Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my name is Representative Janice Zahn, 41st Legislative District, and I am really excited
• We are testifying opposed to this legislation as drafted.
• that would get us to the legislatively mandated 95% greenhouse gas reduction.
• No material is disincentivized by this legislation.
• Thank you. by this legislation.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held public hearings on several bills. On Substitute House Bill 2236, staff explained changes to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage loans for multifamily housing, clarifying it is not a retail mortgage lender, extending bond counsel terms, removing a notice requirement before bond issuance, and repealing outdated statutory provisions. Representative Zahn and commission staff said the bill modernizes the agency and would help finance affordable housing without using state general funds. Testimony was generally supportive, with questions focused on higher interest rates, down payment assistance, and equity for borrowers of color; the commission said it works with banks, administers programs such as Covenant Home Ownership, and aims to support both homebuyers and developers. The chair then closed the hearing on SHB 2236. The committee next heard House Bill 2273 on reducing embodied carbon emissions in buildings and building materials. Staff described requirements for the State Building Code Council to adopt phased embodied-carbon standards for large projects, with reporting, a public database, and Commerce educational resources; the fiscal note showed operating and capital costs. Representative Duerr said the bill responds to rising energy demand and could help lower building costs while supporting innovation, including Washington wood products. Supportive testimony came from environmental justice advocates and an architect, who said embodied carbon reductions are already feasible and often cost-neutral. Opponents, including the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, argued the bill could raise costs, create sourcing and delay problems, and should not exempt schools. The hearing on HB 2273 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5188, which would let the Public Works Board issue loans for broadband infrastructure repair and replacement. Staff said the bill expands the existing broadband service expansion program to cover repair and replacement of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure, with Commerce fiscal impacts noted. The Association of Washington Cities testified with concerns that the bill could signal further use of the Public Works Assistance Account, which has already seen sweeps and could affect future water, sewer, wastewater, and solid waste funding. A question from Representative Dye raised whether the program should instead be tied to the Curb Board; staff and the witness agreed to continue that discussion. The hearing was then closed. In executive session, the committee took up House Bill 2353, House Bill 2420, and House Bill 2470. HB 2353, which raises the predesign threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and indexes it to inflation, was reported out of committee 18-0 with one excused. The committee then adopted and reported out the proposed substitute for HB 2420, which increases the small works roster contract limit and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027, also by an 18-0 vote with one excused. Staff also briefed members on a proposed substitute for HB 2470 concerning school construction assistance for on-base schools, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The chair announced another hearing and executive session for Friday and asked members to submit amendments by the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also a former state legislator.
• And when we first started, we had a national task force made up of state policymakers, legislators, et
• Yes, we've met with the leadership, the legislative leadership on the committee on family, aging, and
• So their office was created through legislation last year and is mandated to create this state as a model
• Again, legislation created that same program, but directed HR to do so.

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with roll call, approved prior meeting minutes, and began with an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall about every individual mattering and making a difference. Members introduced themselves and described their roles in disability services, workforce policy, accessibility, and advocacy. The committee then welcomed Katia Alpanis and Dina Klumkina from the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED), who explained that SEED provides technical assistance, research, peer-state examples, and policy support to help states improve disability employment outcomes. SEED presented seven broad policy areas where states are active: career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health supports, stay-at-work/return-to-work programs, employer recruitment and accommodation supports, entrepreneurship and disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state-as-model-employer initiatives. They shared examples from other states, including scholarship and transition policies, peer support training, accommodation funds, procurement goals, and state hiring strategies. Members asked about SEED’s role in Massachusetts, digital accessibility, and the status of PEAT; SEED said PEAT has been refunded and that SEED’s role is policy-focused rather than implementation-focused, though it can connect Massachusetts with peer states and examples. The discussion then narrowed to two possible Massachusetts projects: developing a state-as-model-employer roadmap and creating a youth/young-adult employment and volunteer pipeline, especially for transition-age individuals. Members noted related state efforts, including the governor’s executive order reestablishing a disability policy subcommittee, the commission’s Meeting the Moment series, and the need to help people navigate upcoming work requirements and transition cliffs. SEED agreed to follow up with a questionnaire and draft briefs on Massachusetts analysis, career readiness, and state-as-model-employer policies, and the group planned an offline follow-up to define priorities and scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• As legislators, we must never forget.
• As legislators, we must never forget this is a survivor's story.
• Members, I rise today to honor a community advocate, a civic leader, a former legislative leader, and
• Joy began as a legislative staffer serving 16 years as chief of staff to former Assembly Member Gwen

