Transcript Highlights:

• equivalent to a commercial agricultural, cultural, or aquacultural facility or pursuit as required by section
• equivalent to a commercial agricultural, cultural, or aquacultural facility or pursuit as required by section
• equivalent to a commercial agricultural, cultural, or aquacultural facility or pursuit as required by section
• equivalent to a commercial agricultural, cultural, or aquacultural facility or pursuit as required by section

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee heard five bills on January 24, 2025. SB 1 would phase out disposable air filters and require reusable air filters by 2030; testimony was limited, with one supporter urging clearer definitions of fiberglass and paper and several opponents listed, and the committee later deferred the bill indefinitely for lack of support testimony. SB 13 would create an aquaculture investment tax credit beginning in 2026; state agencies and several industry groups supported it, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about loose definitions, internal inconsistencies, and blanks that made the bill hard to estimate or vet. The committee passed SB 13 with amendments and technical changes, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2015 as stated on the record. SB 177 would shift aquatic livestock import and movement permitting to the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Division, require a risk-based assessment and biocontainment standards, and seek a $1 million appropriation for research and staffing. The Department of Agriculture said the bill would help expand aquaculture while managing risks to native species; aquaculture and farm groups supported it, while Animal Rights Hawaii was listed in opposition. The committee passed SB 177 with amendments, blanking the appropriation for committee report consideration, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. SB 184 would raise the beverage container deposit and refund from 5 cents to 10 cents. Supporters said the higher deposit could improve recycling and environmental outcomes, while opponents, including the Tax Foundation, cited fraud concerns, the program’s existing fund balance, and practical challenges in redemption; the Department of Human Services also noted potential impacts on blind vendors. The committee took the bill up but deferred decision-making until Monday, January 27, 2025, at 10:01 p.m. in Room 224. The committee also heard SB 250, which would increase the income tax credit for interisland transportation costs for agricultural products. Agricultural and industry witnesses supported the bill as a way to offset rising shipping costs and preserve access to markets, while the Tax Foundation preferred direct appropriations over tax credits and objected to missing bill details. The committee passed SB 250 with amendments from the Department of Agriculture and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. Separately, a joint hearing on SB 240, the Right to Farm bill, drew mixed testimony: the Department of Agriculture supported further study and raised concerns about the bill’s fragmented approach, while farm, cattle, and other industry witnesses split between support for protecting customary Native Hawaiian subsistence farming and opposition to excluding CAFOs and certain business structures. No vote was taken on SB 240 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Section 30. >> Excuse me one moment. Forgive me, just one moment, Mr. President.
• <00:38:01.200><c> 18</c> section 18 section 18 That<00:38:03.600><c> is</c><00:38:03.800><c> the</c><
• > digital</c><00:42:51.800><c> asset,</c> Um section one defines digital asset, Um section one defines
• Members, there's four key sections to this amendment.
• </c><02:52:07.760><c> 36</c> assistance to Article 2, Section 36 assistance to Article 2, Section 36

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 301 makes important changes for manufactured housing.
• </c> burdens like the ones created by section burdens like the ones created by section 3<03:48:36.720
• </c><03:48:45.680><c> Section</c><03:48:46.239><c> 301</c> promote home ownership.
• Section 301 promote home ownership.
• De La Cruz, the author of section 106 in this bill, please come and give some remarks.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just that this bill happened to miss that first section and just started out with the section on
• miss that first section and<00:27:48.559><c> just</c><00:27:48.799><c> started</c><00:27:49.120><c>
• </c> and just started out with uh the section and just started out with uh the section on<00:27:51.600
• of um RSA amendment to add that section of um RSA uh<00:28:10.240><c> 733,</c> uh 733, uh 733, the<00
• </c><00:50:24.559><c> of</c><00:50:24.880><c> law</c> this um section of law this um section of law &

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we'll go to the sections that division one, division two, and division three.
• I also have a question on the Department of Energy section. Sure.
• section should be BEA.<01:32:01.600><c> Okay.
• So there's a revenue section, there's an appropriation section, there's a beginning balance, and there's
• c> revenue section, there's an revenue section, there's an appropriation<03:31:24.399><c> section,</c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's talk about—you have two sections here, one with two people and one with three.
• /c><00:36:51.240><c> have</c><00:36:51.400><c> two</c><00:36:51.760><c> two</c><00:36:52.000><c> sections
• </c><00:36:52.599><c> here</c><00:36:52.839><c> one</c> about you have two two sections here one about
• And then the next section that we're asking for is to make it clear that the records and proceedings
• </c><05:51:25.240><c> is</c> confidential um and the next section is confidential um and the next section

