Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, we have provided operational support. So, for instance, you mentioned UCF.
• UCF is receiving an additional $6 million in operational support.
• So we decided to allocate funds for operational support in that way. Representative Eskamani.
• So I don't know the exact methodology for the operational support. Further questions.
• Instead, they actively support and reinforce one another.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was in support of this very important section.
• So hopefully that satisfies their concerns and asks for your support.
• So very much supportive of the bill. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• I ask for the body's support. I'm asking for a no on this amendment.
• Substitute Senate Bill 6070, supporting the recovery of missing persons.

Bills: SB6147 , SB6082 , SB5862 , SB5882 , SB6323 , SB6346 , SB6162 , SB6256 , SB6220 , SB5650 , SB6343 , SB6113 , SB6211 , SB6114 , SB5898 , SB6347 , SB6244 , SB5868 , SB5762 , SB5988 , SB6194 , SB6246 , SB6223 , SB6052 , SB5828 , SB5954 , SB5963 , SB5909 , SGA9306

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: grocery establishments, closure notice, consumer rights, local businesses, student financial aid, financial aid fraud, higher education, college enrollment fraud, fictitious students, ghost students, enrollment fraud, aid integrity, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, AI fraud, fraud prevention, Washington State, legislative audit, JLARC, full-time equivalent

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we'll be on your best behavior, members.
• From the standpoint of the cities providing economic development support.
• We recognize the support from legislators, and I think that was mentioned earlier.
• cities with support with packages and transportation and allocations.
• And finally, I think there should be support for further mixed uses near transit.

Committee: Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The meeting began with introductions from members of the Joint Transportation Committee and a presentation from the Association of Washington Cities and the public works directors of Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, and West Richland. The cities described the Quad Cities region as one of the fastest-growing in the state and outlined shared transportation priorities that align with the committee’s focus on safety, multimodal access, climate resilience, and economic development. They emphasized Vision Zero efforts, complete streets, ADA accessibility, regional trail and bike/pedestrian planning, and coordinated long-range transportation and land-use planning to manage growth. The city officials also discussed major funding and delivery challenges, including rising construction costs, project phasing, pavement preservation, right-of-way acquisition, and delays caused by state and federal permitting and review processes. They highlighted regional cooperation through the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments, Good Roads, and local funding tools such as impact fees, transportation benefit districts, REET, tax increment financing, and state and federal grants. Specific projects discussed included Richland’s SR 240/Aaron Drive complete streets project and downtown connectivity work, Kennewick’s Columbia Center Boulevard improvements and rail study, Pasco’s Court/Road 68, Sylvester Street corridor, I-182 bridge/interchange work, and a new north-south bridge study, and West Richland’s SR 224 Red Mountain corridor project, which officials said was awarded under budget and is scheduled to begin construction. Committee members asked questions about sidewalk connections to schools, state-agency right-of-way timelines, apprenticeship utilization, contractor selection, and whether complete streets requirements add burdens to pavement preservation projects. The city officials said new development is generally meeting sidewalk standards, but older infill areas remain a gap; that state right-of-way transactions can take much longer than expected; that apprenticeship requirements are common but harder for smaller contractors and local labor markets; and that low-bid contracting leaves little room to screen for performance history. They also said complete streets requirements are usually manageable on major projects but can be difficult to absorb in smaller preservation work. The committee then shifted to a JTC-funded study on transit-oriented development, presented by Urban Institute researcher Yona Freemark. The study examined TOD conditions in 33 cities in Snohomish, King, Pierce, Clark, and Spokane counties near rail and bus rapid transit stations. Freemark said Washington’s housing affordability crisis is severe, especially near transit, and found that high-cost cities have seen more development near stations but also signs of gentrification and loss of affordable housing, while lower-cost cities have had less development and worsening affordability relative to income. He identified barriers including high debt costs, land costs, infrastructure costs, zoning and parking rules, and limited subsidies for affordable housing. He recommended more neighborhood infrastructure funding near stations, stronger affordable housing investment, and better use of public land, noting that HB 1491 and related legislation are already changing some local requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, our well-being programs support Healthy Living, medical care access, expert medical support
• For example, our well-being programs support Healthy Living, medical care access, expert medical support
• For example, our well-being programs support Healthy Living, medical care access, expert medical support
• </c><01:42:26.239><c> reasonable</c> do very much support reasonable do very much support reasonable
• support support was<02:52:34.920><c> and</c><02:52:35.080><c> the</c><02:52:35.200><c> number</c><02