Summary: The Assembly convened after an initial quorum call and proceeded with routine business, including approval of the previous day’s journal, procedural suspensions, and several file items. Most second-reading, concurrence, veto, and reconsideration items were passed, retained, or continued without debate. The main floor action was on House Resolution 75, authored by Assembly Member Pellerin, designating January 26 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Pellerin and several members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing survivor-led advocacy, the prevalence of trafficking in California, risks tied to major events and vulnerable populations, and the need for better prevention, data collection, and victim services. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 64 co-authors were added. Assembly Member Avila Farias’s AB 768, relating to mobile home park rent control and affordable housing, also passed with a 60-1 vote. The Assembly then held multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes for Joy Atkinson, a longtime Los Angeles civic leader and mentor to Black women in public service, with members recounting her work in government, political organizing, and the La P.I.E. leadership institute. Later, Assembly Member Haney offered an adjournment in memory of Bob Weir, founding member of the Grateful Dead, highlighting his musical legacy and philanthropy. The House adjourned until Thursday, January 22, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative
• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• As legislators, we must never forget. Them are protected.
• As legislators, we must never forget this is a survivor's story.
• Members, I rise today to honor a community advocate, a civic leader, a former legislative leader, and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what you described is not the legislative intent.
• There is no legislative intent to expand this beyond the scope. Have a follow-up.
• That is not the legislative intent. >> I'm gonna move on to Representative Valdes for a question and
• Legislators deserve insight and families deserve trust.
• But it's the legislative intent is not to reduce any transparency or or find any back doors.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the schools and we're trying to get some legislation to help us get back in some of the schools
• So Congressman Waltz, we actually we actually did work some legislation to have the National Guard. >
• And we're really happy that car small, some folks who supported that legislation.
• Several retired general officers and an Admiral 3 legislators to include Senator Wright Representative
• We tend to try to meet in Tallahassee for the ears of our legislative members and for others who want

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2692 simply codifies the enabling legislation for the San Antonio River Authority in the Special
• The bill also makes non-substantive changes to modernize and clarify the enabling legislation.
• The bill also makes non-substantive changes to modernize and clarify the enabling legislation, consistent
• Thanks to legislation passed in 2012 by this body...
• Thanks to legislation passed in 2012 by this body, the Texas Tax Code allowed landowners to qualify for

Bills: HB630 , HB685 , HB1318 , HB2692

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with no quorum at the start, but later reached quorum and took up several bills. House Bill 2692, codifying the San Antonio River Authority’s enabling legislation and making non-substantive modernization changes, received brief supportive testimony from the River Authority and was left pending before later being voted out favorably. House Bill 685, which would prevent municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities than comparable customers, also drew support and was reported favorably. House Bill 1318, clarifying compensation issues when a municipality decertifies part of a retail water utility’s service area, was heard without opposition and passed out of committee. House Bill 630, exempting certain older outboard motors from title requirements, likewise passed and was placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 2497, relating to filtration systems for certain public drinking water systems. Senator Zaffirini described the bill as a response to ongoing secondary water quality complaints, while TCEQ testified that such contaminants are aesthetic rather than health-based and that the water remains safe to drink if primary standards are met. The Texas Rural Water Association opposed the bill as written, arguing filtration may not solve most water quality problems and could be costly for small systems, while a consumer witness from Floresville supported it and described repeated rate increases and brown water after a filtration system was removed. Members discussed narrowing the bill through a committee substitute and emphasized the need for flexibility and technical expertise; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Kolkhorst later asking to be recorded as voting no. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2850, which would create a pollinator task force to study habitat loss, public education, and best practices for protecting bees and other pollinators. Senator Menendez and invited witness Erica Thompson of Texas BeeWorks highlighted major colony losses and the economic importance of pollinators to Texas agriculture, and Environment Texas and the Texas Beekeepers Association supported the measure. Members discussed monarch butterflies, native grasses, milkweed, and conservation efforts, and the bill was reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. After testimony, the committee also voted out several pending items, including House Bill 5560 with a committee substitute addressing water-loss penalties and infrastructure improvements, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• And expeditiously address concerns with case management performance and this legislation would add a
• Representative Jared Patterson addressed this in the 2021 legislative session with the passing of House
• HB 3195 is good legislation.
• I am committed to working collaboratively to refine and advance this legislation for the betterment of
• As a physician legislator, I take pride in taking care of ailing patients and now ailing policies, and

