Transcript Highlights:

• While federal oversight previously covered these fair lending obligations, under this administration
• Right now, DFPI has no obligation to conduct fair lending examinations on any schedule.
• In short, it ensures that existing fair lending laws are actually examined.
• Without an examination structure, California's fair lending protections... ...fair lending laws are actually
• . ...Center for Responsible Lending and strong support.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would likely be held later because a quorum was not yet present. Early measures included AB 2393, which would create fixed statutory damages for false arrest or imprisonment claims involving aggravating conduct such as face coverings, restraints, forcible transport, or firearms; supporters said it would help victims obtain accountability, while no opposition appeared. AB 2050, the HOA reserve-funding bill, drew support from HOA and housing finance advocates who said underfunded reserves lead to special assessments and safety risks, while consumer groups warned of large cost increases; Senator Laird said he would move it when a quorum was available. AB 1564, making employee-union communications confidential in certain public-employment disputes, was supported by labor groups and opposed by counties, school administrators, and other local agencies who argued it would hinder investigations. AB 2231, a CEQA streamlining bill for two Sutter Health hospital projects, was backed by the author and health-care supporters but opposed by a construction trade group that said it would strip workers of wage-and-hour remedies. The committee also heard AB 2689, which would allow non-renewal of subsidized housing leases for over-income tenants under specified conditions; there was little testimony beyond the author’s presentation. AB 801 would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to regularly examine lenders for fair lending compliance; supporters framed it as a response to federal retreat from consumer protection, while credit unions and bankers said they shared the goal but wanted more work on impacts to smaller institutions. AB 2721, as amended, would require hotels to post notice when they have actual knowledge of ICE or CBP reservations; hospitality workers and labor supporters said it would improve worker safety, while hotel industry groups said they were moving toward neutral after amendments, though some owners remained opposed. AB 2035 would create a narrow, court-supervised alternative vote threshold for a single HOA, Laguna Woods Village, to amend outdated CC&Rs; the author and HOA representatives said the change was needed because repeated elections had failed to reach quorum. Later bills included AB 1827, which would raise the small-claims limit for businesses from $6,250 to $15,000 and allow up to three filings per year; supporters said it would modernize access for small businesses, while the Judicial Council opposed it as likely to crowd calendars and shift small claims away from its intended purpose. AB 1577 would require data centers to report energy-use information to the Energy Commission and local agencies; supporters said better data is needed for grid planning, while one industry group remained opposed in print but encouraged by amendments. AB 2164 and AB 1854 both expanded California shield-law protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care providers and related entities against out-of-state legal actions and extradition requests; supporters said the bills were needed to protect providers and patients after Dobbs, while opponents argued they would shield harmful medical practices and interfere with parental rights and other states’ investigations. AB 2529 would require claims against public agencies to include a declaration that the contents are true and correct, and AB 2247 would create the Thrive Act to fund trauma-focused mental health services for youth affected by gun violence; both drew support from local agencies or survivors, with no significant opposition recorded in the excerpt. The final bill discussed, AB 1821, would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days to address large, complex, or bad-faith requests; the author said it would better match agency work capacity while preserving access, and the hearing continued with testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, unlike other states, California law requires these financing entities to obtain a lending license
• We have arrived at a solution that encourages mutually beneficial lending activity in California while
• Asset managers operating through multiple affiliated lending vehicles must complete duplicative licensing
• processes for each of their affiliated lending vehicles.
• By enabling institutional funds to participate more readily in California's commercial lending markets

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions met on SB 972 and a consent calendar item, initially without a quorum. SB 972 was presented by Senator Grayson as a bill to modernize the California Financing Law for non-bank lenders by creating a streamlined umbrella licensing process for SEC-registered investment advisers and their advised lending vehicles. The sponsor, LSTA, testified in support, saying the current process creates duplicative licensing, long delays, and reduced access to capital for California companies, while the bill would preserve DFPI oversight and increase fee revenue. No one testified in opposition. After quorum was established, the committee voted 4-0 to move SB 972 forward, with the motion later recorded as a due pass to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee also took up the consent calendar, which was adopted after additional members arrived, with a final recorded vote of 6-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, unlike other states, California law requires these financing entities to obtain a lending license
• We have arrived at a solution that encourages mutually beneficial lending activity in California while
• Asset managers operating through multiple affiliated lending vehicles must complete duplicative licensing
• processes for each of their affiliated lending vehicles.
• By enabling institutional funds to participate more readily in California's commercial lending markets

