Transcript Highlights:

• We'll now go to remote testimony. Thank you. Thank you. We'll now go to remote testimony.
• We'll now go to remote testimony. Corbin Santo, please go ahead.
• We'll go next to remote testimony. Michael Gempler. Good morning.
• We'll go now to remote testimony. Kimberly Hedrick.
• We'll go to remote testimony. Lance Morehouse, please go ahead."

Bills: SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Dahlia, members of the committee, for taking my testimony this morning.
• All right, we have two panels, one in person and one remote.
• Our first panel, all in person, will be Derek Phelps, Joel Creswell, Marty Lesh, and then our remote
• Oh, yeah, Derek Phelps, you're up next to finish this panel, and then again moving on to the remote panel
• You're up next to finish this panel, and then again moving on to the remote panel after that: Don Myers

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2436, a technical fix to Washington’s oil tanker escort tug requirements in Puget Sound waters. The bill would require escort tugs to have either horsepower equal to 5% of the tanker’s deadweight tonnage or 3,000 horsepower, whichever is greater. Rep. Lekanoff and the Washington State Board of Pilotage Commissioners said the change aligns statute with existing rules and industry practice and supports protection of the Salish Sea and southern resident killer whales. No opposition was raised, and the hearing was closed without action at that point. The committee then heard House Bill 2322, which changes Clean Fuels Program rules and tax incentives for alternative jet fuel. Supporters, including Rep. Dent, Sky Energy, 12, and the City of Moses Lake, said the bill would provide certainty for large-scale sustainable aviation fuel investment by changing the trigger for tax incentives and clarifying that certain renewable electricity, including hydro, can count as zero carbon. Ecology opposed the bill’s treatment of electricity accounting, saying it would weaken incentives for new renewable generation and could reduce the clean fuels program’s emissions benefits. U.S. Oil asked for additional clarification or changes to allow Pierce County participation or define “blender.” No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. In executive session, the committee passed several bills. Substitute House Bill 2343, dealing with discharge permits for publicly owned animal facilities, passed 21-0. Proposed second substitute House Bill 1420, creating a textile and apparel coordinating organization for a needs assessment, passed 12-9. House Bill 2426, allowing Pollution Control Hearings Board appeals to be heard by a single member or alternative panel by agreement, passed 19-2. Substitute House Bill 2271, expanding post-consumer recycled content requirements for certain plastic products, passed 12-9. Substitute House Bill 2215, adjusting Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier thresholds, passed 12-9. Substitute House Bill 2421, restricting 6PPD and certain substitutes in tires, passed 11-9 with one excused after an amendment to exempt rural eastern Washington was rejected. Action on House Bill 2301 and House Bill 2296 was deferred to a later meeting due to time constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please present your testimony remotely.
• For folks who are remote, the committee will be happy to receive your testimony by email.
• For folks who are remote, the committee will be happy to receive your testimony by email.
• We're going to continue with in-person testimony: Cecilia Arroyo, Matt Thompson, and Heather Hayes, if
• We're going to continue with in-person testimony, Cecilia Arroyo, Matt Thompson, and Heather Hayes, if

Bills: HB2721 , HB2616

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: commercial interior designer, interior design licensure, registered interior designer, NCIDQ, Washington State Board for Architects, professional regulation, title protection, firm registration, seal and signature, continuing education, building code, nonstructural interior design, space planning, interior architecture, design profession, public safety, occupational licensing, architects, engineering scope, permit review

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to public testimony.
• So that concludes our testimony on House Bill 2685.
• And we'll promote all the folks that are testifying remote on this one in Zoom, please.
• So that concludes public testimony. House Bill 2658. All right. Thank you.
• Seeing none, that concludes public testimony on House Bill 2683 and concludes public testimony on our