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from Charlotte Harding of the Conservation Land Stewardship Program, who explained that the office protects the state’s interests in conservation lands by monitoring conservation easements and related stewardship obligations. She described the program’s funding sources: a land conservation endowment held at the State Treasury and administered by the Council on Resources and Development, plus transfers from Fish and Game for easements not covered by the endowment. Members discussed how the endowment is funded when new easements are created, the program’s staffing, the loss of a state vehicle, and the need to increase in-state travel so staff can use personal vehicles for field monitoring. Harding said the office has two full-time positions and a seasonal employee, that the work is mostly monitoring rather than hands-on land management, and that enforcement issues are referred to the grantee agencies or, if needed, to the Council on Resources and Development. She also noted that the office works directly with landowners to resolve smaller issues and that stewardship has become a greater focus in the conservation community because ongoing oversight requires funding. Members asked about examples of properties under the program, including LCIP lands such as Musquash Headwaters, Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp, and Nash Stream, and the committee did not take a motion before moving on. The committee then heard from Paul Breen and Susie Anzelone of the Pease Development Authority regarding the Division of Ports and Harbors operating budget. They explained that the authority provides finance, legal, environmental, and engineering support to the division, which operates New Hampshire’s only deep-water berth at Market Street, as well as facilities in Hampton, Rye, the Portsmouth Fish Pier, and navigational waters in the Piscataqua and Great Bay. They described the authority’s history after the closure of Pease Air Force Base, the transfer of roughly 2,400 acres, and the creation of a self-sustaining enterprise fund tied to airport and port operations. They emphasized that the division does not draw on the general fund because revenues from wharfage, dockage, parking, registration, and mooring fees cover operating costs, with any surplus retained for capital improvements and replacement. Members questioned several budget lines, including a sharp increase in overtime and workers’ compensation. Breen said overtime is driven largely by security needs at the deep-water port and fluctuates with vessel traffic, such as salt shipments, while workers’ comp is a DAS-set cost and not something the division controls. He said the budget is conservative and that if revenues fall short, capital projects would be the first items scaled back. The discussion also covered fee-setting, with Breen saying rates are reviewed against the local market and infrastructure constraints, and that some smaller facility fees had recently been increased after being stagnant for years.

Transcript Highlights:

• Her application of buyback credit under General Law Chapter 32, Section 4(1)(h) was denied by MTRS based
• Her application of buyback credit under General Law Chapter 32, Section 4(1)(h) was denied by MTRS based

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its third hearing of the 194th General Court session, taking testimony on several individual bills and home rule petitions, mostly involving retirement and pension-related relief. The committee chair outlined hearing procedures, including three-minute limits for individuals, ten-minute limits for panels, livestreaming, and the deadline for written testimony. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that House matters heard that day must be reported by Friday, July 11, 2025, subject to extensions, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded. Several witnesses supported bills seeking retirement credit or pension adjustments for public employees. These included H. 2917 for Dedham-Westwood Water District employees seeking pension buy-in credit; H. 2976 for Eileen Mullen to purchase creditable service for teaching in a criminal justice pilot program; H. 2996 for Virginia Cummings, a retired Department of Correction lieutenant seeking greater pension parity; H. 2977 for Wendy Lopieri to buy back part-time community college service; and H. 2989 for Wayne Taylor, who said he was mistakenly credited for fewer years of select board service than he expected. Testimony emphasized long public service, injuries, and what witnesses described as unfair denials or flawed interpretations of retirement law. The committee also heard testimony on bills involving post-retirement earnings and disability-related relief. Kevin Blanchett testified in opposition to H. 2931, arguing it would improperly reduce money owed to a regional retirement system and its members, while the bill’s sponsor argued the retirement board was seeking an excessive recovery based on law firm gross earnings rather than the individual’s earnings. Jamie Magarian described severe injuries from a 2018 crash and urged favorable action on his bill, with support from the State Police Association. Michael Palmer testified in favor of S. 1841, seeking to extend prior violent-crime retirement income-cap relief to his case after being shot on duty and later finding that even part-time private-sector work exceeded his retirement earnings limit.

