Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the general manager of the Placer County Water Agency.
• And the backup generator is— These plans that start to set out some real details, and the backup generator
• That is not right next to the generator. It should be somewhere else that is protected.
• In regards to— Generator. It should be somewhere else that is protected.
• How many generators? Like, what is the plan in an emergency?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 76, there is a $17,000 reduction for General E&E. One moment.
• PS, then we can only flex that to general revenue PS in other places.
• And so we'd have to go in requesting general revenue.
• On page 279, there's a general E&E corps reduction to this corps.
• Then, in the middle, on page 298, is a general E&E core reduction.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and commerce assumes that 10 applications will be submitted annually, generating $25,000 in new general
• So again, that net fiscal impact is $50,000 total in new general fund revenue per biennium generated
• </c> will be submitted annually generating will be submitted annually generating $25,000<00:03:16.640
• </c> impact is $50,000 total in new general impact is $50,000 total in new general fund<00:03:35.360>
• :03:37.200><c> from</c> fund revenue per banium generated from fund revenue per banium generated from

Bills: SF1832

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And an increase of $692,000 from the general fund, reduction of $464,000 from other funds.
• Heading number five, adjust funding sources from the general fund to other funds.
• The House had moved that from the Attorney General Refund Fund to the general fund.
• The House had moved that from the Attorney General Refund Fund to the General Fund.
• This would be moving it back to the Attorney General Refund Fund.

Bills: SB2012

Keywords: transportation, funding, infrastructure, grants, municipal, 908, all

Summary: The Government Operations Division met to continue work on budget and bill amendments. The committee first took up the Attorney General’s budget and reviewed a detailed amendment package that adjusted FTE levels, salary equity funding, funding sources, and several one-time appropriations. Changes included removing some House-added items, adding contingent funding tied to other bills, restoring certain funding sources, increasing the electronic smoking device manufacturer fee, and adding a provision on 24/7 sobriety program fees. Senator Dwyer then offered a further amendment to make the electronic smoking device fee a $2,000 application fee with a $500 annual renewal fee, which passed. The committee then voted 4-1 to adopt the budget as amended and give it a do pass recommendation as amended. The committee next considered House Bill 1143, relating to Great Plains Food Bank funding. After testimony from Amy Cleary on behalf of Great Plains Food Bank, members discussed the organization’s statewide role and the project’s financing, including a planned $30 million facility and existing fundraising. Senator Burkhard moved to restore the appropriation from $5 million to $10 million, and the motion passed 4-1. The committee then voted 4-1 to give the bill a do pass recommendation as amended, with Senator Burkhard designated as carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1524, which would fund regional planning councils and authorize 16 FTEs. Members expressed sympathy for the councils’ work but concerns about approving new state-funded positions. No action was taken, and the chair asked to hold the bill over for further review. The committee then recessed, noting remaining budget work and upcoming hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Inspector General Singh. We also have Chief Assistant to the Inspector General Ms.
• I'm the Inspector General, and this morning I'm here to provide a brief general overview about the Office
• I'm Amarek Singh, I'm the Inspector General, and this morning I'm here to provide a brief general overview
• We do look to generics whenever possible; we are going to use generic versus brand.
• Fund baseline, and require no General Fund support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it uses modeling to do generation capacity expansion modeling.
• Generation is used throughout the West on the interconnected system.
• Yes, we've generally conducted transmission planning on two horizons.
• There are solar generation projects of all sizes.
• There are solar generation projects of all sizes.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held an oversight hearing with leaders from the CPUC, Public Advocates Office, CAISO, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, and the Energy Commission. Chair Petrie-Norris framed the hearing around high utility bills, wildfire risk, grid reliability, clean energy buildout, and the state’s long-term decarbonization goals, and also noted it was CPUC President Alice Reynolds’ final week at the commission. Each agency gave an update on its role: the CPUC described efforts to reduce rate increases while maintaining reliability and clean energy procurement; the Public Advocates Office focused on affordability and the need to control underlying utility costs; CAISO discussed transmission planning, market operations, and the upcoming extended day-ahead market; Energy Safety reviewed wildfire mitigation oversight and inspections; and the Energy Commission highlighted clean energy growth, EV adoption, storage, efficiency, and gasoline price monitoring. A major theme was affordability versus the costs of the clean energy transition. Reynolds said the CPUC has lowered utility revenue requests, reduced utility returns, adopted a base services charge, and reworked net metering, while also continuing to manage wildfire-related costs and support resource adequacy and demand flexibility. Sarazawa argued that recent rate decreases may not be durable because billions of dollars in wildfire and other utility costs are still pending or unbilled, and she urged tighter use of general rate cases, lower-cost financing, program reform, and more equitable rate design. Members pressed the agencies on whether state policy is sufficiently accounting for labor, local economic development, and the cost impacts of transmission and procurement decisions, especially where out-of-state resources are being considered. CAISO and the Energy Commission emphasized that the state’s planning and market reforms are helping lower costs and improve reliability. CAISO said the Western Energy Imbalance Market has produced billions in benefits, the extended day-ahead market is on track to launch, and transmission planning is being aligned with long-term resource needs while reducing queue delays. The Energy Commission said California is now getting roughly two-thirds of its power from clean sources, has added massive amounts of storage and renewables, and is seeing strong EV and charger growth that can help spread fixed grid costs. Energy Safety reported thousands of inspections, hundreds of notices of non-performance, and a decline in reportable ignitions, while noting that major fires show more work is needed. Members also raised concerns about the SB 100 report delay, memo and balancing accounts, the future of battery storage, and whether decarbonization zone pilots will affect residential and commercial customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• , I generally think they're large.<00:25:02.640><c> They're</c><00:25:02.880><c> generally</c><00:25:
• They're generally seniors, right? large. They're generally seniors, right?
• &gt;&gt; Yes, General Clark.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Inspector General Clark. &gt;&gt; Inspector General Clark.
• >> Inspector General, thank you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Enterprise as it relates to the general Enterprise as it relates to the general fund<00:11:09.279
• </c> within the numbers I would say generally within the numbers I would say generally we<00:42:41.839
• And then general assistance.
• And then general assistance.
• And then general assistance.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then this for the general fund.
• Yeah, 3.4 million that were moving from general funds to pilot funds. That's B139.
• This $1 million of general funds for the Land Access and Opportunity Board.
• Down on D and general fund reserves. So, we're reserving the $74.9 million.
• <00:58:58.799><c> fund</c> general fund general fund &gt;&gt; and<00:58:59.760><c> there</c><00:59:00.000

