Transcript Highlights:

• a Walmart on Chestnut Avenue, masked federal agents approached a man as he was walking out of the store
• I’m not going to get stopped when I go into the grocery store by a masked person, potentially assaulted
• But we are talking about our families trying to go to the grocery store.
• You can go down below in the gift store here and buy magnets for your refrigerator.
• You can go down below in the gift store here and buy magnets for your refrigerator.

Bills: SB5223 , SB5067 , SJM8002 , SB5855 , SB5865 , SB5272 , SCR8406 , SB5000 , SB5500 , SJM8006 , SB5325 , SB5286 , SB5937

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, impaired driving, driving safety, alcohol regulation, public health, transportation, Medicare, healthcare, insurance, elderly, budget impact, face coverings, civil liberties, garnishment, debt, form standardization

Summary: The Senate opened with a ceremonial welcome for the Washington National Guard, including a color guard, prayer, and a resolution recognizing the Guard’s service. Senate Resolution 8668 was adopted unanimously, with members praising the Guard’s flood response, election support, counterdrug work, youth programs, and community assistance. The Senate also confirmed three gubernatorial appointments to college boards of trustees: Ann M. McQuaid to Bellingham Technical College, Eliza Munoz Estee to Grays Harbor College, and Felicia Hancock-Lewis to Wenatchee Valley College, each by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. On legislation, the Senate passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5865 on garnishment forms after adopting an amendment delaying the effective date to May 1, 2027. The chamber also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5855 on law enforcement face coverings after rejecting several amendments that would have broadened or clarified exceptions, including proposals related to timing after transport, warrants, and other scenarios. Debate centered on federal immigration enforcement, public safety, accountability, and whether the bill would affect local law enforcement; the bill ultimately passed on a 30-19 vote. The Senate then passed Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5105, with a technical amendment, to address explicit depictions of minors and AI-generated or altered child sexual abuse material. It also passed Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5268, updating community custody provisions for unlawful firearm possession after a date-fixing amendment. Engrossed Senate Bill 5081, revising unattended motor vehicle rules for remote starts, passed unanimously. Senate Joint Memorial 8002, urging action on Medicare Advantage overpayments and fraud and supporting original Medicare, also passed unanimously. Finally, the Senate advanced Substitute Senate Bill 5067, lowering the DUI blood alcohol threshold from 0.08 to 0.05. Supporters framed it as a public safety measure to reduce impaired driving, while opponents argued it would have limited effect and that enforcement and staffing issues were more important. The bill was debated at length and then passed 38-11.

Transcript Highlights:

• a Walmart on Chestnut Avenue, masked federal agents approached a man as he was walking out of the store
• , folks that have... ...fearful when they are traveling from their home to their grocery store, folks
• I'm not going to get stopped when I go into the grocery store by a masked person, potentially assaulted
• But we are talking about our families trying to go to the grocery store.
• You can go down below in the gift store here and buy magnets for your refrigerator.

Bills: SB5223 , SB5067 , SJM8002 , SB5855 , SB5865 , SB5272 , SCR8406 , SB5000 , SB5500 , SJM8006 , SB5325 , SB5286 , SB5937

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, impaired driving, driving safety, alcohol regulation, public health, transportation, Medicare, healthcare, insurance, elderly, budget impact, face coverings, civil liberties, garnishment, debt, form standardization

