Transcript Highlights:

• over $150 million and 778 positions starting in 2027-28, and a transition of the facility to a cold shutdown

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're on day 16 of the Democrats' shutdown. It's got to end.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the federal permitting.
• So big up with the new federal component because we do cross federal lands with this project: BLM, Forest
• The federal has NEPA. Which will also save us some time. Montana has MEPA.
• The federal government has NEPA. I know in the state of Washington, you have SEPA.
• But even with a shutdown, I think we'll wind up with a two-year federal EIS, which is a real win if we're

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Energy Supply, Energy Conservation, and Energy Resilience

Summary: The Joint Committee on Energy Supply, Energy Conservation, and Energy Resilience opened by electing Senator Shoemake as chair and Representative Alex Ibarra as vice chair. Members then moved into a series of work sessions focused on data centers, transmission, and workforce needs tied to Washington’s clean energy and grid planning challenges. Kate Bruns and Glenn Blackman presented preliminary findings from the governor’s Data Center work group, created under Executive Order 25-05. They said the group met for six months, received more than 1,000 public comments, and included representatives from agencies, industry, tribes, labor, utilities, environmental groups, and research institutions. The presenters emphasized that data centers are expected to be the largest source of load growth over the next five to ten years, creating concerns about grid capacity, ratepayer impacts, forecasting, water use, backup generation, and compatibility with Washington’s energy and climate laws. They described nine recommendations, including protecting existing energy and climate policy, improving forecasting, seeking more clean power and transmission, and encouraging flexible data center operations. A proposed tax incentive change that would have expanded eligibility while tying the exemption to new clean electricity sources narrowly failed in the work group. Members asked about tribal consultation, cooling technologies, and local benefits from data centers; the presenters said tribal consultation was ongoing and a final report would follow. Keegan Moyer of West Tech then outlined a regional transmission study showing major strain on the Western grid from load growth, electrification, resiliency needs, and limited transmission capacity. He said the 10-year study identified about 12,000 line miles of needed projects across the West, with roughly $56 billion in estimated costs, including planned projects, reliability upgrades, and new interregional transfer projects. He stressed that many projects are upgrades within existing rights-of-way, but new corridors are still needed, and he previewed recommendations on permitting, equipment procurement, cost allocation, and project sponsorship. In response to questions, he discussed the difficulty of crossing jurisdictional “seams,” the role of federal coordination, landowner compensation, eminent domain as a last resort, and the limited role of public financing beyond a federal GRIP grant. Stephanie Scott of Commerce presented the transmission workforce study, which focuses on substation technicians, line workers, and line clearance tree trimmers. She said current workforce levels are far below what will be needed under a clean energy expansion scenario, and that active projects are essential because apprenticeship training depends on thousands of hours of hands-on work. She highlighted barriers such as high upfront CDL and pre-apprenticeship costs, the need for wraparound supports, and the importance of expanding access for women, people of color, and tribal communities. Members asked about tribal utility apprenticeship programs, utility-run training pipelines, and whether the study included funding sources; Scott said the report would include an inventory of apprenticeship programs and tribal considerations, but revenue ideas were outside the study scope. Finally, Brant Johnson of Grid United described the North Plains Connector as a case study in large transmission development. He said the project, a 420-mile, 3,000-megawatt HVDC line connecting Montana and North Dakota, has relied on early stakeholder engagement, route changes, tribal consultation, and coordinated federal and state permitting to reduce risk and shorten timelines. He said the project aims for permits by the end of 2026 and construction beginning in 2028, with an earliest commercial operation date of 2032. In response to questions, he discussed the challenges of crossing regional seams, interconnection queues, land acquisition and compensation, eminent domain, and financing, noting that the project is primarily privately financed with a $700 million federal grant covering a portion of costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some efforts going on specific to GLP-1s at the federal level.
• But where do you see things going from a, you know, the federal standpoint?
• They're paid for by the federal government, but there's only so many slots.
• from the federal COVID grant.
• from the federal COVID grant.

