Transcript Highlights:

• having provisions that extend the increased capacity in our electric system that is increasing competition
• and even perhaps giving the utility right of first refusal to serve, which may get us out of the bidding
• That is in the competition... ...is the mark and we think it will actually increase the cost for customers
• That is in the competition component that you've heard about from other testifiers.
• We are pushing folks to the market that is going to increase the bidding on those things.

Bills: HB2338 , HB2367 , HB2426 , HB2606

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, sustainability, environment, coal-fired plant, preferential treatment, energy policy, electric generation, regulatory reform, pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• having provisions that extend the increased capacity in our electric system that is increasing competition
• having provisions that extend the increased capacity in our electric system that is increasing competition
• and even perhaps giving the utility right of first refusal to serve, which may get us out of the bidding
• That is in the competition component that you've heard about from other testifiers.
• We are pushing folks to the market, and that is going to increase the bidding on those things.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2515, which addresses emerging large energy use facilities, especially data centers. Staff explained that the bill requires utilities to adopt tariffs or policies for data centers, adds reporting and sustainability requirements, sets renewable energy targets, and creates a sales tax exemption for certain eligible data center equipment in eastern Washington. The House sponsor said the bill is intended to protect ratepayers, grid reliability, water resources, and Washington’s climate goals as data center growth accelerates. Tribal representatives and several environmental and labor witnesses urged restoring provisions removed from the House version, especially authority to curtail data center load during energy emergencies and to refuse service if reliability or affordability would be harmed; they also asked for stronger water reporting and protections for salmon. Utility, business, and data center industry witnesses supported the bill’s general framework but raised concerns about implementation, costs, and some of the added requirements, while some opposed the tax exemption and the loss of earlier protections. No final action on 2515 was taken during the hearing portion shown. The committee then heard and acted on several bills in executive session. It passed Substitute House Bill 1302, which allows municipal utilities to waive connection charges for industrial symbiosis projects. It also passed House Bill 2338 on community-scaled weatherization projects after rejecting an amendment, and House Bill 2367 on eliminating preferential treatment for a coal-fired plant after rejecting an amendment. Substitute House Bill 2496 on tribal consultation by the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council was amended and then passed, while amendments to change public meeting and tribal summary provisions were rejected. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225 on AI companion chatbots, House Bill 2426 on PCHB efficiency and appeals, House Bill 2606 on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, Engrossed House Bill 2575 on reducing reporting obligations, and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2215 on Climate Commitment Act compliance for fuels were also advanced, with some amendments adopted and others rejected. The committee then reopened public hearing on House Bill 2416, which would treat a Spokane waste-to-energy facility differently under the Climate Commitment Act by allocating no-cost allowances in the second compliance period and requiring a decarbonization and waste-reduction plan. Spokane city officials, labor, environmental groups, and Ecology generally supported the bill as a balanced approach that protects ratepayers while allowing the facility to decarbonize, though Avista raised a concern about language implying a utility compliance obligation. After that, the committee resumed testimony on House Bill 1170, which requires large AI providers to offer provenance tools and disclosures for AI-generated or altered images, video, and audio. Supporters said the bill would help workers and consumers identify synthetic media and prevent impersonation and misinformation, while industry and civil liberties witnesses argued the bill is technically difficult, uses new definitions, and may be unworkable or premature compared with California’s evolving approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, is that this year the I-back with the University of New Mexico went out to bid as a single unit
• Actually, I think APS is heading up the bid for the I-back, if I remember correctly.
• recommended a 3% increase in compensation just to keep up your momentum around increasing regionally competitive
• normal vetting process that these federal programs are usually gone through, because they're usually competitive
• Federal programs are usually gone through because they're usually competitive programs.

