Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3749 establishes that county clerks, county court clerks, and each county commissioner will
• Where the county commissioners are both the persons who can make the request for outside counsel and
• And I'm looking at the bottom of page one, it's the board of county commissioners Shall approve the contracts
• Do we wind up in some kind of awkward situation where a county commissioner or commissioners don't like
• There are a lot of provisions in here dealing with disclosure of voting and transparency that are really

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an elected sewer and water commissioner, a Walpole resident, a ratepayer, and a voter.
• No independent analysis has concluded that replacing elected commissioners with an advisory board will
• My name is Patrick Fassanello, and I serve as an elected sewer and water commissioner in, I guess, the
• When voters elect commissioners, they have a direct vote.
• For full disclosure, I'm not on the Water and Sewer Commission.

Bills: H5426 , H5434 , S3084 , S3087 , S3088 , S3092

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: North Attleborough, town charter, home rule charter, municipal government, local option, charter amendment, Parks and Recreation Commission, Park Commission, write-in candidate, sticker candidate, ballot access, town election, bylaw, ordinance, board membership, local approval, Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, planning board, associate members

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on several local bills and home rule petitions. The first major item was Senate Bill 3092, authorizing the city of Newton to issue pension obligation bonds or notes. Senator Cindy Cream and Mayor Mark Laredo’s chief of staff, Dana Hansen, testified in support, saying the measure would help Newton manage its unfunded pension liability, preserve its AAA bond rating, and create about $10 million in budget flexibility over five years. Senator John Keenan supported the bill but cautioned that pension obligation bonds depend heavily on market timing and assumptions about future funding and hiring. The committee then heard testimony on a Boylston bill, Senate Bill 3088, allowing the town to contract for a newly created police lieutenant position. Boylston officials said the town’s growth and public safety needs justify a second-in-command role with supervisory, internal affairs, and emergency command duties, and that a contract is needed because of the position’s management-level responsibilities. Representative Wells asked why a lieutenant position required a home rule petition, and the chief explained that town counsel advised the arrangement functioned more like an employment contract than a standard personnel-plan position. Next, the committee took up House Bill 5426 for North Attleboro, a charter amendment package. Town Manager Mike Borg said the bill makes limited local changes: correcting charter language, expanding the Board of Health from three to five members, and requiring write-in candidates to meet a minimum vote threshold comparable to ballot candidates. The committee then heard Senate Bill 3087 for Walpole, which would create a water and sewer advisory board and change the governance structure for the town’s water and sewer system. Town officials supported the bill as a way to improve planning and accountability, but several elected water and sewer commissioners and a town meeting member opposed it, arguing it would abolish an elected board, reduce voter representation, and concentrate power in appointed officials. After testimony concluded, the committee adjourned without taking a vote in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1251, Berman, ghost jobs: do pass as amended to strike Labor Commissioner enforcement, with Republicans
• AB 1188, Ortega, ballot and petition disclosures: holding committee.
• AB 1234, Ortega, Labor Commissioner complaint process: do pass as amended to authorize the Labor Commissioner
• AB 1363, Stephanie, Wyland’s Law: do pass with author’s amendments to recast record disclosure provisions

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'M A COMMISSIONER THERE. IT IS A RURAL COUNTY.
• I AM A CLAY COUNTY COMMISSIONER MS.
• THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Chair: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
• THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE COME.
• WE HEARD COMMISSIONERS TALK ABOUT A COMMISSIONER LOSING A PIECE OF VALUABLE FIRE EQUIPMENT AT A SOLAR

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on, the next agency is the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, and there are really
• > agency is the campaign finance and agency is the campaign finance and public<00:04:40.479><c> disclosure
• > board</c><00:04:41.919><c> and</c><00:04:42.039><c> there</c><00:04:42.120><c> are</c> public disclosure
• board and there are public disclosure board and there are really<00:04:42.520><c> two</c><00:04:42.840
• Commissioners during these meetings<00:23:23.679><c> about</c><00:23:24.080><c> having</c><00:23:24.720

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes an exemption on the disclosure point.
• I mean, they have all the disclosures on there already.
• And so we did accept an amendment to allow their disclosures to be acceptable to meet the bill.
• I'm all for the upfront disclosures.
• Disclosure of private information.

