Transcript Highlights:

• Today we are going to focus on our licensing and certification section.
• Today we are going to focus on our licensing and certification section.
• This is not the total budget for the licensing and certification program.
• This amount includes both the annual licensing fee and the biotoxin testing fees.
• It starts with license type and then breaks... Acreage or tonnage?

Bills: SB5816 , SB5971

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, green fertilizer, low-carbon, sustainability, incentive program, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A licensed midwife may delegate specific tasks to a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.
• A licensed midwife may delegate specific tasks to a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.
• One's licensed. This is concerning that type of midwife, the one that's licensed.
• license for 30 years.
• The Board of Nursing licenses ARNPs and recognizes four specialty designations within that license: nurse

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several health-related bills. House Bill 1904 would prohibit cat declawing except for therapeutic purposes, with staff explaining definitions, fines, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The prime sponsor and animal welfare advocates described declawing as cruel and linked it to pain and behavior problems, while the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association supported the substance of the bill but asked to remove the added reporting and disciplinary provisions as redundant and burdensome. House Bill 2211 would provide guidance for medically tailored meals under existing Medicaid-related nutrition supports, including standards for Washington-based nonprofit providers where possible, menu review, and nutrition requirements. The sponsor said it would clarify implementation without expanding the program, and supporters from meal providers, food distributors, and local farms said it would improve health outcomes, keep dollars local, and support Washington jobs and agriculture. House Bill 2329 would allow licensed midwives to delegate certain tasks to medical assistants and to supervise medical assistants, with the sponsor and birth center operators saying it would fix an omission in current law and help rural and under-resourced birth centers operate more efficiently. Supporters said it would improve staffing and financial stability, while the sponsor indicated the lactation consultant language would likely be removed because those consultants are not regulated by the Department of Health. The committee then returned to House Bill 1904 for additional testimony from humane organizations, veterinarians, shelter leaders, and local officials, all supporting a ban on declawing and emphasizing animal pain, shelter impacts, and available alternatives. House Bill 2247 would expand and clarify veterinary telehealth and veterinarian-client-patient relationship rules, allowing a VCPR to be established in certain telehealth circumstances and setting guardrails for consent, practice standards, and when in-person exams are still required. Supporters from shelters, animal welfare groups, mobile clinics, and veterinarians said telehealth would improve access in rural and underserved areas, reduce shelter intake, and help animals receive care sooner; the veterinary association supported the bill with amendments to clarify recordkeeping and access-to-care findings. House Bill 2339 would update nursing license terminology and processes for advanced registered nurse practitioners, including title changes, controlled substance rules for CRNAs, transcript submission, and interim permits. Nursing board and ARNP representatives supported the technical updates, while the hospital association and medical association raised concerns about title language for clinical nurse specialists and the deletion of a reference to the medical profession. Finally, House Bill 2106 would require health carriers to give 90 days’ notice of significant mid-contract payer modifications and provide the actual modification language, with the sponsor and hospital and provider representatives saying insurers are increasingly making unilateral changes that affect payment, services, and patient access. UW Medicine and a rural hospital district described examples where insurers changed imaging or preventive service coverage mid-contract, causing financial losses and forcing difficult choices about network participation. Carriers were noted as opposing the bill, while providers and facilities argued it would improve transparency and prevent one-sided contract changes that disrupt care.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if those leases, they haven't been given the license, the licenses have been held up in litigation
• Finally, decoupling the licensing... ...use.
• Finally, decoupling the licensing makes perfect sense in some aspects.
• Finally, decoupling the licensing makes perfect sense in some aspects.
• Finally, decoupling the licensing makes perfect sense in some aspects.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered several health-related bills. HB 887, reducing medical marijuana registry card fees to $15 for honorably discharged veterans, drew support from veterans’ advocates and cannabis groups as a way to lower a financial barrier to care; it passed 18-0 and was reported favorably. HB 733, a Department of Health bill covering medical marijuana treatment center setbacks, physician certification renewals, low-THC/cannabis definitions, emergency license suspension for certain murder-related arrests, dental loan repayment area definitions, Early Steps policy cleanup, and autism microcredential eligibility, received mixed testimony from cannabis advocates who objected to some marijuana-related changes and zoning impacts; it also passed 18-0. HB 259, removing the $1,500 cap on pre-treatment funds held in trust by chiropractic physicians, was described as a free-market change supported by chiropractic groups and passed 18-0. The committee also approved PCS for HB 1443, creating a statewide Parkinson’s Disease Registry within the existing Parkinson’s Disease Research Institute and adding appointments to the consortium board, with USF support and no opposition; it passed 18-0. HB 1445, the related public records exemption for the registry, adopted an amendment adding the required public necessity statement and sunset date of October 2, 2031, then passed 18-0. HB 1309, which would standardize and speed patient access to medical records and align nursing home timelines with federal requirements, drew opposition from an information systems group concerned about data mining and portal access, while supporters argued it would improve patient access and care coordination; it passed 17-1 and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> skill-based amusement games, licensed skill-based amusement games, licensed liquor<00:40:45.760>
• </c><00:45:28.000><c> liquor</c> amusement games liquor licensed liquor amusement games liquor licensed
• </c> Landowner Licenses Limitations. Landowner Licenses Limitations.
• </c> freedom to take 100% of those licenses freedom to take 100% of those licenses away<01:15:35.440>
• </c> um to protect those landowner licenses. um to protect those landowner licenses.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it's part of the—Madam Chair—part of the license. All right.
• Actually, just as a follow-up, our licensing boards don't know who's licensed in the state or who's practicing
• Their licensing board is responsible.
• And if there's an issue, it's in the compact, and it's also in our state licensing that licenses can
• I'm a licensed social worker here in New Mexico.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So welcome everyone to the first Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee for 2026.
• All right, and then again, any opening comments you'd like to make on the state of the licensing?
• All states in the United States license all levels of nursing.
• Their program length is about one year, and currently there are 14,000 actively licensed LPNs in the
• What you have before you is the occupational license for the soil classifiers.

