Transcript Highlights:

• It also fixes a cross-reference so that the bill is very clear and laws are very clear about when a doctor's
• this bill would do would also save lives by stopping some of those crashes that we see from those crossings
• Department of Transportation and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to plan for those wildlife crossings
• Well, I rise in support of wildlife crossings.
• where you want future highways to go, future roads, or protecting the wildlife that are already crossing

Bills: SB5223 , SB5286 , SB6002 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5874 , SB5863 , SB5972 , SB5941 , SB5203 , SB6014 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB5825

Summary: The Senate convened with opening ceremonies, approved the previous day’s journal, and referred committee reports and new bill introductions to the designated committees, including sending SB 6118 and SB 6292 to Ways and Means. The chamber then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments to college boards: Glenn F. Ellis to the Peninsula College Board of Trustees, Suzanne Donaldson to the Clark College Board of Trustees, and Jesse E. Johnson to the Highline College Board of Trustees, all by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The Senate then considered and passed several bills. SB 6014, a technical cleanup to pregnancy and postpartum accommodation laws, passed 41-8 after supporters said it clarified privacy protections and removed barriers for workers. SB 5863, dealing with preservation and inspection of state historical records tied to Lakeland Village, passed 49-0. SB 5825, authorizing the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, passed 33-16 after two proposed amendments to limit administrative costs and cap contributions were rejected. SB 5874, allowing employers to correct certain unemployment insurance reporting errors, passed 49-0, and SB 5286, setting a statutory reimbursement cap for local police and fire services provided to state hospitals, passed 49-0 after an amendment set a $750,000 per-biennium maximum per facility. The Senate also passed SB 5904, requiring nursing titles to be used only by licensed human persons, and SB 5915, updating the health technology assessment process used for coverage decisions, both unanimously. SB 5919, creating voluntary wildfire-prevention incentives for agricultural producers and fire districts, also passed 49-0. SB 5938, making adjustments to foreclosure prevention fees and exemptions, passed 49-0. SB 5957, expanding the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Program and its advisory committee, was taken up near the end of the transcript, with supporters emphasizing youth safety and trafficking prevention; the roll call was underway when the transcript ended. A major policy debate centered on SB 6002, which regulates automated license plate reader systems and driver privacy protections. After a proposed amendment to expand authorized uses was rejected, the bill’s striker was adopted. Supporters described the measure as a bipartisan privacy-and-public-safety balance that limits misuse and unauthorized sharing of ALPR data while preserving law enforcement utility; opponents argued it still needed more work or broader privacy protections. The engrossed second substitute passed 48-9. Another significant debate involved SB 5972, expanding interest arbitration for correctional employees in local city and county governments; supporters cited consistency and labor stability, while opponents warned of burdens on smaller counties. That bill passed 34-15. SB 5203, creating a wildlife connectivity planning and funding framework, passed 31-18 after supporters argued it would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve grant competitiveness, while critics said it was too prescriptive and could affect rural land use and agriculture.

Transcript Highlights:

• say, too, that complicates things vis-à-vis Virginia is that Virginia is a state that has lots of cross-border
• Cross-country skiers and everybody else. They’re not being asked to increase it.
• I’m an avid cross-country skier.
• I'm an avid cross-country skier. years. I am not a snowmobiler. I'm an avid cross-country skier.
• But I want to leave you with this last quote, which you should have received. ...and cross-agency collaboration

Bills: HB2109 , HB2139 , HB2192

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: vehicle loads, public highways, transportation, road safety, infrastructure, HB2139, snowmobile registration, snowmobile fee, vehicle license fee, registration fee, Department of Licensing, RCW, vehicle registration, winter recreation, off-road vehicle, moped, motorcycle, trailer, recreational vehicle, vintage snowmobile

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill adds repeated identity and employment cross-checks every two weeks.
• just didn't add the UTV definition under the golf cart statute and then just use that framework for crossing
• just didn't add the UTV definition under the golf cart statute and then just use that framework for crossing
• of defining UTV but moving it under the current golf cart statute that has all the parameters for crossing
• that this can be on, that it's not really limited to agriculture areas, that it's kind of a road crossing

Bills: S0216 , S0246 , S0356 , S0388 , S0470 , S0488 , S0490 , S0528 , S0584 , S0594

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• He said his milk has to cross a state line to get to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to a Kroger plant.
• He said his milk has to cross a state line to get to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to a Kroger plant.
• He said his milk has to cross a state line to get to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to a Kroger plant, and
• my</c><00:21:37.760><c> milk</c><00:21:38.080><c> has</c><00:21:38.240><c> to</c><00:21:38.480><c> cross
• </c><00:21:38.640><c> a</c> other states cuz my milk has to cross a other states cuz my milk has to cross

