Transcript Highlights:

• policy issues, I'm curious if you can speak to the challenges around food access and food assistance
• policy issues, I'm curious if you can speak to the challenges around food access and food assistance
• Curious on food security challenges.
• My church collected food during the shutdown to provide to the food banks, which tended to run toward
• Food insecurities was brought up several times. We do have a problem here with food insecurities.

Summary: The committee heard updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Navy Region Northwest, Fairchild Air Force Base, the Coast Guard, state licensing agencies, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Washington National Guard, and a veterans behavioral health presenter. Across the military briefings, common themes were readiness, infrastructure, and quality-of-life issues for service members and families, especially child care, housing, food insecurity, medical and dental access, and military spouse employment. JBLM highlighted its role in Indo-Pacific readiness, ongoing PFAS cleanup, 212 new family housing units under construction, efforts to expand child care, and continued work to keep the Lewis Army Museum open. Navy Region Northwest discussed its major installations and economic impact, the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan, future carrier and submarine homeporting needs, and asked the legislature to continue support for licensure compacts, educational stability for military children, housing, and medical access. Fairchild emphasized its tanker and survival missions, child care shortages, food insecurity, aging housing, and concerns about wind turbine development near flight paths, while the Coast Guard focused on rebuilding Base Seattle for new icebreakers and on rural access to housing, medical care, and child care at dispersed stations like Neah Bay. Members repeatedly raised food insecurity and asked for follow-up on solutions. JBLM and Fairchild both described increased demand for food assistance during the shutdown, and committee members noted progress in getting mobile food vans onto JBLM. The presenters also praised state action on military spouse licensure and child care, including Senate Bill 5545 and related compact and portability efforts. The Department of Licensing reported about 9,000 self-identified military members or spouses licensed, with average time-to-license just under nine days, and said applications are prioritized when military status is self-identified. The Department of Health said its military-to-civilian crosswalk now covers more than 35 health professions, that temporary practice permits and expedited processing are in place, and that 1,300 credentials were issued to military spouses and domestic partners and 129 to military-trained health professionals in the last fiscal year, all within 30 days. The Professional Educator Standards Board explained that military spouses and service members can receive expedited teacher certification with reduced documentation, and that they are moved to the front of the review queue when they self-identify. Members asked about verification, and staff said the process relies on attestation with investigatory safeguards if needed. The Washington National Guard briefed on its dual state and federal mission, the impact of the recent shutdown on nearly 700 employees who worked without pay, and policy and budget requests including youth academy protections, alignment of the Washington Code of Military Justice with the UCMJ, making Civil Air Patrol a division of the Military Department, 911 funding, disaster assistance, and capital funding for headquarters and readiness facilities. The Guard also warned about drone threats and said it wants authority to identify, track, and monitor suspicious drones. A veterans behavioral health presenter, an Army combat veteran and clinical social worker, described high suicide risk, barriers to care, and the need for more culturally competent services, especially for women veterans and caregivers. He said Washington veterans’ suicide rate remains above the national average and emphasized that childcare, transportation, and provider shortages can prevent timely treatment. Members generally responded supportively throughout, asked for follow-up on food security and other issues, and encouraged agencies to bring forward legislative ideas for future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• By addressing this waste and finding a beneficial use... process food waste in process food waste in
• </c><00:06:12.880><c> scraps</c> agreement to provide those food scraps agreement to provide those food
• You put the food in and it processes the food and it produces liquids, solids, and gases.
• </c> of what food waste it can take the food of what food waste it can take the food waste<00:19:25.360
• </c> to produce energy from our food waste. to produce energy from our food waste.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• , and also add food banks as a qualifying entity.
• As you know, food banks use their scale and buying power to supply food to local pantries, churches,
• important role in reducing food waste.
• As you know, that food banks use their scale and buying power to supply food to local pantries, churches
• I think food pantry tax credits are a very worthwhile endeavor.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee first met in executive session and voted 8-0, with one member absent, to do pass House Bill 3405. Members described the bill as clarifying how pass-through entity tax information and credits are handled, with supporters saying it would reduce confusion and administrative burden while preserving the tax credit. In public hearing, the committee took testimony on House Bill 2457 and House Bill 1782, both related to food pantry tax credits. HB 2457 would extend the food pantry/soup kitchen/homeless shelter credit to 2032, add food banks as eligible entities, and raise the cap from $1.75 million to $4 million, while keeping the credit at 50 percent. HB 1782 would remove the sunset from the food pantry tax credit. Supporters said food banks and related charities need stable, predictable funding to address rising hunger and food waste; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 3518, which would redirect the existing athletes and entertainers tax into a dedicated fund and require distribution to arts, humanities, libraries, public broadcasting, and historic preservation, while extending the sunset to 2060. The sponsor and supporters argued the money was intended for these purposes and that current appropriations fall short of the statutory split, creating instability for cultural and educational organizations. Witnesses from arts groups, libraries, and humanities organizations cited economic impact, statewide reach, and the need for long-term planning; some members raised concerns about oversight, general revenue impacts, and the long sunset, but no vote was taken on HB 3518 in this transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• purchasing assistance grants, which allows um uh food shelves and food hubs to purchase from our small
• purchasing assistance grants, which allows um uh food shelves and food hubs to purchase from our small
• </c> grants which allows um uh food shelves grants which allows um uh food shelves to<00:04:23.360><c
• and to purchase or food food shelves and and food<00:04:25.919><c> hubs</c><00:04:26.240><c> to</c><
• And then for the food food made.

