Transcript Highlights:

• There are also schedule extension impacts.
• The second thing is, the project is way behind schedule.
• It's way behind the schedule that it announced in 2020.
• It's way behind the schedule that it announced in 2020 and even the schedule in '22 and '23.
• The EIS is two years behind schedule.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee first received an informational update on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project from Carly Francis and Travis Brower. They described the project’s purpose as improving seismic resilience, safety, freight movement, transit, and bicycle/pedestrian access across the Columbia River, and said the updated cost estimate is $13.2 billion to $14.4 billion for the full corridor. They explained the increase from the 2022 estimate as driven by construction inflation, a more conservative inflation curve, schedule delays, more detailed engineering, and risk modeling. They also outlined the funding plan, including $2.1 billion in federal funds, $1 billion each from Oregon and Washington, and $1.5 billion in projected toll revenue, and said they are working to obligate federal funds by the end of September. The panel described a first funded phase that would include the bridge, highway connections, tolling infrastructure, bridge removal, and transit design, with light rail to Vancouver still intended but dependent on additional funding. Members questioned the risk of losing federal transit funds, whether bridge design decisions were being made with legislative input, and whether the space reserved for light rail could be used for buses if transit funding does not materialize. The committee then heard testimony on maintaining Oregon’s existing roads and bridges from representatives of Knife River, the Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon, and CRH. Witnesses said pavement and bridge preservation is severely underfunded, with ODOT needing about $400 million per year for pavement preservation but receiving roughly $100 million annually. They showed examples of deteriorating highways such as U.S. 97 and I-84 and argued that delaying maintenance leads to much higher reconstruction costs, more safety risks, and higher user costs. Knife River described layoffs and reduced work in Oregon because of limited preservation funding, while witnesses also said rising wages, equipment costs, fuel, and permitting delays are increasing project costs. Committee members asked about the role of prevailing wage, diesel equipment, hauling distances, and whether preservation work could be prioritized more effectively. Finally, economist Joe Cortright presented on recent ODOT megaproject cost overruns. He said Oregon has experienced persistent overruns driven by overly optimistic revenue forecasts, heavy reliance on debt, consultant costs, inflation above forecast, and projects that have become much larger in scope than originally presented. He cited major increases in the Interstate Bridge, Rose Quarter, and Abernathy Bridge projects and argued that some designs are far wider and more expensive than necessary. Cortright said better accountability, clearer priorities, and more disciplined project sizing are needed, and committee members pressed him on why agencies proceed with larger designs even when consultants recommend narrower, less expensive alternatives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Have we worked something into their schedule to help them catch up?
• We are very intentional when it comes to planning master schedules and BELL schedules in our district
• of our schedule block for our elementary, there is specific time.
• They're scheduled to complement, not interrupt, the core learning.
• Thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedules to be here.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:09:57.040><c> one</c> because of its status as a schedule one because of its status as a schedule
• </c><02:15:52.239><c> one</c> board of pharmacy because schedule one board of pharmacy because schedule
• Not all Schedule I drugs are the same.
• Not all Schedule I drugs are the same.
• Not all Schedule I drugs are the same.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> approximately 23 uh point fee schedule approximately 23 uh point fee schedule based<00:06:24.240
• </c> to work against an approved fee schedule to work against an approved fee schedule and<00:32:11.120
• </c> rate schedule. That's correct. rate schedule. That's correct.
• Dentists do not have fee schedule.
• health fee schedule.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 9 minutes, then reviewed a deferred personnel contract involving workers’ compensation claims administration. Staff explained that the roughly $50 million figure included about $48 million for claims payments and up to $1.45 million per year for administrative services, with billing based on a fee schedule for specific services rendered. Senator Meredith raised concerns about the vendor’s history, the scoring and bid process, and prior allegations involving the company; the administration responded that the procurement had been conducted under 45A through open competition, with outside scorers and no finding of wrongdoing tied to this contract. Meredith moved to disapprove Contract 167, Hart seconded, and the committee voted 5-2 to disapprove it. The committee then deferred a Western Kentucky University personal services contract because the vendors were still not registered with the Secretary of State’s office. Hart moved to defer the contract until the August 2026 meeting, Meredith seconded, and the motion carried. The committee also approved the agenda covering the various contract lists and deferred items. Next, the committee heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on several personal services contracts for medical staffing and related services. Secretary Steven Stack and staff explained that staffing shortages often require outside vendors, that the contracts were competitively bid under 45A, and that the cabinet uses a streamlined vendor pool for specialized needs such as actuaries, auditors, and technical consultants. The committee approved Contracts 52 through 55 without objection. Discussion then began on Contract 61, with Meredith expressing concern that the committee lacked enough detail to judge whether the services could be performed in-house or whether the exchange of resources was appropriate; Stack said the contract was intended to provide efficient access to specialized outside expertise. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Contract 61 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Office of Technology COOT scheduled Office of Technology COOT scheduled sessions<00:03:55.680><c
• ,</c> I'm going to get you back on schedule, I'm going to get you back on schedule, sir.<00:08:45.760
• </c><00:14:09.839><c> to</c> uh other projects that was scheduled to uh other projects that was scheduled
• I'm gonna get you on<00:14:38.880><c> schedule.</c> on schedule. on schedule.
• Thing real quick since I hear y'all are ahead on schedule.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:09 Approval of Minutes 00:01:10 Welcome New Members 00:01:26 Information Items 00:01:49 COT Special Report 00:02:38 Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:07:41 A. Department of Military Affairs 00:08:07 B. Department of Veterans’ Affairs 00:20:34 C. Kentucky Infrastructure Authority 00:25:54 D. Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet 00:35:05 E. Transportation Cabinet 00:55:53, 958, all