Bills: SB37 , SB29

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• You've gone over some of the grant money that you received, so the federal money would be under HUD that
• Using federal funds to purchase a building that was renovated by state funds seems questionable.
• It's a strategy to keep it out of federal court just to try it in New Mexico.
• I know it's on our list, but there's that Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee...
• Yeah, that's all federal. Yeah. It was just like looking at the data. Okay.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not just strictly county, state, federal money.
• We did receive a federal grant for that, a $16 million federal grant, where we'll be expanding the track
• It is not just strictly on county, state, federal money.
• We did receive a federal grant for that, $16 million federal grant, where we'll be expanding the track
• And we think part of that was because of the federal government shutdown, the FAA restrictions.

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard SB 356 by Senator Wright, which would create an opt-in framework allowing counties and municipalities to designate certain roads for utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) under local conditions, including driver licensing, insurance, and speed-limit restrictions below 55 mph. Senator Wright said the bill would give law enforcement clearer authority and mirror the local-option approach used for golf carts. Supporters included a retired Volusia County sheriff and county commissioner, who argued UTVs are safer than golf carts and are already being used on roads, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Honda warned that UTVs are designed for off-road use, lack federal safety standards, and pose crash and tire-blowout risks on public roads. Several senators raised safety concerns, especially about speed and crash severity, but the committee ultimately voted to report SB 356 favorably. The committee then held a lengthy discussion on seaport infrastructure and funding, beginning with a moment of silence for JaxPort COO and former FDOT employee James Bennett. FDOT presented data showing Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports generate major cargo volume, jobs, and economic impact, and described state funding programs such as FSTED, SPI, and the construction aggregate grant program. Port representatives from Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, and the Port of Palm Beach described record cargo and cruise activity, major capital projects, and the need for continued state and federal support for dredging, bulkheads, cranes, rail, and terminal expansion. Senators asked about ROI, trade shifts, intermodal connections, fuel and LNG availability, leverage and reserves, and operational risks such as flooding, sea level rise, and channel depth; port officials emphasized resiliency, private partnerships, and long-term master planning. The committee also confirmed appointees to the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority and the Tampa Port Authority in one vote, with no objection. Finally, FDOT presented the statewide mapping programs work group report required by SB 1662, explaining that coordinated statewide use of LiDAR and aerial imagery could reduce duplication, improve emergency management and planning, and support insurance and storm-damage assessment. FDOT recommended a formal statewide coordination program, shared procurement and cost-sharing agreements, dedicated staffing, and statutory updates to Chapter 334 to support interagency agreements and recurring funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not just strictly county, state, and federal money.
• We did receive a federal grant for that, a $16 million federal grant, where we'll be expanding the track
• It is not just strictly on county, state, federal money.
• We did receive a federal grant for that, $16 million federal grant, where we'll be expanding the track
• And we think part of that was because of the federal government shutdown, the FAA restrictions.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Committee on Transportation heard SB 356 by Senator Wright, which would create an opt-in framework for counties and municipalities to allow utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain local roads with posted speed limits below 55 mph, subject to local safety determinations, licensing, insurance, and other restrictions. Supporters, including a retired sheriff and a Florida Sheriffs Association representative, argued the bill would give law enforcement clearer authority and reflect the reality that UTVs are already being used on roads, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Honda warned that UTVs are not designed for public roads and lack key safety features. Several senators raised safety concerns, especially about speed and crash risk, but the bill was reported favorably after debate, with Senators Martin, McClain, and Truenow expressing reservations. The committee then held a lengthy discussion on seaport infrastructure and funding. FDOT presented data showing Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports generate major cargo volume, jobs, and economic impact, and described state funding programs such as FSTED, SPI, and the construction aggregate grant program. Port representatives from Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port of Palm Beach, and Port Tampa Bay described record cargo and cruise activity, major capital projects, and the importance of state and federal grants, private partnerships, and long-term planning. They also discussed challenges including limited land, bulkhead and berth maintenance, channel deepening, workforce needs, fuel access, resiliency, and intermodal connectivity. Senators asked about return on investment, trade patterns, financing, cruise-versus-cargo balance, and operational risks; the ports emphasized that they are largely enterprise-funded but still depend on public investment for major infrastructure. The committee also approved a block of appointments to the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority and the Tampa Port Authority without objection. In addition, FDOT presented the statewide mapping programs work group report required by SB 1662, recommending a coordinated statewide aerial imagery and LiDAR program, shared procurement and cost-sharing arrangements, and statutory updates to improve interagency coordination and access to geospatial data. Senators briefly discussed potential uses for the data in insurance, emergency management, and property assessment, and the presentation concluded without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• to reflect updated federal revenue to the budget in the amount of roughly $15 million.
• On January 20, 2025, Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 directed federal agencies to begin phasing out
• Federal actions have shuttered civil rights and DEI offices across the state, have halted millions of
• Federal workers fired who live in California, resulting in millions of job losses and reduced services
• government to formally acknowledge and apologize for the harm caused by this executive... ...federal