Committee: House Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have basically a bridge that will cross the rail.
• to clarify, the bridge is certainly owned by the New Mexico Department of Transportation, but it crosses
• Again, because the bridge crosses through Santa Clara Pueblo, as we're working on this study for solutions
• And so, you have a lot of mid-block crossing happening right there.
• It won't work if you place a hawk light, for example, at a crosswalk if the pedestrians are crossing

Transcript Highlights:

• You have Senate File 1819, which has to do with the special education cross-subsidy bill, which would
• You have Senate File 1819, which has to do with the special education cross-subsidy bill, which would
• I do know that when I go and listen to my school districts, they talk about the special education cross-subsidy
• You have Senate File 1819, which has to do with the special education cross-subsidy bill, which would
• I do know that when I go and listen to my school districts, they talk about the special education cross-subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a bunch of cross-references. I looked at all the cross-references.
• It defines eligible offenders and says, and there's a long list of cross-references.
• He stole a pocket knife, and the first person he saw crossing the street, he stabbed approximately 47
• He stole a pocket knife, and the first person he saw crossing the street, he stabbed approximately 47
• The first person he saw crossing the street, he stabbed approximately 47 times from the thigh to the

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Representative Hoverson offered remarks recognizing World Autism Day, and the House then handled conference committee motions on several bills, including House Bills 1460 and 1248 and Senate Bills 2262, 2070, 2294, and 2297, with the Speaker appointing members to each conference committee. The chamber also set aside Senate Bill 2200 for re-referral to Appropriations and moved to amendments on Senate Bill 2128, which was the main subject of the day. Senate Bill 2128, a major criminal justice and corrections bill, drew extensive debate over truth-in-sentencing, mandatory minimums, parole, transitional facilities, work release, electronic monitoring, and the fiscal impact of longer incarceration. Division A of the amendments removed mandatory minimums for resisting arrest and felony simple assault while keeping consecutive-sentence language; supporters said this preserved judicial discretion and reduced costs, while opponents argued it weakened public safety. Division A was adopted 70-23. Division B proposed broader changes to preserve transitional programming, add penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring and escape, limit some work-release restrictions, create a parole board study, and fund electronic monitoring with a $600,000 appropriation. Supporters framed it as a compromise that balanced rehabilitation and public safety; opponents said it undercut the bill’s intent and left dangerous offenders with too much access to transitional release. Division B failed on a 46-46 tie. The House then took up the bill itself, with the Judiciary Committee reporting a do-not-pass recommendation as amended, and debate continued over whether the amended bill should advance, with members split between concerns about victims and public safety versus rehabilitation, prison capacity, and recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• state of Florida who live in fear of their loved ones with mental illness having that intersection cross
• The bill requires the Department of Education to cross-check applicants against the latest enrollment
• My question is, in addition to cross-checking the applicants, cross-checking and...
• going to be a lot of people that the Department of Education didn't identify and public data from the cross
• Leek:** Again, I would refer you to versus Walder is the only court ruling today on where speech crosses

Transcript Highlights:

• I watch many truckloads of logs from New Hampshire cross into Canada, go to mill, and be sold as SPF.
• I watch many truckloads of logs from New Hampshire cross into Canada, go to mill, and be sold as SPF.
• </c><00:25:16.400><c> into</c> logs from New Hampshire cross into logs from New Hampshire cross into
• It's not like when you get a bill and they cross out the part that's being repealed.
• </c> like when you get a bill and they cross like when you get a bill and they cross out<01:15:32.400

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Oʻahu Cross Island Community Resilience Network.
• This is the Oʻahu Cross Island Community Resilience Network.
• This is the Oahu Cross Island Community Resilience<00:28:11.120><c> Network.
• </c><00:34:38.560><c> Island</c> been working with the Cross Island been working with the Cross Island
• There can be actually like a lot of cross-colonies. And we are going to go.

Bills: HB2437 , HB1815 , HB1614 , HB1613 , HB1612 , HB2411 , HB2597 , HB2583 , HB2474 , HB1863 , HB2590 , HB1813 , HB1838 , HB2138 , HB1967 , HB1576 , HB2139 , HB1605 , HB2113 , HB812 , HB1831 , HB1707 , HB2561 , HB1805 , HB2469 , HB2472 , HB2387 , HB1658 , HB1661 , HB1664 , HB1859 , HB2276 , HB2335 , HB1656 , HB2116 , HB2272 , HB2273 , HB2340 , HB2158 , HB2339 , HB2489 , HB2159 , HB2171 , HB2338 , HB2005 , HB1952 , HB1872 , HB1676 , HB2384 , HB2614 , HB20 , HB1776 , HB1565 , HB2310 , HB1975 , HB1801 , HB1668 , HB2114 , HB1972 , HB1546 , HB1518 , HB1131 , HB2208 , HB2156 , HB2268 , HB2622 , HB2581 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB1577 , HB2033 , HB2031 , HB2023 , HB1969 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB2315 , HB2343 , HB2501 , HB2505 , HB816 , HB1562 , HB1591 , HB1853 , HB1854 , HB1871 , HB1965 , HB1966 , HB1537 , HB1541 , HB276 , HB2606 , HB2270 , HB1920 , HB1756 , HB1727 , HB1718 , HB1715 , HB1713 , HB1711