Bills: HF2784 , HF2785 , HF2778 , HF2281 , HF2576 , HF2280 , HF2579

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> education, the arts, and food education, the arts, and food distribution. distribution. distribution
• Hoy Good Food Alliance, $1 million. Family Law Clinic, $140,000. Hui Food Bank, $5.5 million.
• Kauaii Food Bank, $95,000. Kahu Foundation, $83,000. EU Medical Youth Project, $250,000.
• Maui Food Bank, $895,000. Maui Hub, $45,000.
• The Food Basket, $1.5 million. The Legal Clinic, $100,000. Upcountry Strong, $50,000.

Summary: The hearing was an informational briefing on Act 310, which set aside $50 million for nonprofit and community organizations facing uncertainty, especially amid federal funding disruptions. Speakers thanked Aloha United Way for handling applications, as well as the governor, lieutenant governor, House and Senate leadership, and legislative staff for helping craft the measure and review more than 200 applications totaling over $150 million in requests. They noted the funding was intended as a safety net for organizations serving at-risk populations and those that had lost federal support, with priority given to healthcare, human services, education, the arts, and food distribution. The co-chair then presented the recommended award list, describing it as aimed at programs with broad reach and high impact. The list included a large number of nonprofits and community providers across the state, such as food banks, health centers, youth and family services, domestic violence and legal aid organizations, cultural and educational groups, and hospitals. Several of the larger awards mentioned included Hui Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island, West Hawaii Community Health Center, The Food Basket, and multiple Maui and Oahu service organizations. After the full list was read, the chair asked for discussion or objections. Hearing none, the committee adopted the list of nonprofit awards as read. The briefing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will you call them lazy, worthless, unworthy of food?
• Will you call them lazy, worthless, unworthy of food?
• Will you call them lazy, worthless, unworthy of food?
• They're stealing your food, your health care, your security.
• We gut Medicaid, food assistance.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I love seeing the rainbow of food that's at the salad bar and knowing that food from farmers right
• co-ops a restaurant program local food co-ops a restaurant food<00:34:10.599><c> shelves</c><00:34:11.159
• </c> knowing that food from Farmers right knowing that food from Farmers right around<00:37:17.920><c
• <00:42:04.040><c> we've</c><00:42:04.280><c> even</c> Foods we've even Foods we've even confirmed<00:
• </c> eggs that they had gotten off the food eggs that they had gotten off the food service<00:43:23.720