Bills: SB204 , SB241 , HB34

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal here is seeing New Mexico competitive with surrounding states, giving site selectors clarity
• It aligns squarely with our values of growing wages, keeping talent here, and making New Mexico competitive
• I have been before the Water Trust Board, in competition with the whole state of New Mexico, to try to
• difficult for very rural communities like the tribes that I represent to get a sufficient number of bids
• So getting the number of bids necessary to make a good decision on a project is often difficult.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 103, which would prevent a homeowner from losing the 3% valuation cap solely because of a zoning change. The sponsor and supporters, including the New Mexico Business Coalition, Realtors, and the City of Albuquerque, said the bill would protect homeowners from unexpected tax increases when the property’s use has not changed. There was no opposition, and the committee approved HB 103 with a due pass recommendation by voice vote. The committee then considered House Bill 145, which extends the high-wage job tax credit sunset from 2026 to 2036. The sponsor and the Economic Development Secretary said the credit has been effective in attracting and retaining higher-wage jobs, especially because employers need long-term certainty. Business and economic development groups testified in support, while no one spoke in opposition. Members discussed the wage thresholds, the value of keeping a sunset for review, and the bill’s fiscal impact. The committee passed HB 145 on a 7-2 roll call vote. House Bill 247, a major capital outlay modernization bill, generated the most extensive discussion. The sponsor described the bill as a response to billions in unspent capital outlay balances and repeated reauthorizations, and proposed amendments to require ICIP inclusion for larger appropriations, limit reauthorizations, and change how water projects are handled. Public testimony was mixed: some rural and tribal representatives supported modernization but warned that the water provisions could harm small communities, fire suppression systems, flood-control dams, and other local projects. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment striking the water-related Section 2, then later passed the bill as twice amended with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we talking about ones that have gone to the auction and not gotten a bid at the auction and then
• have... ...with the folks after, just like what you said: it went out to auction and didn't have any bids
• able just to access it and use it and close on the acquisition in a timely manner, which makes us competitive
• We would not be competitive. Those residents would not be able to secure their housing.
• because of those two things—the things that happened in 2019 and in 2023—we're able to be deeply competitive

Summary: The committee met for work sessions on land banking/shared homeownership and on maximizing existing housing stock. Members first heard an overview from Commerce on alternative homeownership models, including community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, middle housing, church land for housing, and public land transfers. The discussion focused on how these models can help households build equity while keeping housing permanently affordable. Committee members asked about statewide counts of co-ops and land trusts, and Commerce said it does not track all of those entities directly. Pierce County staff then described the Pierce County Community Development Corporation’s rapid acquisition fund and its role in acquiring, holding, and transferring public land for affordable housing. They said the county used general fund and affordable housing sales tax dollars to buy properties, preserve a manufactured home park through resident ownership, and create a pipeline of sites for future development. Members asked about the advantages of a public development authority, funding sources, the use of surplus and underutilized public property, and how the model works with housing authorities. Spokane land bank staff followed with testimony that land banks can reduce blight, preserve affordability, and help nonprofits acquire land quickly, but that holding costs and taxes can make the work harder without state support. They also described brownfield assessments, donated properties, and work on Black homeownership and public surplus properties. The committee then heard from the Northwest Cooperative Development Center on limited equity cooperatives, especially in manufactured housing communities. The witness said Washington now has about 43 limited equity co-ops and that recent subsidy funding and legislation have accelerated resident purchases of manufactured home communities. Members asked how residents benefit from capped equity, how values are affected, and whether the model improves access to lending; the witness said the model stabilizes costs, allows modest equity gains, and that a recent law allowing manufactured homes in co-ops to be titled as real property should improve access to traditional financing. The committee also discussed House Bill 1974 from the prior session and possible updates to land banking legislation. In the second work session on maximizing existing housing stock, Commerce reviewed recent housing laws and implementation timelines, including ADUs, middle housing, condo liability reform, SEPA changes, tiny homes, and co-living. Members raised concerns about the long implementation horizon, vacancy data, corporate ownership of homes, and the need for better support for small landlords and first-time ADU owners. Sightline then testified on mobile dwelling units, arguing that RVs, tiny houses on wheels, and similar units are a low-cost, quick-to-install housing option that is often blocked by zoning; the witness said many Washington residents already live in these units, often informally. Finally, AARP discussed housing options for older adults, including ADUs, missing middle, manufactured home communities, co-living, universal design, and village-style support models, emphasizing aging in place and the need for more accessible, affordable housing choices.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've spent the summer doing the bidding of an authoritarian president who's looking for more votes,
• First off, these districts are drawn to be very competitive.
• can't, you can laugh, but if you actually look at the numbers... ...they're going to be much more competitive
• He does whatever bidding Donald Trump says. Yes, it's smeared on our faces every day.
• map gets passed, we are at a point where there will be zero net gain, and fewer people will be in competitive

