Transcript Highlights:

• of background, under state law, a private detention facility means a detention facility that is operated
• by a private, non-governmental entity and operating pursuant to a contract or agreement with a federal
• These rules do not apply to facilities that are operating pursuant to a valid contract that was in effect
• For decades, the programs have been operating with a 1-to-4 ratio during daytime working hours and a
• operators of the facility.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a brief Monday meeting to hear two bills and a gubernatorial appointment. House Bill 2464, sponsored by Rep. Ortiz-Self, would require private detention facilities to report serious incidents such as abuse allegations, deaths, suicides, injuries requiring hospitalization, and service disruptions to the Department of Health and local law enforcement by the next business day, and would require annual law-enforcement reporting to DOH. Rep. Ortiz-Self said the bill is needed because private facilities have been inconsistent and delayed in sharing information, while state facilities already provide data more readily. Testimony from Columbia Legal Services, the League of Women Voters, La Resistencia, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project strongly supported the bill, citing barriers to reporting crimes and concerns about abuse in private detention. The committee did not vote on the bill during the hearing, but the chair said it would be considered in executive session. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2253, a DCYF request bill making several licensing-related changes for foster care, crisis residential centers, and child care. The bill would require immediate termination of certain child-specific foster licenses if high-potency synthetic opioids or illicit substances are found, exempt kinship caregivers from blood-borne pathogen training, allow DCYF to close inactive foster homes, remove sex designation from foster licenses, adjust CRC staffing ratios to one staff for four youth during waking hours and one for six during sleeping hours, and strengthen child care subsidy fraud enforcement through electronic attendance verification and possible license revocation. DCYF and Community Youth Services testified in support, describing the changes as technical fixes that align statute with current practice and reduce burden on providers. Committee members raised concerns that some child care provisions may belong in a different committee and noted the need to ensure the bill does not duplicate or conflict with existing licensing and fraud rules. The committee then held a confirmation hearing for Corey McNally, reappointed to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. McNally described the board’s role in release decisions, supervision conditions, violation management, and release plans, and discussed his background in community mental health, the Special Commitment Center, DOC sex offense treatment, and ISRB leadership. Members asked about advances in sex offense assessment and treatment, the distinction between ISRB cases and sexually violent predator civil commitment, board consistency and recidivism work, and victim participation in hearings. McNally said the board uses structured decision-making and actuarial risk assessments, remains neutral on legislation, and provides victim liaisons to offer participation options. The chair closed the hearings, noted the committee would meet the next day on a large packet of bills and one appointment, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there is an emergency clause that... ...on or after the effective date of the legislation, and there
• is an emergency clause that will make the legislation effective immediately.
• This prohibition does not apply to officers performing their duties during active undercover operations
• For background, the Department of Social and Health Services operates two state psychiatric hospitals
• The 2025-27 state operating budget included a number of appropriations from the State General Fund to

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 18, 2026, and heard staff briefings and public testimony on several familiar bills. Engrossed Senate Bill 5068 would broaden eligibility for law enforcement, civil service, prosecuting attorney, and Fish and Wildlife officer jobs to anyone legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law, replacing references to lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients. Supporters, including Sen. Lovick and King County, said it would expand the applicant pool and align state law with federal work authorization rules; opponents raised concerns about background checks, visa fraud, and whether the bill could allow people without U.S. citizenship to serve in sensitive public safety roles. The committee also heard testimony on Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5268, which would require community custody for unlawful possession of a firearm offenses; law enforcement and prosecutors supported it as an accountability measure, while the Sentencing Guidelines Commission urged more specificity and cautioned against over-supervision for lower-level cases. The committee then heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5272, which expands school-related interference and intimidation offenses to include employees, contractors, students, and officials or volunteers involved in extracurricular athletic activities, increases penalties, and requires non-student offenders to be barred from the school or activity for 12 to 18 months. Sen. Lovick and several witnesses, including referee Bob West, supported the bill as a response to rising abuse of sports officials and school personnel. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5286, which would codify and fund community policing partnerships at Western State Hospital in Lakewood and Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, with annual reporting requirements; the mayors of Lakewood and Medical Lake testified in support, saying the programs had reduced calls and improved safety. A major portion of the meeting focused on Substitute Senate Bill 5855, which would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public, with exceptions for undercover work, SWAT/protective gear, and other hazardous conditions. Supporters, including Sen. Valdez, the King County prosecutor, local officials, and several public commenters, argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and public trust, especially in response to masked federal immigration enforcement. Opponents warned about officer safety, doxing, weather and smoke conditions, and possible conflict with federal law; committee members and stakeholders discussed a possible amendment tied to Labor and Industries rules to address protective coverings in hazardous conditions. The chair said the committee would take executive action on SB 5272, SB 5286, and SB 5268 the next day, and the meeting adjourned after public testimony on SB 5855.