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Carston, supporting the bill. >> I am. >> I am supporting the bill. >> Can you turn on the mic?
• &gt;&gt; supporting the bill. &gt;&gt; supporting the bill. &gt;&gt; I<01:02:42.640><c> am.
• </c> &gt;&gt; I am supporting the bill. &gt;&gt; I am supporting the bill.
• </c> behavior maybe as we see at our beaches. behavior maybe as we see at our beaches.
• </c> this is and and we support their work. this is and and we support their work.

Committee: House Resources, Recreation and Development

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there something that we need to do legislatively to encourage that type of behavior?

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to hear a lengthy presentation from Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Florida election administration, with a focus on how elections are handled during natural disasters, election security, and preparations for the 2026 cycle. Byrd described Florida’s response to hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, saying the state works directly with county supervisors of elections to tailor executive orders to local conditions, add or relocate polling sites, extend deadlines, and help displaced voters and emergency workers cast ballots. Members from affected areas echoed that local supervisors had managed storm disruptions well and that turnout remained strong despite major damage. A large portion of the meeting covered election integrity and security. Byrd emphasized Florida’s use of paper ballots, pre-election logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, public canvassing, standardized voter-intent rules, and strict vote-by-mail request and signature-match requirements. He said the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security investigates complaints and refers matters to law enforcement, and that Florida has expanded access to the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship. Members asked about threats to election workers, staffing vacancies, cybersecurity, ballot design, vote-by-mail address changes, and how the state coordinates with county supervisors, emergency management, and other agencies. Several members raised questions about voter eligibility and returning citizens, and Byrd said the department provides free information to help people determine whether their rights have been restored, while noting that court and clerk reporting practices still create challenges. He also said the department is considering additional legislative proposals, including more safeguards tied to driver’s license and citizenship verification and a possible statewide 100% audit of races before certification. The meeting ended with the chair encouraging members to visit supervisors of elections offices and submit specific ideas for future elections legislation; no votes were taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also adds integrated community<00:04:00.000><c> supports</c><00:04:00.800><c> to</c><00:04:01.000>
• Section 14 is Senator positive supports.
• A pass-through to the support<00:15:20.600><c> worker.</c> support worker. support worker.
• And also, for both individualized home supports with training and individualized home supports with family
• And also, for both individualized home supports with training and individualized home supports with family