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Generics are generally 85% cheaper than other drugs.
• And then it also puts a cap at $250 because, while almost all generics are generally relatively inexpensive
• Glorioso, so when I'm reading and I'm hearing about generics and when I'm thinking about generics, I'm
• I just don't get the generic thought process around $250.
• the reason why we have the generic law.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was moved to the general ballot.
• We changed it from primary to general because of the percentage of voters.
• It's nice to have that number on a constitutional measure at the general.
• At the general.
• leave it on the general with more people.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on House Concurrent Resolution 4007 met to discuss whether the proposed constitutional amendment on single-subject ballot measures should appear on the primary or general election ballot. House members explained the change to the general ballot as a way to reach more voters and improve turnout, while others noted the prime sponsor preferred the primary ballot to avoid placing too many measures on one ballot and creating voter fatigue or a blanket “no” response. Members expressed mixed views. Some favored the general election because constitutional amendments should be decided by the largest possible electorate; others worried that multiple ballot measures could affect how voters evaluate each proposal, especially with other measures such as the 60% amendment and term-limit-related changes also pending. The committee also discussed prior sessions’ experience with combining multiple resolutions and the decision this year to separate them so each could stand on its own merits. No vote was taken. Representative Steiner asked for more time to consider the issue, and the committee agreed to continue the discussion at a later meeting. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> general fund. general fund.
• It always has to do a pass-through if you're going to reappropriate from special to general than general
• </c> used will lapse in back into the general used will lapse in back into the general fund.<01:09:33.679
• </c><01:11:20.560><c> than</c><01:11:20.719><c> general</c><01:11:20.960><c> to</c> special to general
• than general to special to general than general to special.<01:11:22.000><c> But</c><01:11:22.159><c