Transcript Highlights:

• There could be other state programs that are, for example, emergency shelters.
• And these offices, again, nationally, they operate in distinctive ways. But ultimately...
• And these offices, again, nationally, they operate in distinctive ways.
• But ultimately, And these offices, again, nationally, they operate in distinctive ways.
• Madam Chair, Senator, it's roughly $19 million total operating budget.

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee first heard HB 124, which would codify the Office of New Americans within the Workforce Solutions Department. The sponsor and Workforce Solutions officials said the office has already been operating on a grant and has become a key resource for businesses and immigrant workers, especially for workforce development, credential recognition, language access, and referrals. Supporters from immigrant advocacy, child care, conservation, and civic groups argued the office would help address labor shortages, improve integration, and strengthen economic growth. Several members questioned whether the office would serve people without legal status, what services would be provided, and whether it would create taxpayer costs; sponsors said eligibility would depend on specific programs, the office would mainly provide referrals and workforce support, and it is currently philanthropic grant-funded. The bill was ultimately passed on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee then considered SJR 6, a proposed constitutional amendment to change New Mexico’s pretrial detention standards. The sponsor argued the 2016 bail reform language has contributed to a “revolving door” for repeat offenders and that the current standard is too restrictive and inconsistently applied across judicial districts. Supporters from State Police said the resolution would give clearer direction and let voters revisit the issue. Opponents from the ACLU and the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association warned it would expand pretrial detention, weaken the requirement that the state prove no release conditions are adequate, and disproportionately affect poor people and people of color. After extended debate over public safety, judicial discretion, and whether the proposal should include a clearer standard, the committee approved the resolution on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee also passed SJR 7, a land swap between the state and the City of Santa Fe involving the DPS site and part of the Midtown campus. The sponsor, the Department of Public Safety, and the Santa Fe mayor said the exchange had been discussed for years, would allow the state to own the land under its DPS facilities, and would help the city advance its Midtown redevelopment plan, including housing and public amenities. Members asked about the parcels involved, whether both sides agreed, and whether any member had a financial interest; the sponsor said the swap was non-monetary and fully agreed to by both parties. The resolution passed without opposition. Finally, the committee heard SM 31, which creates a workgroup with LFC, DFA, and PERA to study the loss of COLAs for PERA retirees and recommend solutions. Retiree advocates said the reduced COLA has significantly eroded pension value and that retirees relied on the statutory promise of a 2% COLA. Other speakers emphasized the need to protect long-term fund solvency while addressing retiree losses. The memorial passed unanimously by roll call. The meeting then recessed, with the chair noting the next day’s agenda would be posted later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The operating budget, it's just majority-party Democrat budget writers in the room.
• Let's remove the emergency clause that is entirely unnecessary on this bill.
• And that's exactly how their income tax operates as well.
• There's rural child care operations there, too.
• Now it's $80 billion in operations, government operations, increasing 500 and some percent.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability focused on the final stretch of the legislative session, with repeated criticism of Democratic budget proposals and several policy bills. They said they were especially concerned about an environmental crimes bill they argued would impose excessive penalties for workplace mistakes, as well as bills they described as anti-law-enforcement, including measures related to police face coverings and sheriff qualifications. They also discussed a proposed income tax, calling it unconstitutional and urging that it be sent to referendum if it advances. A major topic was the operating, transportation, and capital budgets. Republicans said the operating budget relies on one-time fund sweeps, raids the rainy day fund and pension assets, and assumes future income-tax revenue while cutting Medicaid, child care, schools, and other services. They said the transportation budget has some positive emphasis on road preservation but criticized ferry funding and the proposed sweep of the Public Works Trust. On the capital budget, they were less specific and described it as generally bipartisan. The lawmakers also addressed reports of fraudulent or duplicate sign-ins on the income-tax bill, saying any abuse should be investigated but that many duplicate entries may have been accidental rather than malicious. They said the system should be improved with better verification, but maintained that more than 100,000 unique people had signed in opposition. Other issues discussed included opposition to using pension funds to balance the budget, criticism of a Sound Transit proposal for 75-year bonds, concerns about a bill requiring arbitration before lawsuits against the state or local governments, and objections to child care budget changes they said would hurt rural and property-poor communities without broader regulatory reform.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what this bill does is it just extends the right to compost beyond emergencies, offering ranchers
• broiler operations could have more roosters, they're likely to be killed before they're adults.
• operations and the state's inability to stop these illegal cockfighting operations.
• I guarantee that no cockfighting operation will comply to NPIP anyway.
• By the way, most legitimate poultry operations such as myself and other small operation breeders are

