Transcript Highlights:

• It gives governments the power to spy on us wherever they go, tracking our faces at protests, political
• 09:18.080><c> such</c><00:09:18.240><c> as</c><00:09:18.480><c> immigrants,</c><00:09:19.279><c> protesters
• ,</c> groups such as immigrants, protesters, groups such as immigrants, protesters, gun<00:09:20.399>
• identify and persecute<00:09:41.920><c> immigrants</c><00:09:42.320><c> and</c><00:09:42.560><c> protesters
• </c> persecute immigrants and protesters. persecute immigrants and protesters.

Bills: HF3661 , HF2380 , HF3468 , HF3483

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• population that is Violent, has grown substantially.
• And when it comes to overall violent crime rates, the four violent crimes that James indicated that we
• And when it comes to overall violent crime rates, the four violent crimes that James indicated that we
• So the takeaway here is simple: solving violent crime today prevents violent crime tomorrow.
• Now, only 44% of violent crimes reported to police—and we know that's not every violent crime, but just

Committee: House Community Safety

Summary: The committee held a work session on crime trends and policing effectiveness, hearing from national and Washington-specific experts. Adam Gelb of the Council on Criminal Justice reviewed long-term national trends, noting that reported violent and property crime have fallen sharply since the early 1990s, while pandemic-era spikes in homicide, assaults, and auto theft have since eased. He also highlighted that juvenile arrests and residential placements have declined substantially over time, though juvenile homicide has risen, and he emphasized that racial disparities in imprisonment have narrowed, driven in part by reduced drug enforcement and arrest disparities. James McMahon of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center presented Washington data. They reported that 2024 crime in Washington declined overall from 2023, including drops in violent crime, property crime, murder, robbery, hate crimes, and vehicle theft, but remained above 2019 levels in many categories. They flagged domestic violence as making up about half of crimes against persons, noted rising animal cruelty and extortion, and said juvenile arrests and juvenile victimization remain a concern, with wide variation by city. Both speakers stressed that underreporting affects the data and that the state’s violent-crime solve rate remains low, with only 44% of violent crimes solved in 2024 and large numbers of unsolved homicides, assaults, rapes, and robberies over the prior three years. Jeff Asher of the Real Time Crime Index said 2025 national and Washington trends appear to be continuing downward, with murder falling sharply and likely reaching historic lows nationally. He said Washington’s sample data also shows substantial declines in murder, violent crime, and property crime in 2025, though the state sample is limited. In the second panel, Richard Hahn of the Niskanen Center and Mark Kropanski of Arnold Ventures argued that effective policing depends on strategic deployment, neighborhood disorder reduction, stronger investigations, and better data systems. They emphasized hotspots policing, problem-oriented policing, improved forensic capacity, and higher clearance rates as evidence-based ways to reduce crime and build trust. Marshall Clement closed by focusing on Washington’s declining violent-crime solve rate over decades and urged state leaders to prioritize investigative capacity and resources to improve clearance rates, especially in major agencies and counties with the lowest solve rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will always focus on violent repeat offenders and victims.
• I will always focus on violent repeat offenders and victims.
• It was somebody who did a violent felony.
• So we have the nonviolent, not violent, and then we're looking at somebody that is a violent, reoffending
• If we took that away and just said only violent felons...

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Then RSA 675:5 is about zoning protest petitions, when citizens can get together and protest a zoning
• </c><01:36:07.800><c> zoning</c><01:36:08.159><c> ordinance</c><01:36:08.600><c> protest</c> zoning protest
• zoning ordinance protest zoning protest zoning ordinance protest petitions<01:36:09.520><c> when</c>
• a zoning amendment together and protest a zoning amendment that<01:36:14.920><c> has</c><01:36:15.040
• </c><01:36:30.119><c> petition</c> change via a a zoning protest petition change via a a zoning protest