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Transportation heard several measures and took action on each after testimony. SB 2697 SD1 would prohibit driving on roadway shoulders except in limited circumstances, authorize towing or impoundment of vehicles with expired registrations of three or more years, increase certain fines and penalties, and require annual reporting; the Department of Transportation supported it, and the committee later adopted amendments and recommended passage. SB 2399 SD2 would provide a general excise tax exemption for aircraft maintenance materials, parts, tools, and related facility construction; it drew support from industry groups and comments from the Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and was also passed with amendments. SB 2665 SD2 would require driver’s license renewal applicants with a recent traffic citation to complete a road-safety course and exam; DOT supported it, the Public Defender opposed it as not clearly linked to safer driving, and the committee amended the bill to raise the trigger from one citation to two citations within five years before recommending passage. The committee also heard SB 2851 SD1, which would allow deaf vehicle owners to register a deafness designation visible to law enforcement; the Disability and Communication Access Board supported it, Peter Fritz testified in support while urging amendments on verification and threshold issues, and the committee adopted amendments and passed the measure. SB 3102 SD2 would clarify DOT’s role in port pilotage standards and appeals; DOT, DCCA, pilots, maritime interests, labor, and harbor users supported it, and it was passed with amendments. SB 2521 SD1 would exempt emergency medical services personnel from CDL requirements, require emergency-vehicle training, and update the definition of authorized emergency vehicle; DOT, DOH, Honolulu emergency services, and UPW supported it, and it too was passed with amendments. Finally, SB 3157 would transfer unencumbered automated speed enforcement special fund balances above a set threshold to the general fund. DOT supported the concept, but members questioned whether excess funds would ever accumulate and whether the money should instead support safe routes to school; the committee increased the threshold from $12 million to $25 million, discussed but did not adopt a transfer to another special fund, and passed the bill with amendments. The chair noted the next hearing would be held the following Tuesday, likely at 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have to approach these younger generations a little bit differently.
• And we have to approach these younger generations a little bit differently.
• We forget that folks in any generation when they're 17 are more like other generations at 17 than they
• Mark Cologne was out for the generation before them.
• I'm a fourth-generation farmer. My fifth-generation son works with me now.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Primary elections have slightly lower rates than general elections, which makes sense: voters are generally
• The blue lines are general elections.
• Primary elections have slightly lower rates than general elections, which makes sense voters are generally
• The blue lines are general elections.
• So these will be kind of the general points.

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It proposes General Fund. It's not Prop 4. Oh, I see.
• I think it's really just in this framework of the General Fund structural deficit.
• I think this is a really good investment for the generation coming up.
• We do not believe this is a good use of General Fund.
• We do not believe this is a good use of General Fund.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the May Revision from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office, focused on resources, environmental protection, energy, and related budget issues. Finance said the May Revision keeps the budget balanced in 2026-27 and 2027-28, narrows the structural deficit, and proposes major investments in natural resources, including Proposition 4 bond funding for the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, wildlife refuge and wetland projects, Fort Ord Dunes campground operations, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, wildfire-human coexistence, and beverage container recycling. The LAO praised stronger-than-expected revenues but argued the state still has a structural deficit and is relying too heavily on reserves, recommending more reserve deposits and fewer new discretionary expenditures. Members questioned several proposals, especially the Golden Gate Fields purchase and the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program. Agency officials said the Golden Gate Fields site is a time-limited opportunity, would be remediated by the current owner, transferred to East Bay Regional Park District after closing, and restricted to park/open-space uses rather than commercial development. On Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, Finance and the Natural Resources Agency said the $25 million request would help launch year one of the program, support scientific monitoring, and maintain commitments to environmental flows and habitat restoration; the LAO said the request was premature because the Bay-Delta plan has not yet been formally adopted and the state’s total funding commitment remains unclear. Officials also discussed water storage, subsidence, and the need for ongoing investments in aquifer recharge, aqueduct repairs, and recycling. The committee also reviewed a proposed $1 million shift for the Coexisting with Wildlife Initiative. Fish and Wildlife and the Cattlemen’s Association said the money would support limited-term staffing, deterrence tools, and livestock-loss compensation, while acknowledging the amount is modest compared with the need. Members emphasized the growing human-wildlife conflict problem and the importance of nonlethal deterrence and public education. The discussion then turned to greenhouse gas reduction fund revenues and transit; members warned that lower auction revenues and possible CARB rule changes could leave little or nothing for Tier 3 programs such as transit, clean water, and air-quality programs. Finance and the LAO said the Legislature should plan for multiple revenue scenarios and consider whether the existing cap-and-invest spending framework still matches current revenue expectations and priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a general impeachment provision in the Constitution.
• general rule.
• Some of that just has to do with the general breadth of information that we provide, but we do generate
• Office of the State Inspector General.
• Michelle Davis, with the Office of the Inspector General. Thank you, Mr.