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the May 21 minutes, and welcomed a new executive branch member, Secretary Keith Jackson of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The board also received two informational items: agency responses to prior questions and amendments made to capital plans after the last meeting. It then heard the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s report on executive branch IT capital project scoring, which reviewed 16 IT requests totaling about $330.5 million. COOT said projects were ranked through an independent panel using standardized criteria focused on feasibility, statewide alignment, readiness, impact, and risk; the CIO recommended moving an enterprise application and artificial intelligence inventory system from rank 11 to rank 4 because of its enterprise-wide impact and connection to Senate Bill 4. The Department of Military Affairs presented its capital plan, describing 43 million in projects for the current period and 13 projects totaling $65 million for 2026–2028, with most funding coming from federal sources and restricted agency funds and no general fund request in the latter period. Its projects included maintenance pool adjustments, a statewide Army master plan, the Somerset readiness center, Shelbyville and Ashland armories, a future home for the Kentucky Army National Guard band, and other facility upgrades. Members asked about the Somerset project’s cost growth and federal delay; the department said the project remains in conceptual design, is awaiting federal MILCON action, and would require a state match of about $9.8 million against $29.6 million federal funding if it is approved. Members also asked about staffing levels, and the department said state employee and Title 32 numbers have been relatively steady, while technician positions have declined. The Department of Veterans Affairs outlined seven projects for 2026–2028, led by a Radcliff Veterans Center HVAC replacement that needs an estimated additional $16 million to finish phase two after phase one was already funded. Other requests included a maintenance pool increase, renovations and exterior upgrades at Eastern and Western Kentucky veterans facilities, a cooling tower replacement at Thompson Hood, and parking lot and lighting improvements. The department said some projects were already in the six-year plan and that the Radcliff phase two could be bid in June 2026 if funded. Members confirmed that a columbarium wall project at Grayson is federally funded. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented its six-year capital plan, citing more than $3 billion in loan commitments since 1988 and over $5 billion in supported infrastructure projects. KIA requested $298.439 million in the first biennium, including $27.742 million in state match for federal clean water and drinking water revolving funds, $25 million for its state Infrastructure Revolving Fund, $185.697 million in federal capitalization grants, and $30 million in leverage bond authorization for each year of the two federally assisted loan programs. Members asked about drinking-water quality, and KIA said that function is handled by the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, not KIA. KIA also said its loan rates currently range from 0.5% to 2.25%, averaging just under 1%, and that its revolving loan programs have had no defaults. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began its presentation at the end of the transcript, with staff identifying themselves, but no project details or board action from that presentation were included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're recognizing colleagues of us that are coming in and out just because of their schedules.
• CRNA rates are reported to be as low as 34% of the physician schedule for the same services in Massachusetts
• the specialist at Boston Children's Hospital, he was almost certain I had endometriosis, and we scheduled
• the specialist at Boston Children's Hospital, he was almost certain I had endometriosis, and we scheduled
• , leading to multiple and potentially conflicting notices that could vary every time they try to schedule