Summary: The committee heard several privacy and consumer protection bills, with most of the discussion focused on AI and social media. AB 1405 would create a state registry for AI auditors and set basic transparency, ethics, and qualification standards for those auditors; supporters said it would build trust and provide a foundation for future AI oversight, while some members questioned whether government should define auditor qualifications instead of industry groups. The bill was moved out on a 5-1 vote to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2, by Assemblymember Lowenthal, would impose enhanced financial penalties on large social media companies when their negligence causes harm to children and teens. Supporters, including a grieving parent and Common Sense Media, argued the bill would create accountability for harmful algorithms and design choices, while opponents from TechNet, EFF, CCIA, and CalChamber warned it was vague, could chill speech, invite censorship, and raise Section 230 and First Amendment concerns. Committee members debated private right of action versus public enforcement, possible shakedown lawsuits, and whether the bill should be narrowed; the bill passed 6-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open. AB 410 would expand California’s bot disclosure law so bots must identify themselves up front and truthfully if asked, rather than only prohibiting deceptive bots in limited commercial or election contexts. Supporters said the measure would help users, especially youth and vulnerable people, know when they are interacting with AI and reduce deception online; one privacy group withdrew opposition after amendments, and other industry groups said they were no longer opposed or had no formal position. The bill passed 9-1 to Appropriations with the roll left open. The committee also approved AB 1327, which lets consumers cancel home improvement contracts by email instead of only by mail and requires phone assistance for cancellations; the Contractor State License Board withdrew opposition after amendments, and the bill passed 11-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sydney Lee the uh assistant commissioner Sydney Lee the uh assistant commissioner at<00:09:18.000><c
• </c> and um commissioner and um commissioner so<00:14:39.720><c> uh</c><00:14:40.720><c> in</c><00:14
• </c> these things assistant commissioner these things assistant commissioner Lee<00:18:14.320><c> thank
• </c><00:19:43.120><c> Lee</c> thank you uh assistant commissioner Lee thank you uh assistant commissioner
• </c> that are agreeing to non-disclosure that are agreeing to non-disclosure agreements<00:25:13.720>

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:36.880><c> and</c> former Minnesota state commissioner and former Minnesota state commissioner
• with full disclosure of amounts and<00:42:50.720><c> sources.
• So what if if you no real disclosure.
• </c><01:39:42.719><c> They</c> They don't look at the disclosures.
• They They don't look at the disclosures.

Bills: HF4133 , HF3419

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: homeowner's insurance, peace officer, property damage, just compensation, exclusion policy, corporate powers, entity law, business corporations, nonprofit corporations, LLC, limited liability company, cooperative, partnership, trust, foreign entity, campaign finance, election spending, political spending, ballot measure, ballot initiative

Transcript Highlights:

• And up first, we'll have Commissioner Ho. Welcome to the committee, Commissioner.
• Thank you, Commissioner, and we do look forward to working together in the remaining weeks of this session
• analyze the budget and credit of individual households, and for The homeowner's comprehensive housing disclosure

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• and longitude, as well as data from mandatory and voluntary reporting, is subject to open records disclosure
• a narrow exception to the Open Records Act by specifically exempting location information from disclosure
• Secondly, as I understand it from Commissioner Maria Elena Geiner, she's with the International Boundary
• My name is David Fuentes, and I am the Hidalgo County Commissioner representing Precinct 1 and a board