Transcript Highlights:

• We found Title 43, Section 1191, which says child support guidelines.
• It's all laid out in... 118 is a big, it has several sections, so it has the shared parenting, the deductions

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met to conduct the statutorily required four-year review of Oklahoma’s child support guidelines, which DHS said had not been reviewed on schedule in recent years. Deputy Director Don Zellner of DHS Child Support Services presented data on the number of children served, child poverty, rising costs of raising a child, wage trends, and the volume of child support orders handled by DHS. He also explained how the current guidelines work, including income withholding, shared overnight deductions, daycare, medical, transportation, and self-employment adjustments, and noted that the guidelines are based on gross combined income and currently cap at $15,000 combined income. Committee members, especially Senator Boren, questioned whether the current model fairly reflects modern family economics, including the cost of housing, the impact of shared overnights, and whether visitation issues should be addressed alongside child support. DHS said the guidelines are over 25 years old, that other states generally use similar gross-income models with shared-overnight deductions, and that Oklahoma’s administrative courts have been more receptive than district courts to DHS’s lower-income deviation approach. Zellner said DHS has also updated its practices to better account for low-income obligors, including allowing zero orders in some cases and reducing imputed minimum-wage assumptions, which DHS said has improved collections. Members also asked about transparency and public access to the calculations. DHS said the formula and income chart are in statute, the calculator is available on the DHS website, and the Excel-based tool applies the statutory chart and deductions. A public commenter asked where parents could see how amounts are calculated, and DHS explained that the statutory chart and calculator are the main sources. The committee discussed possible future reforms, including higher income caps, possible changes to shared overnight rules, and whether extracurricular or special child-related expenses could be considered through judicial deviation. No vote was taken; the meeting ended with the chair noting it was the last Judiciary meeting of the 60th Legislature and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The provisions about how they are paid and how that impacts their benefits are spread across sections
• This bill also updates the grandfather clause on the court's opposite section to help the appellate courts

Bills: SB8 , SB10 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB14 , SB16 , SB17 , SB18 , SB20 , SB21 , SB22 , SB416 , SB455 , SB456 , SB477

Committee: House Retirement

Keywords: Municipal Employees' Retirement System, Louisiana, participation, employer, retirement, SB 10, Act 222, Louisiana State Police Retirement System, state police retirement, retirement system funding, employer contributions, actuarial gains, amortization, Permanent Benefit Increase, PBI account, benefit increase reserve, supplemental permanent benefit increase, public retirement systems, state pension, pension funding

Summary: The Retirement Committee met on April 29, 2026, established a quorum, and heard a series of retirement-related bills, mostly cleanup or technical measures affecting various public retirement systems. SB 22 would extend Municipal Employees Retirement System eligibility to certain positions in the Second City Court constable’s office in New Orleans. SB 17 would create a funding deposit account for cost-of-living adjustments for registrars of voters’ employees’ retirement system. SB 455 would allow certain district and parish courts to participate in the Parochial Employees Retirement System. SB 456 would update compensation rules for assigned retired judges, and SB 8 would add the Louisiana Asset Management Pool as a participating employer in MERS. All of these bills were described as aligning statutes with current practice or expanding participation options, and each was reported favorably without objection. The committee also heard several Louisiana State Police retirement bills. SB 10 would repeal outdated priority allocation and retiree raise rules and adjust handling of surplus employee contributions; SB 11 would increase the funding cap for benefit increases from 2.5% to 3.5%; and SB 12 would update membership and definition language to reflect the State Police Commission rather than the Civil Service Commission. SB 18 would repeal a special exception allowing certain MERS retirees to return to part-time work while collecting full benefits, while protecting roughly 30 current participants. SB 20 and SB 21 would update actuarial gain/loss and unfunded liability funding rules for school employees’ retirement and LASERS, respectively, in light of the new permanent benefit increase funding structure. Each of these bills was supported by system officials as cleanup or modernization measures and was reported favorably. The committee spent the most time on education and return-to-work issues for teachers and public employees. SB 16 would reduce annual trustee training requirements for retirement system boards from 16 hours back to 12 hours, which witnesses said would better fit smaller systems and match the original intent of the law. SB 13 would similarly update TRSL’s actuarial funding rules after the sunset of the experience account. SB 14, based on a 2025 study work group, would consolidate and simplify TRSL return-to-work rules and expand options for retired teachers, with witnesses emphasizing teacher shortages and the need to retain experienced educators. All three were reported favorably. Finally, SB 416 would allow certain Department of Public Safety and Corrections retirees to return to critical shortage positions after one year, and SB 477 would classify the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as a full-time state employee for retirement purposes. Both bills drew questions and discussion, especially SB 416, and both were reported favorably. The chair announced the committee’s next meeting would be moved from Monday to Tuesday, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 6-2706. The formation of local public banks.
• Section 6276B7 appears to use the capital of the FAIR Plan and the earthquake authority to capitalize

