After adopting Amendment CLA 407 to restore current law on the board’s name, the committee voted to report the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation. Several members supported the bill as a modernization of registration and continuing-education provisions, while some members voted no, citing concerns about changes to board membership requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• probably second only to California in the variety of different products that we produce in this state commercially
• On there, we have a clearinghouse of resources where somebody can punch in their zip code and they can

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• probably second only to California in the variety of different products that we produce in this state commercially
• On there, we have a clearinghouse of resources where somebody can punch in their zip code and they can

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met for a work session focused on Washington agriculture’s condition, food security, behavioral health, and animal disease surveillance. WSDA Director Derek Sandison and economist Maddie Roy presented an update on agricultural viability, describing Washington agriculture as highly diverse and valuable but increasingly strained by rising production and labor costs, aging producers, consolidation, trade barriers, land pressures, stagnant research funding, infrastructure concerns, and climate impacts. They cited declining farm numbers, falling net farm income, and negative take-home pay for farmers, while also noting strengths such as climate, soils, ports, irrigation, universities, and other infrastructure. Committee members asked about commodity-specific impacts, comparisons with other states, and the role of regulation in worsening costs. Kelly McLean followed with a discussion of opportunities to support agriculture, including trade, domestic food systems development, climate mitigation, clean energy, ag tech, workforce and education, and mental health. She highlighted investments in port and transportation infrastructure, local food processing and distribution, land access and incubator opportunities, climate resilience projects, and programs supporting farmworker and farmer mental health. Katie Raines then updated the committee on food systems and food security, explaining WSDA’s reorganization into a Farm and Food Systems Development Division and describing trends in household food insecurity, the state’s hunger safety net, and the importance of food system infrastructure. She noted that food insecurity is rising again and that even higher-income households are reporting need, while legislators asked about eligibility thresholds and the impact on lower-income residents. The committee also heard from WSU Skagit County Extension’s Don McMoran and Maddie Van der Koi on agricultural stress and suicide prevention. They described the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Partnership, crisis and referral resources, peer-to-peer outreach, trainings, and free counseling vouchers for farmers and farmworkers. They emphasized that farmers face chronic stress from financial volatility, weather, labor shortages, isolation, and stigma, and cited elevated suicide rates in agricultural populations. Members asked about reluctance to seek help and whether flooding had increased demand for services. Finally, Dr. Kevin Snekovic of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory described WADDL’s role in disease testing, food safety, wildlife surveillance, and rapid response to outbreaks such as avian influenza and chronic wasting disease. He said the lab supports trade and quarantine decisions, and members asked about elk hoof rot research, workforce needs, and how to connect constituents to the lab. No votes were taken; the session ended with a preview of upcoming Thursday work sessions on marine resources, Columbia River Basin supply, Ecology’s report back, and agricultural natural resources issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most commercial real estate people would tell you, right, you don't put $2 billion into Maryvale.
• SB 11, Internal Revenue Code confirmed deductions. Finance. Finance. Finance.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But on this slide, I really wanted to point out our 300-plus crops that we grow commercially in Washington
• continue helping at-risk communities access grants, advance flood mitigation projects, update building codes

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4789 seeks to amend, uh, subchapter A, chapter 434 of the government code to require the Texas Veterans
• of cases are 20% in this environment, because I, I would imagine that the other law firms in a commercial

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, under Title 50 of the United States Code, sections dealing with war powers of the Secretary
• I'm a nuclear engineering technician, 30 years of commercial power generation, worked all the nukes here

