Transcript Highlights:

• town centers.
• Kirkland's mixed-use urban centers and neighborhood centers are the economic engines of the city.
• We currently have 13 outpatient imaging centers in the Puget Sound area.
• Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.
• Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.

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:

• </c><00:14:49.760><c> And</c><00:14:49.959><c> so</c><00:14:50.200><c> here</c> hold the joint convention
• And so here hold the joint convention. And so here we<00:14:50.560><c> are.
• The joint committee then recommends candidates to the joint convention, at which time the joint convention
• , at which at which time the convention, at which at which time the joint<00:47:54.480><c> convention
• </c> joint convention elects Regents. joint convention elects Regents.

Bills: HF4252

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's talk about data centers in urban counties now.
• No new urban data centers were built using the preference.
• Data centers must also create a temporary job.
• preference to expire because no new data centers are being built.
• The legislature should allow the urban data centers preference to expire because no new data centers

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's talk about data centers in urban counties now.
• Or a few states even had an exemption for electricity used by the data centers.
• Data centers must also create a temporary job.
• preference to expire because no new data centers are being built.
• With it going forward, the exemption is now limited to new data center construction.

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 4, 2026, with all five commissioners present. The commission approved the May 26, 2026 minutes, welcomed new commissioner Diane Tabilius, and re-elected Andy Knopfsiger Meadows as chair and Dr. Sharon Keiko as vice chair. JLARC staff also introduced two Evans School interns who are assisting with preliminary research for the 2027 review cycle. JLARC presented preliminary findings on seven tax preference reviews, focusing most heavily on the Main Street communities credit, the Equitable Access to Credit Program, and the urban data center exemption. Staff concluded that the Main Street preference has helped increase the number of communities and businesses and recommended continuing it, while also recommending that DAHP collect more detailed and standardized business-count data. The Equitable Access to Credit Program was found to support underserved communities and was also recommended for continuation. The urban data center exemption was found to have been used only for refurbishment projects, not new construction, and staff recommended letting it expire; commissioners and Representative Paulette discussed the need for better performance measures, cost-per-job analysis, and clearer legislative intent language in tax preference statements. Staff then reviewed airplane modification, landfill biogas, automotive adaptive equipment, and housing for people with developmental disabilities. The airplane modification preference was found to likely support jobs and state tax revenue and was recommended for continuation. The landfill biogas preference was also recommended for continuation, with a suggestion for more detailed reporting on use and renewable natural gas production. The automotive adaptive equipment exemption was found to continue providing relief to disabled veterans and service members and was recommended for continuation, while the housing transfer exemption for adults with developmental disabilities had not been used and was recommended to expire. No public testimony was taken at this meeting, and the commission noted that public testimony would be heard at its September meeting before final comments are adopted in October.

Transcript Highlights:

• We may, with me today to testify, is Juliet Terry from the Child Care Resource Center and Tamara Foster
• From the Child Care Resource Center and Tamara Foster from the Little Hoover Commission, and I would
• I'm here today on behalf of Child Care Resource Center, also known as CCRC, a family and child services
• We employ over 1,300 people, maintain six office sites, 20 early learning centers, and three warehouses
• Maintain six office sites, 20 early learning centers, and three warehouses.