Transcript Highlights:

• Who's your competition for similar or like-kind building material and application?
• those folks on tall mass timber coming out to speak about really what could be the benefit of more competition
• those folks on tall mass timber coming out to speak about really what could be the benefit of more competition
• and that is with regard to potential conflicts of interest, and it requires that professionals who bid
• to perform a SIRS or bid to perform the recommended work must disclose in writing whether they have

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee first took up SB 80, the Parks Preservation Act, which would define state park purposes around conservation-based recreation and public access, prohibit uses such as golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, and hotels, require more public notice and advisory input on land management changes, and mandate reporting on park spending and maintenance backlogs. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with conservation groups, youth advocates, and other members of the public backing stronger protections for state parks. The bill was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 200, directing DEP to develop a statewide waste reduction and recycling plan, and CS for SB 496, which clarifies that timeshare facilities are governed by Chapter 721 and only need annual board meetings. CS for CS for SB 1404, dealing with illegal gambling, was amended to add reporting requirements, tighten penalties, preempt local gambling legalization, and create a process for vetting certain machines and veteran-service-organization gaming questions; the bill drew significant concern from veterans groups and others over vague machine definitions and the need for clearer standards, but it was still reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 622 to allow pari-mutuel permit holders to lease facilities across horse-racing classes. The committee next approved CS for CS for SB 712 after adopting a strike-all and amendment that covered synthetic turf rules, change-order timelines, public works scoring, elevator and alarm contractor issues, mass timber code updates, pool and spa contractor scope changes, spaceport building-code exemptions, and solar/energy-storage inspection provisions. Support came from timber, construction, and industry groups, while pool contractors objected to parts of the scope changes. The committee also reported favorably CS for CS for SB 1742, a major condominium reform bill that pauses reserve funding after milestone inspections, expands financial flexibility, adds disclosure and conflict-of-interest rules, and increases data collection and oversight; members from both parties praised the sponsor’s work on condo issues. Finally, the committee approved SB 1574 on renewable natural gas infrastructure and SB 1580 authorizing DEP coastal resiliency public-private partnerships. It also passed CS for SB 1760, which requires certain public officials and agency leaders to meet Florida residency or proximity requirements. The last bill, SB 820, would codify the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s office; while supporters said it would permanently support faith-based and community organizations and improve coordination, several senators raised concerns about church-state separation, the office’s ties to Hope Florida, and whether codifying it could make the program more political. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• and allow us to use up to 5% of grant funds for noncompetitive grants and 10% of grant funds for competitive
• After years of difficulty in hiring and retaining staff, we have turned that corner with our new competitive
• When will that be open to competitive bidding? Mr.
• That was a one-year contract, and we'll be going out to bid. Thank you, Commissioner Snell.