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met to review two occupational licensing reports: the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. For nursing, board officials described the board’s history, scope, and licensure categories, noting it regulates about 72,000 nurses and oversees RNs, LPNs, advanced practice nurses, medication assistants, and a new dialysis patient care technician registry. Members asked about workforce shortages, complaint types, and the board’s finances; the board said Arkansas has enough licensed nurses overall but has vacancy issues in some areas, complaints commonly involve criminal backgrounds, fraud, misrepresentation, drug abuse, and misappropriation, and the average case length is 191 days though some cases remain open much longer while awaiting criminal adjudication. Officials also said they are working on efficiency improvements and have added help positions with Department of Health support. The report was accepted without objection. The committee then reviewed the soil classifier program, now housed under the Natural Resources Commission after the former board was abolished in 2023. Agriculture Department officials explained that soil classifiers are a small, specialized profession requiring a four-year degree with coursework in biological, earth, and soil sciences, and that the state currently has 29 registered soil classifiers. Members asked whether that number is sufficient, what the work involves, and how the program’s finances are used. Officials said the profession is mainly used for septic system design, wetland determinations, nutrient management, and other soil-related work, and that current staffing appears adequate. They also noted the program has about $20,000 in reserves, above the statutory three-year balance, and discussed possible uses such as training, curriculum upgrades, and expanded administrative funding. The report was also accepted without objection, and the meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for February 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, no other jurisdiction requires this licensing.
• Do, do they come from other states and are other states doing this to where they're licensed?
• And are those generally licensed cosmetologists or they just, they're not?
• Madam Chair, Representative, keep in mind that a cosmetology license is.
• So some states, so do they have reciprocity in these different licenses if they were to have to be licensed

Transcript Highlights:

• We have another bill that if you're driving with a revoked license causing an accident which resulted
• 02:24.560><c> people</c><00:02:24.959><c> suspected</c> license suspensions for people suspected license
• Why do you think this area license.
• </c><00:03:18.840><c> immediately</c> that person's driver license immediately that person's driver license
• </c> you're driving with a revoked license you're driving with a revoked license causing<00:03:56.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The board is also responsible for the rollout of the initial license, the licensed supervised mental
• Too bad this license... Can you hear me now? Yes, we can. Welcome. Okay. Thank you.
• Too bad this license doesn't include a requirement to know how to use these online platforms.
• The need for a licensing board dedicated to LMHCs has only become more necessary.
• Chapter 177, most importantly, had a provision to create an entry-level license, the LSMHC, the licensed