Bills: HB 660 , HB 4845 , HB 3902 , HB 5396 , HB 4615 , HB 1825 , HB 1403 , HB 4336 , HB 4585 , HB 4371 , HB 863 , SB 1589 , HB 5223 , HB 3195 , HB 2734

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Jared Patterson addressed this in the 2021 legislative session with the passing of House
• HB 3195 is good legislation. It includes background checks on employees.
• This legislation is a step forward in our ongoing efforts to ensure that our child welfare... fair and
• As a physician legislator, I take pride in taking care of ailing patients and now ailing policies, and
• Approximately 730 senior independent living communities will benefit from this legislation.

Bills: HB660 , HB4845 , HB3902 , HB5396 , HB4615 , HB1825 , HB1403 , HB4336 , HB4585 , HB4371 , HB863 , SB1589 , HB5223 , HB3195 , HB2734

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• Lingering uncertainty has created the need for explicit legislative clarification.
• However, recent proposed Legislation in New York would create serious legal uncertainty for lenders and
• Texas has taken decisive legislative action to position itself as a global... financial center, but if
• Thank you. 569 PA, Adobe Open, OpenAI, TechNet to refine this legislation.
• The committee's substitute is just a legislative council draft. of the introduced version of the bill

Bills: HB74 , HB175 , HB460 , HB576 , HB2271 , HB2294 , HB2874 , HB3016 , HB3133 , HB3191 , HB3458 , HB3929 , HB4063 , HB4115 , HB4394 , HB74 , HB175

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe this legislation is a sound, science-based approach that will benefit both the economy and
• All right, we're going to show Cyrus Reed with the legislative and conservation director with the Lone
• Thank you very much, Representative Vasut, for filing this legislation.
• Chris Reid, Legislative and Conservation Director for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, is against
• We had legislation, well, we're supposed to talk about other legislation.

Bills: HB3129 , HB3251 , HB3556 , HB3724 , HB3887

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, HB 3887, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Parks and Wildlife Code, performance bond, payment bond, contractor bonding, public works, construction contracts, public building, procurement, bid security, subcontractors, suppliers, contractor payment protection, project completion