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> We heard from the pediatric emergency We heard from the pediatric emergency physician<01:11:36.560
• ,</c> times uh at times of emergency, times uh at times of emergency, um<01:44:06.480><c> law</c><01:
• Senator Leur. pretty much volunteer operated. We want pretty much volunteer operated.
• </c><02:40:02.319><c> with</c><02:40:02.640><c> less</c> process is operating with less process is operating
• So, doctor, sorry to pull you out of the emergency room or the operating room or wherever you were.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• information in front of me, but I believe it's regarding Garden City and I think it's Ada County Emergency
• in the current tax scheme and assure... ...growth in the current tax scheme and assure that our emergency
• opposed to maybe saying, hey, we've realized some excess revenues that we can pass back to those emergency
• with this code to make sure that the old overarching problem of not providing enough funding for emergency
• servants, ...that the old overarching problem of not providing enough funding for emergency services

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The transitions patients face after hospitalization or emergency room visits are especially difficult
• In 2002, Chapter 78 covered 34% of our district's operating costs.
• Because they cannot step down, someone remains in an emergency room department.
• It's to end lifetime parole for juveniles and emerging adults.
• So the bill is to end lifetime parole for juveniles and emerging adults.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:58.640><c> Fortunately,</c><00:01:59.280><c> my</c> emergency department.
• Fortunately, my emergency department.
• They do an outstanding job and follow the rules that they have to govern their operation.
• When I became county their operation.
• That does not comport with the operations of this type of bill and keep line 12.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• operations? operations?
• First, Emergency Medical Trauma Services Coordinating Board.
• </c> appropriate emergency care. appropriate emergency care.
• </c> RN can authorize that in an emergency RN can authorize that in an emergency only<02:06:12.800><c
• </c><02:06:26.239><c> situation</c> returned to whatever emergency situation returned to whatever emergency