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on several health care access and insurance-related bills, with most testimony focused on H.1136 to improve the prior authorization process. The Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Health Care for All, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, physicians, and hospital representatives all supported the bill, arguing that prior authorization delays care, increases administrative burden, contributes to clinician burnout, and can worsen patient outcomes. Witnesses described examples involving delayed cancer treatment, diabetes care, COPD medication, shingles pain treatment, and hospital discharge delays. They said the bill would preserve prior authorization but add guardrails such as longer validity periods, continuity-of-care protections, faster responses for urgent care, clearer lists of services requiring authorization, and more transparency and standardization. The committee also heard testimony on H.1142/S.783 regarding equitable reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), with Senator Lovely and CRNA advocates supporting parity with physician anesthesiologists. They said CRNAs provide the same services at the same standard of care, but private insurers sometimes reimburse them at lower rates than physicians, which they argued is inconsistent with federal and state policy and harms access. Senator Keenan testified in support of a bill addressing claim denials and appeals, saying insurers should provide clearer explanations, time to resubmit claims, and timely appeal responses. Dr. Lorraine Schratz supported H.1126 to align state patient disclosure requirements with federal No Surprises Act rules, and Dr. Michael Trimbley supported H.1120 to recognize direct primary care as not being insurance and to encourage primary care participation. The committee also heard testimony on H.1140/S.801 to remove barriers to patient care by updating insurance statutes to reflect nurse practitioners’ full practice authority, and on H.1168/S.A.18 to eliminate the PCP referral requirement for specialty gynecological care. Witnesses on those bills described delays and denials affecting autism diagnosis, nutrition coverage, and endometriosis care, and said the proposals would reduce unnecessary barriers and improve timely access. After testimony and a few member questions, the chair closed the hearing; no votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first round of party primary voting will take place on May 16, with a runoff scheduled for June 27
• And the agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, is scheduled to receive $21 million and they have
• Then federal funds, they're scheduled to receive $64.5 million from the U.S.
• And then they're scheduled to receive $2.8 million from the U.S.
• Department of Health and Human Resources for Medicare and they're scheduled to receive $2.8 million from

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation for the Department of State. House Fiscal Division said the FY27 recommended budget is $128.6 million and 367 positions, with elections making up the largest share. Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the office is implementing Louisiana’s first closed party primary, continuing voter education efforts, and moving toward procurement of a new voting system that would produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot and support risk-limiting audits. Members asked about polling place confusion, machine replacement costs, election commissioner pay, and the cost of educating voters about the new primary system. Landry said polling places are not changing because of the new primary law, the new system is expected to cost about $100 million total, and a bill this session would raise election commissioner pay by $100 per day. Fiscal staff also estimated the closed primary law will add about $31.5 million in costs over five years, mostly from converting local elections to statewide elections and voter outreach. The committee then reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs budget, which was presented at about $105.2 million with a mix of federal, state, self-generated, and interagency funds. The department said most costs are tied to personnel and veterans’ homes, and that the homes are funded largely by federal dollars plus self-generated revenue. Members focused heavily on delays in processing National Guard disability claims and payments to veterans. Representatives said constituents had waited about a year for claims to be resolved, while the department said it had increased staffing and was processing a backlog of more than 400 claims, but still had about $950,000 in approved claims awaiting funding. The department said the payout program is governed by statute and that additional supplemental funding has been requested. Members also discussed veterans’ home care, including how service-connected disability status affects eligibility and costs, and whether chronic wound care and related complications could increase long-term costs. The department said veterans with higher service-connected ratings receive care with federal support, while others pay fees. Several members urged the department to provide clearer timelines and better communication to claimants, and one member suggested a separate oversight hearing to address the disability claim process and any needed statutory changes. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it is appropriate that way this bill except as housing from schedule.
• One for veterinary uses and schedule 3 for veteran or uses.
• I wasn't classification by removing the exception under schedule 3 controlled substances.
• It retains an exception for silencing use of veterinary medicine under schedule.
• If there's an autopsy and it shows that this individual had a schedule once very limited schedule, one