Transcript Highlights:

• Cross? Here. Daly? Fabrizio? Here. Gentry? Here. Greco? Here. Griffiths? Here. LaMarca? Here.
• Cross? Yes. Daly? Fabrizio? Gentry? Yes. Greco? Yes. Griffiths? Yes. LaMarca? Yes. Oliver? Yes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a 7-year-old, and he has to cross a busy street.
• I have a 7-year-old, and he has to cross a busy street.
• that one street by able to cross that one street by themselves<00:13:06.320><c> to</c><00:13:06.440>
• </c><01:03:47.640><c> over</c><01:03:47.840><c> to</c><01:03:48.000><c> other</c> how does this cross
• over to other how does this cross over to other agencies, agencies, agencies, this<01:03:49.760><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a lot of cross-subsidy going on here.
• Well, I would call that a cross-subsidy, not a risk, but we have sort of committed to that cross-subsidy—that
• And of course, some places such as San Francisco would like to not be cross-subsidizing the high-cost
• So there needs to be potential cross-examination of witnesses who put forth that analysis.
• have to provide due process to everyone that appears before us, so they've got to have a chance to cross-examine

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, reliability, and wildfire-related costs. The chair framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while keeping bills affordable and the system reliable, and noted the hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and Public Advocates Office. Professor Severin Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining the split between deregulated generation and regulated transmission/distribution, the basics of cost-of-service regulation, and the role of return on equity. He argued that high allowed returns can encourage capital-intensive spending and that many public policy costs now embedded in rates would be better funded through the state budget, while warning that price caps or performance-based regulation are not silver bullets. CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds described the commission’s role as economic regulator of investor-owned utilities and said affordability is being addressed through rate case scrutiny, reasonableness reviews, and legislative direction. She said wildfire mitigation and insurance costs have been major drivers of rate increases, but some wildfire-related costs are time-limited and will roll off rates over time. She also highlighted progress on clean energy procurement, battery storage growth, and integrated resource planning to meet climate goals while maintaining reliability. Reynolds said the CPUC is reviewing utility spending, disallowing imprudent costs where appropriate, and litigating at FERC to challenge transmission costs. Members pressed both witnesses on several issues, including whether rates are being inflated by legislative mandates and balancing accounts, whether utility returns are too high, and whether the state should shift more public-policy costs off electric bills and into the General Fund. Senators also raised concerns about load growth from data centers and ports, gas-system stranded assets as electrification advances, and whether the CPUC is over-regulating or discouraging innovation. Reynolds said the CPUC is working with the Energy Commission, CAISO, and the Air Resources Board on a holistic planning process, and pointed to tools such as interconnection reforms and demand flexibility. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up requests for reports and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a lot of cross-subsidy going on here.
• Well, I would call that a cross-subsidy, not a risk, but we have sort of committed to that cross-subsidy
• And of course, some places such as San Francisco would like to not be cross-subsidizing the high-cost
• So there needs to be potential cross-examination of witnesses who put forth that analysis.
• have to provide due process to everyone that appears before us, so they've got to have a chance to cross-examine

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s role. Chair and members framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while maintaining reliability and keeping bills affordable. The hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and the Public Advocates Office, with testimony from Professor Severin Borenstein and CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds. Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining that generation is largely deregulated while transmission and distribution remain regulated, and that most rate-setting follows cost-of-service regulation. He emphasized that the hardest issue is setting the allowed return on equity: too high can raise bills and encourage capital-heavy spending, while too low can deter investment and harm reliability. He argued there is no silver bullet, said performance-based regulation and price caps have limits, and suggested some costs now charged through electric bills—such as climate programs, low-income subsidies, and wildfire-related public policy costs—might more appropriately be paid through the state budget. Reynolds described the CPUC’s oversight role, saying the commission reviews utility spending through general rate cases, balancing accounts, and other proceedings, and that affordability is addressed through front-end scrutiny, post-spend accountability, and legislative direction. She highlighted wildfire mitigation as a major driver of rate increases, noted recent progress on clean energy procurement and battery storage, and said the CPUC is working on return-on-equity decisions, FERC advocacy on transmission costs, and implementation of SB 254 and other statutes. Members pressed on a range of issues, including wildfire securitization, load growth from EVs and data centers, gas-system stranded assets, balancing accounts, and a water-service dispute in Keene involving Union Pacific. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up commitments from the CPUC to provide data and updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, what's really frustrating for Blue Cross is we just, change rates.
• Blue Cross. Okay. Madam Chair, Dr.
• Now, for the record, Mark Osborne here on behalf of Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• Both United and Blue Cross will look at the... You do a fiscal note on it.
• For the record, Mark Oswald here on behalf of Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Bills: HB2176 , HB2333 , HB2435 , HB2447 , HB2617 , HB2683 , HB2686 , HB2725 , HB2726 , HB2906 , HB2953 , HB2958

