Transcript Highlights:

• Let me confirm. OK.
• The bumper yesterday, the new director in Techdot got some confirmation that that was not the reason

Bills: HB 408, HB 787, HB 1029, HB 1126, HB 1136, HB 1607

Keywords: cultural attractions, highway signs, Texas Department of Transportation, travel guidance, Museum of the Big Bend, traffic control, tourism, sunscreening devices, motor vehicle, judicial specialty license plate, vehicle safety, Texas Transportation Code, disability, parking, Governor's Committee, mobility impairment, disabled veterans, legislative recommendations, license plates, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• process in the state of Florida, and specifically the purpose of this bill is to conform, excuse me, confirm
• process in the state of Florida, and specifically the purpose of this bill is to conform, excuse me, confirm

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met and considered nine bills, with members hearing brief presentations, limited debate, and mostly unanimous support. Early measures included CS/HB 421, which expands peer support access for first responders to include support personnel, and HB 205, which creates a new offense for abandoning a restrained dog during a natural disaster (“Troopers’ Law”). Both bills drew support from law enforcement and animal welfare-related witnesses, and both were reported favorably; HB 205 was adopted with a technical amendment. The committee also approved CS/HB 157 on service of process, which clarifies that a prior statutory change applies to all causes of action, creates a safe harbor for compliance, tightens substituted service requirements, and allows individual registered agents to be served anywhere in the state. HB 693, which adds an aggravating factor for capital felonies committed where people are gathered for school, religious, or public government activities, drew both support and opposition; the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed expanding the death penalty, while supporters argued juries should have more tools in capital cases. The bill was reported favorably after debate. Members then approved CS/HB 113, increasing penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, after discussion about marked versus unmarked vehicles and an amendment that restored current penalties for two related offenses. Rep. Bracey Davis voted no, citing concerns about unmarked cars and public safety perceptions. The committee also passed HB 91 on misdemeanor probation, PCS/CS/HB 383 allowing certain officers and service members to purchase firearms without the three-day waiting period, and CS/HB 195 to let correctional education count toward professional licensure requirements for incarcerated people. Finally, CS/HB 479 was approved to allow judges to order restitution in hit-and-run property-damage cases. All bills were reported favorably, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• PRIOR TO MAKING LANDFALL MOST CONFIRMED TORNADOES OF ANY SINGLE FLORIDA TORNADO ATTACK ON MODERN RECORD
• MOST IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE STATE AGAIN 47 CONFIRMED EF 2 AND EF 3, SORRY, EF 1 AND 2 HURRICANES

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you; I appreciate those clarities and confirmation.
• And I think these days they mostly use Google Maps and other ways to visually confirm that we still have

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate prefer a conference<00:12:45.960> committee<00:12:46.280> to<00:12:46.360> confirm
• <00:12:46.680> the conference committee to confirm the conference committee to confirm the
• Senate prefer a conference<00:13:31.200> committee<00:13:31.480> to<00:13:31.560> confirm
• <00:13:31.839> the conference committee to confirm the conference committee to confirm the
• this was actually an issue at to confirm this was actually an issue at the<01:48:18.520> time,