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> They've placed this on the childhood schedule.
• So, I'd like to kind of schedule those.
• So, I'd like to kind of schedule<02:52:31.680><c> those</c> schedule those schedule those um um um and
• And there, like number one on their schedule, is COVID-19 vaccine.
• And there, like number one on their schedule, is COVID-19 vaccine.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met as a special House committee on COVID response efficacy, noted absences, and restated its mission to review New Hampshire’s pandemic response, including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID treatment, patient bill of rights implementation, and vaccination policies. The main business was discussion of a proposed letter or report language concerning current COVID vaccine recommendations for young children, especially those under age two, and how to support any conclusions with cited scientific and state sources. Representative Polozov argued that the committee should ask the governor or agencies to reconsider current recommendations, saying the committee should focus on whether vaccination is needed for that age group, whether it is effective, and whether the risks outweigh the benefits. He said he had distributed articles and wanted the committee to pair its conclusions with scientific and statistical data. Other members asked him to identify the specific New Hampshire DHHS and American Academy of Pediatrics sources for the recommendation, clarify the age range being discussed, and separate any evidence about adverse effects in other age groups from the infant/toddler demographic so the letter would be transparent and not misleading. Members generally agreed the letter should be carefully sourced and refined, with citations for each claim. The chair said the committee would treat the request as urgent and try to finalize a version by the next meeting, noting that some members would be traveling. The committee also discussed scheduling additional testimony in September and October, possibly with extra meetings, to continue gathering evidence and to hear from witnesses. The chair then began reviewing supporting articles, including studies he said were new since the 2024 report, and introduced a 2025 South Korea cohort study and another 2025 Italian cohort study as examples of the evidence he wanted to incorporate into an updated 2026 report.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our only hearing of the night, just to make sure you guys are aware of that with our schedule
• the time the student accompanies a parent while the parent is exercising the right to vote in a scheduled
• A student may receive this excused absence only one time during each scheduled election.
• the time the student accompanies a parent while the parent is exercising the right to vote in a scheduled
• A student may receive this excused absence only one time during each scheduled election.

Summary: The committee first took up executive-session action on House Committee Amendment ending in point 02H and adopted it, then rolled the amendment into a new substitute and adopted the substitute for House Bill 3210. The committee then voted House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3210 do pass by a roll call of 9 ayes and 5 noes. Next, the committee corrected a script issue and voted House Bill 3510 do pass by a roll call of 14 ayes and 1 no, after brief confusion over the bill number. The meeting then moved to a public hearing on Senate Bill 1351, sponsored by Senator Joe Nicola. The bill would reduce Independence’s school board term from six years to three years to match most other districts. An amendment added on the Senate floor would allow a student to be excused from school once per scheduled election to accompany a parent who is voting. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve accountability and make school board service more accessible, and he said the amendment promoted civic engagement. Committee members asked about why Independence had a six-year term, whether three years is the norm, and whether the voting-related amendment was unrelated to the bill’s original subject. The sponsor said he did not know why the six-year term existed and said the amendment had been reviewed for title compatibility. A representative from Missouri NEA testified in support, explaining the unusual structure of Missouri school-district statutes and saying the organization supported both the shorter term and the student voting absence provision. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Missouri PDMP only collects information, dispensation information on prescriptions for Schedule 2, Schedule
• 3, and Schedule 4 medications.
• In 2025, there were over 9 million Schedule 2, Schedule 3, or Schedule 4 prescriptions, with dispensation
• But if it's something that is more benign, we may say schedule an appointment for next week.
• All right. we may say schedule an appointment for next week.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Members announced that two Department of Natural Resources rules had been withdrawn, leaving only the Missouri Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) rule proposal for consideration. Public testimony focused on a proposed expansion of PDMP access to additional licensed behavioral health professionals, including licensed clinical social workers, licensed master social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and psychologists, along with related clarifications to delegate access categories such as medical assistants and clinical nurse specialists. Testimony from the PDMP director and supporters from Compass Health and the Department of Mental Health argued the changes would improve care coordination, medication reconciliation, and overdose prevention within multidisciplinary behavioral health teams, especially in CCBHC settings. They said access would remain limited to licensed Missouri professionals working under supervision or collaboration with a prescriber or dispenser, and that the system is intended for treatment-related, view-only use. Opponents and skeptical committee members raised concerns that the rule would expand access beyond the original statutory framework without legislative change, could create privacy risks or misuse in non-treatment contexts such as custody disputes, and might exceed the committee’s rulemaking authority. One public witness opposed the rule, warning it could deter patients from seeking counseling and arguing the change should be made, if at all, by statute. After testimony, committee members debated whether the proposal was a permissible clarification or an impermissible substantive expansion of the law. Supporters of disapproval said the issue was legality, not the merits of PDMP access, and urged the department to seek a bill sponsor if it wanted the change enacted. A motion was made and seconded to disapprove Rule 1 CSR 60-1.010 on the grounds of lack of statutory authority, conflict with state law, and arbitrariness/capriciousness. The committee then took a roll-call vote and approved the motion by 7 ayes to 1 no, disapproving the rule and adjourning with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• that annual leave is an approved absence from work with pay allowed under an authorized accrual schedule
• Under Section 407.204, annual leave schedule, we added a new provision that agencies may grant enhanced
• shall promptly file a copy of that schedule with Human Resource Management Services, to align with the
• If not, the employee's accrual rate reverts to the... ...standard schedule.
• shall promptly file a copy of the schedule with Human Resource Management Services, to align with the