Summary: The Senate first took up two budget-related transportation bills. AB 107, a junior budget bill, was described as a technical measure that updates federal appropriations by about $15 million, exempts certain Proposition 4 funds from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed spending, and makes other technical corrections without adding new projects or General Fund spending. Some senators objected to the APA waiver as reducing transparency, but the bill passed 28-10. AB 117, an early-action trailer bill for Bay Area transit, authorizes a $590 million loan from the state’s transit and intercity rail capital program to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which can then lend the money to Bay Area transit agencies for operating support, with repayment and interest secured by transit revenues. Supporters called it an emergency bridge to prevent major service cuts at BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain; opponents raised concerns about ridership recovery, accountability, and consolidation. The bill passed 28-9. The Senate then confirmed two California Air Resources Board appointees: Sonoma County Supervisor Linda Hopkins and Riverside Mayor Patricia Locke Dawson. Both were supported by colleagues who praised their experience and backgrounds, and both confirmations passed. The body also adopted SCR 89, a resolution by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas opposing federal attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Supporters argued DEI is essential to civil rights, education, public service, and equal opportunity, while criticizing the Trump administration for dismantling related federal offices and funding. The resolution passed on a largely party-line vote after extensive floor debate. Finally, the Senate adopted SCR 78, commemorating the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Senators from both parties spoke about the injustice of the internment, the resilience and military service of Japanese Americans, and the importance of remembering the history to guard against future abuses. The resolution passed unanimously, and the author then introduced survivors and guests in the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:35.200><c> level,</c> at the county or at the federal level, at the county or at the federal
• </c> Federal Plant Protection Act. Federal Plant Protection Act.
• </c> exceed federal regulatory authority. exceed federal regulatory authority.
• </c> the border by the federal government. the border by the federal government.
• So, that's a federal government.

Bills: HB389 , HB1166 , HB1510 , HB1541 , HB1605 , HB1661 , HB1663 , HB1678 , HB1769 , HB1785 , HB1801 , HB1802 , HB1815 , HB1824 , HB1838 , HB1840 , HB1853 , HB1860 , HB1891 , HB1952 , HB1960 , HB1969 , HB1970 , HB1972 , HB1976 , HB2050 , HB2094 , HB2104 , HB2158 , HB2165 , HB2171 , HB2208 , HB2246 , HB2271 , HB2300 , HB2310 , HB2315 , HB2319 , HB2338 , HB2339 , HB2343 , HB2443 , HB2498 , HB2551 , HB2599 , HB2606 , SB17 , SB83 , SB99 , SB148 , SB411 , SB709 , SB847 , SB874 , SB888 , SB1032 , SB1166 , SB2001 , SB2014 , SB2031 , SB2041 , SB2050 , SB2057 , SB2061 , SB2074 , SB2075 , SB2089 , SB2095 , SB2101 , SB2102 , SB2108 , SB2109 , SB2110 , SB2125 , SB2135 , SB2138 , SB2140 , SB2146 , SB2151 , SB2152 , SB2175 , SB2203 , SB2239 , SB2246 , SB2247 , SB2253 , SB2261 , SB2268 , SB2271 , SB2272 , SB2320 , SB2340 , SB2347 , SB2353 , SB2363 , SB2367 , SB2372 , SB2376 , SB2386