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Chronic violent offenders predictable.
• </c> had a broader focus on any violent had a broader focus on any violent felony. felony. felony.
• </c> who have habitually committed violent who have habitually committed violent felonies<00:02:07.439
• </c> mistake, but on repeated violent mistake, but on repeated violent offenders<00:04:49.600><c> and
• </c> different violent felony convictions. different violent felony convictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• He led protests, pickets, marches, and sit-ins against big companies like Bank of America, San Diego
• One year later, based on student protests, he established the Department of Afro-American Studies, which

Summary: The Assembly met with an initial quorum call, then proceeded through routine floor business, guest introductions, and several procedural motions. Members approved requests to suspend rules for adjournment-in-memory remarks and guest seating, removed some bills from the consent calendar, and re-referred or withdrew several measures. The chamber also took up a number of second-reading and concurrence items later in the day. Two major bills drew floor debate. SB 762, a tax measure allowing eligible local governments to seek voter approval for transactions and use tax rates above the statutory cap, was presented as a response to local fiscal pressures and was described by supporters as giving voters local choice rather than imposing a tax increase. It passed with an urgency vote of 54-13 and was sent immediately to the Senate. AB 126, the education budget trailer bill, was presented as a major investment in TK-12 education, special education, community schools, and educator leave; one member supported many provisions but objected to policy changes affecting charter schools being included in a budget bill. The Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments on AB 126 by a vote of 56-1. The Assembly also concurred in AB 35, an urgency environmental protection bill intended to speed implementation of Proposition 4-funded projects by narrowing administrative delay; supporters said it would accelerate wildfire prevention, water, and other environmental projects. The measure passed unanimously, 66-0. The consent calendar was then adopted, including AB 2796 on criminal history information, which passed 67-0. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including remarks honoring victims of a B-52 test flight crash at Edwards Air Force Base, former West Covina Mayor Lloyd Johnson, civil rights leader Harold Brown, educator and activist Kiyoko Nancy Oda, and Auburn Mayor John Mike Holmes, followed by announcements of summer recess and adjournment until August 3.

Transcript Highlights:

• He led protests, pickets, marches, and sit-ins against big companies like Bank of America, San Diego
• One year later, based on student protests, he established the Department of Afro-American Studies, which

Transcript Highlights:

• change was allowing the governor some flexibility in the Board of Review, the one administrative protest
• has been reduced to the point that it is possible that, going forward, with further reductions in protests

Summary: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee. Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• we made was allowing the governor some flexibility in the Board of Review, the one administrative protest
• has reduced to a point that it's very possible that, going forward with more reductions of those protests

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• When you see these riots, these so-called protests that are disruptive, I know you've experienced that
• , if it's going to disrupt civil society... riot crew, when you see these riots, these so-called protests

Committee: House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and advanced five Senate bills. SB 1160 would make it a class one misdemeanor to fly a drone within one mile of a ticketed entertainment event, with exceptions for authorized personnel or written consent; NASCAR testified in support on public safety grounds, and the bill received a due pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include force or threats causing property damage and add riot as a predicate offense for conspiracy and racketeering; criminal defense attorneys opposed it as overly broad, while the sponsor argued it would target those who pay for organized riots, and it passed 5-2. SB 1049 would place a four-year limit on spousal maintenance and adjust related court guidelines; the sponsor said it was intended to end open-ended support, while members raised concerns about long marriages, businesses, and lifestyle disparities, and it passed 5-2. SB 1053 would change CCW permit fees so Arizona residents pay 10% of the nonresident fee; supporters said the bill would make resident permits cheaper while allowing DPS to keep the program revenue neutral, but some members worried it could reduce state revenue, and it passed 6-2. SB 1058 would bar firearm registries and the use of merchant category codes to identify firearm retailers or purchases, with enforcement by the Attorney General and county attorneys; supporters framed it as a privacy and Second Amendment measure, and it passed 6-2. SB 1211 would allow victims of felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence to seek a lifetime injunction against the convicted defendant; domestic violence advocates supported it as closing a gap for ongoing harassment, a criminal justice group opposed a broader amendment but not the bill itself, and the committee ultimately approved the bill unanimously, 9-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we talk about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, So when we talk
• about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, those two met actually in prison