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot expect passengers to continue navigating complex schedules, multiple fare products, and often
• Essential service workers generally have the same kind of schedule.
• call a more intuitive schedule on most of our system, where a train is going to come in and out of the
• This can save minutes per trip, and shorter trip times make scheduling more trains more feasible.
• Suffice it to say, the results of our new schedule combined with better customer experience and that

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences sets the review schedule
• This preference was enacted in 2016 and scheduled to expire December 31, 2037.
• This preference was enacted in 2017, and it's scheduled to expire January 1, 2028.
• JLARC is scheduled to conduct a more comprehensive sunset review of the program in 2027.
• J.LARC is scheduled to conduct a more comprehensive sunset review of the program in 2027.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was first enacted in 2020, originally scheduled to begin being implemented January 1, 2021.
• The pre-scheduled increase in the pass-through charge was not amended.
• And then it's scheduled to sunset when the four-mil minimum thickness requirement takes effect.
• House Bill 1293 also maintains that 12 cent increase that was scheduled to go into effect.
• So I know there's another panel yet, and we're beyond our scheduled time.

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that I tried to figure out was what actually qualifies somebody to be on Schedule C
• I've worked with a lot of folks that are on Schedule C and I see some similarities with them.
• So they're doing all the same work. if not more than others on Schedule C.
• House Bill 1545 is a sunset schedule bill.
• Also on the review schedule are the Texas Workforce Commission, the State Office of Administrative...

Bills: HB 111, HB1545, HB2145, HB2467, HB2520, HB4136, HB4181, HB4214, HB4218, HB4219, HB4359, HB4437, HB4822, HB111

Keywords: Texas Public Information Act, open records, public records, government transparency, confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, governmental body, Chapter 552, public information law, nonprofit association, quasi-governmental entity, economic development, trade secrets, proprietary information, commercial financial information, Alamo restoration, local workforce board, TDCJ contract facility, civil commitment facility, water supply corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• gatherings of 10 or more scheduled gatherings of 10 or more people,<00:43:15.599><c> there</c><00:43
• Apologize for the date, but that's the best I could do with my own schedule.
• </c> propose and that is a proposed schedule propose and that is a proposed schedule for<01:10:54.800
• And that will be after the own schedule. And that will be after the state<01:11:59.600><c> primary.
• So, um, if we need to change for that reason, we may adjust our schedule, but that is our proposed schedule

