Transcript Highlights:

• Uh this has no agency budget bill.
• c> from the agency's budget from the agency's budget bill.<00:22:39.200><c> Moving</c><00:22:39.520><
• This is from the department's budget<00:35:31.920><c> bill.</c> budget bill. budget bill.
• </c> opportunity to talk through the budget. opportunity to talk through the budget.
• budget within a budget you're crafting a budget within a budget target<00:49:08.800><c> given</c><00

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , we're going to ask for our... ...regular budget.
• And so these were in the budget eight, ten years ago. So these were in the budget 8, 10 years ago.
• You'll see it in the FY27 budget.
• Obviously, this is a significant item in the budget.
• Got a line in our budget where we do that.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to repeat that this does mirror a lot of the budgets or the amendments that we brought last year
• I want to repeat that this does mirror a lot of the budgets or the amendments that we brought last year
• I want to repeat that this does mirror a lot of the budgets or the amendments that we brought last year
• I want to repeat that this does mirror a lot of the budgets or the amendments that we brought last year
• </c><01:33:16.800><c> again</c> Door and Mark Jones has requested again Door and Mark Jones has requested

Bills: HB0130 , HB0147

Committee: Senate Revenue

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearms, state rights, federal regulation, law enforcement, civil penalties, government liability, property tax, homeowner exemption, Wyoming, voter initiative, tax legislation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these requests are denied and eventually overturned on appeal.
• So she requested a dosage change from every eight weeks to every four.
• Then that's the request that they make to the plans.
• I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you.
• I respectfully request your I vote. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The Senate Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, research funding, consumer protection, and insurance administration. SB 895 by Sen. Wiener would create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research and place a bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to support scientific and health research in California; supporters from UC, labor, and patient groups said it would protect jobs, public health, and the state’s research leadership amid federal funding cuts, while the committee later voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Natural Resources and Water. SB 944 would make acupuncture a permanent Medi-Cal benefit regardless of federal matching funds; acupuncture providers, patients, health systems, and API community advocates testified in strong support, and the committee voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 987, which would create a California Health Access Fund to capture state savings if federal Medicaid changes under H.R. 1 reduce Medi-Cal enrollment and redirect those funds to care for people who lose coverage and to reimburse safety-net providers. Support came from disability, consumer, family physician, emergency physician, hospital, and reproductive health groups; members discussed prioritizing indigent care, prevention, and safety-net needs, and the bill was moved on a unanimous vote to Appropriations. SB 964 would let a licensed provider adjust the dose or frequency of an already covered medication up to two times without prior authorization when clinically appropriate, with Crohn’s and Colitis advocates describing delays that harmed patients and insurers warning about safety and cost concerns; after committee discussion about off-label use and clinical safeguards, the bill passed 11-0 and was sent to Appropriations. Later, SB 1099 clarified local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA, with city and county counsel and local officials saying it would preserve flexibility for homeless outreach, street medicine, crisis lines, and other low-barrier services; it passed 11-0 and was re-referred to Human Services. SB 1033 would require protein product manufacturers to test for heavy metals and disclose results, prompted by Consumer Reports findings and supported by consumer, health, and women’s health groups; industry witnesses asked for narrower scope and source-level testing, and the committee voted 11-0 to pass it as amended and send it to Environmental Quality. The committee then began SB 1049, which would give providers a 90-day window after a plan’s latest action to correct certain claim errors and prevent denials based solely on missed filing deadlines; the author said it would address honest billing mistakes and recoupments, and the bill was introduced with support from medical groups and ongoing discussions with health plans.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these requests are denied and eventually overturned on appeal.
• So she requested a dosage change from every eight weeks to every four.
• The Civil Prosecutors Coalition requests your support for this bill. Thank you. Thank you.
• I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you.
• I respectfully request your I vote. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill contains an emergency clause, and a fiscal note was not requested.
• A fiscal note was not requested, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
• These requests do not typically receive a response.
• That's because Washington State has a budget-based property tax system.
• “The family requested a judicial review.

