Transcript Highlights:

• And in their testimony, they suggested, and we would like to adopt, that any kind of expedited permitting
• Thank you for the expedited hearing.
• </c><00:04:42.160><c> you</c><00:04:42.240><c> for</c><00:04:42.360><c> the</c><00:04:42.600><c> expedited
• Thank you for the expedited Great. Thank you for the expedited hearing. Good afternoon and welcome.

Bills: HB1700

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The joint committees on Housing and Health and Human Services, along with related committees, heard and later took action on three housing bills. HB 1700 HD1, relating to housing and expedited permitting, received support from disability advocates, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and a self-advocate who said faster permitting would help people with disabilities access more independent living options. The chairs said they would add amendments to ensure expedited permitting would not compromise ADA or Fair Housing Act protections and to require reporting on the number, type, and geographic distribution of projects so the program could be evaluated over time. The measure was recommended and adopted with amendments by the participating committees. HB 1777 HD2, which would require tenant protections for residents displaced by HHFDC-supported redevelopment projects, drew support from HHFDC, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Parents and Children Together, and numerous other organizations. Testimony emphasized the need for a right of first offer, replacement housing payments, relocation information, and tracking procedures to reduce displacement harms, especially for Native Hawaiian and public housing residents. In decision-making, the committees amended the bill to incorporate the Senate companion measure, rename the working group as the tenant protection working group, broaden its duties, and include a $75,000 appropriation for working group expenses. The committees also noted concerns about unequal treatment between tenants in publicly supported projects and private redevelopments, and referenced the KPT low-rise redevelopment as an example where required relocation assistance still did not proceed smoothly. The bill was recommended and adopted with amendments. HB 1975 HD1, relating to kupuna housing, would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kupuna, appropriate funds to HPHA, and add positions to support the program. HPHA, the Executive Office on Aging, OHA, Catholic Charities Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and others testified in support, with Catholic Charities describing how the subsidy helped a senior remain housed through major medical issues. The committees later recommended passage with amendments, including a technical correction to the number of positions and a date fix, and the recommendation was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, that if that became a point of contention, maybe that the expediting and the fees we used in
• What we have changed through our expedited review process is, you know,” “We already have that ability
• What we have changed through our expedited review process is we have the ability to deny it now.
• Because if everybody has expedited review, then nobody has expedited review.
• I fully appreciate the fact that you want to try to expedite this, and I think the Secretary indicated

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 706 by Representative Riser, which would set a more detailed process for commercial saltwater disposal wells, including site-specific modeling and pressure review. Riser and industry witnesses argued the bill would provide clearer, more predictable rules for operators who have faced long delays and changing requirements, while Department of Conservation and Energy officials said they are already developing guidance and that any pressure standard must remain site-specific to avoid fracturing confining layers, protecting drinking water, and staying within EPA primacy requirements. The department emphasized that geology varies widely across Louisiana and that a fixed pressure number in statute could be unsafe in some locations. Members also discussed the fiscal note, the need for additional staff, and whether the bill would tie the department’s hands or force approvals; witnesses said the bill’s modeling requirements were conservative, but opponents warned the statutory pressure ranges could conflict with site-specific safety determinations. After a technical amendment was adopted, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a 6-6 tie. The committee then took up House Concurrent Resolution 4 by Representative McCormick, which would suspend Louisiana’s deer baiting ban for 18 months in areas affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD). McCormick and Hunter Nation representatives argued that baiting bans have not stopped CWD in other states, that deer feeders and food plots are part of hunting culture, and that Louisiana should rely on science and a more flexible approach. They cited Wisconsin as an example where CWD spread despite long-standing feed bans and said there has been no proven human transmission. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials said bait bans are one of the few tools available to reduce artificial congregation of deer and help limit disease spread, and they explained that the department is also working with a CWD task force and another proposal that would tie restrictions to a 1.5% prevalence threshold rather than an across-the-board suspension. The discussion ended with the department providing information on the impacts of both measures, but no final action on HCR 4 was recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is eligible.
• To be eligible for the initial disbursement of fiscal year 2026-27 funds, HAP-eligible large cities and
• To be eligible for...
• To be eligible for the initial disbursement of these fiscal year 2026-27 funds, HAP-eligible large cities
• The city of Oakland is eligible for $28 million under that allocation.