Bills: HF2446 , HF2878 , HF2667 , HF1795 , HF2683 , HF2916

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> can puts food on the table. can puts food on the table.
• Peter Food Shelf.
• Um and he receives Peter Food Shelf.
• the</c><00:15:26.720><c> Federal</c> food assistance through the Federal food assistance through the
• </c> increase the funding for the local food increase the funding for the local food purchasing<00:24

Transcript Highlights:

• They cannot be placed in foods in the EU. They cannot be put in foods in Latin America.
• They cannot be put in foods in South Korea.
• towards more real food.
• towards more real food.
• bipartisan support, and then the California School Food Safety Act that we passed to get the food dyes

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a full agenda of bills, first adopting a consent calendar of 11 measures without individual presentations. The committee then took up AB 1412, which would require California schools to implement or adopt a transferred special education student’s IEP within 30 days for out-of-state transfers and to coordinate more quickly on records. The author and military-family witnesses said the bill would reduce delays for highly mobile students, especially military children; a school administrators group opposed it. The bill received initial support from committee members and was moved on call. The committee also reconsidered AB 281, which would require notice to parents when outside consultants provide sex education instruction; the author accepted amendments removing a copy-right provision, but the bill remained on call after a split vote. The committee heard AB 1005, which would create a statewide drowning-prevention education and swim-lesson voucher framework for underserved communities. The author and supporters described drowning as a preventable public health and equity issue, while the bill was clarified as developing a plan rather than immediately launching a voucher program. It was voted out on a 3-0 roll with the measure placed on call. AB 908, as amended, would add compliance monitoring for existing requirements that schools use LGBTQ-inclusive instructional materials and curriculum under the FAIR Act. Supporters said the bill would improve implementation and student safety; opponents raised concerns about privacy, girls’ sports, and school burdens. The committee approved the bill 5-2 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 1401, which would affirm parents’ access to school records, including unofficial records unless exempt by law. The author argued that parents need clearer access to information held by schools and vendors, while school officials and teachers’ union representatives warned the bill was too vague and could sweep in personal notes, journals, and other sensitive material. The bill failed on a 2-3 vote and was placed on call. Finally, AB 727 would require student ID cards to include the Trevor Project hotline for LGBTQ youth; supporters framed it as a suicide-prevention measure, while opponents argued it conflicted with parental rights and religious beliefs. Committee discussion focused on whether 988 already provides similar access and whether the Trevor Project is an appropriate resource to print on IDs; the hearing continued with the bill still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a meat Foods Incorporated.
• </c> each community and distribute the food. each community and distribute the food.
• We do serve over 572,000 lb of food last year at our food shelf.
• the food shelf that I work at.
• </c> at the food shelf that I work at. at the food shelf that I work at.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• that sell those food items are not going to simply accept less money.
• So let's say you're banning whatever food item, the corporation that makes that food item isn't simply
• foods and how it impacts your health.
• or people who are unable to cook and prepare foods by themselves.
• This bill explicitly threatens their access to food.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions and proclamations, including International Mother Language Day, Arizona Nurses’ Day, Environmental Day, Teamsters Local 104, and Arizona Aerospace Day. Attendance was recorded at 57 present, zero absent, and three excused. The chamber also announced committee meetings, bill referrals, and later adjourned until Thursday, February 12, 2026. The main floor action centered on House Bill 2785, a taxation measure tied to federal tax conformity. Members debated whether Arizona should conform to federal tax changes, with supporters arguing it would validate current tax forms and provide tax relief, and opponents warning it would mainly benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations while reducing state revenue. The bill passed 32-26 with two not voting. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole for two calendars of bills. In Committee of the Whole, the House advanced HB 2190, HB 2206, HB 2396, HB 2442, and HB 2448, all on health and human services topics, with amendments adopted on the first three. HB 2206 drew extended debate over SNAP payment error rates and whether the bill would impose an unfunded mandate and make benefits harder to access; supporters said it would reduce waste and save money, while opponents said it would set DES up for failure. HB 2396, which would restrict certain SNAP purchases, drew testimony over whether it would improve nutrition or unfairly limit low-income families and create a “food police” system. HB 2442 and HB 2448 also drew criticism over added SNAP work requirements and limits on agency waiver authority during recessions. The Committee later advanced HB 2688, HB 2689, HB 2690, HB 2796, and HB 2797, including bills on government staffing, hospital immigration-status data collection, unemployment benefits, SNAP eligibility/redeterminations, and fraud reporting. HB 2689 prompted sharp opposition over fears it would deter immigrants and mixed-status families from seeking medical care, while HB 2796 and HB 2797 were criticized as adding administrative burdens and duplicative SNAP checks. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report, and a motion to amend the report to show HB 2689 failed was rejected 24-32.