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Bills: HB389 , HB1166 , HB1510 , HB1541 , HB1605 , HB1661 , HB1663 , HB1678 , HB1769 , HB1785 , HB1801 , HB1802 , HB1815 , HB1824 , HB1838 , HB1840 , HB1853 , HB1860 , HB1891 , HB1952 , HB1960 , HB1969 , HB1970 , HB1972 , HB1976 , HB2050 , HB2094 , HB2104 , HB2158 , HB2165 , HB2171 , HB2208 , HB2246 , HB2271 , HB2300 , HB2310 , HB2315 , HB2319 , HB2338 , HB2339 , HB2343 , HB2443 , HB2498 , HB2551 , HB2599 , HB2606 , SB17 , SB83 , SB99 , SB148 , SB411 , SB709 , SB847 , SB874 , SB888 , SB1032 , SB1166 , SB2001 , SB2014 , SB2031 , SB2041 , SB2050 , SB2057 , SB2061 , SB2074 , SB2075 , SB2089 , SB2095 , SB2101 , SB2102 , SB2108 , SB2109 , SB2110 , SB2125 , SB2135 , SB2138 , SB2140 , SB2146 , SB2151 , SB2152 , SB2175 , SB2203 , SB2239 , SB2246 , SB2247 , SB2253 , SB2261 , SB2268 , SB2271 , SB2272 , SB2320 , SB2340 , SB2347 , SB2353 , SB2363 , SB2367 , SB2372 , SB2376 , SB2386

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal block grant is about $770 million a year, a very small snippet of the federal budget."
• We have some federal dollars coming through federal HHS via the Family and Youth Services Bureau, and
• I am here of my legal duties, our Supreme Court's, our federal duty, my federal duty as a federal executive
• I am a federal executive, as well as everything of federal lands here in our United States of America
• So is this a federal program? Are these federal dollars, or are these?

Committee: Joint Human Services

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• They said the legislature is focused on filling in gaps for federal funding, but libraries, it makes
• So the lack in federal funding, these libraries, if they have more capacity, they will be able to address
• They're funded through the IMLS federally. So that funding is a little bit shaky right now.
• They're funded through the IMLS federally. So that funding is a little bit shaky right now.
• Our largest employers are the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the refinery, Artesia General

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• commend the Liftoff Louisiana team for their role in developing a highly successful response to the Federal
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems and for their partners in developing a highly successful response to the Federal
• Senate Bill 122 by Senator Foil, Department of Transportation; relative to the federal government; to
• Senate Bill 122, relative to the federal government; to provide forgiving authority of the department
• ; take over duties of the Department of the federal government.