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee met as a subcommittee for much of the hearing because a quorum was initially absent, and it heard several bills focused on nonprofit support, alcohol regulation, immigration-related funding restrictions, outdoor advertising, and green building standards. SB 1240 by Senator McNerney would create an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to help nonprofits navigate state procurement, grants, and reimbursement processes; supporters, including the Child Care Resource Center and the Little Hoover Commission, said nonprofits provide essential services but face delayed payments and burdensome bureaucracy. Committee members raised accountability concerns, but the author emphasized the bill does not dispense grants and would cost about $1.7 million in the first year. The bill was later approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 917 by Senator Laird, which would remove the estate-grown grape requirement for wineries selling at farmers markets, allowing more family wineries to participate; winery and grape grower representatives said the change would help direct-to-consumer sales and local growers. SB 1171 by Senator Caballero would make private entities that contract with ICE ineligible for state-funded loans or grants; supporters from immigrant-rights groups described ICE detention and raids as harmful and inhumane, while some members spoke in favor of using state funds to avoid indirectly supporting ICE-related activity. Both bills advanced on party-line or near-party-line votes and were sent to Appropriations or Local Government as noted in the roll calls. Senator Rubio presented SB 1195, which would expand tied-house exemptions for certain entertainment, convention, and sports venues in specified counties, and SB 1228, which would allow a small number of existing outdoor advertising displays to continue operating despite a statutory sunset. Supporters said SB 1195 would create economic opportunity and clarify current law, while SB 1228 was described as a narrow fix to preserve legally permitted signs and local revenue; both bills passed the committee and were sent to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 1398, which would recognize Green Globes as an alternative green building certification for state projects alongside LEED; supporters argued it would add flexibility and competition, while the U.S. Green Building Council opposed bypassing the Department of General Services’ equivalency review. The bill was approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee also took up a consent calendar and adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We may, with me today to testify, is Juliet Terry from the Child Care Resource Center and Tamara Foster
• From the Child Care Resource Center and Tamara Foster from the Little Hoover Commission, and I would
• I'm here today on behalf of Child Care Resource Center, also known as CCRC, a family and child services
• We employ over 1,300 people, maintain six office sites, 20 early learning centers, and three warehouses
• Maintain six office sites, 20 early learning centers, and three warehouses.

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Transcript Highlights:

• It bridges the gap between conventional fuels and renewable fuels, which is really critical for adoption
• It bridges the gap between conventional fuels and renewable fuels, which is really critical for adoption
• We feel like the DOT already has rules and regulations in place that require a conventional human driver
• Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice in support.
• Hoy Health and Harm Reduction Center in support. >> Blue Pono Initiative in support.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1694, which would create a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and HB 1695, which would expand the state’s renewable fuels production tax credit. For HB 1694, supporters from the airlines, renewable fuels industry, business groups, and some environmental and youth representatives said sustainable aviation fuel is a practical near-term way to cut emissions in aviation, a hard-to-decarbonize sector, and argued the credit would send a market signal, support local production, and help meet state climate goals. Opponents, including Energy Justice Network and a taxpayer-focused testifier, argued the bill could subsidize expensive fuels that may not be truly clean, could duplicate benefits available under other tax provisions, and should not support transpacific aviation or technologies they said are unproven or harmful. The Department of Taxation stood on written testimony, and the chair later asked that all verbal testimony on remaining bills be limited to one minute because of time constraints. HB 1695 drew similar support and opposition, but focused more broadly on renewable fuels for transportation, trucking, shipping, and other sectors. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Energy Office, airlines, PAR Hawaii, the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, Pacific Biodiesel, and the RNG Coalition, said the bill would help scale local fuel production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support jobs and agriculture, and advance the state’s climate and energy goals. Several supporters emphasized that the credit would help build a local industry and that life-cycle accounting should be used to measure emissions benefits. Opponents repeated concerns that some biofuels and waste-based fuels may not be climate-beneficial, may rely on flawed modeling, and could create costly infrastructure that would need to be replaced later. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The movement made extreme efforts to try and get the legislature or the constitutional convention to
• authorize... constitutional convention to authorize universal women's suffrage.
• structures, matriarchy instead is... ...matriarchy instead is defined by cooperative, community-centered
• What stands out to me most, though, is how much of her work is centered on...
• How much of her work is centered on investing in people and preparing Colorado for the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I worked at a health center prior to my time in the office, and there was a specific type of Medicaid
• And they were really able to go down and be a part of the National Convention, be a part of the actual
• Virginia Beach Center shooting, 2019.
• The center shooting in 2019, the man used a .45-caliber firearm equipped with a suppressor, killing 12
• Every day we've got new advancements in AI, data centers, cryptocurrency, robots, electric vehicles.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB number 1499. by Nichols relating to the operations of the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center.
• Senator Nichols, SB 1499 expands the scope of the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to include. payment
• H.J.R. 98 by Pursuit applying to the Congress of the United States to call a convention. under Article
• Members, this renews Texas's application for an Article 5 convention for term limits, a balanced budget
• HB number 109 by Rose, relating to state centers and homes. Ms. Rose, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bills: HJR98 , HJR8 , HJR133 , HB23 , HB33 , HB144 , HB 109 , HB 103 , HB148 , HB3809 , HB1686 , HB2217 , HB2156 , HB220 , HB2421 , HB2363 , HB3773 , HB421 , HB2584 , HB2615 , HB2455 , HB3711 , HB2559 , HB3747 , HB2775 , HB2886 , HB3126 , HB3666 , HB3595 , HB3260 , HB3506 , HB1638 , HB3376 , HB3826 , HB3628 , HB1349 , HB3770 , HB1831 , HB1762 , HB2614 , HB3113 , HB267 , HB322 , HB431 , HB869 , HB 1203 , HB 1201 , HB 1244 , HB1875 , HB1950 , HB2152 , HB2290 , HB2341 , HB2436 , HB2809 , HB2856 , HB3012 , HB2954 , HCR56 , HCR102 , HB 107 , HB1587 , HB3684 , HB658 , HJR99 , HB1399 , HJR5 , HJR2 , HJR6 , HJR31 , HB1971 , SJR3 , HB1775 , HJR72 , HB502 , HB3109 , HJR98 , HJR8 , HJR133 , HB 118 , HB388 , HB 114 , HB205 , HB2789 , HB2791 , HB499 , HB2960 , HB3163 , HB3135 , HB2427 , HB1618 , HB1672 , HB1722 , HB1338 , HB787 , HB2618 , HB879 , HB 1126 , HB4134 , HB3513 , HB718 , HB1536 , HB1445 , HB1640 , HB1893 , HB1734 , HB3229 , HB3306 , HB 1276 , HB3272 , HB3276 , HB3516 , HB4145 , HB1585 , HB4810 , HB2989 , HB2558 , HB3014 , HB2742 , HB1695 , HB23 , HB33 , HB144 , HB 109 , HB 103 , HB148 , HB3809 , HB1686 , HB2217 , HB2156 , HB220 , HB2421 , HB2363 , HB3773 , HB421 , HB2584 , HB2615 , HB2455 , HB3711 , HB2559 , HB3747 , HB2775 , HB2886 , HB3126 , HB3666 , HB3595 , HB3260 , HB3506 , HB1638 , HB3376 , HB3826 , HB3628 , HB1349 , HB3770 , HB1831 , HB1762 , HB2614 , HB3113 , HB267 , HB322 , HB431 , HB869 , HB 1203 , HB 1201 , HB 1244 , HB1875 , HB1950 , HB2152 , HB2290 , HB2341 , HB2436 , HB2809 , HB2856 , HB3012 , HB2954 , HCR56 , HCR102