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met and first approved the consent calendar, which included AB 2028, AB 2425, and committee bill AB 2795, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also noted that AB 2558 and AB 2746 had been pulled from the agenda. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including acceptance of written testimony and rules against disruptive conduct. The committee then heard AB 2116, which would require registration and basic conduct standards for certain small-business financing providers, including merchant cash advance companies, and prohibit confessions of judgment and power-of-attorney provisions before default. Supporters argued the bill would close an oversight gap and improve transparency for small businesses; a small business owner testified that a purported 13% loan turned out to have a 235% APR. Opponents said the bill mixed consumer and commercial regulation and could restrict access to capital, though they supported banning confessions of judgment. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2243, by Assembly Member Haney, proposed creating a state bank commission to study whether California should establish a state bank or other public financing tools. Supporters said a public banking model could reduce borrowing costs, keep more public money in-state, and better finance housing, infrastructure, and other public priorities; opponents from banking groups raised concerns about taxpayer exposure, deposit guarantees, and the use of public funds and existing lending structures. The bill passed and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2350, which would set guardrails on rent-now-pay-later products for rental housing; supporters said these products can lead to high fees, debt, and eviction risk, while industry groups opposed the bill unless amended. AB 2350 passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 6-2706.
• Section 6276B7 appears to use the capital of the FAIR Plan and the earthquake authority to capitalize

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 2, Section D, line 22, it said, shall not be used as a sole basis to grant or deny bail.
• And it talks about in page one and Section A, validated actuarial assessments—who's the validator?

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. Senate Bill 419, as amended to update the effective date to 2026, would allow the state treasurer and the Department of Wildlife Conservation/Wildlife Conservation Commission to employ or appoint attorneys. Supporters said the treasurer’s office handles highly specialized financial matters and needs in-house expertise and faster legal advice; questions focused on possible conflicts with the Attorney General, fiscal impact, and why Wildlife was included. After discussion, the bill was reported due pass by a 7-2 vote. Senate Bill 835, also amended to a 2026 effective date, would require qualifying licensing boards and commissions to submit proposed non-rulemaking actions with anti-competitive implications for review by the Secretary of State. The author said the bill responds to antitrust concerns raised by the North Carolina dental board case and is intended to provide state supervision before boards take potentially anti-competitive action. Members questioned whether existing court remedies and Attorney General oversight were sufficient, and whether a single official should have that authority. The bill passed due pass 8-2. Senate Bill 1618 would require courts to conduct pretrial risk assessments early in criminal cases, with the assessments used as one factor in bail decisions but not as the sole basis for granting or denying bail. The author said the bill is modeled on federal practice and is meant to help judges make fact-based decisions and reduce jail overcrowding, especially in Oklahoma County. Members asked about who validates the assessments, county implementation, and costs; the author said counties could choose their own approach and that the fiscal impact would not be significant. The bill was reported due pass 6-4. The committee also considered Senate Bill 262, which was heavily amended and had both the title and enacting clause struck while members continued working on it. The bill concerns moving certain inmates convicted of nonviolent financial crimes out of county jails and into appropriate intake/transport processes, with the author emphasizing the goal of reducing jail overcrowding and inviting further collaboration on the language. Members raised concerns about fairness and possible unequal application based on community ties, and the bill was reported due pass 8-1 despite being acknowledged as a work in progress.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the following edit would be on Section 5E would read: all information regarding any ethics committee
• Following edit would be on Section 5E would read: All information regarding any ethics committee work

