Transcript Highlights:

• Next up is SB 2885 relating to biosecurity beginning on the 1st of January 2027 establishes mandatory
• on the 1st of January<00:10:48.600> 2027<00:10:49.320> establishes<00:10:49.800> mandatory
• January 2027 establishes mandatory January 2027 establishes mandatory handling<00:10:50.600>
• 10:51.320> for SB 2885 relating to biosecurity, beginning on January 1, 2027, establishes mandatory
• Computers System Revolving Fund, and Indigent Legal Assistance Fund, and the Driver Education and Training

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees met in decision-making sessions and considered a long list of Senate bills, with no oral testimony taken. Several measures were advanced unamended, including SB 2178 on industrial hemp, SB 2277 on hospital price transparency, SB 2387 on digital financial asset transaction kiosks, SB 2688 on compassionate release, SB 3132 on syndromic surveillance data reporting, SB 3219 on housing infrastructure growth bonds, and others. Many bills were also advanced with technical or substantive amendments, including SB 2114 on collective bargaining grievance rights, SB 2601 on procurement penalties, SB 2698 on cruise ships/transportation, SB 2757 on digital asset charters, SB 2948 on insurance fraud, SB 2002 on water governance, SB 2022 on state water code penalties, SB 2190 on inclusionary zoning, SB 3294 on wrongful imprisonment compensation, and SB 17, SB 2407, SB 2811, SB 2907, SB 2930, SB 3084, SB 3103, and SB 2808 in the later agenda segment. The committee also discussed SB 2080, relating to the psychology interjurisdictional compact, where one senator objected to interstate compacts as opening local jobs to out-of-state professionals; despite that objection, the measure was adopted. SB 3133 on preventive medicine drew amendment discussion to remove unnecessary language about committee members not being state employees and to delete an immunity subsection, while preserving ethics-code coverage and provider immunity. SB 3000 on insurance was amended to remove a savings clause, and SB 2921 on fund transfers received extensive amendments removing or revising numerous special funds and revolving accounts across agencies. Most votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, often with members present voting aye or with reservations. A few measures drew recorded no votes or reservations, including SB 2080, SB 3133, SB 2921, and SB 2401, where one member voted with reservations and the committee report was to reflect the Attorney General’s comments. In each case, the committee adopted the recommendation and moved the bills forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill, but I would suspect that it has, you know, it kind of follows that same training logic that
• First, it’s really only mandatory fees. This bill only covers mandatory fees.
• I'm only thinking of, like, mandatory gratuity, but are there others that you contemplated?
• Yeah, I would think the mandatory service fee would be the only one. Okay.
• So I would say who we're using is even further than those who are trained through Nairut.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 267, which would change the membership rules for the Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors by adjusting appointment qualifications, term limits, and nomination procedures. Vice Chair Thomas explained the bill was meant to address the lack of nominations from existing entities and to allow the governor more flexibility, especially in smaller districts. After adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported HB 267 favorably. The committee then considered House Bill 478 on utility overcharge reimbursements. The bill, as amended, requires utilities to clearly label reimbursements on customer bills and sets a deadline for issuing refunds. After discussion with the Public Service Commission and utility representatives, the committee changed the reimbursement timeline from 45 days to 90 days and clarified that the bill would not interfere with larger settlement or regulatory credits. HB 478 was then reported favorably as amended. The longest discussion centered on House Bill 924, a consumer protection measure aimed at contractors who solicit residential property owners after declared disasters. The author said the bill was intended to curb predatory storm-chasing and fraudulent insurance-related practices, while still allowing emergency mitigation work. The committee adopted technical amendments and then a conceptual amendment shortening the catastrophe response period from six months to 30 days. Testimony was split: the Insurance Commissioner and some roofing industry witnesses supported the bill as a way to deter fraud, while other contractors argued it would hurt small businesses, limit legitimate door-to-door work, and not solve enforcement problems. The bill remained under consideration after extensive testimony and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, naturopathic education and training don't prepare
• diagnose and treat any disease with largely unproven nostrums, Jann Bellamy: inadequate education training
• This bill unnecessarily attempts to impose mandatory SNAP employment and training work requirements on
• and training work requirements under federal law.
• First, the bill would amend the law governing mandatory participation in the SNAP employment and training

Transcript Highlights:

• The penalties are mandatory and they're severe. It's a new category of crime now.
• The penalties are mandatory and they're severe, and that's by intention and design.
• The West Virginia Department of Education will be responsible for training the foster family and the
• Teachers in our school system are mandatory reporters.
• for now as they report to LOSIA on what kind of training they are offering to their teachers.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• During the last winter storm, our members were ready to curtail under a mandatory curtailment scenario
• Mandatory curtailment is a new domain.
• It's not the mandatory training, I need...
• Working with local jurisdictions is not the mandatory training for the local fire department at no cost
• The bill also requires pre- and post-operations education and training with local first responders.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to also jump on the praise train.
• The bill requires training for petition circulators and provides for that training.
• The circulator must now complete mandatory training before engaging in collection.
• You all talked about the online training.
• My question is, with this two-hour training, who is going to create this training, and will this training

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a remembrance of former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special order bills. CS/HB 687 on transportation offenses involving death was substituted for SB 138, amended to add warnings and penalties for refusal of breath or urine tests, and passed 37-0. CS/SB 306 on Medicaid providers, requiring broader after-hours access and network availability for Medicaid enrollees, also passed 37-0. The Senate then took up CS/CS/HB 913 on condominium associations, a major post-Surfside reform bill. Senator Bradley explained that the measure was intended to provide financial relief and flexibility while preserving safety and accountability. The bill was substituted for SB 1742, amended several times to limit milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies to buildings three habitable stories or more, and then passed 37-0 after extensive debate. Senators from both parties praised Bradley, Pizzo, Garcia, and staff for years of work on condo safety and affordability, with several members describing the bill as a balance between protecting residents and avoiding financial hardship. The final major item was CS/HB 1205, the bill on amendments to the state constitution and citizen petition drives. Sponsors Gates and Grohl argued the bill was needed to combat fraud, identity theft, and misuse in the petition process, citing a lengthy Office of Election Crimes and Security report. The House bill was substituted for SB 7016, and the chamber considered a long series of amendments and substitute amendments addressing petition circulator registration, volunteer participation, submission deadlines, invalid-signature thresholds, voter notification, and fiscal impact statements. Several amendments were adopted, while others were debated over whether they would protect access to the citizen initiative process or strengthen election integrity. The transcript ends during debate on the main substitute amendment, before final disposition on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, are people trained?
• Classes, mandatory financial literacy classes. In that case, take all the time you need.
• There are no mandatory fees, no late fees, and no interest.
• There are no mandatory fees, no late fees, and no interest.
• So I had the opportunity to work at the Ron Burton Training Village and offer a summer fair.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several financial services bills, with the main focus on cryptocurrency kiosk regulation, financial literacy, and earned wage access. Legislators and witnesses described widespread crypto-related scams targeting older adults, often involving impersonation, urgency, spoofed phone numbers, and rapid transfers through kiosks that are difficult to trace or recover. Supporters of the kiosk bills said Massachusetts needs licensing, registration, transaction limits, warning notices, receipts, refund protections, and other safeguards; some also urged a “pause” or hold on transactions to give victims time to reconsider and allow law enforcement to intervene. The Attorney General’s office, AARP, local law enforcement, and several prosecutors and sheriffs backed the consumer-protection approach, while Bitcoin Depot supported a narrower regulatory framework but opposed low fee caps and strict daily limits, arguing they would function like a ban and reduce legitimate use. Witnesses from Waltham police, Middlesex and Essex County law enforcement, and the AG’s office said crypto scams are growing quickly, losses are often unrecoverable once funds move, and current tools are limited. They described cases involving elderly victims losing thousands of dollars, and said warnings alone are not enough because scammers keep victims on the phone and guide them through the process. Some witnesses said a temporary hold or refund mechanism has worked in at least one case, while others emphasized that transaction limits and visible disclosures could reduce harm even if they do not stop fraud entirely. The AG’s office also said it would submit written opposition to separate earned wage advance legislation, while DailyPay testified in support of that bill, saying earned wage access helps workers bridge short-term gaps without debt or credit reporting. The committee also heard support for mandatory financial literacy education from Representative Jim Hawkins, who said high school students need instruction on credit, debt, and inflation before they enter adulthood. In addition, the committee took testimony on litigation financing bills from insurance industry representatives, who argued for disclosure and regulation of predatory litigation lending and warned about foreign interference and reduced plaintiff recoveries. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; members asked questions throughout, and the chair noted the need to move testimony along because of time constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would also argue that mandatory parking minimums are just simply not necessary.
• mandates or mandatory parking minimums depending<00:46:33.280> on<00:46:33.559> how<00
• <00:47:34.480> parking would also argue that mandatory parking would also argue that mandatory
• I'm bringing this forward, frankly, because the train is leaving the station.
• I mean, frankly, because the train is leaving the station. Policy deadline, obviously, is Friday.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is a proactive because it preempts the Pension Review Board's mandatory restructuring and represents
• If we do not act now, we risk being forced into mandatory funding soundness restoration plan later.
• Yes, sir, I'm just about done, but we cannot do this without the authority to mandatory for mandatory
• Once these members become trained, we have to have a way to keep them there.
• don't want to have to be training new people continuously.