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, offered a prayer and pledge, and welcomed several guest delegations, including Hubert Humphrey Fellows and Congressman Jim Clyburn. Members gave extended remarks honoring Clyburn’s civil rights and congressional leadership, as well as his work on rural issues, the Affordable Care Act, and bipartisan relationships. The chamber also announced a joint hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions to be held upon adjournment. The main floor action was on Senate Resolution 72 by Senator Wahab, celebrating Lunar New Year. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting the holiday’s significance across Asian cultures, its themes of family, renewal, courage, and community, and California’s large Asian American population. Several members also noted the history of Chinese immigrants in California and the importance of recognizing and supporting Asian American communities amid ongoing concerns about anti-Asian hate. The resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of 37-0. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournment-in-memory tributes. Senator Becker honored Niles Telenius, a young climate and aviation advocate; Senator Gonzalez, joined by Senators Strickland, Laird, Cabaldon, and Umberg, honored former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster for his leadership in city government, energy policy, and public service; and Senator Wiener honored Terence Allen for his work in San Francisco’s cannabis, LGBTQ, small business, and nightlife communities. The Senate then announced it would reconvene on Thursday, February 19, at 9 a.m., with recess until 3:30 p.m. for adjournment proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we talk about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, So when we talk
• about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, those two met actually in prison

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, and heard opening prayer and pledge. Members also welcomed Hubert Humphrey Fellows from several countries and received introductions of guests, including California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia and Congressman Jim Clyburn. The chamber then approved the Senate journals and announced a joint hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions to be held upon adjournment. The main floor item was Senate Resolution 72 by Senator Wahab, recognizing Lunar New Year. Senators from several caucuses and districts spoke in support, describing the holiday’s significance across Asian cultures, its themes of family, renewal, courage, and prosperity, and California’s large Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Senator Wiener also highlighted the history of Lunar New Year celebrations in San Francisco and the contributions of Chinese immigrants and workers to California. The resolution passed by a 37-0 roll call vote. At the end of the session, members offered adjournment memorials for Niles Telenius, former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, and Terence Allen, with tributes describing their public service, community leadership, and personal impact. The Senate then announced it would reconvene on Thursday, February 19, at 9 a.m., with the chamber in recess until later that day for adjournment proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we talk about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, So when we talk
• about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, those two met actually in prison

Transcript Highlights:

• Now I've taken it upon myself to protest this tax. I pay my fees in $1 bills.
• Its office, and they do this as an act of protest to, again, the way that the system is set up as it

Bills: HB2139 , HB2253 , HB3632 , HB4171 , HB4309 , HB4508 , SB760 , SB1470

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• population that is Violent, has grown substantially.
• And when it comes to overall violent crime rates, the four violent crimes that James indicated that we
• And when it comes to overall violent crime rates, the four violent crimes that James indicated that we
• , violent crime in Washington State is down about 9%.
• So the takeaway here is simple: solving violent crime today prevents violent crime tomorrow.