Summary: The committee opened with the State Controller’s Office May Revision requests, including funding for Fiscal book-of-record stabilization, a Broadcom IDMS licensing adjustment, the California State Payroll System, ACFR reporting automation, and $3 million for unclaimed property outreach. Testimony emphasized progress on Fiscal becoming the state’s accounting book of record in July, faster ACFR publication, and the move to electronic unclaimed property claims. Members asked about the size of the unclaimed property fund and how quickly money is transferred to the General Fund; the Controller’s office said about $15 billion is held, with most excess transferred regularly, and the LAO noted the fund is the General Fund’s fourth-largest revenue source. No concerns were raised by Finance or the LAO, and the item was closed after no public comment. The committee then heard the administration’s proposal to tax prewritten digital software and software-as-a-service, with Finance saying it would modernize sales tax treatment and raise an estimated $450 million General Fund and $560 million local revenue in 2026-27. The LAO supported modernizing the tax but suggested broader digital goods coverage and a business-use exemption; industry and taxpayer groups opposed the proposal, warning of higher costs for consumers and businesses. Members also heard CDTFA’s administrative request tied to the proposal, plus a separate CDTFA budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs; that reduction was presented as a savings item and drew positive reactions. Next, the committee considered federal conformity for “Trump accounts,” which would align California tax treatment with federal rules for tax-deferred children’s accounts and avoid tracking burdens for families. The LAO recommended approval, and the item drew no opposition. The committee also heard a proposal to cut the first-year $800 annual business tax to $400 for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs; Finance argued it would lower startup costs and encourage new business formation, while the LAO said the benefit was not well targeted and could subsidize entities that would form anyway. Members discussed the policy tradeoff, and public commenters split between support for small business relief and concern about revenue loss. The final major revenue item was a permanent business tax credit limitation, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability, while excluding the low-income housing tax credit and personal income tax credits. Finance said it would raise significant revenue from large profitable corporations, and the LAO said it was a reasonable option but noted it would mainly affect the R&D credit and could have future implications for programs like California Competes. Public testimony was sharply divided, with business groups opposing the cap and anti-poverty advocates supporting it as a way to recapture revenue. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment request, which would return most of the direct-file-related resources to the General Fund while retaining a smaller staff to improve CalFile, and the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which members and advocates supported despite relatively modest annual donations. The hearing continued with GoBiz proposals on civic media funding, CA RISE reappropriation, and a semiconductor facility reversion, with the LAO supporting the latter two and members raising questions about the civic media program’s scope, outreach, and inclusion of broadcast and ethnic media.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it needs to be expedited, they're just not going to wait the maximum.
• fees, voluntary tips, gratuities, or other donations, and from charging fees for delivery or for expedited
• fee and that it's technically free in your description, but in some ways it allows the fees or the expedited
• And with regards to tell me more about expedited fees, and does this compound over time?
• While EWA providers may charge voluntary expedited transfer fees, voluntary tips, or membership fees,

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Commerce Committee heard House Bill 2181, which would extend the deadline for funeral establishments or responsible individuals to complete and submit death certificates. The committee adopted an amendment reducing the maximum extension to 14 days and clarifying that the medical certification deadline for health care providers excludes weekends and holidays. Testimony from a mortuary owner and the sponsor described delays caused by doctors’ schedules, county processing, holidays, and families needing more time; some members argued the bill did not address the underlying accountability problems for doctors and counties, while others supported the added flexibility. HB 2181 was approved 6-4-1 with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 2682, which creates a DES rental assistance program providing up to two months or $5,000 in aid and appropriates $5 million from the general fund for administration. Supporters said the bill would help families facing short-term crises stay housed, reduce evictions, and serve as a preventive measure that could save money downstream; a constituent testified in Spanish about receiving emergency rental help after falling behind. Some members raised concerns about the program’s cost, the limited target population, and whether seniors should be included, while others supported it as a pilot and asked for possible amendments. HB 2682 passed 7-4. House Bill 2698, which creates a rental assistance study committee to evaluate the effectiveness of such programs and repeals the committee in 2028, was heard next and passed on a 7-4 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 2476, revising CPA certification and reciprocity requirements by creating multiple pathways to licensure and updating related rules and fees. Supporters said the bill would help address a CPA workforce shortage and align Arizona with other states; after questions about whether the bill made licensure harder or easier, the committee unanimously approved HB 2476, 11-0. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2308, which would bar dental insurers and certain holding companies from owning dental practices. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill would prevent conflicts of interest and preserve separation between payers and providers, while Delta Dental opposed the measure as overbroad and potentially burdensome for nonprofit insurers and investors. After discussion about private equity, nonprofit charity care, and vertical integration, the bill was approved 8-0 with three members present. The committee then started House Bill 2118 on mobile food vendors, with the sponsor and food truck operators arguing it would streamline duplicate local permitting, while cities and some vendors opposed it as a loss of local oversight and control; testimony continued, but no final action on HB 2118 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• More frequent eligibility checks and additional documentation required to determine eligibility.
• Right now, we check eligibility every 12 months.
• We're also looking at some eligibility reductions.
• Fully eligible?
• That people who are eligible know they're eligible, get the paperwork done, and stay eligible all the