Bills: HB2555 , HB2658 , HB2683 , HB2685 , HB2168 , HB2196 , HB2545

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, mental health, insurance coverage, transparency, consumer protection, efficiency, health carriers, providers relations, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights, overdose prevention, data sharing, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely. Aye. Aikam votes aye.
• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely. Acom votes no.
• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely.
• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely. Acom votes no.
• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely. Acom.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would ask those to limit testimony to three minutes.
• And I believe that Senator Fattman is joining us remotely.
• I believe that Senator Fattman is joining us remotely.
• Thank you all for your testimony. I have a couple of questions.
• Thank you for your testimony. Just a couple questions. I guess a few questions.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on election security bills, focusing first on S. 517 and H. 876, which would strengthen Massachusetts’ post-election audit process. Testimony from the Brennan Center, Common Cause Massachusetts, Verified Voting, and the League of Women Voters supported expanding audits to include all ballot types, increasing audit frequency from every four years to every two years, requiring statewide audit reports to be posted within 30 days and kept online for six years, and allowing municipalities to conduct audits under state standards. Witnesses also praised the bill’s creation of a work group to study risk-limiting audits and other improvements, emphasizing public confidence, transparency, and the ability of audits to detect errors or deter fraud. Committee members asked detailed questions about how Massachusetts compares with other states, how risk-limiting audits differ from current tabulation audits, how audits are selected and expanded if discrepancies appear, and what the costs and mechanics of different audit methods would be. Witnesses explained that current audits are typically random, hand-count-based checks of selected contests and batches of ballots, that risk-limiting audits use statistical sampling and can escalate to a full recount if needed, and that Massachusetts’ local-control structure makes a collaborative work group useful. They also noted that audits generally confirm results but can uncover errors that do not change outcomes, and occasionally more serious problems. The committee then heard testimony on H. 832, which would authorize the Secretary of the Commonwealth to take emergency actions affecting elections during declared emergencies. Supporters said the bill would create a clear statutory process for rescheduling or adjusting elections during severe weather or other crises, including allowing emergency absentee ballot accommodations for civilian responders, and would reduce the need for court intervention. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing, and the meeting ended with adjournment after no additional testimony was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go next to remote testimony. Ayan Mohammed. Good evening, everyone. My name is Iyan Mohammed.
• All right, we'll begin with public testimony.
• So now I think we've heard from everybody here in the room, so we'll go to remote testimony.
• So now I think we've heard from everybody here in the room, so we'll go to remote testimony, Jim Kukowski
• Everybody here in the room, so we'll go to remote testimony. Jim Kukowski. Yes, good afternoon.

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 5808, a proposal to require nonprofit health carriers with “excess surplus” to pay 10% of that surplus into the state health care affordability account for Cascade Care Savings. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $330 million one time in 2027, while the Office of Insurance Commissioner would have implementation costs. Supporters argued the bill would redirect consumer premium dollars to help people afford coverage, while opponents from health plans said reserves are needed for solvency, claims, and capital needs and warned the bill would destabilize nonprofit insurers. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2254, which would let the Partnership Access Line assessment cover administrative costs; HCA and Seattle Children’s supported it as a technical fix that saves general fund dollars, and a child psychiatrist asked that savings be reinvested in behavioral health services. House Bill 2385, which extends deadlines for the Medicaid Access Program because of federal restrictions on new provider taxes, also drew support from provider groups seeking future Medicaid rate increases. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6286, which would increase fines on private detention facilities that deny Department of Health inspections and dedicate the fines to an account for community repair and assistance to harmed individuals and families. Supporters, including Tacoma’s mayor and family members affected by detention, framed the bill as an accountability measure; fiscal staff estimated Department of Health costs of about $395,000 in the 2025-27 biennium. Senate Bill 6006 would exempt food banks from sales tax on certain services enacted last session, with food bank and tribal representatives saying the savings would go directly to food and operations. Senate Bill 6351 would create exemptions from the new sales tax on live presentations for before- and after-school care, arts and cultural nonprofit classes, and K-12 school purchases; school districts, arts groups, and PTA representatives supported it, while asking for clarifying language and broader nonprofit exemptions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1717 would let cities and counties create local sales tax remittance programs for affordable housing projects, and housing builders, Habitat affiliates, counties, and city officials supported it as a local tool to lower development costs. In executive session, the committee received briefings on several tax and spending bills and then voted to advance multiple measures. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5949, which narrows a B&O tax exemption related to insurance premiums; a proposed retroactivity-removing amendment failed. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6129 on cigarette, tobacco, and nicotine taxes after rejecting several amendments, including proposals to study the tax policy or replace the bill with illicit-market enforcement language. The committee also passed Senate Bill 6228 repealing a preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers, Senate Bill 6231 repealing data center sales tax exemptions, and Second Substitute Senate Bill 5965, which retained a bag-fee approach rather than a full ban after adopting an amendment. The committee then returned to public hearing and began testimony on Senate Bill 6353, a major Working Connections Child Care bill that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, lower the provider rate target from the 85th to the 75th percentile, and make other program changes; the briefing was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for your testimony.
• Vita, please begin your testimony. Thank you so much.
• Thank you for your testimony. And I will go to Rick.
• Thank you so much for your testimony. Appreciate that. And we are going to remote testimony.
• Please begin your testimony. Welcome. Thank you.