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on Senate Bill 123, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a legislative process for removing judges for cause. Senator Morris said the bill was needed because of uncertainty in the current Constitution about whether impeachment applies to judges, given the Judiciary Commission’s role in judicial discipline. He argued the measure would provide a clearer, higher-threshold accountability mechanism, and the committee adopted a technical amendment renumbering provisions and later clarified that the bill uses a majority vote in the House and two-thirds in the Senate, consistent with impeachment-style thresholds. Much of the hearing centered on testimony from Anna Carter and her family, who supported the bill after the murder of Jacob Carter in New Orleans. They described his death and other cases they said showed judges releasing dangerous offenders despite repeated violations, missed electronic-monitoring check-ins, and other warning signs. They argued the bill would create a last-resort accountability tool when judicial decisions or supervision failures lead to preventable harm. Several committee members expressed sympathy and said the testimony highlighted serious problems in the justice system, though some also suggested the bill should address district attorneys, electronic-monitoring oversight, or broader systemic issues. Opposition came from members who warned the proposal was overly broad, could become a political tool, and might conflict with existing constitutional provisions governing impeachment and judicial discipline. They argued the Judiciary Commission and Supreme Court already provide a disciplinary framework and that the bill could chill judicial independence or create due-process concerns. The ACLU’s Sarah Whittington also opposed the bill, noting technical inconsistencies in the draft, questioning why impeachment had not been tried first, and arguing the measure singled out judicial discretion while leaving other elected officials’ discretion untouched. The committee took no final vote on the bill during the hearing, but did adopt the technical amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lower-cost alternatives, like generics and biosimilars, offer the same safety and efficacy, Like generics
• We did this, frankly, with generics.
• And so the concern of side effects, low, same thing with generics as well.
• Similar to the scenarios that you have with your generic medication. Okay.
• Generic equivalent of that drug. Now, presumably, physicians know this.