Bills: HF2432

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• happens they then put it up for a bidcLO has first right of refusal and then it would go up to a public bid
• between our businesses, our universities, and our industry, working on partnerships to make us more competitive

Bills: SB248 , SB985 , SB1307 , SB1319 , SB1405 , SB1530 , SB1919

Committee: House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:41.360><c> Um</c><00:05:41.680><c> the</c><00:05:41.840><c> bids</c> was bid out in the fall
• Um the bids was bid out in the fall.
• The bids, when you look at it on an overall project, all three bid packages came in lower than engineer's
• The bids, when you look at it on an overall project, all three bid packages came in lower than engineer's
• The bids, when you look at it on an overall project, all three bid packages came in lower than engineer's

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for 22 years, Um, my association has been bidding on a contract, a competitive contract through NMSU
• as you're outlining in partnership at the state level, some variation thereof, but clearly there's a bid
• Did they go out to bid? I'm sorry.
• The ones for Maya Peterson and Laurel Health Associate, those were the ones that went out to bid for
• Yeah, so $380,000 for the two contracts that went out to bid. OK.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Bidding, in the interest of being quick, just like you asked, I am the sheriff of San Bernardino
• As with many of the BSCC's competitive grants, the Proposition 47... ...grant program awards are determined
• retirees, and their dependents, it's essential that the procurement process remains transparent, competitive
• We stand by a transparent, competitive procurement process to ensure high-quality, competitive, cost-effective
• going to be in the market, it seems unlikely that we're going to see MetLife exerting a lot of competitive

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to consider new audit requests. The State Auditor reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, with several expected to be published over the coming months, and noted that litigation is delaying the Huntington Beach air show audit. The committee approved a consent calendar of four audit requests covering UC library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. The committee then heard Assembly Member DeMaio’s request for an audit of SANDAG’s road project management and use of transportation funds. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to restore public trust and examine whether restricted funds, voter-approved revenues, and project commitments were properly handled. SANDAG’s CEO and CFO said the agency manages many funding sources, undergoes frequent audits, and has strengthened internal controls; they said the requested review would be duplicative of existing oversight. After debate, the committee voted the request down. Next, Senator Valadares presented an audit of the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Proposition 47 grant administration, focusing on whether grantees and BSCC are accurately reporting outcomes and recidivism data and whether oversight is sufficient. BSCC said the program already has multiple oversight layers, including Controller audits, and cited reported improvements in homelessness, employment, and recidivism outcomes. The committee approved the audit. Finally, Senator Cortese’s audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and contract oversight was heard, with supporters citing long-standing benefit caps, provider network problems, and retirees’ out-of-pocket costs. CalHR said its network remains strong, that it recently ran an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier starting in 2027, and that it uses performance guarantees. The committee approved that audit as well, then completed add-on votes approving the earlier consent calendar items before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, public policy plays a role in competitiveness.
• Finally, public policy plays a role in competitiveness.
• Finally, public policy plays a role in competitiveness.
• Finally, public policy plays a role in competitiveness.
• Finally, public policy plays a role in competitiveness.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• In many ways, this reminds me of the piggyback bid process used by cities and counties to acquire vehicles
• Giving the cities the option of joining the state insurance plan does allow cities to be more competitive
• They can secure more competitive benefit packages, which could save money at no cost to the state.
• So we have really been genuinely looking towards moving into a more competitive realm of insurance.
• And we do think that the state has opportunity with the larger pools in order to find a more competitive

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the rates are not as competitive, which results in providers not joining the Tricare network.
• First, the rates are not as competitive, which results in providers not joining the Tricare network.
• First, the rates are not as competitive, which results in providers not joining the Tricare network.
• ,</c> as not as competitive, as not as competitive, uh<00:18:16.560><c> which</c><00:18:16.800><c> results
• </c> And what they've done in in the bidding And what they've done in in the bidding process<01:26:14.240