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill has nothing to do with predatory lending whatsoever, and I wanted to be clear and take a firm
• </c><00:03:47.760><c> How</c> lending doesn't belong in Minnesota.
• How lending doesn't belong in Minnesota.
• lending and mortgage applications,<00:04:00.000><c> I</c><00:04:00.239><c> wanted</c><00:04:00.480><
• whatsoever. and I wanted to be lending whatsoever. and I wanted to be clear<00:04:18.160><c> and</c>

Summary: The discussion focused on two Minnesota Senate bills authored by the senator: Senate File 4168 and Senate File 4652. SF 4168 would give buyers of investment properties more flexibility in financing, including the ability to roll certain closing costs and lender fees into the loan, with the senator emphasizing that the measure is limited to investment properties and is not intended for primary residences. He stressed that the bill is meant to provide options, not force borrowers into any particular structure, and repeatedly distinguished it from predatory lending, saying it has nothing to do with fraudulent or abusive mortgage practices. SF 4652 addresses fraud prevention at banks by allowing account holders to designate an additional contact person who can be notified if a bank suspects suspicious activity and cannot reach the account owner. The senator described it as a common-sense, no-cost, anti-fraud measure aimed at early detection and protecting both banks and customers. He said fraud is a widespread problem and that the bill would help institutions act quickly when something appears wrong. The senator said both bills moved quickly because he wanted to get them heard and passed this session, and he noted that he was the sole author on each. He said the bills passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House. In broader comments, he credited bipartisan relationships and committee cooperation for helping the bills advance, and said the session showed House-Senate collaboration on practical legislation, with more political items being pushed toward compromise and further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Executive Director of the Responsible Business Lending Coalition.
• My name is Andrew Kushner from the Center for Responsible Lending.
• Lewis Kaditz-Peck, Responsible Business Lending Coalition, in strong support.
• Andrew Kushner, Center for Responsible Lending. I'm here today to urge you to support SB 825.
• Louis Kittsbeck, Responsible Business Lending Coalition, also in strong support. Thank you.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , micro-lending over 1.1 million while leveraging over $6 million in private funds, grants, and owner
• </c><00:05:35.639><c> micr</c><00:05:36.080><c> lending</c><00:05:36.479><c> over</c><00:05:36.759><c
• > 1.1</c> and direct lending micr lending over 1.1 and direct lending micr lending over 1.1 million<00
• Those loans are called revolving loan funds, and so that is the point: we lend out to the community,
• Those loans are called revolving loan funds, and so that is the point: we lend out to the community,

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill—it's already a misdemeanor to knowingly lend a vehicle to someone whose driving you know
• I would have to know that the person had a weapon, which here, you know, the person lending just has
• I would have to know that the person had a weapon, which here, you know, the person lending just has
• So if somebody lends you their car, they're obstructing justice.
• So, no, I'm not going to lend it to you. Yeah.