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard SB 1094 by Senator Weber Pierson, which would expand pharmacist substitution authority for biosimilars and allow health plans to require use of lower-cost generic or biosimilar alternatives when available, unless the prescriber marks “do not substitute.” The author said the bill is intended to lower prescription drug costs, improve access, and require insurers to report on whether substitutions reduce out-of-pocket costs and premium growth. Committee amendments were accepted, including changes to align definitions with federal law, require a link to the FDA Purple Book, add a 30-day advance notice requirement for plan-driven substitutions, and allow exceptions for patients or providers. Supporters included Blue Shield of California, Sharp HealthCare, health plans, CVS, the California Chamber of Commerce, and other business and health care groups, who argued the bill would increase competition, reduce costs, and remove administrative barriers to using FDA-approved biosimilars. Opponents and “opposed unless amended” witnesses, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the California Rheumatology Alliance, and some physician groups, argued the bill goes beyond current FDA interchangeability standards, could undermine physician judgment, and may create patient safety concerns for some chronic-disease patients who react differently to biosimilars or experience problems with multiple switches. Committee members discussed the “do not substitute” option, patient notification, insurance approval, and whether the bill preserves physician discretion. After debate, Senator Arreguín moved the bill, and the committee voted 10-0 to pass SB 1094 as amended to the Senate Health Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House recently passed a bill that would move $4 billion in pension money to the general fund.
• The Senate budget funds this bill at $6,000 general fund-state to OSPI.
• The general fund has, generally speaking, broader uses than a more specified fund like the Transportation
• Is that generally standard?
• So in general, So in general, typically tribal health care gets a much more enhanced rate.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on a series of bills, beginning with House Bill 2689 on Working Connections Child Care. Staff explained that the proposed substitute would keep eligibility at 60% of state median income, eliminate scheduled expansions to 75% and 85%, reduce future subsidy rates from the 85th to the 75th percentile of market, end enhanced regional rates, and change reimbursement rules from prospective enrollment-based payments back to attendance-based payments with a reduced monthly payment after 11 absent days. Child care advocates thanked the committee for removing the proposed cap on the program but opposed the cuts to provider rates and eligibility expansions, warning of harm to families and providers. The committee then heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5124 on Medicaid network adequacy for post-acute care, with staff noting administrative costs and indeterminate fiscal effects; hospitals supported the bill as a way to reduce discharge delays and reliance on single-case agreements. Senate Bill 5832, which would raise the new motor vehicle arbitration fee from $3 to $6 to support the Lemon Law arbitration program, drew support from the Attorney General’s Office and auto dealers, who said the fee had not been updated since 1995 and the program was underfunded. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5862, providing a one-time 3% COLA for certain PERS 1 and TRS 1 retirees, with retirees testifying in favor and local government representatives warning about added employer costs. The committee next heard Senate Bill 5922, allowing school districts to transfer money from the Transportation Vehicle Fund to other funds if they reduce their fleet and receive OSPI approval; staff said the bill would mainly add administrative work for OSPI, and no one testified. Substitute Senate Bill 5923 would allow a hospital on an island in Skagit County to qualify as a critical access hospital if federally certified; Island Health testified that the designation would help sustain rural services, and a committee member asked about bed count and Medicaid/charity-care pressures. Senate Bill 5944 would require language access providers to bargain over compensation for missed or canceled appointments and clarify that statutes prevail over conflicting contract terms; WFSE supported the bill, saying it would equalize bargaining rights across agencies. Substitute Senate Bill 5972 would extend interest arbitration rights to correctional employees in city and county jails regardless of population size; labor supported the bill as a retention tool, while cities and counties opposed it, arguing it would raise costs and should include ability-to-pay protections. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5988, authorizing the Department of Health to continue accrediting opioid treatment programs and charge accreditation fees, which DOH said was needed to avoid winding down the program. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 6151, which would move Ecology fee revenues for landfill methane emissions and laboratory accreditation into dedicated accounts; Ecology supported the bill as improving transparency and reinvesting fees into the programs, and staff said the lab fee shift would be offset by a related budget action. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6194 would pay a rural hospital on a federally recognized Indian reservation, specifically Astria Toppenish, at 150% of the Medicaid fee-for-service rate beginning in 2027; hospital leaders and community members testified that the hospital serves a high-Medicaid, rural, and tribal population and faces persistent losses. Finally, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6302 would direct L&I to investigate possible misclassification of independent contractors on public works projects involving multiple workers doing the same finishing work; labor and business representatives both described it as a negotiated compromise to address underground economy abuses. The committee took no final votes during the hearing and ended by reiterating amendment deadlines for bills scheduled for executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• were years where there was money to spare in the general fund.
• And now we don't think we... ...to spare in the general fund.
• I'm sixth generation.
• We don't generate... ...money, as you all know.
• And again, yes, I hate to take money from the general fund.

Bills: SB1063, SB1118, SB1153, SB1154, SB1209, SCM1001

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, safety improvements, Route 70, infrastructure, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, special license plate, special plate, license plate, vanity plate

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for just more electricity in general. for just more electricity in general.
• </c> generally in support of the legislation. generally in support of the legislation.
• </c> House Bill 232 from the 2025 general House Bill 232 from the 2025 general session,<00:58:06.160>
• &gt;&gt; And<01:39:07.520><c> delete</c><01:39:07.920><c> general.</c> &gt;&gt; And delete general.
• &gt;&gt; And delete general.

Bills: SF0102, SF0113

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, hand count audit, ballots, election integrity, transparency, voting system, 916, all