Transcript Highlights:

• Committee substitute House Bill 3699 would amend Texas Labor Code Section 208.002 to define last Section
• regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 1304 of the Occupations Code
• heavily regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing Regulation under Chapter 1304 of the Occupations Code
• . regulation under Chapter 1304 of the Occupations Code.
• I want to just take one step back about Chapter 601 of the Business and Commerce Code.

Bills: HB112, HB199, HCR9

Keywords: school district, bond issuance, election dates, voter approval, Texas Education Code, HCR 9, Texas State Cemetery, Hill Country flood, July 4 2025 flood, Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic, memorial, monument, concurrent resolution, disaster remembrance, natural disaster, flood victims, survivors, State Preservation Board, Texas secretary of state

Summary: The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development met with a quorum and moved quickly through a long agenda, hearing testimony and taking recorded votes on several bills. Early in the meeting, HB 2214 was laid out to exempt certain short-term residential leases and leaseback arrangements from flood-disclosure requirements; Texas Realtors supported the change, and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out a series of pending measures, including HB 46, HB 186 (with a committee substitute), HB 431, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2468, HB 2488, HB 2788 (with a substitute), HB 2791 (with a substitute), HB 3260, and HCR 90, all reported favorably to the full House, with HB 1147 receiving two nays and the others passing unanimously or nearly so. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 112, which would create a Texas Science Park district and commission to support advanced manufacturing and innovation sites. The bill’s author and supporters, including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the Texas Association of Business, and the Governor’s economic development office, argued it would strengthen supply chains, attract investment, and support national security and workforce development. Testimony described interest from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies and referenced the model of foreign science parks such as Sinshu in Taiwan. HB 112 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 3698 and HB 3699, both related to unemployment insurance administration. HB 3698 would expand eligibility for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program using federal funds, while HB 3699 would tighten the definition of “last work” to help the Texas Workforce Commission investigate UI fraud. Both bills were discussed with TWC resource witnesses and left pending after the committee withdrew the substitutes. HB 1349, which would extend HOA transparency and property-rights provisions to condominiums and refine HOA rules, and HB 621, which would require HOA meeting spaces to be available for residents to reserve for qualified political candidates or elected officials, were also heard and left pending. Finally, the committee heard HCR 9 to designate the first Saturday of each month as Small Business Saturday, HB 199 to index unemployment benefit duration to the state unemployment rate, and HB 3466 to exempt certain cancelable service contracts from Texas’s in-home sales cooling-off law; each drew supportive and opposing testimony and was left pending before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in the, in the government code, it would be referred to as community supervision and Corrections
• So there's a part of our code. Can you send your, um, to my staff that. Provision in the code.
• So there's a provision in the state code that mandates you only hire certified teachers.
• Yes, in Chapter 19 of the Education code.
• Yeah, please, I would love to see that provision in the code. Thanks.

Transcript Highlights:

• The procurement code is... you don't necessarily have to follow the procurement code.
• And if you're trying to move that along, you don't want to be involved with the procurement code.
• As you can see, most of this bill is everything that's exempt from the procurement code at this time.
• So this bill cannot really address tax year 2024. ...in the property tax code, and so it's difficult
• Yes, there are several areas of the tax code that, for one reason or another, are adjusted annually for

Transcript Highlights:

• bill would just further amend the code bill would just further amend the code to<00:35:36.880>
• The original code had $2,000.
• The original code had $2,000.
• The original code had $2,000.
• The original code had $2,000.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is reported. 4040, Comrie, and that's been the Administrative Code.
• The bill is reported. 822, Jackson, in action by the Administrative Code to City, New York.
• The Administrative Code of the City of New York was reported.
• And after the Administrative Code of the City of New York.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Rules met and reported a long list of bills, with most measures advancing on unanimous or near-unanimous voice votes after motions and seconding by various senators. The bills covered a wide range of topics, including Environmental Conservation, Education, Executive Law, Civil Service, Public Health, Public Service, Election Law, Social Services, Correction Law, Traffic Law, General Law, Administrative Code, Retirement and Social Security, and several chapter-amendment or authorization measures. In many cases, the chair noted the bill number, sponsor, and subject area, then asked for objections; none were recorded, and the bill was reported. A few measures were laid aside by the sponsor, including bills referenced as 5711, 5727, and 9539, though the transcript is repetitive and some bill numbers/topics are difficult to discern because of transcription errors. Several bills involved retirement-related changes, including retroactive Tier 4 membership and other retirement system provisions, while others amended existing laws or chapters. The committee also reported bills affecting city administrative code provisions, public authorities, elder law, and public officers law. No substantive debate or testimony appears in the transcript; the meeting was largely procedural, focused on motions, seconds, and reporting bills out of committee. The final action on the listed measures was committee approval and reporting, with no recorded roll-call votes or amendments described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1146 by Representative Weibel amends and acts and repeals new provisions of Title 17, the Education Code
• 1146 by Representative Weibel amends and acts and repeals new provisions of Title 17, the Education Code
• House Bill 28 by Representative Owen amends Title 17, the Education Code, relative to teacher certification
• House Bill 992 by Representative Freiberg amends Title 17, the Education Code, relative to early childhood
• House Bill 392 by Representative Boyd amends Title 17, the Education Code, relative to suicidal prevention

Bills: HCR26, HB28, HB195, HB283, HB316, HB319, HB363, HB380, HB386, HB392, HB406, HB636, HB738, HB807, HB905, HB992, HB1146

Keywords: human growth, development education, prenatal education, state standards, biological science, teacher certification, certification appeals, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Teacher Certification Appeals Council, educator licensure, teaching license, teacher licensure, appeals process, certification denial, administrative appeal, special meeting, board president, retroactive application, education board

Summary: The committee met with a large docket and adopted the April 29 minutes. Several bills were heard and advanced, mostly on education, workforce, literacy, early childhood, charter schools, and student mental health. Testimony was generally supportive, with many witnesses waiving in favor; a few bills drew questions about implementation, student awareness, and whether proposals were sufficiently broad or specific. House Bill 406, requiring the Department of Education to study the direction and regulation of interscholastic high school athletics and report back by March 1, 2027, was reported favorably after testimony from a retired principal who urged an open-minded study and discussion from the bill author about compliance and the bill’s purpose. House Bill 380, creating a pilot program between community and technical colleges and local school systems to expand awareness of CDL, entry-level driver training, and related programs, was also reported favorably. House Bill 807, creating a workforce and structure capacity investment program and fund to help industry partner with colleges to train instructors, was reported favorably after support from higher education and industry witnesses; senators raised interest in adding a stronger health care component and in reaching students earlier, but the author said he would work on amendments. The committee also advanced House Bill 316 on adolescent literacy and high-dose tutoring, with amendments clarifying teacher training timing, existing statutory bans on outdated literacy practices, and charter school participation; House Bill 1146, consolidating early childhood governance into a commission; House Bill 28, creating an appeal path for denied teacher certification applicants through BESE; and House Bill 992, assigning early childhood education identification numbers to support data collection on outcomes. House Concurrent Resolution 26, urging BESE to add the science of human growth and development to science and health standards and provide approved instructional resources, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 386, allowing local districts to let locally authorized charter schools operate as their own LEA under district rules, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 392, expanding suicide prevention information requirements on school websites, ID cards, handbooks, and signage, was reported favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• the residential and commercial building energy standards and the adoption of a residential building code
• the residential and commercial building energy standards and the adoption of a residential building code
• and the adoption of a residential and the adoption of a residential building<00:05:26.560> code
• <00:05:27.199> introduced<00:05:27.680> by building code introduced by building code
• 00:05:39.600> a<00:05:39.840> residential And the adoption of a residential building code