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to review its mission and to discuss recent work on a letter sent to the governor and legislative leaders regarding COVID vaccine safety and related scientific references. Members said the letter, which included 31 cited sources, had been delivered to the governor’s office, the Speaker’s office, and the Senate President’s office, and a press release had been issued. Several members defended the letter’s sourcing and urged the public to read the materials and evaluate the evidence themselves, while also acknowledging questions about the trustworthiness of some cited articles. A major portion of the meeting focused on a research assistant’s effort to use AI tools to help reconstruct and verify the committee’s 2024 COVID report with citations. She reported mixed results from Copilot and Gemini, noting that the tools often produced broad or incomplete outputs and that she would need to break the report into smaller sections and ask for more specific source types. Members advised using more precise prompts and emphasized that any AI output would still need human verification. The committee said it hoped to produce a revised, fully footnoted 2024 report by early September. The chair then outlined the committee’s fall agenda, saying it would examine long COVID treatment, the patient bill of rights as it relates to COVID vaccinations and death reporting, standards of care and professional judgment by New Hampshire health care providers, and oversight of federal COVID-related funding such as CARES Act education relief dollars. He also referenced a recent fraud case involving misuse of COVID funds and suggested the committee may ask the DOJ for information. The committee will not meet in July or August and plans to resume in September and October, with a final report targeted for the end of October. The chair also introduced a recent DNI/Tulsi Gabbard press release about U.S.-funded biolabs overseas, which members discussed as a possible transparency issue relevant to future pandemic policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• an</c><04:12:15.439><c> appointment</c> scheduler could book an appointment scheduler could book an
• </c> Scheduling Improvement Act, as amended. Scheduling Improvement Act, as amended.
• </c> VA schedulers to check availability. VA schedulers to check availability.
• </c> The Veterans Community Care Scheduling The Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement<04:14:
• Provider scheduling system to finally Provider scheduling system to finally allow<04:18:03.439><c> VA

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This year, with conference schedules, there is no one week in July where ALC could meet in its entirety
• only to take up items that have an imminent need such that they cannot wait until the regularly scheduled
• The ALC subcommittees are permitted to meet outside the regularly scheduled ALC week in July through
• July 2026 will be considered final and shall be reported to the Legislative Council at its meeting scheduled
• July 2026 will be considered final and shall be reported to the Legislative Council at its meeting scheduled

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first considered an emergency rule from the Department of Education amending consolidation and annexation rules to implement Act 919 of 2025 and Act 157 of the 2026 fiscal session. Department staff explained the change was needed to support newly detached isolated school districts while avoiding financial hardship for the parent districts by preserving declining-enrollment funding, local tax revenue, and using existing unused department funds rather than new appropriations. Senator Irvin emphasized the policy background and financial mechanics, and the committee reviewed and approved the emergency rule without objection, effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on June 19, 2026. The committee then approved an emergency rule from the Department of Human Services allowing hospitals to open separate adolescent substance use disorder units and receive payment for residential services provided to adolescents. Senator Irvin requested the item be brought to the Public Health committee for an update, and the rule was approved without objection, also effective June 19, 2026. The committee next heard a waiver request from Whitehall for cooperative purchasing over $1 million for construction services tied to a specific vendor and system; the athletic director said the vendor had a strong track record and the project would begin in late August 2026 and finish in November 2026. The waiver was approved on motion. In the director’s report, the committee adopted the same per diem, mileage, and expense allocations for the coming fiscal year, noting committees had not spent their full allocations. It also approved a motion to cancel the July 2026 Legislative Council meeting because of scheduling conflicts, while allowing subcommittees to meet in July only for items with imminent need; any July subcommittee actions will be final and reported to the full council at its August 21, 2026 meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• uniform controlled substances, amending Section 37-25, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding Schedule
• Regarding Schedule 2 controlled substances and to make technical corrections.
• Amending Section 37-09, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding Schedule 3 controlled substances and
• Amending Section 37-11, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding Schedule 4 controlled substances and
• Amending Section 37-13, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding Schedule 5 controlled substances,

Summary: The House convened with 70 members present, heard prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the House Journal. The chamber then received committee reports noting that House Bills 489 through 493 had been printed and referred to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee. Under resolutions and first reading, House Concurrent Resolution 21 was introduced to designate 2026 as the Year of Volunteerism and the America 250 in Idaho Service Challenge, with related commemorative activities for the nation’s 250th birthday; it was referred for printing. The House also introduced House Bills 494 through 498, covering background checks and related code updates, dentistry and denturist regulation, podiatry licensure and discipline, controlled substances scheduling and related technical changes, and authorization for legislative leaders to employ outside counsel in federal litigation. All five bills were referred to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee for printing. During announcements, members welcomed teachers, IEA members, and several guests in the gallery, and noted a sound money talk, a balanced budget amendment informational hearing featuring Governor Ron DeSantis, and a pharmacy student reception. Committee meeting notices were also read for the coming days. The House then adjourned until 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2026.