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, April 10, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met with 122 members present, heard the journal read, and proceeded through a long series of Senate messages, concurrence motions, and third-reading votes on a wide range of bills. Early business included conference committee appointments on Senate Bill 159 (Emergency Medical Services Vehicles and Ambulances, Required Supplies), Senate Bill 514 (Third Degree Assault), and Senate Bill 866 (Chain Restaurants, disclosure of sodium and added sugars), along with several other bills where the House declined to recede from its amendments and named conferees. The chamber also adopted concurrence on House Bill 1181 (children in out-of-home placement) and House Bill 1219 (climate change/homeowners insurance study), and adopted a favorable committee report on House Bill 1602 (no-cost cancer screening for volunteer firefighters), which was amended to add sponsors, make technical changes, and include retired volunteer firefighters before being ordered printed for third reading. The House then took up a Rules Committee consent calendar and moved a batch of bills to the appropriate committees. On third reading, it passed House Bill 1028 (Caroline County Board of Education compensation increase) and House Bill 1599 (Choptank River Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund) by constitutional majorities. It also rejected Senate amendments on House Bill 107 (Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program), House Bill 153 (residential rental apartments air conditioning requirement), House Bill 1063 (hunting management), and House Bill 1067 (lead and lead-based ammunition phase out), appointing conference committees in each case. House Bill 717 (Baltimore City raffles for organizations affiliated with professional baseball and football teams) and House Bill 892 (cemeteries, actions for sale/transfer/alternate use) also had Senate amendments rejected. The chamber then passed a series of Senate bills on third reading, including Senate Bill 309 (precious metal bullion or coins sales tax exemption), 523 (vernal pools identification), 742 (Maryland Protecting People with Disabilities Act), 141 (election misinformation/disinformation and deep fakes), 298 (Maryland Capital Police statewide jurisdiction), 515 (Health Services Cost Review Commission rate setting), 638 (Maryland Heritage Areas funding and grants), 28 (state employee arbitration reform), 72 (Baltimore County off-premises alcohol sales), 361 (Baltimore City alcoholic beverages license extension), 414 (Anne Arundel County nonprofit swim club license), 601 (cybersecurity standards), 305 (incarcerated individual training and reentry grant fund extension), 331 (retired law enforcement handgun permit renewal), 516 (protective body armor requirements and reporting), 651 (transfer-on-death deed establishment), 865 (private passenger automobile insurance work group), 933 (temporary appointment to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities), 261 (money transmission act definition changes), and 823 (Parole Commission selection committee changes). Most passed with little or no debate; Senate Bill 523 drew opposition from a delegate who warned that identifying vernal pools could lead to future regulation and land-use restrictions, while Senate Bill 823 prompted questions about victims’ rights and whether state’s attorneys remained opposed, with the floor leader saying the bill added a victims’ rights advocate to the selection committee and that opposition had been limited to written testimony. Several members later changed votes on Senate Bill 638 and Senate Bill 865 before the House moved on.

Transcript Highlights:

• So just one thing I want to confirm: there is no appropriation, so can I assume that you all are willing
• I thought they had, but we'll have them up here one more time to confirm.
• And maybe the sponsors can come back up and just confirm they want to go forward with this.
• and you so you're okay with confirm and you so you're okay with where<04:16:24.640> we<04:16:
• they want to go forward and just confirm they want to go forward with<04:16:40.119> this<04:16

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division 2 hearing took testimony from the director of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training on the agency’s budget request and operations. He described the agency’s role in setting hiring, education, certification, and discipline standards for police, corrections, probation and parole, and court security officers, and noted that the agency runs the full-time, part-time, corrections, and court security training programs. He also outlined the agency’s staffing, facility, and budget request for FY 2026-27, including a request to keep funding level with the governor’s recommendation while shifting funds to support an IT manager position by defunding a vacant administrative slot. The agency requested several statutory changes in Chapter 106, including clarifying the definition of police misconduct, allowing a temporary member on the Conduct Review Committee, clarifying reporting requirements for misconduct allegations, and codifying the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. The director also reviewed new responsibilities added in recent years, including crisis intervention training, statewide accreditation, the Conduct Review Committee, and increased annual in-service training requirements. He explained that crisis intervention funding is carried in a continuously appropriated, non-lapsing account and that some budget lines were reclassified, including software and janitorial services, to reflect actual spending needs. Members asked about national standards, the different academy tracks, crisis intervention funding, maintenance and contract changes, temporary positions, and the court security training program. The agency said it coordinates with national peers through IADLEST, that the part-time and corrections academies are longstanding programs, and that the new court security academy can be delivered either as a full academy or as in-service training depending on resources. The director also said the agency has been running extra full-time academies because of high vacancy rates, but expects to return to three full-time academies this year, with two corrections academies and one or possibly two part-time academies. He also explained the current approach to misconduct records and public disclosure, saying sustained findings under RSA 106-L are heard by the council and published, replacing the older, less standardized exculpatory list process.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we finish the legislative session tomorrow, I ask that you confirm the findings from the task force
• recommendations for continuous and constant SMR guidance regarding proximity to populations only further confirm
• if we're changing recommendations that we already approved, probably would be advisable to vote to confirm