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Board to provide grant funding to eligible medical education programs.
• Typically, our appeals aren't necessarily based upon an eligible expense.
• A receipt that wasn't eligible, right?
• That doesn't make them automatically eligible for funding then.
• And then we're, they're not eligible for the EFA program.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a long agenda of agency rule changes, beginning with housekeeping on the order of business and then taking up rules from multiple state agencies. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s odometer disclosure rule allowing electronic signatures and disclosures, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and recreational parks, lead-based paint, counseling licensure, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental specialties and compacts, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, medical compacts, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these were described as technical updates, conformity with recent acts, federal standards, or compact participation, and nearly all were approved without objection after brief questions and, in many cases, no public comment. The committee also reviewed Department of Labor and Licensing rules on minimum wage/independent contractor standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements for ATV/LSV dealers, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting and retention programs. Testimony generally emphasized that the rules implemented recent legislation, updated fees or licensing standards, or streamlined existing processes. Members asked a few questions about fee structures, the rationale for regulating professional wrestling, and how the National Guard’s public-private partnership and incentive programs would work; the department said the recruiting incentives would be funded from existing appropriations and were intended to improve retention and force strength. These rules were also approved without objection. The most extensive discussion came on the Department of Education’s Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program rule. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify allowable expenses, and speed approval of core educational purchases. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting certain sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting phone purchases except for disability-related needs, setting a $1,000 threshold for additional review of technology purchases, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about safeguards, appeals, sports equipment, provider credentialing, rural vendor access, and whether the department would be flexible or overly restrictive. The department said it would review every request, provide written explanations for denials, allow appeals up to the State Board, and refer suspected fraud to prosecutors if necessary. After hearing from 13 members of the public, the committee continued to discuss the rule, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the EFA rule is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• federal budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, expanded the types of educational programs that are eligible
• kind of a bare minimum standard, it does give California some discretion on how these programs' eligibility
• are especially important because workforce Pell Grants can count toward the student's lifetime eligibility
• Especially important because workforce Pell Grants can count toward the student's lifetime eligibility
• I am the former eligible training provider list coordinator for the Fresno Regional Workforce Development

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• They said, okay, there's some communities may only have 30 or 40 voters that are eligible, so 25% isn't
• They said, okay, there's some communities may only have 30 or 40 voters that are eligible, so 25% isn't
• They said, okay, there are some communities that may only have 30 or 40 voters that are eligible, so
• a third reading on Wednesday expediting a third reading on Wednesday and<03:39:59.040><c> then</c><03
• those if we we'll look at expediting those if we possibly<03:40:05.840><c> can.

Transcript Highlights:

• The total funding for the fire-related package includes $2.5 billion, a one-time general fund to expedite
• area, providing additional planning, review, and building inspection resources for purposes of. of expediting
• protect more broadly. broadly to protect the health and safety of persons and property, and to help expedite
• way, The question is, it creates a grant program for local governments and local jurisdictions to expedite
• Description of the use and also the restrictions: they have a restriction to expediting planning review

Committee: Assembly Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we're suggesting is that you could statutorily conform the welfare exemption income eligibility
• Frankly, it would be low-cost or no-cost to the state to expedite permits.
• There are ways, hopefully, we can start expediting small-lot development where we can see more ADUs or