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy, who outlined procedures for the hybrid public hearing, noted the committee would hear testimony on 15 bills related to treatment settings, and recognized members present. The first major bill discussed was H. 4200, authorizing a pilot program for psychedelic-assisted treatment in licensed facilities. Representative Jim O’Day and witnesses from Control Z supported the bill, describing it as a tightly controlled, medically supervised pilot with DPH oversight, limited sites, and screening requirements. Committee members asked about the number of sites and whether Column Health still existed; witnesses said the bill contemplated three separate pilot programs and that Column Health no longer existed after being purchased by another company. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1405 to make the drug stewardship program permanent by removing its 2026 sunset date. Senator John Keenan and others said the program helps collect and safely dispose of unused medications, reduces diversion, and should remain in place because manufacturers should bear disposal costs. A member from Boston added support based on local concerns about people searching through bags for drugs, and Keenan explained the original sunset reflected pilot status and industry pushback. A large portion of the hearing focused on S. 1394 and H. 2193, which would strengthen implementation of the 2023 Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign, Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and Elliott Community Human Services testified that the roadmap’s helpline, community behavioral health centers, and crisis services are important but unevenly implemented. They urged a single point of accountability within EOHHS, regular strategic planning, a public data dashboard, and financial analysis of the behavioral health system and the access and crisis intervention trust fund. Witnesses said commercial insurance often does not fully reimburse community behavioral health center services, making sustainability difficult, and asked for better coordination across agencies and crisis response systems. Committee members asked whether the roadmap includes substance use disorder; witnesses said it is intended to cover behavioral health broadly, including mental health and substance use. The committee also heard testimony on bills to ban aversives and on suicide prevention signage. Lisa Jean Graff testified in support of S. 1394 by urging a statewide ban on aversive practices, including electric shock, withholding food or bathroom access, and other painful interventions, arguing disabled people deserve the same protections from harm as others. Fonda Bryant and Carol McLean supported a bill requiring suicide prevention signs on tall parking garages, describing personal experiences and saying the signs could create a brief pause and connect people to 988 or other help. McLean said her son died by suicide from a parking garage and that signage might have made a difference. The committee also heard strong testimony in support of creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within DMH facilities (S. 1398/H. 2204), with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and a DMH nurse arguing that highly assaultive patients need specialized, more secure units to protect staff and other patients and to improve care. Additional testimony supported creating a dedicated board for licensed mental health counselors (H. 4696/S. 1382), with Rep. John Badger, the Mass Mental Health Counselors Association, and others saying LMHCs are a large and growing workforce that needs its own licensing board, clearer standards, and faster implementation of existing licensure reforms. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 2223 regarding benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. Survivors and advocates described severe withdrawal, lack of informed consent, cognitive harms, and long-term disability, while a physician supported the bill as a way to improve disclosure of risks. Finally, the committee heard multiple witnesses in favor of H. 2231/S. 1383 to establish peer-run respite centers statewide. Advocates and people with lived experience said peer respites provide non-coercive, home-like alternatives to hospitalization, can reduce trauma and repeated admissions, and may be especially important for marginalized communities; they also cited cost savings and existing positive outcomes from current respite programs. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing portion reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they think enough of our program, they think enough of these students to license them as registered
• California law establishes strict standards for licensing and certification of health professionals.
• As a result, patients trust highly trained physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals for
• They go online thinking they are communicating with a licensed health provider.
• This assistance will free up licensed personnel to be able to work in the labs.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> who's already has a cosmetology license who's already has a cosmetology license and<00:04:24.320
• Um, and what that means I think is a credential or license.
• Um, and what that means I think is a credential or license.
• Um, and what that means I think is a credential or license.
• I think if you're credential or license.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a hard-of-hearing license area as well.
• That's a hard-of-hearing license area as well.
• That's a hard-of-hearing license area as well.
• </c><00:29:54.399><c> upon</c> special education licenses upon special education licenses upon completion
• </c><00:30:36.039><c> shirt</c> tier three teacher license shirt tier three teacher license shirt returning

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• boards, educators, employers, and the majority of licensed professionals.
• You're talking about the licensing as far as the payment and that.
• Operators pay thousands of dollars in duplicate licensing fees every year.
• "In many cases, vendors spend $4,000 to $6,000 annually just on licenses in Missouri.
• We are licensed in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Warren County, and, in St.