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to extend my thanks to Chair Mohler for authoring this important legislation.
• This legislation seeks to build upon that success by ensuring that allegations of criminal sexual conduct
• Christy Jannigal, the American Legion Department Minnesota Legislative Chair and the Legislative Chair
• It's a legislative initiative that really does make sense.
• I'm the Executive Director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• Last fall, the Legislative Budget Commission published the Long Range Financial Outlook with projected
• So with that in mind, I applied my legislative hat to how I could solve this problem for myself and other
• and on about that, but simply to say, I appreciate you bringing so much common sense into this legislation
• and on about that, but simply to say, I appreciate you bringing so much common sense into this legislation
• That's what I weigh as I craft this legislation.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee began with a roll call confirming a quorum, then heard a presentation of the proposed health care budget. The chair said the overall health care budget would total $46.7 billion, a 2.1% decrease in total spending and a 3% increase in general revenue, while reducing 3,585 state FTE. He highlighted funding for Medicaid, KidCare, developmental disabilities services, opioid settlement spending, mental health facilities, senior services, school health nurses, veterans’ dental care, and veterans nursing home improvements. The chair also presented PCB HCB 25-01, a conforming bill that eliminates the Health Care Innovation Program, the Health Care Innovation Council, and the revolving loan program; makes changes to cancer research and graduate medical education provisions; and adjusts Medicaid rebate-related language. The conforming bill passed favorably after no questions, public testimony, or debate. The committee then considered CS/HB 47 on child care. The bill, as explained by Rep. McFarland, would reduce regulation for child care providers in good standing, speed background screening for child care workers, allow provisional hiring status in some cases, create license-exempt status for certain employer-provided child care facilities and DOD child care facilities, and remove outdated paperwork requirements such as the flu brochure. An amendment restored language protecting large family child care homes from being dropped by residential insurers and cleaned up statutory language; it was adopted. Members debated the bill at length, with supporters emphasizing common-sense deregulation and helping working parents, while some members raised concerns about safety, early learning quality, and the loss of informational reminders to parents. The bill was reported favorably. The subcommittee also heard HB 1553 on a uterine fibroid research database. Rep. Dunkley explained that the bill would require health care providers to submit identified fibroid data to DOH so it can be de-identified for a research database, after the department had been unable to use prior de-identified submissions reliably. An amendment removed the current appropriation and was adopted. Members spoke in strong support, noting the prevalence of fibroids and the value of better diagnosis and treatment data. The bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1529, which addresses the home health aide program for medically fragile children. Rep. Tremont said the bill would direct AHCA to seek a federal waiver so parents’ earnings from caring for their children would not count against Medicaid eligibility, and would revise training requirements and remove mandated annual program assessments. The bill drew supportive public testimony from home care stakeholders, had no debate, and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is the work product of discussions between the Department of Children and Families and
• This legislation is the work product of discussions between the Department of Children and Families and
• your close, could you talk about maybe the cost of that, or will there be a cost concerning this legislation
• The Legislature is contemplating legislation to improve or impact the health care service industry, that
• surgery centers could be specially identified to ensure that that legislation is not onerous and impacts

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services first heard and adopted the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the committee, which was presented as a $1.8 billion increase over the current base budget. The budget emphasized Medicaid and KidCare funding, IT modernization, workforce reductions tied to unfilled or augmented positions, provider rate increases, mental health and substance use funding, opioid treatment, elder care, veterans’ services, cancer research, and school nurse staffing. The committee approved technical adjustments and then adopted the budget proposal for submission to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered several bills, most of which were reported favorably. SB 152 on surgical smoke required hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt smoke evacuation policies; it drew strong support from nurses and other health care workers describing workplace and patient safety risks. CS/SB 958 on early detection of type 1 diabetes required the Department of Health to develop informational materials for schools and, by amendment, early learning coalitions. CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing homes required consumer satisfaction surveys, patient safety culture surveys, reporting to the health information exchange, financial reporting penalties, and Medicaid quality incentive reporting; an amendment exempted state-operated homes, including veterans’ facilities, and directed a study of quality incentive systems. CS/SB 738 updated and streamlined child care regulation, and CS/SB 1356 created the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at Florida State University and a related pediatric rare disease screening pilot. The committee also passed SB 1370, which reorganized ambulatory surgical centers into their own statutory framework, with testimony emphasizing their lower costs compared with hospitals. Finally, the committee considered CS/CS/SB 1626 on child welfare and related issues. After adopting multiple amendments that removed references to unaccompanied alien children and special immigrant visas, changed language on child abuse definitions, and required DCF to set room-and-board rates by methodology rather than fee schedule, the bill was explained as strengthening child welfare protections, codifying military-family coordination, improving domestic violence shelter certification, adjusting children’s services council appointments, clarifying missing-child procedures, and updating licensing and compliance provisions. The bill drew both support and opposition, particularly over missing-child jurisdiction and immigration-related concerns, and was ultimately reported favorably. A final motion to record a vote on SB 958 was also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is the work product of discussions between the Department of Children and Families and
• your close, could you talk about maybe the cost of that, or will there be a cost concerning this legislation
• Or will there be a cost concerning this legislation for the child care facilities in your close, please
• The Legislature is contemplating legislation to improve or impact the health care service industry, that
• surgery centers could be specially identified to ensure that that legislation is not onerous and impacts