Bills: HB2051 , HB2114 , HB2127 , HB2134 , HB2207 , HB2574 , HB2700 , HB2800 , HB2916

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• the overview about BNPL, kind of a product adjacent to DFI's main area of responsibility, which is lending
• similar in its mechanisms, its tactical utilization, between earned wage access tools and payday lending
• They're kind of product-specific, and some of the BNPL providers have consumer loan lending licenses
• I'm a senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending.
• We go through lending companies.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a work session on buy now, pay later (BNPL) transactions, focusing on how the products work, how they are used in Washington, and whether existing state law adequately protects consumers. Department of Financial Institutions staff described BNPL as short-term, usually no-interest installment financing offered at checkout, often with automatic payments, late fees, and varying credit-reporting practices. Members asked how BNPL compares with payday lending and earned wage access, whether it is effectively a loan or credit product, and whether Washington law already covers it. DFI explained that some BNPL structures may fall into a legal gray area under the Retail Installment Sales of Goods and Services Act because pay-in-four products may not meet the statute’s “more than four installments” language, while other structures may be covered; they also noted the Attorney General can enforce the act. DFI and committee members discussed consumer risks such as overextension, automatic debits, and lack of standardized disclosures, and DFI said it would follow up with additional data on defaults and related issues. Molly Gallagher of the Poverty Action Network and Nadine Chabrier of the Center for Responsible Lending argued that BNPL can help consumers but also poses significant risks, especially for lower-income consumers and consumers of color who already carry debt or use other alternative financial products. They said BNPL use has grown rapidly, often involves multiple simultaneous loans across providers, and can lead to overdrafts, late fees, and difficulty tracking obligations because payments are spread across different schedules. They emphasized concerns about weak disclosures, limited dispute protections, automatic payment structures, credit reporting inconsistencies, consumer overextension, and data privacy/dark-pattern marketing. They also described federal retrenchment, including the CFPB’s withdrawal of an interpretive rule that would have treated BNPL like a digital credit card, and pointed to state responses in places like New York, California, and Maryland. Committee members signaled interest in possible Washington legislation and stronger state oversight. Retail and business witnesses offered a more favorable view of BNPL as a cash-flow and sales tool. A Washington Retail Association representative described BNPL as an evolution of layaway and credit-card-style installment purchasing, noting that merchants receive payment up front minus fees while consumers get goods or services immediately and repay over time. A representative from a business using deferred-payment financing said the tool helps customers obtain equipment and helps the business manage inventory and cash flow, while NFIB said small businesses also use BNPL to bridge expenses and avoid higher-interest credit card debt. Members asked about merchant fees, consumer education, and whether BNPL is being used for impulse purchases or essential expenses like rent, car repairs, medical care, and travel. The chair concluded by saying the committee intends to pursue regulatory language and continue working with stakeholders, while also hearing from retailers to avoid eliminating legitimate financing tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• about BNPL is that it's kind of a product adjacent to DFI's main area of responsibility, which is lending
• They're kind of product-specific, and some of the BNPL providers have consumer loan lending licenses
• Providers have consumer loan lending licenses with us.
• I’m a senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending.
• We go through lending companies.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Transcript Highlights:

• But starting and sustaining a business requires access to capital, and our traditional lending system
• But starting and sustaining a business requires access to capital, and our traditional lending system
• lending possible when traditional<00:04:05.200><c> underwriting</c><00:04:05.920><c> says</c><00:04:
• ><c> underserved</c> Increase lending capacity in underserved Increase lending capacity in underserved
• Grant programs are for developers who we'd lend to. >> Right?

Transcript Highlights:

• I have one question: did you say real estate lending, and is that another word for lending acquisition
• The lending itself would be direct lending for real estate, so two very different components to really
• </c> entrepreneurship side with our lending entrepreneurship side with our lending Services<00:51:34.400
• </c><00:51:40.680><c> program</c> to Pilot a real estate lending program to Pilot a real estate lending
• </c> we are to Pilot a real estate lending we are to Pilot a real estate lending program<00:52:10.839

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• You try to lend them money, you know, that they can handle a payment.
• Products, such as factoring and lending.
• ... ...it really has wreaked havoc on the lending system as we know it.
• We are a factoring company. and asset-based lending equipment lending group.
• options for those who cannot meet traditional lending requirements.

Bills: HB245 , HB700 , HB2783 , HB3526 , HB3900 , HB4061 , HB4124 , HB4166 , HB4395 , HB4534 , HB4609 , HB4641 , HB4736 , HB4738 , HB4739 , HB4945 , HB5015 , HJR175 , HB245

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: military service, retirement, law enforcement, custodial officer, Employees Retirement System, commercial financing, brokers, registration, disclosures, finance, consumer protection, fees, deferred compensation, automatic participation, county employees, payroll deductions, retirement plans, fiscal transparency, local government, bond issuance

Transcript Highlights:

• But in a scenario where you're lending the vehicle, you don't know how... ...that danger to society,
• but in a scenario where you're lending the vehicle, you don't know how awful this situation could be.
• So if somebody lends you their car, they're obstructing justice.
• So, no, I'm not going to lend it to you. Yeah. Or...
• “You’re going to lend a car, you should look.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2134, which would create the Arizona Critical Infrastructure Protection Act to bar state and critical infrastructure entities from contracting with the People’s Republic of China or Chinese companies for access to Arizona critical infrastructure, and to prohibit Chinese-produced software in critical infrastructure. The sponsor and a witness from State Armor argued the bill was needed to reduce cyber and sabotage risks and to align Arizona policy with national security concerns. Some members questioned costs, overlap with federal law, and the Corporation Commission’s capacity, but the bill was approved on a 6-4 vote for a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2051, which would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to federal approval, to cover breastfeeding and lactation care services and, under a proposed amendment, create a voluntary state certification for lactation care providers through the Department of Health Services. Testimony from lactation consultants, maternal health advocates, and researchers emphasized improved maternal and infant outcomes, access gaps for Medicaid families, and potential cost savings. AHCCCS and ADHS were neutral but noted implementation costs and the need for CMS approval; the committee adopted the amendment and gave the bill a 9-0 due pass recommendation. House Bill 2700 would establish a 15-member technology-first study committee focused on assistive technology for people with disabilities, with an amendment adding appointments by legislative minority leaders. Supporters said the committee would help Arizona catch up on assistive technology, improve independence, and address staffing shortages and aging-population needs. The committee discussed the amendment and then approved the bill 9-0. House Bill 2800, which would increase penalties for knowingly lending a vehicle to a person with a DUI-related driving restriction if that person later causes serious injury or death, drew extensive debate over whether the felony penalty was too broad; the sponsor and family members of a victim supported it as a targeted deterrent, while some members raised due process and knowledge concerns. It passed 9-1. House Bill 2114, which would use motorcycle safety fund money for scholarships for rural and low-income riders and require at least one registered owner to have a Class M license before a motorcycle registration is issued, received supportive testimony from the sponsor, motorcycle advocates, and safety supporters; members noted a possible wording issue with existing endorsements, but the bill passed 10-0. The committee also took up House Bill 2127, a large special-plates bill that had been expanded into an omnibus measure; after discussion of a Kavanaugh amendment removing a duplicate Grand Canyon plate and withdrawal of an Alston amendment, the committee adopted the Kavanaugh amendment and gave the bill a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Payday lending became legal in '96 as a carve-out to Washington's usury law.
• As required by the Truth in Lending Act. This is not the time.
• The existing $700 cap is more than enough to meet the needs of existing payday lending borrowers.
• I am senior policy counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending.
• , borrowers are extremely resourceful, and they no longer have broken... ...lending.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 5976 would revise the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by narrowing liability for misleading email subject lines and changing damages and Consumer Protection Act claims. Business, retail, hospitality, and e-commerce witnesses supported the bill, saying recent litigation has created uncertainty and exposed routine marketing emails to excessive penalties. Consumer advocates and the Washington State Association for Justice opposed it, arguing the current law protects consumers from deceptive marketing and that the bill would weaken enforcement and class actions. SB 6111 would require age verification and parental consent for minors creating social media accounts, restrict providers’ use of minors’ data, and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General and a limited private right of action. The sponsor and several parents, medical professionals, and advocacy groups supported the bill as a response to social media harms, including addiction, depression, cyberbullying, eating disorders, and exposure to harmful content. Technology and civil liberties witnesses opposed it, warning about privacy, data security, constitutional concerns, and the difficulty of implementing reliable parental consent and age verification. The committee also heard SB 6250, which would raise the maximum small loan amount from $700 to $1,200 and index it to inflation. The sponsor and a lender representative said the change would update an outdated limit and preserve existing consumer protections. Opponents, including legal aid, poverty, housing, labor, AARP, and community advocates, argued the higher cap would increase debt burdens and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. Staff also briefed SB 6257, which would allow illness-related tolling for trainee real estate appraiser licensing timelines, and SB 6289, which would direct Commerce to create a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan; SB 6289 drew supportive testimony from Commerce, ports, economic development groups, and business interests. The committee also held confirmation hearings for several Gambling Commission and Lottery appointees, who described their backgrounds and service, but no votes or final actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if they otherwise met the parameters of a loan program, yes, and an institution wanted to lend to
• Service entity that would qualify, let’s see, eligible lending institution, education service linked
• Let's see. service entity that would qualify, let's see, eligible lending institution, education service
• So I see on page 10 that it says that the State of Oklahoma shall not be liable to any eligible lending
• But of course, unless they qualify first and a lending institution wants to participate in this program