Committees: House Health & Human Services , House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Keywords: health care, licensure, complaints, investigation, safety, patient care, regulatory compliance, prosthetics, orthotics, health insurance, Medicare, medical necessity, disability rights, coverage, reimbursement, internationally trained physicians, medical board, clinical training, provisional license, healthcare workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• Such that, for example, one of our best, most model churches in the state, Crossing Life in Windham,
• Such that, for example, one of our best, most model churches in the state, Crossing Life in Windham,
• Such that, for example, one of our best, most model churches in the state, Crossing Life in Windham,
• Such that, for example, one of our best, most model churches in the state, Crossing Life in Windham,
• Such that, for example, one of our best, most model churches in the state, Crossing Life in Windham,

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 291, which would update religious land-use and property tax exemption rules for church-owned parsonages, parish houses, and similar properties. Senator Tim Lang, speaking for the sponsor, said the bill was intended to address situations where former parsonages are no longer occupied by clergy and are instead used for church-related purposes such as housing staff, religious education, or congregate living tied to ministry, including addiction recovery. He emphasized that the bill was not meant to create commercial rental housing and that it also preserves reasonable zoning and environmental regulations. Committee members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would be applied, especially the meaning of “religious purposes,” the six-unit limit, the “same lot” language, and whether churches could use the exemption to rent units for revenue. The sponsor said the six-unit cap was added to prevent large-scale commercial rental use, that congregate housing would be limited and defined, and that the bill was meant to cover uses like substance abuse recovery, homes for unwed mothers, and religious education, but not apartments converted for ordinary rental. He also said churches would still file annual exemption paperwork and towns could challenge claims they believed were commercial. Questions also raised concerns about whether the bill treated religious and nonreligious housing trusts differently; the sponsor responded that the bill was aimed at church-owned property used in pursuit of a religious mission. Several witnesses testified in support. Representative Mark Pearson, an active clergyman, said the bill would not remove additional property from the tax rolls because clergy housing allowances typically lead clergy to buy taxable homes elsewhere, while the church-owned parsonage remains exempt. Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire supported the bill as a modest expansion that could help create more attainable housing by allowing better use of existing religious land and structures, though he noted his organization would support even broader use. The hearing ended without a vote or final action, and the chair closed questions after the testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, it kind of weakens how we view not just the threshold that you crossed, but maybe any threshold
• that you crossed, because if it's not important to you, why is it important to us?
• Well, it kind of weakens how we view not just the threshold that you crossed, but maybe any threshold
• that you crossed, because if it's not important to you, why is it important to us?
• that you crossed, because if it's not important to you, why is it important to us?

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• But the language in that bill, as it originally was proposed, granted the right to corner cross on all
• </c><01:24:48.320><c> onto</c><01:24:49.040><c> any</c> now uh we can corner cross onto any now uh we
• can corner cross onto any lands<01:24:49.840><c> that</c><01:24:50.080><c> are</c><01:24:50.239><c>
• the right to corner cross on all uh<01:25:12.080><c> state</c><01:25:12.960><c> and</c><01:25:13.360
• </c><01:37:19.600><c> some</c> bikes and that that includes cross some bikes and that that includes cross

Committee: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• However, you cannot cross back into New Hampshire with that product.
• But you have to take 30 of them, and it becomes cross-prohibitive.
• But you have to take 30 of them, and it becomes cross-prohibitive.
• it can be them and it becomes cross it can be cross<01:49:13.320><c> prohibitive</c><01:49:14.280><c
• </c> can drive 30 minutes from my house cross can drive 30 minutes from my house cross the<05:57:04.600

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the Broadway High School boys cross the Broadway High School boys cross country<00:39:34.800><c>
• Madam Speaker, I once again congratulate the 2024 Clark County boys cross-country team.
• Madam Speaker, I once again congratulate the 2024 Clark County boys cross-country team.
• Madam Speaker, I once again congratulate the 2024 Clark County boys cross-country team.
• </c><05:00:33.320><c> our</c> with 93 successful launches crossing our with 93 successful launches crossing

Bills: HR28 , HR153 , HR40 , HR39 , HR38

Keywords: remote testimony, committee proceedings, witness participation, Congress, transparency, condolences, aviation safety, transportation disaster, victims support, first responders, committee elections, House of Representatives, legislative process, congressional committees, membership, House resolution, committee assignments, standing committees, 119th Congress, Armed Services Committee