Summary: The committee opened by taking roll for the Joint Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee and noting that 20 topics had been submitted for discussion, including one late addition. Members were asked to number the topics for reference, and the chair explained that each presenter should give a brief overview before the committee returned to the dais for questions and possible ranking or action. No votes were taken during the portion provided. The first topic was a request from the Associated General Contractors of Wyoming to have TRIP, a third-party transportation research organization, present a report on Wyoming’s highway system. The report is intended to identify transportation needs and 25 priority projects, and the committee generally supported hearing the report and methodology directly from TRIP. The next topic combined two similar railroad safety proposals. Representative Chestek described a bill addressing train length, wayside detectors, and track inspections, citing the East Palestine derailment and concerns about reduced inspection frequency. Committee members raised questions about federal preemption and enforcement authority; Chestek said states can be more protective of safety where federal rules leave gaps, and WYDOT said it would need additional expertise and staffing to administer such a program. No public testimony was offered on the railroad topic. The committee then heard two proposals from the Wyoming Military Department. One would study Tricare subsidies for mental health providers by comparing Tricare reimbursement rates with other insurers, gathering de-identified data on eligible members and provider participation, and then returning to the committee with findings before any legislative recommendation. Members discussed whether the issue might fit better in Labor, Health, and Social Services, but the military department said it believed the committee had a strong connection to the topic. The second military topic would study Service Group Life Insurance for state active duty, comparing state and federal death benefits for Guard members to identify any shortfalls. The committee also briefly discussed a VSO program review raised by Representative Neff, focusing on the number of veterans service officers and retention, but no action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We see this when bidding wars push up home prices.
• And it artificially inflates those costs, uh, compared to a normal bidding process.
• </c> uh compared to a normal bidding process. uh compared to a normal bidding process.
• </c> bonds are awarded through a competitive bonds are awarded through a competitive and<00:34:42.079
• Staff architects at the agency review project plans and construction bids before approval.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> competitive processes, grant processes. competitive processes, grant processes.
• </c> investment and it creates a competition investment and it creates a competition there. there. there
• Uh the water and sewer systems bid out.
• ><01:54:42.880><c> a</c><01:54:43.119><c> thorough</c> competitive and go through a thorough competitive
• This program enables competitive grants.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The competition across New England is fierce.
• </c><00:46:16.720><c> The</c><00:46:16.880><c> competition</c> workforce and pipeline.
• The competition workforce and pipeline.
• The competition across<00:46:17.760><c> New</c><00:46:17.920><c> England</c><00:46:18.240><c> is</c><
• A lot of member groups, cities, towns, school districts have gone out to bid over the last couple of

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• a list of contractors to go to that makes that process quicker rather than going through the formal bid
• down that road, but it's very cost-intensive and you've got to hire the right people, and being competitive
• It's very cost-intensive and you've got to hire the right people, and being competitive with contractors

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources received a presentation from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on derelict vessels, enforcement challenges, and a long-term stored vessel study. FWC reported about 1,040 derelict vessels currently in its database, with roughly 600 new cases entering each year, and noted that hurricanes account for a large share of recent cases. The agency explained the legal definition of derelict vessels, the environmental and navigation hazards they create, and its enforcement process, including investigation, notice to owners, administrative hearings, removal authorization, and recovery of costs through registration holds. FWC also described prevention efforts such as at-risk vessel enforcement, nuisance vessel designations, public awareness campaigns, and the vessel turn-in program, which has received more than 250 applications and removed more than 145 vessels since rollout. Committee members asked about owner resistance to removal, rapid-response options for hazardous vessels, county differences in derelict vessel numbers, and how local governments participate. FWC said only a small percentage of owners contest removals, that the agency relies on contractors and does not generally have its own removal equipment, and that local governments may conduct removals with their own funding but must still provide due process. Members also asked where removed vessels go; FWC said they are taken to landfills, with recyclable materials recovered, and that storage is used only when necessary for public safety because it is costly. The presentation also highlighted the long-term stored vessel study, which found a strong correlation between long-term anchored vessels and later derelict vessels, especially in Monroe County. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the committee adjourned after Senator Errington moved to adjourn and there was no objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, how can a general contractor rely to bid or compete a project if it's essentially their subs opt
• So, how can a general contractor rely to bid or compete a project if it's essentially their subs opt
• So, how can a general contractor rely to bid or compete a project if it's essentially their subs opt
• So, how can a general contractor rely to bid or compete a project if it's essentially their subs opt
• So, how can a general contractor rely to bid or compete a project if it's essentially their subs opt

Committee: Senate Commerce