Summary: The committee opened by explaining that several bills had been removed from the agenda because the Senate must physically possess a bill before holding a public hearing. The chair said the missing bills would be rescheduled for Tuesday. The committee then waived the five-day notice rule for considering substitute House Bills 1705 and 32010, and proceeded to hear substitute House Bill 2219 and substitute House Bill 1795. House Bill 2219, on child care operational efficiency, would allow longer mixed-age ratio periods in child care centers, waive repeat DCYF orientation requirements in certain cases when staff have recently completed the same training, and require licensing standards to include a zero-tolerance policy for imminent physical harm involving high-potency synthetic opioids and related drug residue or paraphernalia. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill would help child care providers manage staffing shortages, take breaks, and reduce duplicative licensing burdens. Testimony was strongly supportive, with advocates and providers describing the bill as a low-cost way to improve retention and flexibility. Questions focused on how the fentanyl language would apply to prescribed medications. House Bill 1795 would narrow and update state law on restraint and isolation in public schools and other public educational programs. The bill prohibits mechanical and chemical restraints and restraints that restrict breathing or blood flow, bars planned isolation in IEPs and 504 plans, limits planned restraint to cases with parent request and medical necessity, and prohibits new construction or remodeling of spaces intended primarily for student isolation. Supporters, including disability advocates, educators, school psychologists, principals, and state education groups, said the bill is a needed step toward reducing trauma and disproportionality and cited demonstration sites showing reductions in restraint and isolation. Some educators and paraeducators raised concerns about staffing, training, and what tools remain available in crisis situations, while others asked for future work on professional development and resources. No vote was taken on either bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Bills: H5432 , H5433 , S3093 , H5363 , H5137 , H5247

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hybrid hearing on late-file bills, with testimony focused first on multiple home rule petitions seeking local authority to restrict anticoagulant rodenticides in towns including Andover, Topsfield, North Andover, Williamstown, Georgetown, Lexington, and others. Municipal officials, residents, wildlife advocates, and conservation groups described documented harm to hawks, owls, foxes, turtles, pets, and other wildlife, and argued that towns should be able to regulate these poisons locally. Several speakers said their towns had already voted to support restrictions and were using integrated pest management and other alternatives. Committee members noted that statewide rodenticide legislation had already advanced out of committee in both chambers and that the environmental bond bill was in conference committee, but no votes were taken during the hearing itself. The committee then heard testimony on H. 5137, a bill to prohibit the retail sale of parrots. Supporters, including animal welfare groups, veterinarians, rescue operators, and advocates, said parrots are often sourced from large breeding facilities with poor conditions, that many birds are surrendered because they are difficult long-term pets, and that rescues are overwhelmed. They argued the bill would encourage adoption, reduce demand for commercial breeding and trafficking, and improve bird welfare and public health. Opponents, including breeders, pet retailers, aviculture representatives, and rescue operators, said the bill would harm small businesses, reduce consumer access and transparency, and push sales to unregulated markets without improving welfare. Several speakers said the bill should instead focus on stronger standards and enforcement rather than banning sales. A separate bill, S. 310, designating the Marion Stoddard River Walk, was also briefly discussed in testimony supporting Marion Stoddard’s environmental work. The hearing ended after the committee finished taking testimony and adjourned; no roll-call votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, we ran out of time yesterday to complete the testimony on Senate Bill 629.
• already had the bill report yesterday, and I heard from our prime sponsor, so we'll move straight into testimony
• I think everyone else is remote: Caitlin Ryan, Bethany Rondeau, Scott Waller, and Chonday Wagonseller
• I mean, Scott Waller and Sean Dene Wagonseller, all remote to our other and to our con.
• Scott Waller and Sean Dene Wagonseller, all remote to our other and to our con.