Bills: SB5820 , SB6064 , SB6077 , SB6101 , SB6013 , SB6066

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: freight rail, rail corridor, short-line railroad, rail-dependent uses, industrial land use, growth management act, GMA, comprehensive plan, transportation element, land use planning, local government, county planning, city planning, critical areas, agricultural lands, forest lands, mineral resource lands, urban growth area, development regulations, notice on permits

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, there's been a request for a voice vote to adopt Senate floor amendment number one.
• There has been a request for a roll call. The clerk to call the roll.
• There's been a request for a roll call of the clerk to call. The roll.
• Those all have money tied to the budget; they need to go. We know what they do.
• This has been Adam's consent request. Question on House Bill 289. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• We understand the budget is tight, but these institutions are our choices.
• why I'm not in control of the budget...
• We've had funding for ICWs in the past that has been cut with the budget because we were in a budget
• And we've had funding for ICWs in the past that has been cut with the budget because we were in a budget
• We've had funding for ICWs in the past that has been cut with the budget because we were in a budget

Bills: SB5826 , SB5828 , SB5909 , SB5954

Committee: Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development

Keywords: medication abortion, public education, access, healthcare rights, postsecondary institutions, college grant, scholarships, higher education, private institutions, Washington State, undergraduate programs, enrollment, program review, public institutions, veterans, tuition waiver, education, survivors, eligibility, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• Um in legislative budget assistant.
• :11:40.959><c> in</c><00:11:41.720><c> savings</c> budget assumes $2.5 million in savings budget assumes
• </c><00:18:09.520><c> this</c> policies that put in this budget this policies that put in this budget
• So I'll be supporting the budget. budget. budget. Thank<00:18:25.840><c> you.</c> Thank you.
• </c> within this budget. So, thank you, Mr. within this budget. So, thank you, Mr.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:06.199><c> five</c><00:07:06.639><c> requests</c><00:07:07.280><c> for</c><00:07:07.759><c
• > one</c> minute request five requests for one minute request five requests for one minute<00:07:08.400
• Requested. requested<01:52:52.480><c> e</c> Okay. The House will be in order.
• The Chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches.
• In fact, the Budget Committee is meeting right now as we speak to do just that.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Budget cuts at the state level are impactful on the work we do.
• looks like as we enter the supplemental budget year and when we enter the biennial budget year in 2027
• This last session, integrated planning grants did not get funded because of budget constraints.
• This last session, integrated planning grants did not get funded because of budget constraints.
• or, a couple years ago, to the transportation budget.

Summary: The committee first heard updates on the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and related funding. Department of Ecology staff explained how MTCA and the hazardous substance tax support cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and local assistance programs, but said forecasted revenues have declined while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require underspending to stay balanced this biennium and that the problem is ongoing, with further reductions possible if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup program, noting there are more than 14,500 cleanup sites in Washington and that new sites continue to be discovered faster than they are cleaned up. A question from Representative Lee raised the long-term issue of declining fossil-fuel-based revenue, and Ecology agreed that this is a future structural concern even though the current shortfall is driven more by forecasts and transfers than by fuel-use decline. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency described its underground storage tank and heating oil programs, saying it has modernized from a reinsurance model to a financial assurance model with stronger state oversight and cleanup milestones. Russ Olson said the agency’s dedicated petroleum tax account is in strong financial condition, but emphasized the importance of preserving that funding source. He also discussed the loan and grant program for historic commercial releases and a new heating oil loan/grant program, while noting the agency is working on equity concerns where liens can be disproportionate to property values in smaller communities. Practitioners and advocates then offered differing views on MTCA’s performance: one attorney urged a collaborative review process to make cleanups faster, less expensive, and more certain, while another consultant argued the program is too conservative and process-heavy and should focus more narrowly on actual exposure and realistic cleanup standards. Environmental and community groups countered that MTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, and that it is especially important for environmental justice communities such as the Duwamish Valley. Port and city representatives stressed that MTCA grants and cleanup funding are critical for large redevelopment projects, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can slow projects and jeopardize commitments. The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation, including requirements for utility wildfire mitigation plans, creation of a wildfire mitigation standards work group, authorization for captive insurance by local governments and PUDs, securitization authority for disaster costs, and the existing wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan County PUD and Puget Sound Energy described extensive mitigation efforts such as vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI smoke cameras, weather stations, enhanced operating settings, public safety power shutoffs, and community outreach. Both said wildfire risk is rising and insurance costs are increasing, and Chelan PUD asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner said a 2022 utility liability market study found insurance availability is tightening as perceived risk rises, and reported that a 2025 work group recommended restoring community resilience funding, requiring insurers to share wildfire risk scores and mitigation steps with property owners, and creating a grant program based on insurance industry wildfire standards. A PNNL scientist added that wildfire probability is increasing in parts of Washington and that mitigation requires long-term, landscape-scale coordination. The final speaker began describing California’s approach to wildfire risk, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• About a $280 million budget on an annual basis.
• And if DEQ approves it and the mine requests it, we will review that.
• And it's significant dollars to fund county budgets.
• So some of the things County budgets.
• We don't have the final scope or budget in hand yet.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.