Keywords: Article V, federal government, fiscal restraints, constitutional amendment, term limits, nuclear energy, electric generation, funding, Texas nuclear development fund, advanced reactors, HJR 133, Texas constitutional amendment, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, homestead exemption, surviving spouse, veteran, veterans benefits, service-connected death, presumed service-connected condition

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I'd like to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Tommy Waller, President and CEO of the Center for
• with service in Afghanistan and Iraq, and I'm here to testify in support of HB 1212 on behalf of our Center
• important to note that our organization takes no federal funding, foreign... ...on behalf of our Center
• is willing to pay that because the first part of the hardening system would have to be against conventional
• Conventional weaponry that's in common usage every day that can disable a transformer.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The committee began by deferring six bills en bloc, then took up House Bill 1103, which would exempt certain industrial facility construction or improvement projects—especially aerospace-related facilities—from some local permitting requirements. Supporters said the goal was to reduce red tape and help Louisiana compete with states like Texas and Florida for aerospace investment, while members raised concerns about safety, home rule authority, and whether fewer permits could reduce oversight. The bill was reported favorably. Members then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 1212, which would require utilities to assess large electric transformers for vulnerability to electromagnetic threats and report findings to GOSEP, with a public version of the report. The sponsor and a retired Marine officer argued the bill was a limited “scoping” measure to identify vulnerabilities to solar storms or EMP attacks and estimate hardening costs; they said the current federal standard is too low and that protection technology exists. Committee members and utility representatives questioned whether the bill duplicated existing federal/NERC requirements, whether the information could create security risks if disclosed, whether the PSC had already studied the issue, and whether the costs would be passed to ratepayers. The PSC said it had previously opened a docket and studied EMP/physical security issues but never issued a final recommendation. After discussion, the sponsor agreed to defer the bill, and the committee deferred HB 1212. The committee then reported several technical or narrower bills favorably: House Bill 241 updated bank records disclosure citations and replaced a reference to the defunct Office of Thrift Supervision with the CFPB; House Bill 1091 shifted local fire departments to direct reporting into the federal emergency response system; and House Bill 1027 extended existing liability protection for real estate agents to licensed appraisers regarding smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance in one- and two-family homes. Finally, House Bill 1096, dealing with electrical cooperative bylaws and board authority versus member approval, was introduced with testimony from cooperative representatives explaining it was intended to restore member control or allow cooperatives to opt out of the 2012 change that had expanded board authority. The transcript cuts off before final action on HB 1096.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I'd like to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Tommy Waller, President and CEO of the Center for
• with service in Afghanistan and Iraq, and I'm here to testify in support of HB 1212 on behalf of our Center
• Defense Task Force, and one of the chief concerns of that joint task force... ...on behalf of our Center
• is willing to pay that because the first part of the hardening system would have to be against conventional
• We conventional weaponry that’s in common usage every day that can disable a transformer.

Bills: HB241 , HB267 , HB467 , HB673 , HB744 , HB798 , HB1026 , HB1027 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1212 , HB1230

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: financial records, consumer protection, banking law, disclosure, service of process, home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board, residential roof, coastal zone, fortified roof, building standards, construction code, insurance, hurricane resilience, safety, security cameras, abandoned property

Transcript Highlights:

• be able to be recycled at a... ...of those would be able to be recycled at a used oil collection center
• subject to the provisions of the type of collection center it is.
• example, if it was a do-it-yourselfer project, they could take five gallons of used oil to a collection center
• And that's the same as any other more conventional... ...55-gallon limit.
• So, and that's the same as any other more conventional used oil application.

Committee: Joint Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the difference between being coastal and a center of the state.
• For example, when I left Broward County, we were going to build a convention center hotel.
• The $340 million convention center hotel is now being finished, and it's beautiful, but it's $980 million