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee took up eight bills focused on water policy, coastal resilience, environmental regulation, beaches, wildlife funding, and carbon sequestration. HB 7001 preserved the public-record exemption for site-specific location information on endangered and threatened species before its scheduled repeal, and it was reported favorably 16-0. H.R. 661, expressing support for a “one-water” approach to the state water supply, drew discussion about whether it implied centralized control; an amendment aligning the resolution with Senate language was adopted, and the resolution passed 16-0 with a committee substitute. The committee also advanced HB 1345 on infrastructure and resiliency, which after a strike-all amendment authorized DEP to procure coastal resiliency projects through public-private partnerships and use incentives such as revenue-sharing, expedited permitting, public engagement, and workforce training; it passed 16-0. HB 477 on weather modification was substantially amended to return to current statute and add a $10,000 fine for failing to obtain a permit; the bill drew extensive public testimony both for and against weather modification and cloud seeding, and it passed as amended with a committee substitute. HB 6043, repealing the 2018 customary-use beach statute affecting Walton County, prompted testimony about beach access, tourism losses, and private property rights; it passed 17-0. The committee then approved CS for HB 843, making clarifying changes to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trust funds and allowing use of the non-game wildlife trust fund for law enforcement and coordination with related agencies and landowners; it passed 17-0. HB 1169 revised water management district planning, budgeting, reporting, and procurement practices, including restrictions on lobbyist funds and updated project preference rules; two amendments were adopted and the bill passed 16-0. Finally, HB 1063 created a task force to study carbon sequestration and related ecosystem services in Florida’s natural and agricultural lands and waters; after amendments removing a fiscal component and clarifying voluntary participation and property-rights protections, it passed 15-2. The meeting adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• units, such as our K-9 units, our investigative services units, mobile road enforcement, or our commercial
• None of us are going to pretend to know what it's like to understand the vehicle code backwards and forwards

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety heard several items focused on youth safety and law enforcement resources. The committee first took up tribal youth diversion programs, with the Legislative Analyst’s Office describing the Tribal Youth Diversion Grant Program and its two cohorts of grantees funded through the Board of State and Community Corrections. Tribal representatives from the Yurok Tribe and San Pasqual Band of Indians testified that diversion, tribal courts, school partnerships, mentoring, and culturally grounded services helped reduce truancy and justice-system involvement, but that short-term funding interruptions and limited capacity prevented them from serving all youth in need. Committee members discussed the importance of early intervention, tribal-state court collaboration, and possible misidentification of Native youth in the justice system. The committee then heard the California Highway Patrol’s overview of surge operations supporting local crime suppression, including organized retail theft. CHP reported that its surge teams have been used in response to mutual aid requests and cited arrests, stolen vehicle recoveries, and firearm seizures in Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino. Members asked about demand for these operations and whether CHP could meet requests without affecting other duties; CHP said requests have increased and are accepted when resources allow. The committee also heard CHP’s request for a $5 million General Fund augmentation and 12 positions for its Computer Crimes Investigation Unit to make child sexual abuse material and human trafficking investigations a higher priority. CHP cited rising cybertip volumes, a case involving AI-generated CSAM, and the need for more investigators and forensic capacity. A larger portion of the hearing focused on the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and a separate $5 million ongoing General Fund proposal for Cal OES to continue the program. Task force commanders from Sacramento, San Diego, Silicon Valley, and Fresno described rapidly growing cybertip volumes, heavy caseloads, forensic backlogs, and the need for training and equipment for affiliate agencies statewide. They emphasized that the ICAC model relies on local partnerships, deconfliction, and subject-matter expertise to identify victims, execute warrants, and rescue children, and they gave examples of cases that led to arrests and child rescues. Members generally supported the work but raised questions about overlap between CHP and ICAC efforts, the need for broader statewide collaboration, and whether more resources should be directed to task forces and victim services. A public commenter also urged expansion of homeless youth exploitation services and the California Youth Crisis Line.

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives the commercial protection.
• Commercial doesn't have that luxury right now.
• So this is making that enacted, that if a commercial property goes 15 or greater, they get a physical
• which oftentimes cause Hancock not to take effect, because if your home goes way up in value, but commercial
• which oftentimes cause Hancock not to take effect, because if your home goes way up in value, but commercial

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives the commercial protection.
• Commercial doesn't have that luxury right now.
• So this is making that Commercial doesn't have that luxury right now, so this is making that enacted
• that if a commercial property goes 15 or greater, they get a physical inspection of that property.
• which oftentimes cause Hancock not to take effect, because if your home goes way up in value but commercial