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee met to review and advance the Senate’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget proposal for the committee’s portfolio. The presentation highlighted a $1.8 billion increase over the current base budget, including full funding for Medicaid and KidCare, investments in IT modernization, Medicaid provider rate increases, mental health and substance use services, opioid treatment, foster care and guardian assistance, elder care, veterans’ services, cancer research, school nurse staffing, and other public health initiatives. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical adjustments and then approved the budget proposal to be reported to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then heard and voted on several bills. SB 152 on surgical smoke protection required hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt smoke evacuation policies; nurses testified in support, citing workplace and patient safety risks, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 958 on early detection of type 1 diabetes required the Department of Health to provide educational materials to schools and, by amendment, early learning coalitions; it was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home oversight added consumer satisfaction surveys, reporting requirements, quality incentive changes, and financial reporting penalties, with an amendment exempting state-operated homes and directing a study of best practices; it passed after questions about dementia, language access, and retaliation protections. CS/SB 738 modernized child care regulation by streamlining DCF processes and reducing obsolete requirements, and was reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved CS/SB 1356 creating the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a Sunshine Genetics pilot to expand rare-disease screening and research, with support from members emphasizing early detection and data collection. SB 1370 separated ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute, with testimony that the change would better reflect the industry and help avoid burdensome regulation; it passed favorably. Finally, CS/CS/SB 1626 made a range of child welfare changes, including codifying DCF coordination with military installations, adjusting shelter certification, refining criminal-background exemptions, extending licensing compliance time, addressing room-and-board rate methodology, and clarifying missing-child procedures; after adopting three amendments and hearing both support and concerns, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also recorded a member’s affirmative vote on SB 958 before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• OIR FINANCIAL ANALYSTS ARE SEEING MORE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO PREVENT CCRC'S MISMANAGEMENT
• I WAS INVOLVED LAST TIME WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COMPREHENSIVE REFORM ON THE CCRC IN 2019.
• THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THIS LEGISLATION THAT THE RESIDENTS DESIRE AND NEED THAT HAVE NO COST IMPLICATIONS
• I WILL BE BRIEF ON THE MERITS OF THIS LEGISLATION.
• BUT AGAIN CLEAR LEGISLATIVE INTENT, THAT WAS NOT THE INTENTION OF THIS BILL.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we try to legislate religious practice, we distort the very heart of the Gospel.
• this legislative path is a dangerous road.
• Our state legislators who support these bills think they are doing the Christian faith and the public
• Thank you for considering this important piece of legislation and for holding this public hearing.
• This legislation aligns with our history and our traditions.

Bills: HB266 , SB85 , SB166 , HB266 , SB85 , SB166

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: education, diploma, adult education, dropout prevention, nontraditional high school program, driver's license eligibility, vaccination exemption, religious exemption, medical exemption, vaccine mandate, testing requirement, public schools, K-12, students, parents, guardians, higher education, college enrollment, university attendance, public institutions of higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• that we might not work on anything else together ever through our legislative career, but this is a
• And I think it can be a place where, in what might be a challenging legislative session, we can find
• </c> place where in what might be a place where in what might be a challenging<00:10:06.000><c> legislative
• </c><00:10:06.640><c> session</c><00:10:07.399><c> we</c><00:10:07.519><c> can</c> challenging legislative
• session we can challenging legislative session we can find<00:10:07.920><c> real</c><00:10:08.120><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• option other than to ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to again intervene in his interference in our legislative
• </c> in our legislative branch activities. in our legislative branch activities.
• Every presiding officer in every legislative body allows motions to happen and does not decide, well,
• Every presiding officer in every legislative body allows motions to happen and does not decide, well,
• His role is to the extent he is allowed to be here by legislative grace, it is a very limited role to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:51.840><c> and</c> be made available to the legislators and be made available to the legislators
• </c> data by the legislative oversight. data by the legislative oversight. &gt;&gt; Correct.
• office of the legislated legislative office of the legislated legislative auditor.<00:52:52.240><c> So
• I've carried other legislation for them.
• </c> I've carried other legislation for them. I've carried other legislation for them.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all