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met to consider a series of RS introductions, mostly sponsored by Representatives Barbieri and Scott, along with measures from Furness, Petske, Ehart, and Monks. Barbieri presented three related proposals concerning hospital conveyances and nonprofit conversions: one on libel/slander retractions and punitive damages (RS-33606), and two aimed at adding transparency, notice, and limits on transfers of former public hospitals to nonprofit or other entities (RS-33609 and RS-33610). The committee also introduced RS-33614, an internal House rules resolution, after a substitute motion to send it to the second reading calendar. RS-33624, another internal House ethics rules proposal, drew the most discussion and concern over confidentiality and attorney participation; it was introduced with amendments, with Representative Birch recorded as voting no. The committee also introduced RS-33630, which would place the Department of Finance under the Department of Insurance to seek cross-departmental efficiencies beginning in July 2027, and RS-33646, which would extend Idaho residency requirements for lifetime hunting licenses from six months to five years. Representative Scott’s measures were all introduced: RS-33651 would expand prohibitions on the sale, purchase, or lease of human remains artifacts; RS-33666, RS-33667, and RS-33668 were part of a split-up parental rights/custody package, addressing parental access to records, court-appointed professionals serving only in an advisory role, and make-up parenting time when custody is lost due to unsubstantiated allegations. Representative Ehart’s RS-33615 updated the 2024 medical parental rights law to clarify treatment standards, 988-related language, and evidence collection in child-crime allegations. Finally, the committee introduced RS-33675, which would allow universities to apply for a share of tourism-related bed tax grant funds currently distributed through the Department of Commerce to nonprofit tourism-promoting organizations. Several members asked clarifying questions on the various RSs, but no bills were advanced beyond introduction except RS-33614, which was also recommended to the second reading calendar. The committee then adjourned, with the chair noting more measures may return later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Secretary will read: On page 4, beginning on 9, after section shall...
• The Secretary will read: On page 4, beginning on 9, 4 after section shall... Senator Robinson.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675 , HB2426

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Summary: The Senate considered Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, a measure to terminate and restate the LEOFF 1 pension plan and use surplus funds for other state purposes if federal approval is obtained. During debate, senators discussed whether the plan should remain funded at 110% or 120% of actuarial value, whether surplus dollars should instead go to transportation or the budget stabilization account, whether members should receive an additional distribution, and whether local governments should be reimbursed for retiree health care costs. Several amendments were offered: a Gildon amendment to raise the funding target to 120% failed; a technical Robinson amendment adding a date passed; Holy, King, Harris, Schessler, and Conway amendments addressing member distributions, transportation, budget stabilization, local government health care costs, and a reconstituted board distribution all failed; and Robinson’s amendment removing Climate Commitment Act repayment language passed. The Ways and Means striking amendment, as amended, was then adopted. On final passage, supporters argued the bill was actuarially sound, had been reviewed by attorneys, actuaries, the State Investment Board, and the Department of Retirement Systems, and would allow use of excess funding for other state needs. Opponents warned it left too little in the pension fund, should dedicate surplus dollars only to one-time uses, and did not adequately reimburse cities and counties for retiree medical obligations. After debate, the Senate passed E2SHB 2034 by a vote of 25 yeas, 22 nays, with one absent and one excused. Afterward, the Senate returned to Substitute House Bill 2178, which was also passed on final passage by a vote of 39 yeas and 9 nays, with one excused. The chamber then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 3417, we are creating the reverse bidding language at the state level for subdivisions in Title 61, section
• sometimes when you look at them, it might reflect better that they might be in a separate piece of law or section

Bills: HB1739 , HB1784 , HB1889 , HB2116 , HB2206 , HB3625 , HB2939 , HB3028 , HB3265 , HB3313 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3420 , HB3588 , HB3748 , HB3721 , HB3852 , HB4132 , HB4263 , HB4303 , HB4311 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB4434

Committee: House Government Oversight

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, disability benefits, pension system, Oklahoma, education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, public retirement systems, pension, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, inflation adjustment, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, firefighters pension, police pension

Transcript Highlights:

• Talking with the senator, as this was included in one section of the budget but is being negotiated in
• another section of the budget, we are going to add a reenactment clause onto this to see if it's included

Committee: House Education

Keywords: House Committee Room A, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The order of the agenda today is going to be in two sections.
• So I have some concerns, and I want to start with Section 2 of the statute.