Bills: SB6290 , SB6282 , SB5379 , SB6197 , SB6158 , SB6302 , SB5882 , SB6303 , SB6180 , SB6195 , SB6196 , SB6204 , SB6287

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: liquor regulation, cannabis board, reorganization, state agency, governance, apprenticeship, behavioral health, construction trades, workforce training, wellness, interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. All set, thank you for your testimony. Denise Cabral.

Bills: H5432 , H5433 , S3093 , H5363 , H5137 , H5247

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: Newbury, rodenticides, second generation anticoagulant rodenticides, SGARs, pesticides, pest control, wildlife protection, environmental regulation, local bylaw, municipal authority, private property, rodent control, anticoagulant poison, public health, Massachusetts local option, Wellfleet, fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus, nutrient pollution

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you both for joining us remotely and for all of your work on our committee.
• Testimony, thank you. ...joined us remotely and for all of your work on our committee.
• Today, we will have testimony for this hearing by invitation only.
• So I'm sorry, I should say for any members that are joining us remotely, if I think Senator Payano may
• We thank everyone for joining us here, as well as remotely. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• certain records for a minimum of two years, prohibits the use of traffic infraction detectors for remote
• there's some language in the amendment about the traffic infraction detector may not be used for remote
• surveillance, and then that this does not constitute remote surveillance.
• Thank you so much for your testimony. The last one is Lieutenant Chip Denmark.
• So I really appreciate your testimony and the time you gave the committee.

Bills: S0382 , S0628 , S0654 , S0696 , S0880

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We will procedurally move the bills after we conclude testimony and member discussion.
• </c> going to start with our remote going to start with our remote testifiers<00:29:45.240><c> first<
• Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony today.
• </c> so the first person that talked remotely so the first person that talked remotely um<01:12:16.600
• Thank you, and members, that concludes our public testimony.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had testimony from people. We've had people crying in the witness stand.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• So, thank you for your testimony. I do have a question for you.
• So thank you for your testimony. Can I get the next witness in favor?
• I really do have nothing to add from previous testimony.

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Committee on Utilities first took up House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2762, 2816, and 2402, a solar-energy measure. The committee substitute combined the bills’ titles and focused on three main areas: a taxation framework for solar projects, setback requirements from occupied dwellings and property lines, and a decommissioning/bonding framework for project cleanup. Supporters said the bill would create baseline rules for a growing industry, protect neighboring landowners, and ensure land is restored after projects end. Members asked about Chapter 100 agreements, the setback distances, county rulemaking authority, and how reclamation and bonding would work. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a new substitute, and then voted the substitute do pass by 18 ayes and 2 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 2248, which would change Missouri’s economic development electric rate structure and close a loophole that could allow data centers under 75 megawatts to receive reduced rates. The sponsor and utility witnesses said the bill would make incentives more predictable by replacing a variable formula with a fixed discount for qualifying new industrial projects, while still requiring customers to pay full cost to serve and meet load-factor and other requirements. Witnesses from Evergy, Ameren Missouri, the Missouri Chamber, and Ford discussed the value of incentives for manufacturing, the difference between new load and retention of existing large users, and whether the bill should also address retention discounts. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 903, which would expand critical infrastructure protections. The bill adds wireline and broadband facilities to the definition of critical infrastructure, increases penalties for damaging or tampering with such facilities, and creates an offense for unauthorized possession of certain stolen materials such as copper and related telecom materials. The sponsor and witnesses from AT&T, Verizon, cable, railroad, electric cooperative, recycling, municipal utility, and chamber groups said the measure responds to rising theft and vandalism, including copper theft and fiber cuts that disrupt 911 and other services. Members asked about scrap dealers, fiber versus copper, trespassing concerns, and whether harsher penalties would deter theft. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> as</c> ask that you keep your testimony as ask that you keep your testimony as close<00:02:47.599
• Thank you for your testimony, Mr. Riley.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your testimony, Mr. Gross.
• </c> thank you thank you for your testimony thank you thank you for your testimony Mr<00:13:46.680><c
• State your name for the record and please be in your testimony.