Summary: The Senate opened with ceremonial honors for the Washington National Guard, including the presentation of colors, a prayer, and recognition of Major General Welsh and other Guard members in the chamber. Senators then adopted Senate Resolution 8668, which praised the Guard’s service in emergencies, disaster response, elections support, counterdrug training, and youth programs. Several members spoke in support, citing recent flood response efforts and the Guard’s work during COVID, and the resolution was adopted unanimously with all members’ names added as co-sponsors. The chamber then confirmed three gubernatorial appointments to college boards of trustees: Ann M. McQuaid to Bellingham Technical College, Elisa Munoz Estes to Grays Harbor College, and Felicia Hancock-Lewis to Wenatchee Valley College. Each confirmation passed by wide margins or unanimously after brief supporting remarks about the appointees’ education, military service, and community involvement. The Senate also considered and passed several bills. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5865, concerning garnishment forms, was amended to delay implementation and then passed 46-3 after supporters called it a technical fix and opponents focused on timing. Substitute Senate Bill 5855, dealing with face coverings by law enforcement officers, drew extensive debate and multiple failed amendments; supporters framed it as a transparency and accountability measure aimed at masked federal immigration enforcement, while opponents argued it was overbroad, ineffective against federal officers, and harmful to state and local law enforcement. The bill passed 38-19. The Senate also passed Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5105 on explicit depictions of minors, after an amendment clarifying liability and defenses, and Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5268 on community custody for unlawful firearm possession, after a date update amendment. Finally, Engrossed Senate Bill 5081 on unattended motor vehicles and Senate Joint Memorial 8002 urging action on Medicare Advantage overpayments and fraud were both adopted unanimously or by large margins. Later, the Senate took up Substitute Senate Bill 5067, lowering the DUI blood alcohol threshold from 0.08 to 0.05; the bill drew strong support from the sponsor and law enforcement-focused supporters, but also criticism that the lower threshold would not address the most dangerous impaired drivers and might have limited practical effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> by</c><00:03:37.080><c> the</c> facilities already regulated by the facilities already regulated
• If you got two stores, guess what you're doing? You're transferring between two stores.
• </c> liquor stores. liquor stores.
• ,</c> one of your small local liquor stores, one of your small local liquor stores, and<00:20:02.720>
• </c> cap on it so that smaller liquor stores cap on it so that smaller liquor stores that<00:20:33.960

Bills: HF4145 , HF4009 , HF4304 , SF2511 , HF4090 , HF357 , HF901

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: alcohol consumption, nursing homes, assisted living, resident activities, Minnesota Statutes, seasonal liquor licenses, resorts, intoxicating liquor, county board, Brainerd, Northern Pacific Center, event center, liquor license, on-sale license, alcohol sales, special law, local option, Minnesota liquor law, chapter 340A, Sunday sales

Transcript Highlights:

• As we have background, this act regulates commercial email, Act.
• The original property had, The original property had a CCNR that gave a grocery store or a drug store
• The closure of that grocery store has been truly devastating for the Lake City community.
• Burples recommends rules and regulations to administer licensing and regulatory laws.
• I think affordability is a really important issue for grocery stores between tax increases and regulations

Bills: HB2229 , HB2274 , HB2294 , HB1269 , HB1078

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: professional engineers, registration act, licensing, engineering practice, state regulations, email regulation, commercial communications, consumer protection, data privacy, electronic mail, consumer access, real property, food security, medicine access, restriction, pawnbroker, fees, interest rates, financial regulation, pet insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm really pleased to be here this morning with our vice president of rates and regulation, Jessica Hobbick
• In terms of putting that 19 gigawatts into scale, if you think about a large grocery store, that's about
• In terms of putting that 19 gigawatts into scale, if you think about a large grocery store, that's about

Bills: HB2133 , HB2592

Committee: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation

Keywords: sexual material, consent, synthetic depiction, privacy, internet regulation, rights protection, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:53.120><c> where</c><00:36:53.240><c> we</c> regulations where we regulations where we you<00:
• Medicaid is negotiated with regulated.
• </c><00:51:21.720><c> by</c> part of the market that is regulated by part of the market that is regulated
• ,</c><01:00:02.541><c> [snorts]</c> state regulations, [snorts] state regulations, [snorts] what<01:00
• ,</c><01:35:53.960><c> which</c> First Alliance and our regulator, which First Alliance and our regulator

Bills: HF3766 , HF3972 , HF3437 , HF4118

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• As you've heard, the legislature passed really strong regulation in 2009 that has worked very well to
• Your constituents' access to safe, well-regulated legal credit options has been sorely diminished or
• The policy asks the yards to continue to additionally regulate our industry, and we have agreed to do
• So if you’ve got fiber cuts, regulating us does not affect any of that.
• So if you've got fiber cuts, regulating us does not affect any of that.

Bills: HB2361 , HB2542 , HB2629 , HB2394 , HB2274 , HB1078 , HB2294

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: small loans, consumer protection, financial regulation, lending limits, credit access, animal testing, alternatives, ethical research, animal welfare, scientific methods, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> So, uh, if you buy it through an app store, you enter that data one time. >> No, you don't get this
• data through an app store.
• </c> app store, you enter that data one time. app store, you enter that data one time.
• But as far as if you app store. Okay.
• </c> and through that one app store to do it. and through that one app store to do it.