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee held its first meeting of the 2025 session and focused on an overview of county and municipal home rule powers and state preemption. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Alex Rizzo and Vice Chair Griff Griffiths explained the constitutional and statutory basis for local self-government, the distinction between charter and non-charter counties, and how express and implied preemption limit local authority. Griffiths emphasized that home rule gives local governments broad power to address community needs, but the Legislature can override that authority through clear preemption, with courts ultimately deciding disputes. Representatives Holcomb and LaMarca added that local issues should generally be addressed locally first, but statewide standards can be appropriate when uniformity is needed or local action is ineffective. The committee then heard from a panel representing counties, cities, business, and construction interests: Ginger Delegal of the Florida Association of Counties, Carolyn Johnson of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Rebecca O'Hara of the Florida League of Cities, and Carol Bowen of Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida. Delegal and O'Hara argued that home rule is rooted in local autonomy, policy experimentation, and accountability to voters, and warned against broad or “vacuum” preemptions that remove local authority without replacing it with state regulation. Johnson and Bowen supported preemption when local rules create a patchwork that hurts statewide competitiveness, raises costs, or complicates business operations, citing examples such as labor rules, heat safety, permitting, and procurement preferences. The panel also discussed the 2023 local ordinances law, which requires business impact estimates and provides attorney’s fees in certain challenges, as a mechanism to resolve disputes locally before resorting to preemption. Members questioned the panel about the 2024 heat-safety preemption and how to protect workers in the absence of local ordinances. Business representatives said existing OSHA duties and industry best practices already require employers to provide safe conditions, while local governments and the state should avoid inconsistent standards across jurisdictions. Another discussion centered on construction permitting, licensing, and local boards that may slow projects and increase costs; Bowen suggested eliminating redundant local fees and barriers while preserving statewide licensing and enforcement against bad actors. No votes were taken, and the meeting remained informational, with the chair inviting continued discussion on when preemption is appropriate versus when local governments should retain authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• Keely O'Brien with the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
• Anielli Martin with the California Immigrant Policy Center.
• Whitney Francis with the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
• Hi, Chloe Armosillo with the California Immigrant Policy Center.
• I want to align my comments with my colleague from the Western Center.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee opened its hearing on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget with remarks emphasizing the start of a months-long process, the need for fiscal responsibility, and concerns about structural deficits, federal funding losses, housing and homelessness, and oversight. The vice chair echoed those concerns, warning against budgets built on short-term fixes and urging accountability. The Department of Finance presented a balanced budget year proposal of about $349 billion in total expenditures, including $248 billion General Fund, while acknowledging a structural imbalance in the out years and proposing a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. Finance said the budget relies on stronger-than-expected revenues, but also on constitutional obligations such as Proposition 98 and Proposition 2, and on suspending a rainy-day fund true-up deposit to cover a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit. The administration highlighted higher education funding, climate and wildfire resilience investments, a new ZEV incentive, added Health and Human Services costs tied to H.R. 1, child care funding, and three tax proposals: third-party delivery tax compliance, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. The LAO, by contrast, warned that the budget is “precariously balanced,” cited downside risk from stock market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to use reserves, avoid suspending rainy-day deposits, and begin shrinking multi-year deficits sooner rather than later. Member questions focused on wildfire mitigation and insurance, transit and GGRF funding, federal cuts affecting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, the proposed tax credits, homelessness accountability language, and education funding. Several members pressed for earlier partnership on deficit solutions and for more scrutiny of budget choices. The committee also discussed declining enrollment in K-12, community colleges, and CSU, with concerns about whether funding formulas are aligned with actual student demand. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence.
• I'm the executive director of the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence.
• We were doing a town hall a couple weeks ago, and I asked the person that was at the convention center
• We were doing a town hall a couple weeks ago, and I asked the person that was at the convention center
• are</c><01:32:50.800><c> you</c> the convention center, um what are you the convention center, um what

Bills: HF3127 , HF3524 , HF3525 , HF3754

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Orchard at their center in 20120 was highlighted in the Minnesota documentary Sequencing Hope, which
• This usually results in moving expenses from the hospital cost center that are ... know this is not easy
• in November mfu members voted convention in November mfu members voted to<00:45:20.280><c> make</c><
• As a quick overview, as many of you know, North Memorial has two hospitals, one Level 1 trauma center
• </c><01:25:38.040><c> in</c> hospitals one level one Trauma Center in hospitals one level one Trauma

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you concerned that your ability to do so might hurt you at the Republican convention in a few weeks
• 00:20:40.600><c> the</c> might hurt you at the might hurt you at the Republican<00:20:42.480><c> convention
• c> a</c><00:20:43.080><c> few</c><00:20:43.280><c> weeks</c><00:20:43.880><c> uh</c> Republican convention
• in a few weeks uh Republican convention in a few weeks uh for<00:20:44.200><c> folks</c><00:20:44.520

Transcript Highlights:

• is all of the sources that are needed to put a financing transaction together with credits and conventional
• So the conventional market does come up into this capital equation that we have.
• cost to build the housing, and the remaining 30% is covered by federal dollars, and that would be conventional
• That would be conventional financing, or if we had state resources, they would be used to fill that 30%

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• I am actually a organic minister also uh in the Southern Baptist Convention, having been ordained at
• :56.320><c> the</c><00:05:56.400><c> Southern</c><00:05:56.720><c> Baptist</c><00:05:57.039><c> Convention
• ,</c> in the Southern Baptist Convention, in the Southern Baptist Convention, having<00:05:57.680><c>

Bills: HB272 , HB272

Committee: House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections

Keywords: HB272, LASEA, AMSTEP, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, State Department of Education, teacher loan repayment, student loan forgiveness, educator shortage, teacher shortage, acute educator shortage, acute shortage location, public K-12 schools, school systems, math teachers, science teachers, computer science teachers, charter schools, failing schools, underperforming schools, teacher recruitment