Bills: SCR13 , SB1248

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met without a quorum at first, then later established quorum and proceeded with testimony and votes. Senate Bill 1248, by Chair Perry, was explained as a narrow Open Records Act exception to protect harvest report location data collected through Texas Parks and Wildlife’s digital tagging system. Support testimony came from Matt Wagner of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, who said the bill would protect private land and sensitive biological information while preserving useful wildlife data. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending until later in the meeting. The committee then heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, which urges the State Department and the International Boundary and Water Commission to press Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty and deliver its share of Rio Grande water. Senator Hinojosa, farmers, municipal officials, and other witnesses described severe water shortages in South Texas, low reservoir levels, crop losses, the closure of the Valley sugar industry, and the need for alternative supplies such as desalination, reuse, and drainage-runoff projects. Members also discussed treaty enforcement, regional drought, and the role of cartels and Mexican water storage, while emphasizing that Texas must also invest in its own water infrastructure. The committee also considered Senate Bill 740, which the committee substitute amended to require the Public Utility Commission to adopt a standardized application form for system improvement charges and complete related rulemaking by September 1, 2026, applying only to applications filed on or after that date. Members discussed concerns about water wholesalers using the process to delay cases and drive up costs, and the need for more transparency and PUC resources. The committee voted to adopt the substitute and report SB 740 favorably. After returning to the earlier items, the committee voted SB 1248 out favorably and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar, and voted SCR 13 out favorably as well. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please be aware that personal information you give on this card is subject to public disclosure.
• Baker is going to really talk through this next slide, but Roger Huster, Assistant Commissioner...
• Baker is going to really talk through this next slide, but Roger Huster, Assistant Commissioner in the
• So the commissioner of administration recommends,... I and I has to go through Bond Commission.
• So the commissioner of administration recommends, at Bond Commission, that a project that was previously

Bills: HB2 , HB3 , HB799 , HB1039

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, boiler safety, inspection, licensing, state fire marshal, operating certificate, regulations, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve as... ...in partnership with Commissioner Kuderer is requesting the legislature consider this
• I'm going to turn to Commissioner Kuderer, and so pleased to have you back.
• I'm Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer.
• Thank you, Commissioner Kuderer, appreciate you being with us.
• I want to thank Governor Ferguson and Commissioner Cooterer for making this bill a priority.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee opened its 2026 session with a work session focused on the committee’s priorities of access, quality, and affordability. Health Care Authority staff Michelle Needham and Ross Florey reviewed the Health Care Cost Transparency Board’s work, noting Washington’s uninsured rate has fallen from 15% in 2010 to 5%, but health care spending growth remains above the benchmark. They said 2023 spending grew 6.2% versus a 3.2% target, with prescription drugs, hospital outpatient care, professional services, and non-claims spending driving growth. They highlighted ongoing work on market transparency, hospital spending, primary care, and federal policy changes that could reduce coverage and increase uncompensated care. Dr. Drew Oliva of the Washington Health Alliance added quality and safety data, saying many measures remain below top national performance, primary care attachment is weak, hospital pricing varies widely, and behavioral health data are limited. He urged stronger primary care investment, more transparency, and better patient safety oversight. Committee members then introduced themselves and staff before moving to public hearings. The committee first heard Senate Bill 5877, a technical fix expanding the physician health program surcharge to certified anesthesiologist assistants so they can participate in the Washington Physicians Health Program and related educational resources. The bill sponsor and witnesses from the Washington Medical Commission, the Washington Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and the Washington Physicians Health Program all supported the measure, describing it as a consistency and access fix for a newly licensed profession. The bill drew 12 pro, 2 con, and 0 other sign-ins. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5967, which would preserve access to preventive services by allowing the Department of Health to issue immunization recommendations based on multiple expert sources and by freezing state insurance coverage protections for preventive services and vaccines as of mid-2025, with OIC rulemaking authority to keep coverage at least as favorable. The sponsor, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham, and Governor’s office staff said the bill is intended to protect existing coverage, not create new vaccine mandates, and to keep recommendations grounded in science amid federal uncertainty. Supporters included Dr. Helen Chu, Dr. Beth Harvey, Dr. Maria Huang, Dr. J. Miller, and Dr. Matt LaGalbo, who emphasized vaccine safety, rising vaccine-preventable diseases, and the importance of no-cost preventive care. Opponents, including Bob Runnels and Natalie Chavez, argued the bill politicizes vaccines, reduces transparency, and expands state authority without adequate fiscal detail. The hearing continued with additional testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each contributions and expenditures report filed with the Public Disclosure Commission by a candidate
• All of that litigation evaporates because you can say in Yakima, we're electing three county commissioners
• mind, allowing agencies to request verification when appropriate, but explicitly prohibiting the disclosure
• If the tribe meets this burden, or if a tribe’s traditional cultural tenets prohibit disclosure of a
• I'm general counsel at the Public Disclosure Commission, and for the sake of timing and brevity, I really