Committee: House Economic Development

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with entities that also have state licenses unless otherwise exempted.
• Licensing applicants must have already submitted a license application to the Structural Pest Control
• Any customer that does a transaction in a licensed store must give a fingerprint.
• land surveyor whose license number is affixed to that record of survey.
• Licensing and training requirements remain in place.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a full agenda of bills covering travel consumer protections, cannabis commerce with tribes, medical record integrity, pest control licensing, pawn and gold-buying regulation, pharmacy discipline, land surveying, and expedited licensing for veterans separated under a federal transgender military policy. Members also later heard AB 1973, which would expand the ability of advanced practice clinicians to provide abortion care, with supporters arguing it would improve access and opponents warning about safety and scope-of-practice concerns. Several bills were presented before quorum was reached, and the chair repeatedly urged absent members to arrive so the committee could vote. Testimony on the bills was largely in support. Authors and witnesses said AB 1758 would raise the seller-of-travel assessment cap to keep the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund solvent; AB 2506 would allow state cannabis licensees to sell products from tribal licensees while respecting tribal sovereignty; AB 1637 would prevent non-physicians from altering physician-authored medical notes; AB 2477 would create a short provisional period for pest control workers awaiting licensure; AB 2633 would close a loophole involving remote gold-buying events and stolen property reporting; AB 2141 would let the Board of Pharmacy resolve some cases through stipulated settlements before formal accusations; and AB 1933 would make technical clarifications to land surveying law. AB 1775 drew emotional testimony from transgender service members and advocates describing the impact of federal separation policies and the need for California licensing and support. Once quorum was established, the committee voted out the consent calendar and each of the heard bills, generally on party-line or near-unanimous votes. AB 1637, AB 1758, AB 1775, AB 1933, AB 2141, AB 2477, AB 2506, and AB 2633 all passed out of committee, most to Appropriations or another policy committee as noted. AB 1973 also passed, despite a no vote from some members and an opposition witness from the California Family Council. The committee later took vote changes and additional roll calls for absent members before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill prohibits certain licensed professionals that provide therapy and psychotherapy services from
• A licensed professional may not use AI to assist in providing supplementary support where the client's
• The bill defines a permitted use of AI to mean the use of AI by a licensed professional to assist in
• Licensed clinicians go through years of training, education, and supervision.
• NAFA is a professional association representing licensed insurance producers across Washington.

Summary: The House Health Care & Wellness Committee held public hearings on HB 2564 and HB 2599, then moved into executive session on several bills. HB 2599, which would restrict the use of AI in therapy and psychotherapy services, drew strong support from the prime sponsor, mental health professional groups, a privacy advocate, and an AI ethics researcher, all of whom warned that chatbots can mislead users, encourage delusions or self-harm, and lack licensure, accountability, and confidentiality protections. Several witnesses from health systems and telehealth organizations supported the bill’s intent but asked for narrower definitions and amendments to avoid unintended impacts on clinician-supervised tools, screening questionnaires, scribes, and other legitimate uses of AI. No vote was taken on HB 2599 during the hearing. HB 2564, which would give the Health Benefit Exchange authority to adopt market-factor certification criteria for exchange plans, was presented as a way to address affordability, bare counties, and plan duplication. Supporters included the Exchange, consumer advocates, rural and tribal representatives, navigators, and some individual consumers, who said the bill could improve access, preserve bronze plan availability, and help stabilize the market in counties with too few carriers. Opponents from health plans, Regence, Premier, and insurance producer groups argued the bill would expand exchange authority without clear standards, could reduce competition and carrier participation, and might conflict with existing OIC filing and confidentiality processes; the OIC supported the bill but requested an amendment on rate disclosure timing. The committee then moved to executive session and later reported out HB 1784, HB 2242, HB 2384, and HB 2505 with due pass recommendations, while deferring action on HB 1809 and HB 2261. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute for HB 1784 on certified medical assistants by an 18-0 vote, adopted one amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2242 on preventive services and immunization recommendations by an 11-7 vote, and passed a substitute for HB 2384 on actuarial reviews for continuing care retirement communities by a 16-2 vote. It also adopted an amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2505 on limited adult family home licensure exemptions for certain foster family situations by an 18-0 vote. The meeting adjourned after those actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we are going to focus on our licensing and certification section.
• This is not the total budget for the licensing and certification program.
• This amount includes both the annual licensing fee and the biotoxin testing fees.
• It starts with license type and then breaks... Acreage or tonnage?
• If your fee cost, if your license costs $100, you have a 200% increase this year.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5816, which would add juice grapes to Washington’s Agricultural Marketing and Fair Practices Act. Staff explained that the bill would allow juice grape producers to form an accredited association to negotiate with processors under the same timelines used for pears, and the prime sponsor said the measure was intended to help growers obtain fairer prices. A grape grower testified that Washington producers face a small number of buyers, little real negotiation, and prices far below New York’s, arguing the bill would give growers a way to bargain collectively. The public hearing closed with 47 people noted in support and one in opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5971, which would create a green fertilizer incentive program for low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer production and use in Washington. Staff described the bill as directing WSDA to establish the program, adopt rules by 2028, and report to the Legislature, with costs shown in the fiscal note. The prime sponsor and several supporters, including Atlas Agro, a port representative, labor, NRDC, WSDA, the League of Women Voters, and the Washington State Potato Commission, said the bill could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support local manufacturing and jobs, stabilize fertilizer supply and prices for farmers, and help Washington compete for federal clean hydrogen tax credits. WSDA said the program was implementable with consultation and that the Climate Commitment Act could be a funding source, though it noted rulemaking costs. The committee then held a work session on commercial shellfish fee assessments after the Department of Health adopted major fee increases for shellfish licensing and certification. Shellfish growers and association representatives said the increases—described as ranging from roughly 233% to 789% overall, with some individual licenses rising much more—would hit small and family farms hardest, could force closures, and were based on a fee structure they said is outdated and not tied well to production. DOH explained that the program has long relied on general fund support, that federal shellfish safety requirements must be maintained, and that the new fees are intended to move the program toward full cost recovery after years without increases. The department said it had used a phased approach, reopened rulemaking to look for a fairer structure, and would continue working with industry and the Legislature; no vote was taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> Licensing</c> construction codes and Licensing construction codes and Licensing Division<00:22:13.720
• </c><00:22:21.559><c> boiler</c> the division also licenses boiler the division also licenses boiler
• And in 2024 the Construction Codes and Licensing Division licensing unit proctored 9,754 exams, with
• licensing fund funds is the work of the construction codes and licensing department.
• </c><00:46:19.280><c> fund</c> construction codes and Licensing fund construction codes and Licensing