Summary: The meeting focused on finalizing recommendations from the Delaware Nuclear Energy Task Force, with most of the discussion centered on how the state should organize itself to evaluate and potentially pursue nuclear power. Public commenters strongly supported nuclear energy, emphasizing energy reliability, economic competitiveness, data center demand, and the need for Delaware to act quickly. Several speakers argued that Delaware is falling behind neighboring states and should not delay if it wants to attract developers and preserve access to federal tax incentives. Members then worked through revisions to the recommendations, especially the section on state actions moving forward. There was broad agreement that Delaware needs a clearly empowered leadership structure, but disagreement over the best form: a cabinet-level energy agency, an expanded existing agency such as DENREC, a dedicated coordinator, an expanded Sustainable Energy Utility, or a separate quasi-independent authority. Some members favored a nimble, one-off entity with bonding and financing authority; others cautioned against creating a new body outside state government and stressed the need for coordination with existing agencies, public oversight, and cost discipline. The group also discussed adding responsibilities such as site identification, public engagement, coordination with PJM and federal agencies, and financing tools, while removing or folding in items that seemed duplicative or too broad. The committee also revised earlier modules to broaden the focus from small modular reactors to nuclear power more generally, while keeping the task force’s original SMR work in view. Members agreed to keep recommendations on state and local regulatory readiness, financial mechanisms, permitting coordination, and public engagement, and to add a recommendation for Delaware to participate as an observer in the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative through NASEO and NARUC. The committee approved the revised Module Four recommendations by vote, with one abstention from Tom Noyes. Minutes from the prior meeting were also approved with minor corrections.

Transcript Highlights:

• The witness confirmed that was correct.
• The witness confirmed that the survey was sent to about 32,000 teachers statewide and received a 15%
• The witness confirmed the survey went out to everyone and that no one was selected or excluded.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a Legislative Audit presentation summarizing Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions for fiscal year 2025. Auditors said the department distributed about $4.6 billion in grants overall, including $3.2 billion from the Public School Fund, $1.1 billion in federal funds, and $268 million from other state and miscellaneous sources, across 56 Public School Fund programs, 14 other state programs, and 29 federal programs. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, master principal bonuses, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; audit staff and Department of Education representatives explained that the report was only a distribution summary and not a recipient-level audit. Members also questioned why many districts showed lower funding, and staff said the decline was largely due to reduced federal and one-time COVID-related funds. Senators and representatives also discussed whether some incentive programs, such as master principal and national board bonuses, were tied to student outcomes, and whether Economics Arkansas was the sole entity named in special language for financial literacy funding; department staff said they would follow up on several details. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on consumer price index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global, with discussion of CPI-U and core CPI estimates for future fiscal years. Dr. Carlos Silva explained that the forecasts generally trend toward about 2 percent over time and that recent projections may have understated actual inflation because of recent shocks. Members asked about the accuracy of past projections, and he said he would provide more detail later if needed. The bulk of the meeting focused on the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with a statewide student-to-teacher ratio of about 14 to 1, average teaching experience of 11.9 years, and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found that districts with higher poverty and minority concentrations generally had less experienced teachers, and that teacher shortages remained widespread, especially in special education, math, science, and foreign language. Members asked about licensure exceptions, alternative preparation pathways, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, and the cost and return on investment of traditional versus alternative routes. Staff said some licensure exceptions are being phased out under Act 304 of 2025 and that they would follow up on several requested details. The report also found that teacher retention averaged 87 percent statewide in 2025, with districts retaining teachers at higher rates than charters, and that 30 percent of surveyed teachers were considering leaving the profession. Principals and teachers identified school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the strongest negative factors. On salaries, BLR reported a statewide average teacher salary of $60,254 in 2025, with districts averaging $60,458 and charters $55,724. Arkansas ranked 45th nationally on average teacher salary in 2025, though its cost-adjusted ranking improved to 36th; among SREB states it ranked 12th, and among neighboring states it ranked fourth. Members asked about starting salaries, salary compression, district step increases, and whether the report should be shared more broadly with educators and school leaders. Staff said they would provide follow-up information on several questions, and the committee took no formal action beyond receiving the presentations and asking for additional data.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor appoints, the Senate confirms. That's two things that we're doing.
• current law, the governor's appointment is subject to both board majority approval and Senate confirmation
• substantial authority in a single appointed officer who, under this bill, no longer requires board confirmation