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing-related proposals and policy ideas. One speaker urged changes to the welfare property tax exemption for affordable housing, arguing that annual income recertifications are outdated and burdensome, and proposing a one-time qualification at move-in, streamlined monitoring through TCAC or HCD, and continued exemption protection for projects that remain in compliance. The witness said rising insurance costs and administrative burdens are hurting cash flow and threatening the viability of affordable housing operations. A major portion of the meeting focused on social housing and the SB 555 study. HCD described its ongoing study process, including public engagement with residents, practitioners, and experts, and noted that California already has many building blocks for social housing, such as public land tools, long-term affordability mechanisms, community land trusts, and tenant protections. Community land trust and housing policy witnesses argued that social housing will require legislative action, expanded public subsidy, tax abatements, public land, and simplified financing, and they emphasized the need to reframe the concept for the “missing middle” and middle-class households to build broader political support. Committee members discussed stigma around “social housing,” the need for a rebrand, and the possibility of a pilot program, especially on excess public land. The committee also heard a proposal for a certified professional plan-check system modeled on Vancouver, Canada. The presenter said California’s permitting delays, inconsistent reviews, and staffing shortages add cost and uncertainty even for streamlined projects, and proposed allowing state-certified private professionals to perform plan checks and inspections under state oversight while local governments retain zoning and enforcement authority. Members discussed local control concerns, infrastructure costs, and the need to reduce delays and uncertainty in the entitlement process. Finally, the committee heard testimony supporting changes to HCD loan disbursement so funds can be used during construction rather than only after completion. Witnesses said this would reduce interest costs, improve feasibility, and could produce additional affordable homes with existing funding. The discussion also referenced AB 1053 as the vehicle for implementing that approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• Walla Walla County as an example, but you cross the river over into Franklin County, and they can expedite
• think it's something that kind of helps answer what maybe we need to do in the legislature to help expedite
• of figuring out how it may work locally, but we would like that—we would like to consider that an eligible

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and recent permitting reforms affecting local governments. Department of Ecology staff explained SEPA’s purpose, the review process, exemptions, planned actions, and recent housing-related changes, including transit-oriented development exemptions and SEPA appeals protections for certain local ordinances. Members asked about repeated SEPA reviews, cultural and historic resource review, and how SEPA interacts with NEPA. Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections said recent SEPA exemptions have reduced the number of reviews for residential projects and supported more housing permitting, and the city is considering raising exemption thresholds further. The State Building Code Council provided an update on code adoption timelines and implementation of legislative housing measures. Council staff said the 2024 code cycle is delayed administratively, with final adoption moved to May 15, 2026 and implementation targeted for May 1, 2027 unless legislative or administrative changes allow the current November 1, 2026 implementation date to remain. They also reported progress on code updates for single-stair buildings, multiplex housing, dwelling unit size, and temporary emergency shelter standards, with draft language underway. The committee then reviewed recent permitting legislation and implementation. Commerce staff summarized bills from 2023 and 2025 that set permit processing deadlines, limited pre-application requirements, restricted design review to clear and objective standards, changed historic designation rules, and expanded middle housing, ADU, lot split, passive house, self-certification, transit-oriented development, and parking-related requirements. Commerce also described its studies, guidance, grants, and reporting work under SB 5290, noting that 2024 data showed mixed performance and that local governments need better checklists, digital tools, staff training, and clear application standards. Issaquah and Kitsap County described local efforts to streamline permitting through code updates, pre-application meetings, software improvements, and a 2x6 review process, while also warning that staffing shortages, complex site conditions, coordination with state agencies, and reporting burdens continue to slow permits. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• alignment in student learning outcomes shall identify those courses in the pathway that will not be eligible
• alignment in student learning outcomes shall identify those courses in the pathway that will not be eligible
• The pathway that will not be eligible for credit in a core course requirement and publish the list of
• </c><01:13:26.159><c> with</c><01:13:26.480><c> the</c> further enhanced and expedited with the further
• enhanced and expedited with the implementation<01:13:27.600><c> of</c><01:13:27.840><c> an</c><01:13

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairwoman's name to Senate Bill 1401 allows municipalities to establish a workforce housing project expedited
• Municipalities to establish a workforce housing project expedited plan review and permitting process,
• This bill simply allows each municipality to optionally establish an expedited plan review.
• Simply allows each municipality to optionally establish an expedited plan review and permitting process
• The tax exemptions and expedited permitting significantly decrease our carrying costs.