Bills: HB1590 , HB1242 , HB3818 , HB4305

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee first considered and unanimously approved the nomination of Keith Ventress to the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority and then to the Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authority. Members noted his banking background and asked a brief question about the reference to old congressional district boundaries in the nomination materials, but there was no substantive opposition and both nominations advanced to the Senate. House Bill 1590, by Senator Daniels, would create an Oklahoma education infrastructure linked deposit program to provide reduced-interest loans for charter schools and nonprofit private schools for capital and building needs. Supporters said it would use existing state linked-deposit structures already used for agriculture and affordable housing, while opponents raised concerns about using taxpayer-backed funds for private schools, the bill’s broad nonprofit language, and whether it could lead to more state oversight of private education. The bill passed 9-2. House Bill 1242, which would add survey day to the list of agricultural sales tax exemption items, was discussed briefly but received no motion for a do pass recommendation and remained in committee. House Bill 3818, by Senator Coleman, would create tax-advantaged insurance loss savings accounts for homes and vehicles; members expressed concern about missing definitions, contribution limits, and the potential for abuse, but agreed the concept had promise and the bill passed 9-2 after the enacting clause was stricken for further work. House Bill 4305, as amended, clarified how affordable housing properties are assessed for ad valorem tax purposes by excluding certain income-based subsidies from valuation; after questions about prior court cases and assessment practices, it passed 6-5.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the Military Lending Act, you cannot mandate arbitration.
• Act and the Military Lending Act.
• Arizona voters have rejected payday lending for a reason.
• of making sure that the payday lending and predatory lending went away.
• and predatory lending went away.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, I want to say another source of high-cost lending is auto-title lending.
• That's another really predatory form of lending.
• Also, I want to say another source of high-cost lending is paid out in auto-title lending.
• Texans make up about 10% of the market, but pay, high-cost lending is paid out in auto title lending.
• That's another really predatory form of lending.

Bills: SB1113 , SB1117 , SB1206 , SB1460 , SB1802 , SB1906 , SB1917 , SB2340 , SB2455 , SB2680 , SB2690 , SB705 , SB748

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee took up pending business first and reported several bills favorably, including SB 2139, SB 2610, SB 1856, SB 2530, SB 2401, SB 2858, and SB 3016, with most of those measures moving out on committee substitutes and being sent to the local and uncontested calendar or to the full Senate. The committee also heard SB 1906 on expanding Chapter 342E consumer lending rates; supporters argued it would modernize Texas law and expand access to safe, regulated credit, while opponents from Texas Appleseed and AARP warned it would raise costs on already expensive loans and worsen debt burdens. SB 1906 was left pending after testimony. The committee also reconsidered and re-voted SB 1856 after a procedural issue, with the substitute ultimately adopted and the bill reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1113, which would clarify that certain vehicle converters, including a Texarkana business, do not need an additional dealer license to sell converted vehicles. The bill’s supporters described a long-standing business model and said the new metal license plate rules had created problems, while the Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill in its current form and said it could be resolved through DMV action or narrower changes. DMV said it was still researching a possible administrative fix, and SB 1113 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2680, a Public Information Act cleanup bill dealing with emergency deadlines, business-day exclusions, and litigation timing; broadcasters and other open-government advocates argued the issues were already addressed by prior law and court rulings, while the Attorney General’s office said the bill would help with catastrophe notices and timing conflicts. SB 2680 was left pending. Other bills heard included SB 1117, which would allow any Texas-licensed dentist to administer botulinum toxin neuromodulators for aesthetic purposes in the oral and maxillofacial region; the author and dental witnesses said it would clarify scope and improve access, and the bill was left pending. SB 2340 would clarify the Attorney General’s investigative authority over Texas corporations, including pre-suit depositions and sworn written questions; opponents raised due process and separation-of-powers concerns, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 705 and SB 748, both TDLR cleanup bills, and SB 1206, which would impose timelines and notice requirements on municipalities reviewing transmission projects; SB 1206 was supported by an electric cooperative and left pending. SB 1460, creating an ethics violation registry tied to licensing consequences, drew constitutional and due-process objections from several witnesses and was also left pending. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1802 on landlord duties to repair mobility assistance devices like elevators and ramps in rental housing, with the author describing prolonged outages affecting seniors; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 2455, creating an Energy Waste Advisory Committee to coordinate efficiency and demand-response programs, drew support from energy-efficiency and environmental witnesses and was left pending, and SB 2690, targeting deceptive business-certification solicitations, was laid out and opened to testimony before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Durbin serves as Chief Lending Officer for Agriculture Farm Credit Mid-America, which is headquartered
• Today, I serve as Farm Credit Mid-America's Chief Lending Officer, where I oversee the agriculture lending
• Farm Credit Mid-America is a customer owned, lending cooperative, and a proud part of the Farm Credit
• And raising those lending limits in order to keep pace with that increased capital environment allows
• FSA lending programs, what suggestions do you have to improve access?