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional led by Rep. Anne Donahue and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into first readings of 10 House bills. The bills covered building energy standards and a residential building code (H.717), building energy efficiency (H.718), hospital collaboration and state action immunity (H.719), cloud computing/public utility issues (H.720), juvenile proceedings and forensic facilities (H.721), municipal regulation of surface water use for drinking water supplies (H.722), posting of land (H.723), involuntary psychiatric medication in emergency circumstances (H.724), the State Labor Relations Act (H.725), and flexible working arrangements (H.726). Each was read the first time and referred to the appropriate committee; H.648, affecting state revenue through banking, insurance, and securities, was referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A. On the action calendar, the House took up and passed H.84, allowing telehealth appointments to be recorded with patient and provider consent, and H.534, relating to community action agencies. Both bills were read a third time and approved by voice vote, with the chair announcing that the ayes appeared to have it. The chamber then completed its orders of the day. Several announcements followed, including guest introductions, caucus meetings, an ice cream social, and notice of a press conference on immigration protections. The chair also reminded members to return later in the day for the joint assembly to hear the governor’s budget address. The House then adjourned until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 3 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Amendment bar code 2, 6, 2, 5, 2, 5, You're recognized to explain amendment. >> Yes, sir.
• Will it cover all aspects of reviewing a building as far as the building code?
• So it provides provider could be everything from I just review of code to a post building construction
• That's what we're asking the PR to develop a system and a permitting code so that everybody knows when
• Make the code uniform if possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• We wanted to also take account of the building codes because we know, we know, Then we wanted to also
• take account of the building codes because we know when you look at various studies that Florida has
• a very strong building code, variously considered first or second in the nation.
• And that building code is making a big difference in terms of the expected damages we would find.
• We worked with the building code improvements pre-2002 and post-2002 and came up with an estimate of

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission met with a quorum present to hear the constitutionally required Long-Range Financial Outlook and consider a series of budget amendments. Amy Baker of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research presented the outlook, describing Florida’s continued population growth, strong wage growth, an aging population, housing-market softening, and low consumer sentiment. She said the general revenue forecast was largely unchanged from March, but the state’s funds available had improved because of legislative actions in 2025 that increased the balance forward. She also noted strong reserves, a projected current-year Medicaid deficit of about $125 million, and a three-year outlook that remains positive in the first year but turns negative in years two and three. She highlighted the risk of co-occurring catastrophic events, using a normalized Great Miami Hurricane scenario to illustrate potential state losses. The outlook was adopted after brief comments from House and Senate members emphasizing fiscal restraint and efficiency. The commission then approved multiple budget amendments, mostly without objection. The Agency for Health Care Administration received amendments to realign funding for Florida KidCare based on estimating conference results, to provide $85 million in budget authority for disproportionate share hospital payments, and to adjust Medicaid and long-term care appropriations, including placing surplus funds into reserve. The Department of Health received $6.3 million in additional authority for newborn screening. The Department of Corrections and the Department of Management Services each received $2.2 million in Private Inmate Welfare Trust Fund authority for repair invoices and pending projects. The Department of State was authorized to release $2.5 million in nonrecurring general revenue for cultural and museum grants and America 250 commemorative grants. The Department of Transportation received approval for a project roll-forward and for work program changes, including advancing I-95 widening in Duval County and the I-4 corridor in Polk and Osceola counties. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over time, amendments to the Family Code have refined these provisions to balance parental rights with
• record of a proceeding, the substitute will also establish that digital recorders must abide by a code
• A lot of this stuff, page after page after page, is merely updating the code.
• I mean, for example, there are lots of little changes to the civil practice and remedies code in the
• The Bankruptcy Code has related-to jurisdiction, and it's under 28 U.S.C. § 1334 that has the related-to

Bills: SB1538, SB2883, HB1734, HB2340, HB2350, HB3376

Keywords: digital court reporting, court reporting, court reporter, electronic recording, audio recording, video recording, transcription, verbatim record, judicial administration, Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial System, courts, depositions, grand jury, referee, court commissioner, court technology, courtroom technology, access to justice, accuracy

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1633 addresses this by amending the Water Code to add registered exempt wells to the list of factors
• HB 1633 addresses this by amending the water code to add registered exempt wells to the list of factors
• We are absolutely not protected by the current water code.
• My farm, we are absolutely not protected by these ground by the current water code.
• These are the people that are not considered when doing permits currently under the water code.