Summary: The joint Senate and House Transportation, Highways, and Public Works committees met on March 3, 2026, and first considered several requests for approval to use the construction manager at risk (CMAR) method for local projects. The first item, Caddo Parish’s proposed $9.6 million pickleball park, drew extended questioning about whether the project was truly complex, whether CMAR would save money versus public bid, the project’s location and accessibility, and whether it fit the statute’s timing and risk criteria. The House initially voted to deny the request, while the Senate had moved to approve; after discussion about the statute and CMAR policy, the House motion was reconsidered and the Caddo project was ultimately approved. The committee then approved CMAR requests for an Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office indoor shooting range, a Calcasieu drainage district pump station rehabilitation/replacement project, St. Tammany Parish Hospital District No. 2’s Slidell Memorial emergency department expansion, St. Charles Parish Hospital’s entry registration/PACU renovation, and the Port of Vinton dock project in Calcasieu Parish. Testimony on the approved projects emphasized complexity, operational continuity, and schedule concerns. The Ascension Parish shooting range was described as involving bullet protection, ventilation and lead-control systems, and multiple training configurations; the drainage district project was presented as critical infrastructure serving much of Lake Charles and requiring staged construction to maintain flood protection; the hospital projects were justified by work inside operating facilities and the need to avoid disrupting patient care; and the Port of Vinton project was tied to an LED-related deadline and the need to keep port operations running during construction. Members generally supported these projects, with motions to approve made on both sides and no objections recorded. The meeting also featured a broader policy discussion about CMAR use. Several members, especially Representative Fontenot, questioned whether the committee had been too permissive in approving CMARs for projects that did not appear especially complex, and raised concerns about public bidding, taxpayer savings, and impacts on minority contractors. Senator Price said future legislation may tighten CMAR requirements, while Senator McMath and Senator Carter noted that the statute’s listed factors are not exhaustive and cautioned against abruptly changing practice for pending projects. The committee recessed after completing the CMAR agenda and planned to hear a DOTD presentation afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before you, as currently drafted, reads that nothing in this section shall be construed to limit
• What is missing is that nothing in this section should be construed to limit the authority of the board

Bills: SB5915 , SB6025 , SJM8002

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before you The bill before you, as currently drafted, reads: 'Nothing in this section shall
• What is missing is that nothing in this section should be construed to limit the authority of the board

Summary: The committee held public hearings on Substitute Senate Bill 6183, which would require health plans to cover all FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without prior authorization, step therapy, or other utilization management, with only one therapeutically equivalent option required if equivalents exist. The prime sponsor said the bill is part of Washington’s effort to end HIV/AIDS, citing ongoing new diagnoses and the need for immediate access to treatment, especially for late-stage cases. No one testified in person or remotely, and public testimony was closed with written comments invited. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6226, which limits the Board of Hearing and Speech from adopting rules that would prevent licensed audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and hearing aid specialists from using clinical judgment to choose telehealth or in-person care. Supporters said teleaudiology improves access, especially in rural areas and for patients with mobility barriers, and that the bill preserves professional autonomy. Some testifiers raised patient-safety concerns about first-time hearing aid fittings and asked for amendments or more time to study safeguards, while others said the bill should move forward to protect access. In executive session, the committee advanced several measures. It adopted amendments and reported out Substitute Senate Bill 5185 on international medical school graduate physician licensing, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5845 on claims payment timing and refund requests, Senate Bill 5915 on the health technology assessment program, Senate Bill 6025 on the definition of fetal death, and Senate Joint Memorial 8802 requesting federal Medicare changes. The committee recessed briefly for caucus before taking final votes, and each bill or memorial was reported out with a do pass recommendation; 5845 and 5185 were reported out as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It says that they may offer these screenings, but then in section B on page one, it says that they shall
• It's the underlying portion lines 13 to 20 that under this section shall not be considered an initial

Bills: SB1421 , SB1427 , SB1484 , SB1503 , SB1553 , SB1557 , SB1564 , SB1566 , SB1567 , SB1591 , SB1642 , SB1794 , SB1837 , SB2044

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: mental health, nonphysical intervention, training, youth care, conflict resolution, staff training, pediatric screenings, type 1 diabetes, health care providers, parental consent, reimbursement, state funding, public health, medicolegal investigation, medical examiner, coroner, sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, sudden unexpected infant death, SUID