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Phase one of that program went live in January with IT, procurement, and accounts payable all operating
• Phase one of that program went live in January with IT, procurement, and accounts payable, all operating
• Operating from a shared regional framework, Phase Two will involve human resources and payroll, and that
• Despite these efforts, the bureau still needs to increase its annual fees to support ongoing operations
• Well, especially half of the Bureau's current state operations budget.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard updates on higher education issues, beginning with California State University’s turnaround plans for seven campuses with enrollment declines. CSU said overall enrollment is growing systemwide, but some campuses, especially in Northern California, face structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. The plans focus on reengaging stopped-out and adult learners, expanding partnerships and guaranteed admissions, improving retention and student support, and reducing costs through program suspensions, hiring freezes, shared services, and procurement consolidation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the strategies were reasonable but urged regular legislative updates, and the Department of Finance had no additional comments. Committee members emphasized the need for implementation oversight, written updates, and attention to student outreach, financial aid, and privacy concerns around AI tools used in recruitment. The committee then reviewed the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s request for a $10 million General Fund appropriation to repay litigation-related borrowing. Department of Consumer Affairs and bureau staff said the bureau has a long-standing structural deficit, has already cut positions and shifted some costs, and that the General Fund backfill would reduce future fee increases on institutions. The LAO opposed the request, arguing the bureau can cover near-term costs with its existing loan and that litigation costs should remain the responsibility of the regulated entities through fees. Finance supported the one-time backfill as a unique situation that would lower fee increases and avoid passing litigation costs on to schools and students. Members asked about preventing a repeat of the problem, and bureau staff said they are pursuing fee increases through the sunset review and have strengthened internal policies and disability accommodation practices. The subcommittee also heard a broad update on Cal Grant funding and student aid. The California Student Aid Commission, UC, CSU, and the community colleges described Cal Grant as essential to affordability, but the LAO noted spending has grown faster than historical averages and said the state likely lacks capacity for major expansion in the near term. The segments highlighted the importance of state aid in covering tuition and living costs, and raised concerns about federal changes to student loans and Pell Grants, especially the elimination of Grad PLUS for some graduate students and limits on part-time borrowing. Committee members pressed for data on students who are eligible but not served by current Cal Grant rules, including adult learners and students affected by age and merit restrictions, and asked for analysis of phased-in implementation of the Cal Grant Equity Framework. Finance said full implementation would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and that affordability remains part of the state’s multi-year compact with the segments. Finally, the committee began discussion of the Middle Class Scholarship Program. CSAC and the UC and CSU said the program is a key part of affordability and debt reduction, especially after the 2022 reforms that expanded awards to total cost of attendance and improved administration. They warned that cutting funding by more than half would reduce award coverage from 35% to 17.5% of cost of attendance and could affect enrollment and persistence, particularly for middle-income students who do not qualify for other need-based aid. The segments also noted that recent administrative changes have reduced award revisions and campus workload, but that data exchange and award volatility remain challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• prepar holiday to take and emergency prepar holiday to take and emergency prepar holiday to take those
• the back to school and emergency the back to school and emergency preparedness and with that ask for
• Medical Services Personnel Emergency Medical Services Personnel Emergency Medical Services Personnel
• heavy equipment it's been to to operate heavy equipment it's been to to operate heavy equipment it's
• current that some drilling operations current that some drilling operations current that aren't required

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is new in our operations.
• It was originally going to be operated, originally it was operated as a joint project, the Rio Grande
• We're going to keep operating along those lines. until we reach an operating agreement with the districts
• when the changes to operations were made.
• Operation Settlement Agreement, and we are not...

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• uniform presence in hospital space unintentionally causes anxiety to patients, disrupts the normal operations
• the facility, ...hospital space unintentionally causes anxiety to patients, disrupts the normal operations
• Just a comment, having worked in the emergency department for most of my career as a nurse, I can definitely
• You know, my work years of working in the emergency department, I'll never forget this one case: a woman
• I was told that I needed to go have an emergency mammogram.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Human Services heard and advanced a series of Senate bills focused largely on mental health, public health, child welfare, and insurance coverage. SB 1113 would allow screening or evaluation agency employees to personally serve court documents on patients in involuntary mental health proceedings; supporters said this would reduce burdens on police and be less disruptive for patients. The committee adopted the Bliss amendment limiting reimbursement to services provided under county contract, and SB 1113 was given a due pass recommendation 12-0. SB 1122 would limit Access from imposing over-100% prepayment review on certain behavioral health providers serving American Indian Health Program members unless a corrective action plan is in place; Access was neutral and said it had worked with the sponsor, and the bill passed 12-0. SB 1123 would remove a board-certification requirement so trained, licensed forensic pathologists can supervise pathology trainees during autopsies; Maricopa County supported it as a workforce and efficiency measure, and it passed 12-0. SB 1125 would require DCS to make annual efforts to enter MOUs with Arizona tribes and improve coordination on tribal children in state care; DCS said it was already working on pending MOUs, and the bill passed 12-0. The committee also heard several bills tied to breast cancer screening and court-ordered treatment. SB 1165 would prohibit cost-sharing for follow-up breast cancer diagnostic and supplemental screening services in private insurance; the sponsor and advocates described it as removing financial barriers that can delay diagnosis, and it passed 12-0. SB 1243 would require guardians to be notified before discharge or release of patients under court-ordered treatment and allow guardians to seek continuation of treatment; family members and advocates testified that missed renewals can create dangerous gaps, and the bill passed 10-0 with two absent. SB 1318 would repeal a state breast-density notice requirement that now overlaps with a newer federal FDA standard; ADHS said the change would reduce confusion and duplicate notices, and it passed 11-0 with one absent. Later, SB 1188 would align Arizona controlled-substance schedules with federal FDA/DEA scheduling; the sponsor said it would speed access to new treatments, while one member opposed it over concerns about relying on federal agencies, and it passed 8-2. SB 1193 would bar DHS from selling or disclosing EMT personal identifying information for commercial purposes without consent; the sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns about vendors buying licensee data, and members discussed whether broader privacy protections should be considered, but the bill passed 10-0. Finally, SB 1477 would require referral agencies serving assisted living facilities to verify background-screening practices, registry status, and insurance coverage; the sponsor and PASSRS said it would raise standards in senior placement services, and it passed 10-0 after a technical amendment. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• service to meet a wide range of medical needs, and that elevated use did not disappear when the emergency
• You know, a swollen leg: you need to go to the emergency room to make sure it's not a clot, so there
• room to make sure it's not a clot so there are things that you just You need to go to the emergency
• California's 17 public hospital systems operate over 100 community clinics, serve 3.4 million patients
• California's 17 public hospital systems operate over 100 community clinics, serve 3.4 million patients