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do data analysis, tech and technical support throughout the state of Minnesota underneath our Veteran
• </c> data analysis Tech and Technical Support data analysis Tech and Technical Support um<00:04:02.079
• </c> the data that they need to support the data that they need to support veterans<00:31:13.399><c>
• So, as a good bill, we would ask for the committee's support. Thank you, Mr. Kelly.
• So, as a good bill, we would ask for the committee's support. Thank you, Mr. Kelly.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:31.840><c> services</c> benefit employment support services benefit employment support services
• </c> Uh for our benefit employment support Uh for our benefit employment support services<00:04:46.000
• </c><00:14:59.360><c> um</c> um that's cost allocated to support um um that's cost allocated to support
• It will support the maintenance.
• </c> to support student success systemwide. to support student success systemwide.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:41.800><c> of</c> position at this point I'm in support of position at this point I'm in support
• So if I were to make a decision today, I'd have to support the House position and just kill it.
• K Fox, Director of the Division for Behavioral Health.
• It would require general funds to support this program in an amount to be determined.
• this is the continuation of the existing service support without taking in new beneficiaries.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first recessed briefly, then took up HB 570, the prescription drug affordability board (PDAB). The chair and several members discussed the House amendment to repeal the board, which removed the fiscal note. The main concern raised was that the PDAB had not yet produced a clear business case showing value for the taxpayer investment, despite several years of work and four annual reports. Supporters of the repeal said the board’s recent report was largely redundant and that the board should either demonstrate a strong return on investment or be shut down; others cautioned against discarding the program too quickly and urged more time to refine the mission and legislative language. No vote was taken, and the committee appeared to agree to retain the bill for further work, with the possibility of revisiting it in a formal executive session on Tuesday. Members also shifted into discussion of HB 2, beginning with Section 85 on opioid abatement trust fund dollars for shelter programs. Department of Health and Human Services officials explained that the provision would provide $10 million from the opioid abatement trust fund, replacing general funds in the governor’s budget, while also noting an additional $2.5 million prioritized needs request for shelter care that was already fully funded. Committee members asked about shelter bed capacity, job placement efforts, and the remaining balance in the opioid fund; DHHS said there are 934 contracted beds and that case management includes help with housing and employment. Officials also said the current proposed budget includes another $1 million later in HB 2 from the opioid fund. The committee then began discussion of Sections 86 through 87, which would preserve the department’s ability to transfer funds between personnel lines. DHHS said the provision is operationally critical and that losing it would make it extremely difficult to manage the department, though it would not have a direct fiscal impact. The next item introduced was Section 88, extending a suspension related to eligibility for services until July 1, 2027; DHHS indicated that if the suspension were not continued, it would likely increase expenditures for Community Mental Health Centers and potentially others. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I speak in support of this bill.
• Thank you for considering and supporting this law. Uh, I will not be supporting this law.
• This is people supporting people.
• This is people supporting people.
• This is people supporting people.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I want to support this uh amendment L12. I want to support this uh amendment L12.
• </c> So again, I rise in support of L012. So again, I rise in support of L012.
• </c> in 2000 2005 with bipartisan support. in 2000 2005 with bipartisan support.
• </c> arise in support of L015. arise in support of L015.
• </c> supports teachers. supports teachers.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I, Doyle James Boudreaux, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United
• I, Reese Broussard, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States
• I, Edwin Murray, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States
• I urge you to support Representative Bamberg's bill to accelerate job placement in Louisiana.
• ; provide for earning potential purposes of child support, 473.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• We stand ready to support in any way that we can just as we have done in past disease events but the
• We support a robust effort to fighting this. Again, just want to echo.
• Dormectin treatments, applications of sterile flies, and the decline in rutting behavior. significant
• In closing, I ask all of you to support delivering macrocyclic.
• Without their support, without the...

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Municipal Association, and we support Municipal Association, and we support this<00:22:15.440><c
• So, Eversource is in support of 1290.
• </c><03:11:26.880><c> those</c> or lack of funding to to support those or lack of funding to to support
• Are you in support<05:31:25.920><c> of</c> support of support of &gt;&gt; Yes,<05:31:26.638><c> we</c
• c><05:31:27.440><c> the</c> &gt;&gt; Yes, we are in support of the &gt;&gt; Yes, we are in support of

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Both support this upon a path forward.
• </c> support and enhance local reliability. support and enhance local reliability.
• Senate Bill 230, one in support, one opposed. Senate Bill 232, three in support, none opposed.
• Senate Bill 233, one in support, none opposed. Senate Bill 108, two in support, none opposed.
• There was four in support. None 65. There was four in support.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Verbal outbursts, shouting, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of Senate Bill 3886.
• Under the circumstances, I'm not in a position to support the amendment. So, I'll be voting no.
• </c><00:51:43.400><c> the</c> I'm not in a position to support the I'm not in a position to support the
• , and that a no vote is to support weakness, vulnerability, and fraud in Minnesota elections.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> decades as a teacher after supporting decades as a teacher after supporting her<00:47:27.440><c>
• </c> and equality by continuing to support and equality by continuing to support policies<00:54:27.280
• </c> say that I am absolutely supporting say that I am absolutely supporting this.<01:46:01.679><c> uh
• If you support small businesses, you should support this amendment. This is a great amendment.
• If you support small businesses, you should support this amendment. probably have a stud finder, too.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The modeling and analysis that we performed support the SB-254 study as the financing catastrophes work
• I want to thank all of you for your continuing ongoing support for this type of work, and definitely
• And if it can't support the current catastrophe that's occurred and the potential that's coming, that
• Local governments do strongly support a wildfire risk reduction package this year to move forward.
• Local governments do strongly support a wildfire risk reduction package this year to move forward.