Transcript Highlights:

• ago regarding mandatory reporters. ago regarding mandatory reporters.
• and a mandatory a series of mandatory and a mandatory a series of mandatory reporters<00:30:24.159
• mandatory reporters chose to do nothing? mandatory reporters chose to do nothing?
• <00:31:00.960> mandatory DHS employees are mandatory mandatory DHS employees are mandatory
• professionally trained investigator? professionally trained investigator?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been this focus on job training, drug court, inpatient drug treatment, outpatient drug treatment
• /c><00:03:48.959> focus<00:03:49.280> on<00:03:49.840> job<00:03:50.159> training
• ,<00:03:50.879> drug been this focus on job training, drug been this focus on job training
• And I say that because right now there are only three things that are mandatory that the courts have
• Now we have next on our agenda is Senate Bill 48, an act relating to mandatory re-entry supervision.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 122, which would allow certain defendants who are caretakers of dependent children to ask a sentencing court to consider parenting classes and family counseling as part of an alternative sentence, alongside existing options like probation and treatment programs. Representative Nick Wilson, the House sponsor, said the bill was aimed at helping families affected by the opioid crisis, especially in Appalachia, and described it as a way to support parents who want to get clean and rebuild family stability. He emphasized that the bill would apply only on a defendant’s motion, would not be automatic, and would exclude violent offenders, domestic violence-related cases, child-victim cases, and cases where probation or similar relief is otherwise prohibited. Committee members raised concerns that the bill could create a two-tiered system of justice or add unnecessary procedure because judges already consider family circumstances through presentence investigations and sentencing discretion. One senator said he would support the bill but worried it privileged defendants with children over those without. Another member argued the bill was unnecessary because judges and prosecutors already have these options available and because it could add another hearing to an already overloaded court system. Supporters responded that the family unit should be given greater weight and that the bill would simply make that consideration more explicit. Judge Julie Ward, joined by Judge Jeremy Maddox, testified against the bill as written. She said judges already receive presentence reports, hear offender statements, and consider caregiving responsibilities, and that family court already addresses children’s needs when custody issues arise. Her main objections were that parenting services are not available in all communities, may cost money, and that the bill would require evidentiary hearings and potentially create equal protection problems by giving preferential treatment to caretakers. She urged the sponsors to work on revised language instead of passing the bill in its current form. Senator Wheeler said he would vote for the bill and noted that a floor amendment would be offered to address access to confidential juvenile “J cases” in presentence reports, since probation and parole do not have that access. He said the amendment was intended to make sure sentencing judges have the information they need. The discussion ended without a final committee vote in the transcript, but the bill remained under consideration with possible amendment and further revision.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1644, mandatory reporting, family court. June elections.
• SB 1740, turquoise alert, statewide training. Public safety.
• SB 1779, mandatory inclusionary zoning prohibition.
• It's staff, technology, training, audits, and all of that takes money.
• It's staff, technology, training, audits, and all of that takes money.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill, Senate Bill 2933, would add elder abuse training to the required training for district judges
• This training would ensure judges are aware of the signs of elder abuse and better enable them to spot
• These judges don't need to pay his college for training to recognize elder abuse.
• I'm also a board certified Harvard-trained addictionologist.
• I, I certainly think that a judge, a judicial magistrate should in fact have some, you know, mandatory

Transcript Highlights:

• receive a certificate of completion of the training.
• My amendment would modify the bill to make the use of E-Verify mandatory only for the state's public
• So since 1996, 30 years, the federal government's not made this mandatory. Is that correct?
• Awards of reimbursement are limited to no more than $10,000 per employee trained.
• Employers are to keep records regarding the training and payroll for at least five years and provide

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen an increase in requirements for training for our EMTs.
• Now, it's for training for our our EMTs.
• > um paramedic level trained um paramedic level trained um intermediates, intermediates, intermediates
• Um but mandatory, some of them are not.
• <01:09:20.000> populations the hospice are mandatory populations the hospice are mandatory

Bills: HB0004

Keywords: medical assistance, birthing centers, healthcare, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I've been trained. And so that's exactly what this bill will do.
• Currently, there is no mandatory training for public school employees for human trafficking prevention
• But this training is not just about protecting individual children.
• Right now, our our school personnel, they received training on on child abuse and neglect.
• Chairman current law makes it mandatory.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• resilience must be woven throughout their comprehensive plan, goals, and policies within the other mandatory
• Washington state law imposes mandatory fines on people who commit human trafficking.
• And finally, broader changes in legal philosophy around fines may minimize their use, even when mandatory
• Education could help judges and prosecutors understand that fines for certain crimes are still mandatory
• Kent received $241,000 in fine revenue and spent $145,000 on law enforcement efforts, including trainings