Summary: The committee devoted much of the meeting to presentations highlighting tribal communities in rural Arizona. Representative Peshlakai opened with a video and remarks about Legislative District 6, describing it as the state’s largest district and emphasizing its many tribal nations, scenic landmarks, and her personal Navajo background. Governor Stephen Roe Lewis then presented on the Gila River Indian Community, discussing its Akimel O’odham and Piipaash heritage, water rights history, the MAR-5 aquifer recharge project, cultural traditions, and the community’s role in regional water and infrastructure issues. A presentation on the Pasqua Yaqui tribe followed, focusing on cultural resilience, ceremonial traditions, and the history of displacement and freeway construction in Tucson. Representative Sosei later outlined barriers to tribal economic development, including trust land financing limits, federal and tribal review delays, infrastructure gaps, dual taxation, and the need for broadband, water, and road investment, while proposing reforms such as tax changes, state match funds, and annual tribal field hearings. The committee then considered SB 1016, a strike-everything amendment that would move the property-owner petition requirement earlier in the municipal improvement district process and allow waivers of certain notice and protest procedures. Supporters, including mayors from Camp Verde and Clarkdale, said the change would improve transparency, reduce financial risk for small towns, and help rural communities build wastewater and other infrastructure. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and passed SB 1016 on a 5-0 vote, with one member present and one absent. Next, the committee heard SB 1401, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, which would let municipalities create expedited plan review and permitting processes for qualified workforce housing projects and exempt project proceeds from the state portion of the prime contracting sales tax. Supporters from Habitat for Humanity said the measure would reduce carrying costs, speed approvals, and help build more affordable homes for working families. One member noted the bill would reduce general fund revenue but supported it as a targeted tradeoff to address housing affordability. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1401 on a 5-1 vote, with one member absent.

Transcript Highlights:

• members, House Bill 2926 allows municipalities to establish and maintain a workforce housing project expedited
• plan review and permitting process. ...and maintain a workforce housing project expedited plan review
• It's going to create an expedited permitting process because we all understand in the building industry
• And it also allows an expedited process and a point of contact for those projects at the city level.
• And it also allows an expedited process and a point of contact for those projects at the city level.

Bills: HB2113 , HB2237 , HB2824 , HB2926 , HB2939 , HB2950

Committees: House Rural Economic Development , House House Rural Economic Development Committee of Reference

Keywords: utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, appropriation, Apache Junction, tourism, recreation, Superstition trails, funding, infrastructure, C-PACE, capital expenditure, special assessment, property improvement, local government financing, energy efficiency, water conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• They do for an expedited authorization.
• So we had approval for both standard and expedited when it should have been just approval for the expedited
• They do for an expedited.
• So we had approval for both standard and expedited when it should have been just approval for the expedited
• Sure, and I agree, for patient care expediting that is essential.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee met on April 1 and considered several health-related bills and one resolution. HB 933, by Rep. Charles Owen, would create commemorative birth certificates and adjust vital records fees; after adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported the bill favorably. HB 288, by Rep. Boyer, would require the term “miscarriage” to appear alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation and billing; after an amendment changed the bill from mandatory “shall” language to permissive “may,” the committee heard emotional testimony both in support and opposition and then reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 420, by Rep. Berault, would require criminal background checks and registry review for all DCFS employees, not just those with direct contact with children; it was reported favorably. The committee also voluntarily deferred HB 927 and HB 962. The committee then heard HB 971, by Rep. Stagney, which seeks to equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates for independent rural health clinics and hospital-owned provider-based clinics. Supporters, including clinic owners and practitioners, testified that independent clinics provide the same services under the same rules but receive far lower reimbursement, making it difficult to retain staff and avoid sale to hospital systems. The author said the bill is intended to prompt discussion and eventual parity without harming hospitals, and the committee reported the bill favorably. HB 815, by Rep. Carver, would allow federally insured financial institutions to receive death certificate information from vital records to reduce losses and help reconcile account issues after a death; credit union representatives supported the measure, and it was reported favorably. The committee also adopted HR 74, by Rep. Sterling, which urges the Department of Education and local school authorities to report on how schools accommodate students with seizure disorders. Sterling described personal experience with epilepsy and said the resolution is meant to gather data on implementation of existing seizure action plan law and identify gaps in access to rescue medication and training. Finally, the committee took up HB 915, by Rep. Dickerson, which would place Medicaid prior authorization and utilization management timelines into statute. After technical and substantive amendments, including changing some deadlines from five business days to seven calendar days, the bill drew support from providers and health groups concerned about delays in care, and the committee reported it favorably as amended. The committee also began consideration of HB 944, by Rep. Hilferty, creating a women’s consortium within LDH focused on menopause and related women’s health issues; technical amendments were adopted and testimony emphasized coordination of existing research and resources, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commissioner to use the expedited commissioner to use the expedited rulemaking<00:25:59.200><c>
• I do just want to flag that there is an item missing here regarding expedited rulemaking relating to
• 2216, that section included a subdivision which authorized the Commissioner of Commerce to use the expedited
• Commissioner of Commerce to use the Commissioner of Commerce to use the expedited<00:26:41.600><c> rule
• rule making process um that expedited rule making process um that was<00:26:43.919><c> taken</c><00:

Transcript Highlights:

• tools, if used properly, could make more residential development lots available across the state, expedite
• </c><00:11:11.360><c> building</c><00:11:11.760><c> the</c> across the state, expedite building the across
• the state, expedite building the building<00:11:12.399><c> process,</c><00:11:13.360><c> and</c><00:
• If they chose to expedite planning and zoning or anything of that nature within the district, they could
• communities understand and know those problems, and I believe they would not allow something to be expedited

Committee: Senate State & Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• this and hoping to continue to expedite it.
• helped to expedite this and hoping<00:26:07.520><c> to</c><00:26:07.760><c> continue</c><00:26:08.000
• ><c> to</c><00:26:08.159><c> expedite</c><00:26:08.559><c> it.
• </c><00:26:08.799><c> So</c> hoping to continue to expedite it.
• So hoping to continue to expedite it.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• revises DUI laws to allow certain first-time aggravated offenders to seek home detention and expands eligibility
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2793 expedites annexation of parcels of 160 acres or less if they
• Aguilar, there is already statute that lays out exactly under what conditions a superintendent is eligible
• Save Our Children's School Safety Program and the Save Our Children's Safety Program Fund to allow eligible
• It requires DWR to notify all eligible applicants of the ability to have their applications re-evaluated

Summary: The caucus reviewed a large number of House bills, mostly on third-read consent or for floor strategy, covering education, health, water, land, energy, housing, taxation, and public safety. Topics included ESA administration funding, AI in schools and legal communications, towing and DUI changes, health facility licensing and nursing records, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction, superintendent pay and benefits, adoption disclosures in college health settings, anti-Semitism provisions, school safety firearms authorization, coerced abortion penalties, domestic violence testimony standards, border health and terrorism-related bills, and multiple water, land, and state trust land measures. Several members flagged concerns about unfunded mandates, local control, constitutional issues, and special legislation, while others supported bills as technical fixes, public safety measures, or ways to expand access and funding. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2575, HB 2906, HB 2040, HB 2136, HB 2665, HB 2904, HB 2957, HB 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2830, HB 2307, HB 2425, HB 2426, HB 2427, HB 2497, HB 2751, HB 2780, HB 2804, HB 2926, HB 4030, and HCR 2052, among others. Some bills were noted as unanimous or split votes, and several were described as party-line or having constitutional problems. The caucus also discussed committee amendments on multiple measures, including changes to water, land, health, and AI bills. The meeting ended with a series of remarks on the late Reverend Jesse Jackson and an “affordability award” presentation to Representatives Lorena Austin and Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is just an expedited process. No hearing.
• That one would not be an expedited process because there's a lot of potential for public engagement.
• So this is just an expedited process. No hearing.
• That one would not be an expedited process because there's a lot of potential for public engagement.

Committee: Joint Statute Law Committee

Summary: The committee began with introductions of members and staff, then approved the minutes from the previous meeting and voted to approve a step increase for Code Advisor Kathy Buckley. Staff then reported on publications, noting 2024 sales and free distribution totals were down somewhat from prior years, but that online access is reducing demand for paper copies. They also discussed a table of 153 “multiple action” RCW sections from the 2025 session; most could be merged through editorial authority, while about 10 sections would likely need future legislative cleanup. The committee approved the multiple action table. Budget and staffing updates showed the office is expected to return a substantial amount to the state this year, though that figure may decrease slightly because of end-of-year purchases, including a shared printer with LSS. Kathy Buckley said next year’s reduced budget should not create problems, with hiring delayed for one proofreader and a retirement already being backfilled. The committee also reviewed the publications account (the “197 fund”), which continues to receive royalty revenue and serves as a cushion for emergencies and special sessions. Members heard updates on rulemaking: one expedited WAC update to fix URLs after the legislature’s website overhaul, and a separate public records rulemaking intended to align the office’s procedures with House and Senate practices. Staff said the public records process would likely take about six months and would include normal notice-and-comment procedures. The committee also discussed the office’s recent experience with a video auditor and security training, and received a construction update that the office expects to move back into the renovated Pritchard Building on September 14, 2026. At the end, members asked for session statistics. Staff reported 424 session law chapters and, using legislative website data, 1,305 House bills introduced, 1,082 Senate bills introduced, 238 House bills passed, and 193 Senate bills passed. The meeting concluded with thanks, a brief exchange about food, and adjournment.