Transcript Highlights:

• More delicious real food at school.
• I would even love to get to primary food.
• They cannot be placed in foods in the EU.
• They cannot be put in foods in Latin America. they cannot be put in foods in South Korea, saying we shouldn't
• towards more real food.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So the food bank network might be the only place that they can get healthy food.
• So the food bank network might be the only place that they can get healthy food.
• our Hawaii Island farmers, food hubs, and food retailers.
• our Hawaii Island farmers, food hubs, and food retailers.
• our Hawaii Island farmers, food hubs, and food retailers.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Foods or Cisco. And it's the same with when we're talking about goods.
• California invests billions of dollars in food assistance programs.
• the development, and this is the most critical part, of a statewide food security strategy.
• It increases... ...of a statewide food security strategy.
• SB 1025 does not create another food program.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, this is the Food is Medicine Initiative for Missouri. Hippocrates said food is medicine.
• Speaker, this is the Food is Medicine Initiative for Missouri. Hippocrates said food is medicine.
• Food is not just fuel.
• A food-as-medicine strategy is not theoretical.
• Food is not just fuel.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and welcomed special guests, including the Freedom of the Road motorcycle riders and students from Warsaw High School. It then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on Alpha-Gal syndrome. The bill sponsor described the condition as a serious tick-borne allergy that has affected his family and many Missourians, arguing that Missouri needs mandatory reporting and surveillance data to identify hotspots, guide public health outreach, and support research and funding. Supporters from both parties said the bill would improve awareness and data collection, while one member raised concerns about the fiscal note and whether the state would get useful information for the cost. The chamber adopted Amendment 1 to HB 1855, changing the follow-up language from “may” to “shall,” but rejected Amendment 2, which would have required patient consent before lab results were reported into the surveillance system. Opponents of the consent amendment said it would undermine disease surveillance and set a bad precedent for other reportable conditions; supporters argued for privacy and individual choice. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2230 and 2978, a K-5 education measure addressing screen time, cursive, and handwriting. The sponsor said the bill responds to research and parent/teacher concerns about excessive screen use, poor literacy outcomes, and mental health effects, and would create a state focus group to review evidence and make recommendations while leaving districts flexibility. Members discussed carve-outs for special education, English language learners, and virtual school, and adopted an amendment excluding the virtual school program. The House then adopted the substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2355, the “Food is Medicine” initiative, which would allow Missouri to use federal funds through 1115 waivers for pilot programs such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and related supports. Supporters said the program could improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid spending, and help address food deserts. An amendment adding vitamin therapies and updating a date drew discussion over supplement safety and regulation, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:41:46.440><c> license</c> it with the homestead food license it with the homestead food license
• </c><00:41:53.240><c> hazardous</c><00:41:53.680><c> food</c> potentially Hazard food hazardous food
• potentially Hazard food hazardous food it<00:41:54.160><c> does</c><00:41:54.520><c> require</c><00:41
• to HB 505, allowing the sale of freeze-dried foods produced in homestead food operations.
• </c><02:14:18.800><c> hubs</c><02:14:19.119><c> Food</c> I mean talking about food hubs Food I mean talking