Bills: HB2210 , HB2123 , HB2206 , HB2281 , HB2411

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: local representation, fair elections, government accountability, voter rights, transparency, foreign nationals, elections, Washington state, voter participation, government oversight, voting rights, uniform standards, overseas voting, civilian voting, state legislation, tribal relations, government, state policy, sovereignty, federalism

Transcript Highlights:

• Each contributions and expenditures report filed with the Public Disclosure Commission by a candidate
• All of that litigation evaporates because you can say in Yakima, we’re electing three county commissioners
• mind, allowing agencies to request verification when appropriate, but explicitly prohibiting the disclosure
• If the tribe meets this burden, or if a tribe's traditional cultural tenets prohibit disclosure of a
• I'm general counsel at the Public Disclosure Commission, and for the sake of timing and brevity, I really

Summary: The committee opened with member introductions and then heard House Bill 2123, which would change Washington’s foreign-national certification requirements for election contributions and political advertising. Staff explained that the proposed substitute would only require certifications for campaigns or sponsors exceeding a $5,500 threshold, with an amendment raising that threshold to $6,000, which would largely limit the requirement to ballot measure activity. Prime sponsor Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon said the current paperwork burden makes campaigns harder without solving a real problem, and that his proposal would preserve protections where federal law does not already cover ballot measures. Testifiers supporting the bill, including campaign treasurers, said the certification requirement is burdensome and ineffective; one witness raised concern that a related repeal provision might unintentionally allow foreign participation in state elections, and staff/leadership indicated follow-up would occur. The hearing on HB 2123 was then suspended and later reopened with additional supportive testimony from campaign professionals and others before the committee moved on to other bills. The committee then took up House Bill 2210 on ranked-choice voting for local elections. Staff said the bill would replace the current top-two primary structure with a top-five process for jurisdictions using ranked-choice voting, allow counties and other local governments to adopt the system through 2032, and set ballot, tabulation, rulemaking, and public education requirements; Seattle would be exempt because it is already moving toward ranked-choice voting. Rep. Gregerson, the sponsor, framed the bill as a temporary tool to protect free and fair elections amid federal uncertainty and potential Voting Rights Act changes. Supporters from Fair Vote Washington, the Washington Bus, Sightline Institute, and others argued ranked-choice voting can improve representation, reduce vote splitting, and help young, military, overseas, and underrepresented voters. Opponents, including Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, county auditors, and several citizens, said the system is confusing, costly, harder to audit, and may increase ballot rejection or lower participation, especially among communities of color and voters with limited English proficiency. The committee heard extensive debate but took no final action during the transcript. The committee also heard House Bill 2411, which expands the state shared leave program to cover employees who are victims of hate crimes or whose absences stem from immigration enforcement actions affecting themselves or family members. Rep. Osman Salahuddin said the bill responds to real cases where state workers faced detention or family separation and could not use shared leave under current law. OFM, the Office of Equity, and the Washington Federation of State Employees supported the bill, describing it as a humane, low-cost way to help employees remain employed during traumatic disruptions. A Republican member asked whether the change would apply to people not legally present or working under a visa; witnesses said they believed it would not, or would be extremely unlikely, and would follow state hiring documentation requirements. The hearing then closed on HB 2411. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2281 on government-to-government consultation with tribes regarding state actions affecting tribal traditional cultural places. Staff said the bill would require mutually agreed consultation processes, timely notice, meaningful consultation before action, and a heightened legal standard requiring the state to show a compelling interest and least restrictive means if it would burden tribal cultural practices; tribes could sue in superior court. Rep. Chris Stearns said the bill is intended to protect Native identity, sacred sites, and religious practices from further loss, while tribal leaders and faith advocates strongly supported it as enforceable protection for sacred places and sovereignty. Some business and industry groups said they supported the goal but worried the bill’s broad definitions and cause of action could create permitting uncertainty, project delays, and significant costs, especially for clean energy and industrial projects. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2206, which would adopt the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act; supporters said it would streamline absentee voting for overseas and military voters, while opponents argued it could allow never-residents or duplicate registrations and raised constitutional concerns. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you see any attempt in City city governments or or county commissioners using uh CEOs or these, these
• So that's the first steps, the board of directors meeting, then the commissioner court or city council
• Aren't those city council members and county commissioners accountable to the public as well, and do,
• This bill requires clear consumer disclosures on the risks of virtual currency.
• HB 2798 also includes common sense consumer protections, such as fee disclosures, receipt requirements