Transcript Highlights:

• But otherwise, I have to do everything else, budgeting and creating everything else.
• Moving on to slide 5, I will talk a little bit about our budgets.
• So we don't have our budgets yet for the next year, but we are anticipating the NNSA budgets, which account
• Although we do some Department of Energy work, some of those budgets are down.
• So as far as the federal budgets go, we're in pretty good shape.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• staff layoffs, furloughs, downscaling or elimination of programs and services, and an inability to budget
• receives about 25% of our food from the federal government, along with 10% of our $9 million annual budget
• response because of the timing of what's happening to us than historically would be the case with budget
• thin. and of goods, services, and program delivery, stretching our budgets thin.
• We have a tough state budget this year, there's going to be a tough state budget next year, and 2027

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly select committee hearing focused on the challenges facing California nonprofits in 2025 and possible state responses. Opening remarks emphasized the sector’s size and importance, the impact of federal funding disruptions and tax policy changes, and the need for stronger public-private partnerships, especially in disaster response and recovery. Witnesses from community foundations, food banks, Cal OES, long-term recovery groups, CalNonprofits, and nonprofit finance organizations described funding uncertainty, delayed reimbursements, reduced indirect cost coverage, staffing strain, and the effects of climate disasters and immigration-related fear on service delivery. Testimony highlighted several policy ideas, including advance payments for state grants and contracts, prompt payment standards, sustainable indirect cost rates, contract flexibility in emergencies, streamlined registration and reporting, and a possible new Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to serve as a central point of contact and coordination within state government. Speakers also described how nonprofits and VOAD networks support wildfire response and long-term recovery, but noted that recovery groups often lack stable operating funding even when they are recognized as best practice. A food bank leader described federal food aid cuts and disruptions to deliveries, while other witnesses stressed that nonprofits are increasingly forced to use reserves, loans, or service reductions to manage cash flow gaps. Committee members generally expressed support for the sector and asked how the state could better partner with nonprofits during both disasters and budget crises. Several members raised the possibility of incremental steps if full legislative changes are not immediately feasible, and witnesses suggested pilots, better sharing of best practices, and stronger state leadership on payment timelines. Public commenters echoed the need for better contracting practices, support for community-based organizations, and attention to nonprofit worker compensation and protections. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the hearing, which concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:12.280><c> cuts</c><00:08:13.199><c> we</c> and no Paras because of budget cuts we and no
• Instead, the Ely Public School District is looking at approximately $460,000 in budget reductions for
• </c><00:15:38.360><c> that</c> $700,000 from our budget that $700,000 from our budget that significant
• Madam Chair and committee members, a fiscal note has not been requested on this bill.
• </c> top priorities um in this uh budget top priorities um in this uh budget cycle<01:37:50.800><c> so

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you to this body that have then approved that in the budget as well.
• in response to a request by a landlord. landlord. landlord.
• President, that's my request.” “All right.
• Uh, senators request a roll call vote on the favorable report.
• So, 3:00 for the capital budget. >> 3:00 for capital. All right.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She said what members may not fully grasp is how requests for funds raised by charitable gaming have
• She said that as a club they have requested that information and have never gotten a response.
• for tax relief I know that as a requests for tax relief I know that as a club<00:46:30.319><c> we've
• requested that information club we've requested that information and<00:46:32.000><c> we've</c><00:46
• So, to finish this up, I respectfully request that each committee member would vote yes for this bill

Bills: HF169 , HF195 , HF194 , HF1756 , HF2133

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: HF169, Minnesota insurance, health plan, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, patient assistance program, deductible, health insurer, consumer disclosure, out-of-pocket costs, medical assistance funds, copay assistance, health coverage transparency, chapter 62Q, enrollee, HF195, Fairmont, street reconstruction, bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not clear to me, but if the resolution of that dispute was outside of the budget as it was written
• How is Representative Simmons implicated in any way at all if the contract If the budget as it was written
• He didn't violate the Budget Act. He didn't violate the language in the law.
• As demonstrated by board staff's evidence, she was involved with this proviso after the initial request