Bills: HR91 , HR92 , HR93 , HCR44 , HR84 , HR85 , HR86 , HR87 , HR88 , HR89 , HR90 , HCR42 , HCR43 , SCR21 , HB483 , HB484 , HB893 , HB1087 , HB1088 , HB1089 , HB1090 , HB1091 , HB1092 , HB1093 , HB1094 , HB1095 , HB1096 , HB1097 , HB1098 , HB1099 , HB1100 , HB1101 , HB1102 , HB1103 , HB1104 , HB1105 , HB1106 , HB1107 , HB1108 , HB1109 , HB1110 , HB1111 , HB1112 , HB1113 , HB1114 , HB1116 , HB1117 , HB1118 , HB1119 , HB1120 , HB1121 , HB1122 , HB1123 , HB1124 , HB1125 , HB1126 , HB1127 , HB1128 , HB1129 , HB1130 , HB1131 , HB1132 , HB1133 , HB1134 , HB1135 , HB1136 , HB1137 , HB1138 , HB1139 , HB1140 , HB1141 , HB1142 , HB1143 , HB1144 , HB1145 , HB1146 , HB1147 , HB1148 , HB1149 , HB1150 , HB1151 , HB1152 , HB1153 , HB1154 , HB1155 , HB1156 , HB1157 , HB1158 , HB1159 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1163 , HB1164 , HB1165 , HB1166 , HB1167 , HB1168 , HB1169 , HB1170 , HB1171 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1178 , HB1179 , HB1180 , HB1181 , HB1182 , HB1183 , HB1184 , HB1185 , HB1186 , HB1187 , HB1188 , HB1189 , HB1190 , HB1191 , HB1192 , HB1193 , HB1194 , HB1195 , HB1196 , HB1197 , HB1198 , HB1199 , HB1200 , HB1201 , HB1202 , HB1203 , HB1204 , HB1205 , HB1206 , HB1207 , HB1208 , HB1209 , HB1210 , HB1211 , HB1212 , HB1213 , HB1214 , HB1215 , HB1216 , HB1217 , HB1218 , HB1219 , HB1220 , HB1221 , HB1222 , HB1223 , HB1224 , HB1225 , HB1226 , HB1227 , HB1228 , HB1229 , HB1230 , HB1231 , SB1 , SB54 , SB82 , SB87 , SB92 , SB93 , SB99 , SB104 , SB113 , SB114 , SB115 , SB123 , SB129 , SB133 , SB161 , SB162 , SB224 , SB236 , SB275 , SB280 , SB289 , SB305 , SB310 , SB325 , SB330 , SB339 , SB350 , SB359 , SB382 , SB410 , SB412 , HCR10 , HB54 , HB55 , HB67 , HB73 , HB125 , HB133 , HB158 , HB168 , HB169 , HB191 , HB195 , HB205 , HB225 , HB245 , HB280 , HB283 , HB296 , HB319 , HB325 , HB339 , HB399 , HB407 , HB448 , HB482 , HB550 , HB591 , HB821 , HB826 , HB992 , HB995 , HB1085 , HB1086 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HCR6 , HCR19 , HB861 , HB889 , HB904 , HB907 , HB908 , HB929 , HB1009 , HB13 , HB23 , HB25 , HB32 , HB41 , HB90 , HB120 , HB121 , HB122 , HB127 , HB138 , HB139 , HB141 , HB179 , HB187 , HB213 , HB247 , HB286 , HB332 , HB344 , HB357 , HB367 , HB370 , HB462 , HB505 , HB527 , HB537 , HB605 , HB680 , HB681 , HB725 , HB780 , HB782 , HB847 , HB892 , HB911 , HB916 , HB1012 , HB81 , HB134 , HB154 , HB163 , HB170 , HB194 , HB217 , HB220 , HB254 , HB259 , HB290 , HB308 , HB311 , HB360 , HB382 , HB401 , HB410 , HB417 , HB463 , HB575 , HB592 , HB718 , HB723 , HB750 , HB755 , HB776 , HB812 , HB844 , HB882 , HB888 , HB961 , HB966 , HB980 , HB228 , HB289 , HB735 , HB796 , HB284 , HB301 , HB722 , HB468 , HB546 , HB746 , HB842 , HB923 , HB46 , HB166 , HB349 , HB352 , HB436 , HB588 , HB140 , HB429 , HB827 , HB953 , HB901 , HB9 , HB52 , HB58 , HB193 , HB400 , HB570 , HB577 , HB582 , HB733 , HB747 , HB868 , HB952

Keywords: Tulane University, education, research, economic impact, healthcare, Louisiana, condolences, memorial, community service, faith, legacy, centenarian, tribute, honor, longevity, philanthropy, youth leadership, fundraising, nonprofits, physical therapy

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then spent much of the day on personal privileges and resolutions recognizing groups and individuals. Members honored Physical Therapy Day at the Capitol, Tulane Day at the Capitol, and Landscape Architecture Month/Day, and also recognized the Liftoff Louisiana team for its work on an FAA advanced air mobility pilot program. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Representative Gene Durgey and adopted several condolence resolutions. The House then took up a long series of introductions and committee reports on bills, with many measures referred to committees and several resolutions adopted without objection. Among the more notable floor actions, the House adopted resolutions for Tulane University, physical therapy, landscape architecture, and the Liftoff Louisiana team, while other resolutions expressing condolences or commending individuals were either adopted or laid over. The chamber also received a large number of House and Senate bills on second reading for referral, covering topics such as education, health care, insurance, transportation, criminal justice, natural resources, taxation, and government administration. During floor consideration of bills, the House passed a number of measures, including a government clean-up bill removing inactive boards and commissions, an oyster tagging measure for alternative cultivation, a naloxone immunity bill, and a Secretary of State fee bill that drew some opposition but passed. Other bills approved included legislation on auto glass insurance practices, reckless driving at speeds over 100 mph, retirement system changes and cost-of-living adjustments, and several local crime prevention or improvement district measures. Some bills were amended or temporarily returned to the calendar for correction, including a firefighter retirement board governance bill, while most final passages were accompanied by motions to table reconsideration and, in some cases, requests for co-authors.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said remote workers in New Hampshire are already protected under current state and federal law.
• I'm the state director for the National Federation of Independent Business in New Hampshire.
• Those areas may have redundant federal parallels that would provide the same level of or a similar level
• Those areas may have redundant federal parallels that would provide the same level of or a similar level
• </c><03:57:44.720><c> parallels</c> may have redundant federal parallels may have redundant federal parallels