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I know I had disclosure issue. Okay.
• That's all. >> Okay, the insurance commissioner is calling me.
• Okay, the insurance commissioner is all.
• Maybe with the insurance commissioner. commissioner. commissioner.
• </c><04:40:47.120><c> who</c> the department or a commissioner who the department or a commissioner who

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's worked as special counsel in policy advisor to Commissioner Scott Amalia at the U.S.
• It's a case of a company that wants to be stocked to the public to provide disclosure of anything that's
• their investigators, their enforcers, and the President even went so far as to attempt to fire commissioners
• from the, just the Democratic commissioners of the FTC.
• for TikTok, or you can go sell to the highest What would be a range and would that be a material disclosure

Committee: Senate Aging (Special) Committee

Keywords: Chinese Communist Party, retirement security, investment risks, SEC enforcement, Bipartisan action

Summary: The meeting primarily addressed concerns regarding the impact of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on American investments and the financial security of retirees. The chair discussed legislation aimed at ensuring the protection of American investors against the risks posed by Chinese companies. There was a consensus among the members regarding the necessity to enforce existing policies that require compliance from foreign companies wishing to trade on American exchanges. The discussion included testimony from various stakeholders highlighting the urgent need to limit exposure to the CCP in retirement portfolios. Additionally, there were calls for increased accountability of regulatory bodies such as the SEC to better shield American investors from potential loss.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides relative to disclosure of criminal records during trial.
• is subject to disclosure pursuant to Brady v.
• It provides a penalty for the unlawful disclosure of confidential information relating to the victims
• It applies only to intentional and unlawful disclosures. We're all human.
• Jay LeMoyne, District Attorney for Grant, and a commissioner of the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee first handled housekeeping items, voluntarily deferring HB 63 and HB 622 at the authors’ requests. It then heard HB 131 on post-conviction relief, which would remove the word “inexcusably” from the PCR statute and delay bail eligibility after relief until the state’s appeals are exhausted through the Louisiana Supreme Court. The bill drew support from the Attorney General’s office and district attorneys, with opposition cards from the Southern Poverty Law Center, and it was reported favorably. HB 789, concerning seizure of off-road vehicles used unlawfully on roadways, was amended to direct forfeiture proceeds to the Attorney General when acting as district attorney ad hoc; it was then reported as amended with support from law enforcement and no opposition testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if she's listening, she actually full disclosure, we act with all transparency here, Madam Chair.
• disclosure and required disclosure related to substance use, mental health issues, and process, both
• voluntary disclosure and required disclosure related to substance use, mental health issues, and other
• So the commissioners will often say, 'Send us some lawyers.' question.
• So the commissioners will often say, 'Send us some lawyers.'

Bills: SB1 , SB3

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: interstate medical licensure compact, physician licensure, medical license reciprocity, expedited licensure, medical practice act, New Mexico medical board, compact commission, physician mobility, telemedicine, license portability, background check, disciplinary action, joint investigation, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, scope of practice, medical board transparency, multistate compact, licensure renewal, health care workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the committee of industry experts that is charged with advising the Commissioner.
• So we hope that the author would consider amendments that would require disclosure at the time of purchase
• of these properties, as well as requirements that renters also have disclosure of what kind of utility

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Keywords: 987, senate, all