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• manuals, and books, may also meet the definition of rule, but are not published in the Administrative Code
• Of rule but are not published in the Administrative Code.
• There are an estimated 17,400 numbered rules published in Florida Administrative Code.
• statute, and forms and manuals meeting the definition, are published in the Florida Administrative Code
• a footnote to the rule referencing the JAPSI objection is published in the Florida Administrative Code

Summary: The committee received an informational presentation from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC/JAPSI) staff and Chair Representative Overdorf on how Florida administrative rulemaking is reviewed. Mr. Plant explained that JAPC is a joint legislative oversight committee that monitors agency rules under Chapter 120, focusing on whether rules stay within statutory authority, whether agencies are acting consistently with legislative intent, and how the rulemaking process works. He emphasized that agencies are creatures of statute, that rulemaking authority must be specific enough to support the rule, and that without a date certain in statute, agencies may delay rulemaking indefinitely. Members asked about how to ensure agencies actually adopt rules, how to identify rules that exceed legislative intent, and how JAPC handles internal policies and delayed rulemaking. Representative Overdorf then described JAPC’s objection process and its limits. He said the committee does not approve or disapprove rules or direct agencies to adopt them, but it can object to proposed or existing rules that enlarge, modify, or contravene enabling statutes or fail to comply with Chapter 120. He noted that if an agency does not resolve an objection, a footnote is published in the Florida Administrative Code and the committee may recommend legislation to amend, suspend, or repeal the rule. He also discussed recent committee activity, including 1,355 proposed rules, 119 emergency rules, and 1,243 incorporated materials reviewed in 2024, and said the committee filed 31 objections against one agency after repeated noncompliance. The discussion also touched on possible changes to Chapter 120, including the governor’s 2019 request that agencies include five-year sunset provisions in rules, and a proposal to instead require periodic legislative review rather than automatic expiration. Overdorf also said the committee is considering raising the current statement of estimated regulatory costs thresholds of $200,000 annually or $1 million over five years because inflation has made those limits too low. No votes were taken on legislation, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so these policies are sometimes described as spending through the tax code.
• Uh you may hear these the tax code.
• And for wind, the most concentrated ZIP code would have about 14 installations.
• And for wind, the most concentrated ZIP code would have about 14 installations.
• The map on the Minnesota's zip codes.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those codes are CPT 64568 and CPT 61885.
• have been inadequate, procedure codes have been inadequate, causing<00:19:28.640> multiple<00
• <00:26:52.640> CPT<00:26:53.360> 64568, for surgical procedure codes CPT 64568, for
• So that's based on the diagnosis and procedure codes that are built on the patient claim.
• um that are built on the procedure codes um that are built on the patient<00:33:14.720> claim.

Keywords: Medicaid - Room 216, 4 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several Medicaid-related topics. First, a pharmacy representative discussed nonopioid pain medications as a way to reduce opioid dependence and overdose risk, emphasizing that options such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and topical diclofenac can be useful for pain management. She cautioned that nonopioids can still have risks and said any policy should avoid requiring patients to step through opioids before accessing safer alternatives, while still allowing reasonable step therapy among nonopioid options. The presenter said the goal is to keep patients from being pushed toward opioids by cost or insurance design. The committee also heard emotional testimony from parents of a child with Prader-Willi syndrome, who described the condition as a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, lifelong hyperphagia and requires rigid supervision and ongoing treatment. They argued that alternative funding programs can disrupt access to medically necessary drugs such as human growth hormone, forcing families into costly and uncertain coverage gaps. They asked lawmakers to ensure insurance coverage remains stable for rare disease patients and thanked Senator Blackwell for prior support of rare disease legislation. Next, a Livanova representative urged the committee to support higher Medicaid reimbursement for vagus nerve stimulator surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy. He said inadequate hospital reimbursement has reduced access in Mississippi, causing patients to travel long distances or go without treatment, and argued that better reimbursement would improve outcomes and save money over time. He cited studies showing seizure reductions, lower ER use, and a projected $2.8 million in five-year savings for Medicaid based on 40 patients, and asked that hospitals be reimbursed at 100% of Medicare rates for the procedure codes. Finally, a Medicaid official gave a broad overview of hospital payment structure, including fee-for-service, managed care, MHAP, DSH, UPL, provider taxes, and related funding mechanisms. She explained that hospital payments are interrelated and have shifted over time, with major changes tied to managed care, MHAP/UPL increases, and provider taxes. At the end of the discussion, the committee was running short on time and asked her to skip ahead to the provider tax component; no votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have to go in and make some changes throughout the code, changing the titles from Department of Labor
• changes I have to go in and make some changes throughout<00:10:22.120> the<00:10:22.560> code
• <00:10:23.040> changing<00:10:23.440> the<00:10:23.560> titles throughout the code
• , changing the titles throughout the code, changing the titles from<00:10:24.680> Department<00