Bills: HF51 , HF1161 , HF2201 , HF2786 , HF1053

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now hear testimony in favor. Testimony in favor. State your name.
• So now we will hear testimony in favor.” “Much. So now we will hear a testimony in favor.
• Is there any testimony in opposition? Any testimony for information purposes only?
• Is there any testimony in opposition? Any testimony for information purposes only?
• Any testimony in favor? Any testimony in opposition? Any testimony for information purposes only?

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1738 looks to address this issue and help alleviate the housing crisis by requiring remote virtual
• Requiring remote virtual inspections for simple renovations will speed up the process for homeowners
• AB 1738 looks to address this issue and help alleviate the housing crisis by requiring remote virtual
• Requiring remote virtual inspections for simple renovations will speed up the process for homeowners
• AB 1738 looks to address this issue and help alleviate the housing crisis by requiring remote virtual

Transcript Highlights:

• After testimony, we will go into caucus.
• Let’s go ahead and proceed with testimony, Vice Chair Hall. Proceed with testimony.
• I believe she is remote. Hello, can you all hear me? Yes, we can. Hello, can you all hear me?
• Austin is online, remote. Good afternoon, members of the committee. My name is Austin Sharp.
• Thank you, Austin, for your testimony.

Bills: HB2496 , HB2575 , HB2605

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: tribal consultation, energy facilities, site evaluation, environmental impact, policy regulation, environmental regulation, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, HB 2605, Washington asbestos law, naturally occurring fibrous silicate, asbestos-containing building materials, fibrous silicate materials, asbestos labeling, construction materials, renovation, repair and maintenance, EPA method

Transcript Highlights:

• So, OK, after testimony. The Republicans have B-27.
• OK, let's go ahead and proceed with testimony, Vice Chair Hall.
• Austin is online, remote. Members of the committee, my name is Austin Sharp.
• Thank you, Austin, for your testimony.
• Thank you, Austin, for your testimony.

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard three bills. House Bill 2496 would expand tribal consultation in Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (FSEC) siting reviews by requiring the full council, rather than only the chair, to participate in government-to-government consultations with federally recognized tribes, allowing tribes to review and comment on consultation summaries before they go to the governor, and exempting those consultation meetings from the Open Public Meetings Act so long as no deliberation or commitments occur. The bill’s sponsor, tribal representatives from the Yakama Nation, and supporters from labor and conservation groups said it would better protect sensitive cultural and treaty resources; the Association of Washington Business opposed it, citing due process and ex parte concerns, while FSEC staff said they support the intent but have some wording concerns. House Bill 2575 would reduce or eliminate several reporting requirements for utilities and the Department of Commerce, including changing some annual reports to biennial or every-four-years reporting, removing heat-related utility disconnection reporting, and eliminating a Commerce report on utility resource plans and combined heat and power data. The sponsor and Commerce said the changes would streamline duplicative or unused reporting and focus staff time on more useful information, while an opponent warned that legislators should not lose information needed to assess resource adequacy and reliability. A question was raised about whether the bill would affect timely reporting under clean energy laws; Commerce said the bill does not change Clean Energy Transformation Act reporting and that those processes remain in place. House Bill 2605 would raise the asbestos threshold for certain building materials from 0.1% to 0.25% and exempt low-level naturally occurring fibrous silicate material in commercial aggregates, asphalt, and concrete from labeling, use, and inspection requirements. The sponsor said the bill would reduce construction and transportation costs and help use local materials for roads and other projects while still preventing deliberate addition of asbestos-like materials. The Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association supported the bill, saying it corrects an overbroad prior approach and that existing workplace safety laws should address any dust-related risks. The committee heard testimony on all three bills and then closed the hearings; no votes were taken in the transcript.