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee I-900 Subcommittee heard JLARC’s annual update on the status of legislative implementation of State Auditor recommendations, followed by two State Auditor performance audits. JLARC staff reported that for the 2024 review period there were three new legislative recommendations and three unresolved older recommendations. They said the legislature did not convene a work group on civil asset forfeiture, and no formal action was taken on two water-use-efficiency recommendations. Two recommendations related to concurrent Medicaid enrollments were addressed in a bill introduced this session, but that bill was not adopted. The first audit examined how Washington can ensure climate-resilient electricity infrastructure. The State Auditor found the state has opportunities to better adapt new energy infrastructure by using more site-specific climate information, broader collaboration, and vulnerability assessments. The report recommended expanding climate analyses through the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group if funding is available, using forecasted information in DNR wildfire maps, designating a non-regulatory office to coordinate siting and conflict resolution, and expanding vulnerability assessments in Ecology and Commerce processes. Agency witnesses generally agreed resilience is important but emphasized existing efforts, the need to avoid duplicative requirements, the importance of affordability and efficiency, and the role of current forums such as the Clean Energy Siting Council and SEPA processes. The second audit reviewed fines for human trafficking and related sexual exploitation crimes. Auditors found courts assessed fines inconsistently, collection rates varied, some revenues were sent to the wrong local government, and some jurisdictions did not use the money as required for enforcement, prevention, or survivor services. The audit recommended courts work with prosecutors to improve awareness of mandatory fines, and that King and Pierce County improve coding, templates, and tracking so revenues are routed and used correctly. King County testified that it appreciated the audit and described its existing prevention and survivor-support work. The committee took no votes or formal actions and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a mandatory service to receive waiver support, coordination, effective 7/1/2021.
• We don't we don't all have the same approach when it comes to training and it is very important to recognize
• which model we want to have quality in in both, but being able to actually properly appropriately trained
• that contractual obligation, but because of Senate bill 82 in the way that it is structured, it is mandatory
• I am against a mandatory managed care structure.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• trained for this. trained for this.
• So, the parts of the bill related to mandatory expulsion and mandatory reporting, as a policy matter,
• So, the parts of the bill related to mandatory expulsion and mandatory reporting, as a policy matter,
• So, the parts of the bill related to mandatory expulsion and mandatory reporting, as a policy matter,
• So, the parts of the bill related to mandatory expulsion and mandatory reporting, as a policy matter,

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Agency Updates: 00:01:45 26RS SB 125: 00:02:10 26RS SB 101: 01:14:58, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on February 6, 2026, took roll, approved a motion to convene, and heard agency updates from materials in the packet. The council then took up Senate Bill 125 out of order because Senator Carol was present. The bill was presented as a collaborative effort focused on creating a secure, state-run high-acuity mental health facility for justice-involved youth who need specialized psychiatric care and cannot be appropriately served in detention or by private hospitals. Speakers said the facility would fill a gap in services, improve safety and treatment outcomes, and be designed with trauma-informed, medically equipped spaces rather than a jail-like setting. The presenters also outlined other parts of the bill, including a placement process in which DJJ and CHFS would evaluate youth and provide recommendations before the judge makes the final decision, with certain hospital-declination provisions to be delayed until the new facility is operating. They described payment incentives for hospitals treating high-acuity youth, confidentiality and escape-related disclosure provisions, and contracts with a public teaching university for clinical services. The proposed facility was described as a 24-bed center at Central State, with staffing to include mental health professionals and juvenile detention staff receiving enhanced training. Dr. Clark Lester said staffing needs would vary by youth and could include one-to-one supervision for some patients. The bill also addressed female juvenile detention capacity. Speakers said the number of detained girls has risen sharply since 2024, peaking at 51 in 2025, and that current facilities cannot meet the separation requirements for boys and girls or high- and low-level youth. The proposal would build two female detention centers, with possible locations discussed in central Kentucky and western Kentucky, and a third or fourth center could be added if population data show the need. Members asked about hospital placement authority, staffing, and average length of stay for girls; the presenters said the current court-order process would remain until the new facility is built and that they would provide additional data later. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One key aspect of this bill is that it's not mandatory.
• And that mainly would be the training aspect.
• I was just curious if it was mandatory or if they could just choose to.
• I was just curious if it was mandatory or if they could just choose to.
• With their knowledge and passion for agriculture through FFA and the training we're able to offer for

Keywords: 959, house, all