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We read that provision as allowing the department to waive licensing requirements imposed on RCFEs as
• when a licensed facility becomes inoperable due to significant damage or destruction.
• In the meantime, the state-licensed facility owners must continue to pay annual licensing fees on the
• when a license facility becomes inoperable due to significant damage or destruction. when a license
• In the meantime, the state license facility owners must continue to pay annual licensing fees on the

Summary: The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on June 24 with a substitute chair presiding and considered three measures. SB 352 by Senator Reyes was placed on the consent calendar and approved unanimously, 7-0, to be re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. SB 433 by Senator Wahab, presented on behalf of Senator Stern, was heard next and focused on room-and-board protections for participants in the assisted living waiver and CalAIM assisted living transition community support programs. Supporters, including Justice in Aging, CANHR, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, the California Commission on Aging, and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, argued the bill would prevent low-income Medi-Cal residents from being charged unaffordable rates and losing their housing. Opponents, including the California Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge California, and Six B’s, said they remained concerned about the bill’s rent-control implications and statutory scope, though they acknowledged recent amendments addressed some eligibility issues. After committee discussion, SB 433 was approved 5-1 with one abstention and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services. The committee also heard SB 582 by Senator Stern, presented by Senator Wahab, which would allow state departments to issue disaster suspensions of active licenses for facilities rendered inoperable by declared emergencies, waive some licensing fees, and provide temporary flexibility for community-based adult services, child care, and evacuation planning requirements for skilled nursing and residential care facilities. Support came from the California Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge California, the California Commission on Aging, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, CANHR, and a child care resource center, all describing the bill as helpful for rebuilding and continuity of services after disasters. There was no recorded opposition, and SB 582 passed unanimously, 7-0, to the Committee on Health. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Licensing Protection Board will be moved to the March.
• Provider Services and Quality Assurance has three occupational licenses.
• Provider Services and Quality Assurance has three occupational licenses.
• We have the certified nurse aide license, the nursing home administrator license, and the psychiatric
• residential treatment facility license.

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> temporary license temporary license were<00:08:37.360><c> they</c><00:08:37.599><c> excluded</c>
• Under that line, a provider with a temporary license and the chapter is not eligible to apply.
• in temporary license and they need to be in compliance<00:08:59.440><c> and</c><00:09:00.160><c> why
• Essentially, the license is good for one year, or 12 months.
• or provisional license, and they are paying into the fines, there should be a way to address whether

Keywords: 1183, house