Bills: HB568, HB499, HB433, HB568, HB499, HB433

Keywords: voting rights, restoration, pardons, Parole Board, re-registration, conviction, states' voting laws, Lawrence County, Sheriff, credit card, debit card, government purchases, discretionary fund, financial accountability, tax distribution, Talladega County, economic development, public safety, rural infrastructure, child labor

Transcript Highlights:

• The first section makes it a violation of section 112, the Florida Code of Ethics, for anyone who is
• Chairman, it deals with fines imposed by the Commission on Ethics for any violation of the Florida Code
• These are public officials who have been fined for violating the Florida Code of Ethics and who, having
• violated the code, then thumbed their nose at the law and don't pay their fines.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up two bills. First, it heard SB 72 by Senator Berman, which would allow candidates to use campaign funds for dependent child care expenses incurred while actively campaigning, with limits to prevent use for general family living costs and a requirement to keep records for at least three years. The League of Women Voters appeared in support, and Senator Rouson joked about whether the bill should also cover dependent pets. The bill was reported favorably by committee vote. The committee then considered SB 348 by Chair Gaetz, dealing with ethics violations related to falsely claiming military rank or honors for material gain and with collection of delinquent ethics fines. Gaetz explained that the bill would make such false claims a violation of the Florida Code of Ethics and authorize penalties including censure, fines, and possible removal recommendations; it would also allow public employers to withhold pay to satisfy unpaid ethics penalties. Senator Bradley asked for clarification that “material gain” includes political and professional benefits, not just money, and the chair confirmed that it does. An amendment defining delinquent penalties as unpaid 90 days after imposition was adopted, and the Florida Commission on Ethics spoke in support of the bill’s salary-withholding provisions and expanded jurisdiction. Senator Collins, a veteran, strongly supported the anti-stolen-valor section. The committee then reported CS for SB 348 favorably and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• enforcement agencies regarding adoption of a written policy prohibiting racial profiling under Arkansas Code
• Under Arkansas Code 12-12-1403, Arkansas Legislative Audit sent the Attorney General a copy of each law
• of law enforcement agencies we believe failed to comply with the requirements outlined in Arkansas Code
• The Attorney General has indicated that he has notified the 100,000... under Arkansas Code 121214.03.
• of law enforcement agencies we believe failed to comply with the requirements outlined in Arkansas Code

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought this was already in code. I'm just trying to search for it here.
• I thought we had already had it in code, and that's when it was that 30%. What are we?
• Senator Powers, I think you're thinking of another, because this is actually not in code.
• But I don't know what language attorney would like or to use that similar in century code, so we're not
• But I don't know what language attorney would like or to use that similar in century code, so we're not