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At its core, this bill is about something very simple: survival in a medical emergency that should not
• It empowers trained personnel to act swiftly in emergencies, even when the affected individual does not
• In emergencies, even when the affected individual does not have a known allergy or prescription on file
• In this bill, we prohibit knowingly manufacturing, modifying, possessing, transferring, or operating
• The exterior of the envelope displays the driver's emergency contact information, as well as specific

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the event of an absence due to a just cause or emergency circumstances.
• However, AB 263 seeks to extend emergency water use regulations in my district.
• Conditions, the emergency orders will stand today, even though the county has been flooding and we have
• A little bit of background, this is extending an emergency, emergency regulations that were pommel during
• a drought, there was an emergency when we had a drought on flow requirements.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We utilize those funds for operational needs of the Academy.
• and not get swept because those fees that are gathered for those funds are intended to fund the operational
• they said if we wanted that to occur because of the way the bill becomes law, we'd have to do an emergency
• Just so the committee knows, because I don't think we need to go after an emergency clause.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strengthens oversight of medical marijuana treatment centers by prohibiting those facilities from operating
• enhances the department's ability to respond swiftly when public safety is at risk by requiring the emergency
• Additionally, the bill removes technical and operational early steps program policy language from statute
• surgical centers to provide patients in insurers with good faith estimates before scheduled non-emergency

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, he's stuck with a family emergency, couldn't get on today.
• Unfortunately, he's stuck with a family emergency, couldn't get on today.
• Unfortunately, he's stuck with a family emergency, couldn't get on today.
• Unfortunately, he's stuck with a family emergency, couldn't get on today.
• </c> can eliminate reproductive emergencies can eliminate reproductive emergencies can<00:35:52.960><

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on January 29, 2025, and heard testimony on HB 108, which concerns intoxicating liquor and would expand direct-to-consumer shipping for beer and spirits. Supporters included representatives of Koloa Rum Company, Maui Brewing Company, and Ola Brew, who argued the bill would modernize alcohol laws, help small local producers compete, support jobs and local agriculture, and give consumers more access to Hawaii-made products. They also said Hawaii already has experience regulating direct wine shipments, with age verification and carrier-based delivery systems in place, and that direct shipping could help businesses reach visitors after they return home and diversify beyond tourism. Opposition came from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, whose representative said the bill could increase access for underage drinking, especially because liquor commissions do not currently conduct compliance checks on alcohol shipments and may lack capacity to do so. The group also raised tax-enforcement concerns, saying the existing three-tier system makes excise and sales tax collection easier, while direct shipping would require additional auditing. They urged the committee to oppose the bill or defer it until more research is done, and suggested a common carrier reporting requirement to help reconcile shipments. Committee members questioned both sides about whether current law already allows some alcohol shipments, whether a Kentucky distiller could ship directly to Hawaii, and how reciprocity with other states would work. Supporters said the bill is modeled on wine-shipping language and could be amended to clarify reciprocity, while opponents said the bill lacks a common carrier reporting requirement and would place a burden on county liquor commissions. No vote or final action on HB 108 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.