Summary: The Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings held oral argument before the Legislative Ethics Board in the matter of Representative Tara Simmons, docketed as Legislative Ethics Board case 2025-5. The hearing concerned Simmons’ motion for summary judgment in an ethics complaint alleging violations of RCW 42.52.020 (conflicts of interest) and RCW 42.52.070 (special privileges), based on her work involving an EEC proviso, her employment relationship with EEC, a campaign surplus donation connected to AEJG and Jerry Stone, her involvement in an AEJG-EEC subcontract dispute, and related text messages with Anthony Powers. No evidence was taken; the session focused on legal argument over whether the alleged facts, if accepted as true, were sufficient to establish violations as a matter of law. Simmons’ counsel argued the complaint was legally insufficient because the alleged actions benefited her employer or others, not Simmons herself, and that existing board opinions allow legislators to support employers absent a direct personal benefit. He also argued the board was effectively trying to adopt a new bright-line rule prohibiting legislators from funding employers, which he said would be an improper retroactive change. Board staff, through Assistant Attorney General Julia Eisentrout, opposed summary judgment and argued the facts were enough to show Simmons had an indirect financial or other interest in EEC’s funding, that her job duties and legislative actions created conflicts, and that her actions around the donation, subcontract dispute, and text messages could be viewed as using her position to secure special privileges. A board member asked whether the allegations themselves were sufficient and whether the standard required assuming the facts as alleged; staff responded that the motion failed because the record contained sufficient facts to proceed, and that any factual disputes should be resolved at hearing. After rebuttal, the ALJ closed the oral argument and turned the matter over to the Legislative Ethics Board for deliberation. No ruling was issued during the hearing, and the board was to decide whether to grant the summary judgment motion or set the case for an evidentiary hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• A fiscal note will be requested if the proposed substitute passes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• Mendoza said that they added a null and void clause so that if it doesn't get funded when it gets to budget
• So that if it doesn't get funded when it gets to budget, it will be null and void. Thank you.
• So last year, the budget committees decided to move a lot, many millions, hundreds of millions of dollars

Bills: HB2438 , HB2422 , HB2525 , HB2586 , HB2427 , HB2458 , HB2474 , HB2540 , HB2589

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: education, scholarship, early childhood, funding, higher education, early education, support, degree seekers, private security, security guard, armed security guard, security company, licensing fees, license renewal, endorsement fee, fingerprints, background check, workforce retention, low-wage workers, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• A fiscal note will be requested if the proposed substitute passes. Thank you. Thank you. Ms.
• The null and void clause was added so that if it doesn't get funded when it gets to budget... ...so that
• if it doesn't get funded when it gets to budget, it will be null and void.
• So last year, the budget committees decided to move a lot, many millions, hundreds of millions of dollars

Summary: At the February 3 meeting of the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee, members reviewed several bills for possible executive session and noted that House Bill 2538 would be heard later in the session, while no action would be taken that day on House Bills 2422, 2427, and 2589. Staff walked the committee through proposed substitutes and amendments on multiple bills, including HB 2438 (early childhood education degree seekers scholarship), HB 2525 (heritage orchard program at WSU), HB 2586 (Passport to Careers and Washington College Grant alignment), HB 2458 (expanding Washington College Grant eligibility to certain non-degree credential programs), HB 2474 (student consumer protections and tuition recovery for school closures), and HB 2540/2450 relating to EMT recertification timing. Members discussed fiscal impacts, use of the GET account, student aid access, support for trades and vulnerable students, and protections for students when institutions or programs close. The committee adopted a proposed substitute for HB 2438 and reported it out on a 13-4 vote, with supporters emphasizing early childhood workforce shortages and opponents raising concerns about using GET account funds. HB 2525’s proposed substitute and a null-and-void amendment were adopted, and the bill was reported out unanimously. HB 2586 was reported out on a 17-0 vote, with members citing benefits for students experiencing homelessness and foster care. HB 2458’s amendment was adopted and the substitute bill passed out of committee on an 11-6 vote, despite objections about available financial aid funding. For HB 2474, members withdrew several amendments, adopted REN 076 to narrow exemptions for certain private institutions, and then reported the substitute bill out on a narrow 9-8 vote after debate over student protections versus institutional flexibility. The final bill considered, relating to EMT recertification intervals, was reported out of committee by voice vote with 17 ayes. Throughout the meeting, the committee generally advanced the bills with do-pass recommendations, while recording split views on funding sources, student consumer protections, and the scope of aid eligibility.