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on HR 18, a resolution urging New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to seek federal changes that would let very small slaughter plants use custom-exempt inspection criteria with a third-party inspector present, so beef, pork, lamb, and goat could be sold as individual cuts directly to consumers. Representative Judy Aron said the resolution was drafted in lieu of state legislation because the issue is governed by USDA rules, and she noted she was also working on an amendment to ensure the measure covered federal “very small” plants. Representative Miner asked for clarification about custom slaughter versus retail sales, and Representative Scully supported the resolution while suggesting language to make clear it applied only to local end consumers. Joyce Brady of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the state’s four USDA slaughterhouses and the bottleneck in custom cutting made the issue important. After no further testimony, the chair closed the hearing. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. For HB 616, members discussed an amendment that had been revised after public comments and Commissioner Jasper’s feedback; Representative Guber said it balanced the competing positions, and Representative Penza and Representative Ger said the language now addressed concerns about animal suffering by allowing euthanasia if a treating veterinarian determines the animal is in extreme suffering. The committee then discussed HB 77, with Representative Penza describing changes to landfill-related standards, including replacing aquifer references with drinking water wells, removing a penalty section, changing discretionary language to mandatory language for the department, and adjusting an in situ soils standard. Members praised the compromise, though Representative Scully raised concerns about the 1,500-foot setback and suggested engineering controls such as berms; Penza responded that current rules do not include such controls and that the setback was intended to address surface spills. Several members said the bill reflected a hard-fought balance and should not be rewritten at the last minute. For HB 505, the freeze-dried food bill, Representative Aron explained that the amendment replaced a simple exemption with a requirement that homestead food operations selling freeze-dried foods from a farm stand, farmers market, or retail food store obtain a homestead food license under RSA 143-A:4. She said the amendment defines freeze-dried foods as fruits, vegetables, and commercially prepared dairy products, and delays the effective date 120 days to allow rulemaking. Members generally supported the approach as a light-touch oversight mechanism for potentially hazardous foods, though Representative Ktoa asked for clarification about how the amendment interacts with existing licensing and inspection exemptions, and Aron clarified that these products would not be exempt from licensing under the relevant law. The committee then turned to HB 250, concerning local authority over dog muzzling, where members broadly supported the amendment as a simple solution, while Representative Ktoa asked about the underlying definition of a vicious dog and whether all listed behaviors would warrant muzzling. The discussion noted that the amendment would allow towns to require muzzling for dogs meeting the statutory definition, while excluding hunting, working, herding, and similar dogs.

Transcript Highlights:

• , get food, get farmers food to people throughout the state.
• One of my passions is food. It's ending hunger and food insecurity in the state of Minnesota.
• One of my passions is food. It's ending hunger and food insecurity in the state of Minnesota.
• One of my passions is food. It's ending hunger and food insecurity in the state of Minnesota.
• One of my passions is food. It's ending hunger and food insecurity in the state of Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't food bank our way out of this Republican-made crisis.
• WE CAN'T FOOD BANK OUR WAY OUT OF THIS REPUBLICAN-MADE CRISIS.
• Because you can only buy food with SNAP benefits. Who grows that food?
• Both these areas were food deserts before these stores opened.
• BOTH THESE AREAS WERE FOOD DESERTS BEFORE THESE STORES OPENED.

Transcript Highlights:

• for their families and avoid food insecurity.
• Jill Dixon, who is the president of the Food Bank Association in the state and runs our food bank here
• I know many of you on both sides of the aisle have worked with your food banks.
• Food benefits under SNAP have been one of the casualties of the shutdown.
• Food is not a partisan issue, and blue states and red states together.

Transcript Highlights:

• but to throw out or compost these safe, in-demand foods.
• unable to afford the food they need without assistance.
• unable to afford the food they need without assistance.
• The broad coalition of food shelves, retailers, public health, and food waste prevention experts that
• </c><00:37:39.680><c> Please</c> more food to motans for free. Please more food to motans for free.