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee discussed a child care tax credit bill and focused mainly on narrowing the eligibility language. Members agreed to remove a proposed 10-mile limitation tied to the state line at first, then revisited the issue after concerns from the Tax Department and Legislative Council about remote workers, border communities, and out-of-state daycare use. Testimony from the Greater North Dakota Chamber supported the credit as a more flexible version of a prior grant program, while committee members debated whether the credit should apply only to North Dakota residents, employees working in North Dakota, or child care providers located in North Dakota or border cities. After extended discussion, the committee settled on keeping the 10-mile language and striking the resident requirement from the definition of “qualified employee,” with the intent of better capturing border-area workers while avoiding broader unintended coverage. Members noted the bill is aimed at workforce and child care access, especially in Fargo, Grand Forks, and other border areas, and acknowledged that the language may still need adjustment in the future. The Tax Department and Legislative Council indicated the revised language would be workable. Representative Foss moved the final amendment to the conference committee report, Senator Powers seconded, and the motion passed on a roll call vote with all members voting yes: Chairman Rummel, Senator Marseille, Senator Powers, Representative Doctor, Representative Foss, and Representative Anderson. The committee then adjourned, with House and Senate members designated to carry the report forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the amendment is going to define those definitions that already exist in code.
• It is already existing code.
• continue on page one of the amendment, once again, this already exists into... already exists in existing code
• Once again, that's existing code.
• Could you give me that code again? Yeah. 26143. All right.

Bills: HB493

Keywords: child advocacy centers, certification, funding allocation, Alabama Network, forensic evaluation, children's welfare, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• forward, has there been any discussion at all about more... ...a moratorium, like on State Building Code
• Local governments still need to adopt some of that into the code, and then the market needs to start
• Local governments still need to adopt some of that into the code, and then the market needs to start
• I don't know. governments still need to adopt some of that into the code.
• And this is a totally preventable situation due to the zoning codes.

Summary: The committee met for work sessions on land banking/shared homeownership and on maximizing existing housing stock. Members first heard an overview from Commerce on alternative homeownership models, including community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, middle housing, church land for housing, and public land transfers. The discussion focused on how these models can help households build equity while keeping housing permanently affordable. Committee members asked about statewide counts of co-ops and land trusts, and Commerce said it does not track all of those entities directly. Pierce County staff then described the Pierce County Community Development Corporation’s rapid acquisition fund and its role in acquiring, holding, and transferring public land for affordable housing. They said the county used general fund and affordable housing sales tax dollars to buy properties, preserve a manufactured home park through resident ownership, and create a pipeline of sites for future development. Members asked about the advantages of a public development authority, funding sources, the use of surplus and underutilized public property, and how the model works with housing authorities. Spokane land bank staff followed with testimony that land banks can reduce blight, preserve affordability, and help nonprofits acquire land quickly, but that holding costs and taxes can make the work harder without state support. They also described brownfield assessments, donated properties, and work on Black homeownership and public surplus properties. The committee then heard from the Northwest Cooperative Development Center on limited equity cooperatives, especially in manufactured housing communities. The witness said Washington now has about 43 limited equity co-ops and that recent subsidy funding and legislation have accelerated resident purchases of manufactured home communities. Members asked how residents benefit from capped equity, how values are affected, and whether the model improves access to lending; the witness said the model stabilizes costs, allows modest equity gains, and that a recent law allowing manufactured homes in co-ops to be titled as real property should improve access to traditional financing. The committee also discussed House Bill 1974 from the prior session and possible updates to land banking legislation. In the second work session on maximizing existing housing stock, Commerce reviewed recent housing laws and implementation timelines, including ADUs, middle housing, condo liability reform, SEPA changes, tiny homes, and co-living. Members raised concerns about the long implementation horizon, vacancy data, corporate ownership of homes, and the need for better support for small landlords and first-time ADU owners. Sightline then testified on mobile dwelling units, arguing that RVs, tiny houses on wheels, and similar units are a low-cost, quick-to-install housing option that is often blocked by zoning; the witness said many Washington residents already live in these units, often informally. Finally, AARP discussed housing options for older adults, including ADUs, missing middle, manufactured home communities, co-living, universal design, and village-style support models, emphasizing aging in place and the need for more accessible, affordable housing choices.