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first question is around federal performance standards.
• rates and timeliness so as to avoid federal penalties in FY26.
• And at the federal. Programs fall under HHS.
• But is the daycare voucher federal? I thought that was state.
• It's a federal program. It's very rigid with respect to us.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from Senate Chair Robyn Kennedy and House Chair Chynah Tyler, who emphasized that the fiscal year 2026 hearing was focused on the Health and Human Services budget, asked members to keep questions budget-related, and noted that no public testimony would be taken. They also highlighted the choice of Doherty Memorial High School as the venue to showcase Worcester’s investment in career and technical education. Committee members then introduced themselves before the first panel, the Executive Office of Veterans Services and the state veterans homes, began testimony. Secretary John Santiago said the governor’s FY26 proposal would support implementation of the HERO Act, which he said is now about 95% implemented, including higher disabled veteran annuities, expanded behavioral health benefits, and other service expansions. He described efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, including nearly $20 million in ARPA-funded housing and outreach initiatives, and said the agency has delivered more than 100,000 supportive services to nearly 8,500 veterans. Leaders from the Chelsea and Holyoke veterans homes reported on staffing, quality measures, electronic medical records, and major construction projects at both facilities, including a new Chelsea campus and the new Holyoke home. Members asked about funding transfers, geographic equity in access to the homes, outreach to women veterans and veterans of color, suicide prevention, Gold Star family support, and the impact of federal uncertainty; Santiago said the homes are now licensed and certified, that the current budget is sufficient, and that the agency is expanding engagement and data collection. The second panel, the Office of the Veteran Advocate, testified that its FY26 request is about $3.3 million, up from the current $2 million, to cover staffing, a larger office, and higher technology costs. Veteran Advocate Bob Notch said the office is a new independent oversight agency created in 2022 to examine systems, coordinate with local veteran service officers, and investigate fatalities or serious harm involving veterans in state care. He said the office’s work depends on research, data, and collaboration with other agencies, and that current funding is only enough for minimum operations. In response to questions, Notch and Deputy Commissioner David O’Callaghan discussed the difficulty of tracking veteran suicides, the need for better data across agencies, and the office’s role as an oversight body rather than a direct service provider. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, governs the provision
• By way of background, the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, governs the provision
• Information reasonably necessary to respond to that threat, but it must be consistent with other federal
• School shutdowns, law enforcement being called, and so we just want to make sure if schools are going
• I'm the executive director of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools.

Bills: SB6278

Committee: House Education

Keywords: teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12, high-need schools, Title I, special education, English language learner, rural schools

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a little bit of uncertainty over that right now due to an order from the federal government that
• The federal government's demand that TransAlta remain in operation despite its planned retirement is
• A recent federal order jeopardizes those agreements, undermines public health, and seeks to attack our
• me on that, when some of the initial studies came out that indicated how problematic this was, the federal
• You talk about meeting the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in the field testing.