Summary: The House Committee on Community Safety held a December 4, 2025 work session focused first on crime trends and then on policing effectiveness. Adam Gelb of the Council on Criminal Justice reviewed long-term national data showing major declines in reported crime and victimization since the early 1990s, a pandemic-era spike in homicide and some violent crime, and a recent drop back toward pre-pandemic levels. He also highlighted a sharp decline in juvenile arrests and incarceration, a substantial reduction in racial disparities in imprisonment, and noted that much of the disparity reduction appears tied to changes in arrest patterns. James McMahon of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs then presented Washington’s 2024 crime report, saying total crime fell 8.4% from 2023, with decreases in violent crime, property crime, murders, robberies, aggravated assaults, hate crimes, and vehicle theft, while crimes against society rose. He emphasized that domestic violence makes up about half of crimes against persons, that Washington remains above its 2019 levels in several categories, and that underreporting affects the data. Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments Justice Center added that Washington remains one of the states still above 2019 violent-crime levels, with homicide and juvenile victimization especially concerning, and noted wide variation in juvenile arrests and violent-crime trends across cities and counties. Jeff Asher of the Real Time Crime Index said his near-real-time data through September 2025 suggests continued national and Washington declines in murder, violent crime, and property crime, with Washington’s murder trend likely continuing downward into 2025. The second half of the work session shifted to policing methods and clearance rates. Richard Hahn of the Niskanen Center argued that disorder and neighborhood conditions affect public safety perceptions, that environmental design and street lighting can reduce crime, and that police agencies need better deployment, investigative capacity, and clearance rates, especially amid staffing shortages. Mark Kropanski of Arnold Ventures summarized research finding that police staffing matters, hotspots and problem-oriented policing reduce crime, and better investigations increase deterrence and trust; he stressed that homicide clearance rates remain only around 60% in Washington and that property-crime clearance is much lower. Marshall Clement returned to focus on Washington’s solve rates, saying only 44% of violent crimes reported to police are solved, with 62% of homicides, 51% of aggravated assaults, 25% of rapes, and 31% of robberies cleared in 2024, and that large numbers of serious crimes remain unsolved over a three-year period. He urged state leaders to set goals, improve data collection, strengthen investigative resources, and support victims and witnesses. No votes or formal actions were taken; the session was informational and included extensive member questions about juvenile crime, domestic violence, underreporting, detective staffing, and how to improve clearance rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• To me, limiting speech is trying to take away individual rights to peacefully protest the injustices
• </c><01:18:26.719><c> the</c><01:18:26.960><c> injustices</c> to peacefully protest the injustices to
• peacefully protest the injustices that<01:18:27.760><c> they</c><01:18:28.000><c> see</c><01:18:28.239
• > rights</c><01:19:27.679><c> and</c><01:19:28.000><c> the</c><01:19:28.239><c> political</c> the protest
• rights and the political the protest rights and the political spending<01:19:29.920><c> of</c><01:19

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, because I see there's a tiered one for the violent, but not tiered for non-violent.
• A tiered one for the violent, but not tiered for non-violent.
• So whether they were a violent, let's say they were a violent criminal, they get out, but then they do
• You have somebody that's a violent criminal, but they do something that's not as violent, so they're
• But at the same time, we think there's not a sufficient emphasis on violent offenses and keeping violent

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It's simply About violent offenders.
• So, this bill is in violent offenders.
• Can you just explain violent crimes.
• </c> drugs pouring across our border, violent drugs pouring across our border, violent offenders,<00:
• </c><00:59:31.440><c> It</c> violent crime. That gets reported. It violent crime.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> communities when you keep a violent communities when you keep a violent offender<00:20:00.960><c
• </c><00:26:02.919><c> offenders</c> cohesive unit to get violent offenders cohesive unit to get violent
• </c><00:37:46.800><c> is</c><00:37:46.920><c> in</c><00:37:47.040><c> our</c> violent you a violent offender
• is in our violent you a violent offender is in our community<00:37:48.319><c> we</c><00:37:48.400><c
• violent violent crime<01:05:09.400><c> even</c><01:05:09.599><c> in</c><01:05:09.799><c> cases</c><01

Summary: The committee heard extended debate on a bill requiring cooperation with ICE and reporting related to undocumented people in certain criminal contexts. Representative Rymer argued the measure was meant to align with federal priorities focused on violent offenders and to ensure local governments respond to federal inquiries, not proactively target immigrants. He also said the bill was intended to address serious crimes and protect victims, citing examples of violent offenders and trafficking-related cases. Several members raised concerns that the bill’s language was broader than described and could affect family court matters, health care, elder care, and routine interactions with government agencies. Testifiers and members warned it could be used as leverage against undocumented people in custody, child support, domestic violence, and labor exploitation situations, and could discourage people from reporting crimes or seeking help. The sheriff’s association and county attorneys’ association letters were cited as raising due process, equal protection, civil rights, and public safety concerns. The discussion also focused on the bill’s definitions and mechanics, especially whether section three would require reporting after arrests that do not lead to charges and how county attorneys would know when to report. Representative Pinto pressed on the bill’s reference to “violent crime” and whether drug possession could be swept in, while Rymer argued the bill was narrower than critics suggested. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided; the exchange remained at the discussion and questioning stage.