Summary: The hearing focused on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study and its recommendations for addressing California’s wildfire risk, utility liability, and the financing of catastrophic losses. Committee members and presenters discussed the history of the wildfire fund created after the 2018 fire crisis and PG&E bankruptcy, the role of the California Earthquake Authority as fund administrator, and the report’s three broad policy pathways: continuing mitigation investments, more equitably allocating catastrophe costs, and considering expanded state involvement in catastrophe financing. Presenters emphasized that the report was intended as a neutral, stakeholder-informed analysis rather than an advocacy document, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA, CPUC, and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety each described their contributions and recommendations. CEA outlined options such as risk-tolerance standards for utilities, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, confidential near-miss reporting, liability reforms, and a fast-pay facility for survivors. CPUC stressed that wildfire mitigation and liability costs are a major driver of electricity affordability problems, and said the state should broaden how wildfire recovery and mitigation are funded beyond ratepayers alone. Energy Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan oversight and recommended stronger safety reporting and stronger safety weighting in utility executive compensation. The modeling portion of the report estimated that a more durable wildfire fund could require about $36 billion in capitalization, with lower initial capital needs if risk transfer or liability reforms are used, but potentially higher ongoing premium or assessment costs. The report also examined state-backed insurer or backstop models, post-event funding mechanisms, and targeted community wildfire mitigation, which could reduce overall funding needs. Members raised concerns about the cost burden on ratepayers, the financial stability of utilities, the fairness of asking communities outside high-risk areas to pay, the role of local governments and home hardening, and whether broader climate-related liability or insurance reforms should be considered. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further committee hearings and stakeholder discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, that is one that OLA has not looked at.
• I think I just want<00:30:01.000><c> to</c><00:30:01.040><c> support</c><00:30:01.520><c> your</c><00
• I do support Representative Anderson if that is going to be a motion, but I'm just going back to the
• I do support Representative Anderson if that is going to be a motion, but I'm just going back to the
• <00:42:04.880><c> what</c> supporting what supporting what uh<00:42:05.640><c> Representative</c><00:

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met on May 8, 2026, to narrow 12 proposed Legislative Audit Commission evaluation topics down to 8-10 semi-finalists for a legislative survey. Deputy Legislative Auditor Jodi Munson Rodriguez reviewed the selection criteria and explained which topics were promising now, which might be better deferred to fall because of timing or data limitations, and which were less promising because OLA would have limited ability to add value. She identified the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, DHS Adult Day Services Licensing, DHS county service approvals and provision, MDH mortuary science program, MPCA feedlot permitting, Minnesota paid leave, the Office of Cannabis Management, and several other DHS-related items as candidates, while recommending that DHS system modernization be shifted to an IT audit and that corporate concentration be narrowed substantially if pursued. Members discussed several topics in detail. Representative Lee asked how a broad DHS county services topic could be narrowed and suggested providing legislators with an addendum listing possible subprograms so they would know what they were ranking; Munson Rodriguez said OLA could add a few suggested subtopics and tailor the survey materials. Representative Hansen urged that the MPCA feedlot permitting review focus on effectiveness and environmental and health impacts, not just speed, and Munson Rodriguez said those kinds of questions could be added. The Office of Cannabis Management was viewed as promising but probably too new to evaluate immediately, and the MDH mortuary science program was also seen as worthwhile but potentially delayed because of overlap with other MDH licensing work. The Minnesota research tax credit drew the most extended discussion. Munson Rodriguez said it remained a weak fit for OLA because of limited data and unclear program goals, and Senator Rest argued it would be better handled by the Department of Revenue’s research staff or possibly the Legislative Budget Office’s tax expenditure research section. Representative Lee asked whether OLA’s financial audit division could review whether the credit “pays for itself,” but Munson Rodriguez said that would require econometric analysis outside the financial audit division’s normal work. The committee did not take a formal vote in the portion provided, but the chair indicated the tax credit issue should be brought to the full commission agenda, and the meeting continued with additional topic review, including the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which staff said was heavily federally controlled and already reviewed by federal OIG, limiting OLA’s likely impact.