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Keywords: farm bill, rural economy, crop insurance, access to credit, young farmers, USDA funding freeze, agricultural policy, risk management

Summary: The meeting of the agricultural committee focused on significant concerns regarding the current state of America's rural economy, highlighting the need for a strong five-year farm bill to address the challenges faced by farmers, particularly young and beginning farmers. Key testimony was given by multiple stakeholders including agricultural leaders and young farmers, emphasizing issues related to crop insurance, access to credit, and the adverse impact of recent USDA funding freezes. Various members discussed the necessity of risk management tools that farmers rely on to secure financing, which is crucial for sustaining agricultural operations and supporting rural communities. The importance of timely legislative action was underscored, as many farmers reported struggles in the current economic climate, raising urgency for reforms within the Farm Bill framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, who in their right mind would lend a second mortgage that, by the way, is usually non-recourse,
• And how this came about: I deal with a number of lenders, but Service Credit Union lends in many states
• a second mortgage that by the would lend a second mortgage that by the way<00:09:19.839><c> is</c><00
• program right so private lenders lending program right so private lenders are<00:12:33.160><c> lending
• money to private development are lending money to private development and<00:12:36.120><c> only</c><

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, the mortgage lending authority provided under the bill is intended to streamline financing for
• It shows up in our construction lending, not our construction lending, but in the project's construction
• lending.
• In our construction lending, not our construction lending, but in the project's construction lending.
• would just add that part of, again, what this bill is going to allow us to do is to do some direct lending

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held public hearings on several bills. On Substitute House Bill 2236, staff explained changes to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage loans for multifamily housing, clarifying it is not a retail mortgage lender, extending bond counsel terms, removing a notice requirement before bond issuance, and repealing outdated statutory provisions. Representative Zahn and commission staff said the bill modernizes the agency and would help finance affordable housing without using state general funds. Testimony was generally supportive, with questions focused on higher interest rates, down payment assistance, and equity for borrowers of color; the commission said it works with banks, administers programs such as Covenant Home Ownership, and aims to support both homebuyers and developers. The chair then closed the hearing on SHB 2236. The committee next heard House Bill 2273 on reducing embodied carbon emissions in buildings and building materials. Staff described requirements for the State Building Code Council to adopt phased embodied-carbon standards for large projects, with reporting, a public database, and Commerce educational resources; the fiscal note showed operating and capital costs. Representative Duerr said the bill responds to rising energy demand and could help lower building costs while supporting innovation, including Washington wood products. Supportive testimony came from environmental justice advocates and an architect, who said embodied carbon reductions are already feasible and often cost-neutral. Opponents, including the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, argued the bill could raise costs, create sourcing and delay problems, and should not exempt schools. The hearing on HB 2273 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5188, which would let the Public Works Board issue loans for broadband infrastructure repair and replacement. Staff said the bill expands the existing broadband service expansion program to cover repair and replacement of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure, with Commerce fiscal impacts noted. The Association of Washington Cities testified with concerns that the bill could signal further use of the Public Works Assistance Account, which has already seen sweeps and could affect future water, sewer, wastewater, and solid waste funding. A question from Representative Dye raised whether the program should instead be tied to the Curb Board; staff and the witness agreed to continue that discussion. The hearing was then closed. In executive session, the committee took up House Bill 2353, House Bill 2420, and House Bill 2470. HB 2353, which raises the predesign threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and indexes it to inflation, was reported out of committee 18-0 with one excused. The committee then adopted and reported out the proposed substitute for HB 2420, which increases the small works roster contract limit and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027, also by an 18-0 vote with one excused. Staff also briefed members on a proposed substitute for HB 2470 concerning school construction assistance for on-base schools, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The chair announced another hearing and executive session for Friday and asked members to submit amendments by the next morning.