Bills: HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174 , HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, HB170, supplemental appropriations, Education Trust Fund, Alabama education budget, school funding, K-12 education, local boards of education, textbook adoption, school buses, school safety, charter schools, summer programs, afterschool programs, reading intervention, college and career readiness

Transcript Highlights:

• We haven't heard in testimony so far for the regulated industries whether how much of a change the no-cost
• This is not just about carbon regulation. It is about a price signal.
• Josh Estes: This is not just about carbon regulation.
• leakage of these good jobs and leakage of carbon emissions to locations outside of our state with no regulation

Bills: HB2537 , HB2245 , HB2296

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: emissions, climate commitment act, environmental regulation, trade regulation, facility compliance, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, sustainability, energy policy, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• attending a game or not, and then also taking advantage of some of the specific FIFA channels like their app
• We also have a smartphone app called OneBusAway that will help the visually impaired navigate and get
• Currently, the Department of Labor and Industries regulates the safety of body and frame design for recreational
• From a safety standpoint, and this is critical, Senate Bill 5824 ensures that we are regulating what

Bills: SB5839 , SB5824 , SB5864 , SB6032

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: county authority, transportation, ferry district, infrastructure, government powers, fifth-wheel, travel trailers, vehicle regulation, state law, motor vehicle, insurance verification, automobile regulation, state compliance, traffic safety, highway safety, load limits, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet, in this committee, we also work on regulated substances policy for other regulated substances
• In the Tri-Cities, I can give you stores in Tacoma. My stores are in the Vancouver area.
• In California, we've got stores where we cannot run promotions or discounts and a store across the street
• Stores where we cannot run promotions or discounts and a store across the street at the same intersection
• We used to have alcohol stores, and now alcohol is in every convenience store in every market everywhere

Bills: HB2439 , HB2483 , HB2400

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, data broker, registry, consumer protection, privacy, data regulation, social media, content creation, online platforms, digital marketing, user-generated content, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So once we got that kind of go-ahead from CMS, we worked on regulation amendments, which is really where
• So those regulation changes included establishing the clinical eligibility for the service, employee
• And we ultimately published the regulations for this service in July of 2023.
• And we ultimately published the regulations for this service in July. comparable services.
• And we ultimately published the regulations for this service in July of 2023.

Bills: HB2402 , HB2555 , HB2599 , HB2685

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: phthalates, medical equipment, healthcare regulation, intravenous therapy, toxic substances, Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, therapy, psychotherapy, mental health, regulation, professional standards, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights

Transcript Highlights:

• It can be stored in batteries. Similarly, when... It can be stored in batteries.
• If it's stored, it's stored the same way. It doesn't matter where it comes from.
• If it's stored, it's stored the same way. It doesn't matter where it comes from.
• If it's stored, it's stored the same way. It doesn't matter where it comes from.
• Regulators to clean it up for us.

Bills: SB78 , SB235 , SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, sustainability, carbon emissions, energy regulation, microgrid, zero carbon resources, Public Regulation Commission, energy generation, electric utilities, motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 78, which would classify nuclear energy as renewable energy. Senator Thornton and supporters argued that New Mexico needs dispatchable, baseload power and that nuclear should be added to the state’s renewable portfolio standard because wind and solar are intermittent and require extensive land, mining, and battery storage. Supporters also emphasized nuclear’s zero-carbon profile, the safety record of U.S. Navy reactors, the possibility of small modular reactors, and the fact that New Mexico already uses nuclear-generated electricity from out of state. Opponents, including Senator O’Malley and Senator Charlie, argued nuclear is not renewable because it relies on finite uranium and creates long-lived radioactive waste, and they raised concerns about uranium mining impacts, waste storage, and the bill’s lack of a limiting principle. The committee voted 5-4 to do not pass the bill, with Senators Cervantes, Hamblen, O’Malley, Lopez, and Charlie voting yes on the do-not-pass motion and Senators Ezell, Scott, and Thornton voting no; the chair then explained that the vote reflected disagreement over whether nuclear should be labeled renewable, not opposition to nuclear power itself. The committee then heard Senate Bill 235, the Microgrid Oversight Act, with a committee substitute. Sponsor Senator Steinborn said the substitute would restore existing renewable benchmarks for microgrids, require large microgrids to meet zero-carbon targets by 2045, add reporting and PRC oversight, and close a loophole that could let utilities buy microgrid power and shift costs to ratepayers. Supporters, including environmental groups and community advocates, said the bill was needed to regulate large data-center microgrids such as Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, which they said could drive major emissions, ozone, and nitrogen oxide pollution, strain water supplies, and undermine state climate goals. They also argued the bill would protect ratepayers and ensure transparency and community benefits. Opponents, including Americans for Prosperity, the Chamber of Commerce, oil and gas associations, Xcel Energy, PNM, Consumer Energy Alliance, and economic development groups, argued the bill would impose unnecessary regulation on private microgrids, slow investment, raise costs, and reduce flexibility for reliability projects and industrial development. They said microgrids are already regulated for safety and interconnection, and that the bill could discourage projects in New Mexico. In response, Steinborn said the bill was necessary because current law leaves a loophole for large polluting microgrids and because several major projects are already planned or underway. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but the transcript ends before a final vote on SB 235 is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal regulations do not require these duties to be performed by a physician.
• Federal regulations do not require these duties to be performed by a physician.
• Federal regulations do not require these duties to be performed by a physician.
• Federal regulations do not require these duties to be performed by a physician.
• Federal regulations do not require these duties to be performed by a physician.