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Summary: The Legislative Rules Committee met in executive session and announced that it would not hear House Committee Substitute for HB 1941, HB 2279, and HB 1681 that morning, saying members wanted more time to review it and that a hearing would be scheduled in the near future. The committee also took up two bills not on the hearing notice: House Committee Substitute No. 2 for HB 2668 and House Committee Substitute No. 2 for HB 2780, both dealing with property tax issues. The committee advanced a series of bills on a variety of topics, including fire district surplus property (HB 1752), personal property assessments (HB 1759), voter roll maintenance (HB 1812), epinephrine delivery devices (HCS for HB 1826, 2560, 2349, and 2194), disabled license plates and placards (HB 1827), school employee training (HCS for HB 2335), mortgage modifications (HB 2636), fuel-source-based regulations (HCS for HB 2774), masked intimidation (HB 2848), a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders (HCS for HB 3012, 2997, and 3058), motor vehicle assessments (HCS for HB 3035), and drug abuse (HCS for HB 313). Most of these measures received unanimous or near-unanimous do pass recommendations. There was limited discussion on HB 1752, where Vice Chair Mayhew raised a constitutional concern about allowing surplus fire district property to go to public service corporations; the sponsor explained that the bill did not further define that term, and the bill still received a 9-3 do pass recommendation. HB 2848 drew supportive comments from Ranking Member Bosley after he reviewed the bill, and HB 3035 was briefly corrected for a mistaken vote before receiving a do pass recommendation. The two property tax bills, HCS No. 2 for HB 2668 and HCS No. 2 for HB 2780, were explained by their sponsors as splitting earlier legislation into separate pieces: HB 2668 covered ballot language, tax impact disclosures, abatements, and election timing, while HB 2780 addressed the remaining property tax provisions, including subclass-based levy protections and school district debt service levy changes. HB 2668 passed 9-3, and HB 2780 passed 9-0 with three present. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So your commercial property, you're institutional property, your government or property befall in that
• They non Homestead, residential rental properties and so on and commercial property, institutional property
• And there's about a million parcels that are commercial and institutional parcels and so on commercial
• Just value growth in Homestead, Non Homestead, commercial agriculture, all of those prop property.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think as we move forward with expanding shared services, tracking them with a uniform contract,
• And sometimes you go and think, I just got to change this little bit of code.
• No, it's the waterfall effect that you run into with customization code.
• We don't have insight to go and change their code. So it's getting those vendors on board as well.
• We use CIP codes and talk of that, but they don't necessarily relate to the cost of the program.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I recognize a The amendment is coded A8.
• The amendment is coded A12. amended. The amendment is coded A12.
• </c><01:44:44.719><c> driving</c> driver and licensed commercial driving driver and licensed commercial
• The amendment is coded A5.
• The amendment is coded A8.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The original bill had used CMJ language, which is uniform military justice language that I did not like

Bills: SB2026 , SB1376 , SB1355 , SB2115 , SB1533

Committee: Senate Veterans and Military Affairs

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1240 by the Judiciary and Rules Committee, an act relating to the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship

Summary: The Senate convened with 32 members present, heard prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the journal. Members then made several introductions recognizing visitors, including hospital leaders, education officials, Head Start representatives, and other guests in the gallery. The chamber also received committee reports and gubernatorial correspondence, including referrals of several memorials and resolutions related to water districts and natural resources projects, as well as appointments to the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board, the Commission of Pardons and Parole, and the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. In the 10th order, the Senate considered and adopted committee reports confirming several gubernatorial appointments. Hyatt Erstad and Janice Folkerson were confirmed to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board after supportive remarks highlighting their experience in insurance, health care, and community service. Jennifer White was confirmed as executive director of the Office of the State Board of Education, with senators praising her education, legal, and administrative background. Peter Kohler was also confirmed to the State Board of Education, with testimony emphasizing his long career in Idaho education, military service, and public leadership. The Senate also returned Senate Concurrent Resolution 115 to the Resources and Environment Committee for a hearing. Later, the chamber advanced first-reading bills, including measures on fish and game public participation, sex offender definitions, guardianship and conservatorship, protection of working animals, and several technical changes to agricultural and education statutes. Senate Bill 1225, as amended, was read for the first time and sent to second reading. The Senate then moved to miscellaneous business, heard a reminder about a Liberty Bell farewell event, and adjourned until 9:45 a.m. the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1240, by the Judiciary and Rules Committee, an act relating to the Uniform Guardianship,

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand ready to help you in any way I can; I know everyone in this room, in uniform or not, would do

Bills: SB3 , SB 3

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: disaster relief, emergency funding, flood management, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power