Bills: HB2421 , HB1652 , HB2367 , HB2284

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: 6PPD, tires, environmental impact, public health, chemical regulation, HB1652, Salish Sea Protection and Marine Clean Fuels Act, marine fuel, low-sulfur fuel, sulfur emissions, ocean-going vessels, shipping, maritime pollution, air quality, particulate matter, Department of Ecology, port visit, regulated waters, fuel switching, vessel emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a little bit of uncertainty over that right now due to an order from the federal government that
• The federal government's demand that TransAlta remain in operation despite its planned retirement is
• A recent federal order jeopardizes those agreements, undermines public health, and seeks to attack our
• that, who, when some of the initial studies came out that indicated how problematic this was, the federal
• You talk about meeting the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in the field testing.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three main bills. House Bill 2284 on reducing litter would remove a scheduled increase in plastic bag thickness, preserve the existing penalty on thicker bags, and create a litter solutions task force to use existing data and recommend further actions. Supporters from business, retail, agriculture, food industry, and the Department of Ecology said the bill takes a data-driven approach and could help reduce litter without imposing a full bag ban, while Ecology noted it already has a statewide litter study underway and raised cost and membership concerns. Opponents and other commenters generally favored the bill’s direction but emphasized the need for more study and careful implementation. No vote was taken. House Bill 1652 would require certain ocean-going vessels in Washington waters to use fuel with no more than 0.1% sulfur, with recordkeeping, Ecology oversight, penalties, and a substitute clarifying vessel coverage and exemptions. The prime sponsor and environmental and public health advocates said the bill would reduce air and water pollution from scrubbers and protect the Salish Sea, orcas, salmon, and nearby communities. Ports, shipping interests, and industry groups raised concerns that the bill could effectively discourage scrubbers, create burdens for irregular callers and cargo traffic, and affect port competitiveness, while some said the bill should be narrowed or further stakeholdered. The hearing also included discussion of a proposed substitute and possible impacts on vessels and port operations. House Bill 2367 would end special coal-related exemptions by limiting the cap-and-invest exemption to pre-2026 emissions, removing limits on additional greenhouse gas regulation for the coal plant, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. Supporters said the bill would align state law with the planned closure of the Centralia coal plant, reinforce Washington’s climate policies, and remove outdated carve-outs. Business and petroleum representatives warned that if the plant were brought back into the cap-and-invest program, the allowance market could be affected and Ecology might need flexibility to adjust the program. The committee heard extensive testimony on all three bills but took no recorded votes or final action in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm curious about the federal match. It's almost a 20-80 match.
• Or how does that federal money work?
• We've relied on federal dollars.
• We had been applying nonstop for federal grants.
• we don't have any federal funding anymore.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It modernizes language to better reflect equipment actually being used and to better reflect federal
• We're just trying to align the language with federal standards so that we can make sure our inspectors
• This includes the impact of federal dams on our fish runs in the Columbia and Snake rivers and long-term
• Number two, consultation should involve a structured management model to ensure federal...
• Number two, consultation should involve a structured management model to ensure federally recognized

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. House Bill 2272 would update state park inspection language for ski lifts and related equipment to better match current equipment and federal standards; the sponsor and State Parks said it was a simple modernization bill, and there was no opposition. House Bill 2245 would expand Clean Energy Transformation Act coverage to port districts that distribute electricity, utilities with a single customer, and certain affected market customers such as data centers; supporters said it closes loopholes and applies clean-energy rules more fairly, while ports, business groups, and some utilities warned of unintended consequences, added reporting burdens, and impacts on cogeneration and rural economic development. Ecology and Commerce supported the goal but raised concerns about allowance allocation, fiscal impacts, and possible double counting, and WAPUDA asked that existing single-customer PUDs be grandfathered. House Bill 2215 would lower Climate Commitment Act thresholds for gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, and propane suppliers and extend coverage to some purchasers; supporters said it would prevent entities from gaming the system and cover significant emissions now below the threshold, while Ecology, fuel distributors, propane suppliers, grocers, and business groups warned of compliance costs, supply-chain impacts, possible linkage issues, and the need to preserve existing reporting authority for natural gas. Ecology estimated about 50 additional covered entities could be brought in, and several opponents argued the bill would sweep in small family-owned businesses not intended to be regulated. House Bill 2090 would direct Commerce to develop a nuclear strategic framework for inclusion in the state energy strategy, contingent on outside funding. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill is only a planning measure to ensure Washington considers advanced nuclear as a firm, low-carbon, small-footprint resource amid rising demand, grid constraints, and land-use concerns; supporters included Energy Northwest, local governments, labor/environmental Democrats, and pro-nuclear groups. Opponents, including the Sierra Club, Columbia Riverkeeper, tribal representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and several environmental advocates, said the bill gives nuclear special treatment, relies on private funding that could bias the study, and risks advancing projects at Hanford without early, meaningful tribal consultation. Tribes requested explicit consultation, independent and publicly funded analysis, and attention to treaty rights and historic nuclear impacts. Testimony also sharply divided over cost, waste, and land use, with supporters emphasizing reliability and footprint and opponents citing high costs, unresolved waste disposal, and the immaturity of small modular reactors. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.