Bills: HB2145 , HB1828 , HB2155 , HB2437

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• Kratum is not federally regulated. Mitragynine, or commonly known as 7-OH.
• stores and toward unregulated channels.
• These stores pop up all over. And our main concern is Section 31. These stores pop up all over.
• This is authorizing cannabis consumption in regulated environments.
• This is authorizing cannabis consumption in regulated environments.

Bills: HB2291 , HB2629 , HB2439 , HB1078 , HB1701 , HB2207 , HB2501 , HB2361 , HB1932

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: kratom, consumer protection, regulation, health safety, substance control, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, pet insurance, insurance regulation, animal welfare, claims processes

Bills: HB2416 , HB2537 , HB2575 , HB2322

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: waste management, energy, climate action, environmental regulations, fair treatment, renewable energy, sustainability, emissions, climate commitment act, environmental regulation, trade regulation, facility compliance, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, alternative fuel, carbon reduction, aviation, energy production

Bills: SB154 , SB362 , SB544 , SB714

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Keywords: conservation, water management, Colorado River, environment, sustainability, mining, federal minerals, Bull Mountains, Montana, coal, land management, environmental impact, mining regulation, hardrock mining, land use, environmental protection, Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund, critical minerals, energy regulation, material designation

Transcript Highlights:

• It can be stored in batteries.
• If it's stored, it's stored the same way. It doesn't matter where it comes from.
• If it's stored, it's stored the same way. It doesn't matter where it comes from.
• If it's stored, it's stored the same way. It doesn't matter where it comes from.
• They know how to store. And so they know how to take care of these things. They know how to store.

Bills: SB78 , SB235 , SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, sustainability, carbon emissions, energy regulation, microgrid, zero carbon resources, Public Regulation Commission, energy generation, electric utilities, motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Transcript Highlights:

• While a patchwork of local regulations would affect the entire industry, it would disproportionately
• <00:26:13.520><c> deter</c> fragmentation in regulation could deter fragmentation in regulation could
• You run into them at the grocery store, your kids go to school together.
• </c> store, your kids go to school together. store, your kids go to school together.
• </c><01:06:20.400><c> relating</c> with how we handle regulations relating with how we handle regulations

Bills: HF3351

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun control, gun safety, local control, home rule, preemption, municipal regulation, county regulation, city ordinances, zoning, firearm dealers, gun dealers, ammunition, carry permits, permit to carry, pistols, Saturday night special, metal-penetrating bullets, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The Washington Travel Insurance Act would include provisions for regulating the offer and dissemination
• been adopted and the efforts being worked, I'm worried that we've captured retailers and grocery stores

Bills: HB2428 , HB2399 , HB2087 , HB2629 , HB2483 , HB2477

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: life insurance, policy lapse, policy cancellation, nonpayment of premium, premium grace period, lapse notice, termination notice, third-party notice, third-party designee, beneficiary protection, consumer protection, insurance regulation, insurer notice requirements, policyholder, beneficiary, Washington RCW, insurance code, unintentional lapse, coverage continuation, premium delinquency