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will confirm with staff that they're understanding of how these statutes define holidays is consistent
• to me from someone in my district, and I reached out to my local chiefs of police, and they all confirmed
• So how would the department confirm that those services were provided to an Oklahoma resident if the

Bills: SCR17, SB2104, SB2155, SB1428, SB1250, SB1651, SB1794, SB444, SB1061, SB1327, SB1425, SB1455, SB1458, SB1460, SB1480, SB1530, SB1543, SB1555, SB1593, SB1209, SB1730, SB1733, SB1769, SB1805, SB2069, SB2095, SB1503

Keywords: trusts, Oklahoma Uniform Trust Code, trust administration, trustee, beneficiary, qualified beneficiary, nonjudicial settlement agreement, trust accounting, fiduciary duty, forfeiture clause, no-contest clause, in terrorem clause, certification of trust, trust property, district court jurisdiction, venue, surcharge trustee, trust protector, trust advisor, principal distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• Many studies confirm the central, irreplaceable role that parents play in their children's lives.
• Many studies confirm the central, irreplaceable role that parents play in their children's lives.
• The Arizona Court of Appeals recently confirmed that parents can sue under the Parents Bill of Rights

Bills: HB2020, HB2032, HB2033, HB2249, HB2313, HB2318, HB2378, HCR2003

Keywords: interference, disruption, educational institutions, public order, conduct rules, statewide assessment, student testing, academic standards, third grade reading, reading retention, promotion and retention, school accountability, assessment window, testing window, test scores, school report cards, nontest data, graduation rates, dropout rates, education data privacy

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 18 and March 4, 2026, then took up HCR 2003, the Protect Girls in Sports in Arizona Act. Supporters, including Superintendent Tom Horne and several athletes and coaches, argued the measure would protect fairness, safety, and privacy in girls’ sports and locker rooms by requiring sports to be designated male, female, or co-ed and by limiting access to certain private spaces. Opponents, including the ACLU and Arizona Education Association, argued the resolution was discriminatory, would function as a bathroom ban, and could create enforcement and privacy problems. The committee passed HCR 2003 on a 4-3 vote, giving it a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2020, which would make certain threats or disruptions at educational institutions by minors a class 1 misdemeanor instead of a class 6 felony, and passed it 4-3. HB 2032, which shifts the statewide testing window later in the school year and changes related score deadlines, drew support from school leaders who said it would better reflect full-year learning; it passed 6-1. HB 2033, allowing school districts and charter schools to choose paper-and-pencil statewide testing by governing board vote, also passed 6-0 with one member not voting. HB 2318, establishing term limits for school district governing board members, was amended to clarify the limit applies only after two consecutive four-year terms beginning after a specified date; it passed 4-3 despite opposition from the Arizona School Board Association over impacts on rural districts. The committee next approved HB 2378, which changes eligibility rules for School Facilities Oversight Board members so certain architect and engineer members may not have school-construction business interests, passing 4-3. HB 2313, which prohibits teacher strikes or organized work stoppages and reduces school funding if a strike occurs, passed 4-3 after testimony from educators who said it was punitive and could worsen staffing shortages. Finally, the committee considered HB 2249, which expands the Parents’ Bill of Rights to require written parental consent and notification regarding school facilitation of social transitioning and creates significant civil penalties for violations. Opponents warned it was vague, punitive, and likely to chill ordinary school interactions, while supporters said it was needed to stop schools from hiding information from parents. After adopting a six-page amendment, the committee passed HB 2249 on a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• defining permissible expenditures for municipalities and counties; and engrossed House Bill 5653, to confirm
• Engrossed House Bill 5653, to confirm the confidentiality of internal audit and other manuals, training
• Engrossed House Bill 5653 to confirm the confidentiality of internal audit and other manuals, training

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest introductions, including students, community leaders, food bank representatives, and visitors connected to Hunger Free West Virginia Day. A resolution recognizing March 10, 2026, as Hunger Free West Virginia Day was adopted, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 on the Southern West Virginia water crisis was referred to the Rules Committee. The chamber also heard remarks highlighting Hunger Free West Virginia’s work and a West Virginia company, Unigen, developing pharmaceutical manufacturing in the state. The Senate concurred with House amendments and passed several measures, including Senate Bill 467 on enforcement of Purple Heart parking spaces, Senate Bill 712 on cattle guards on certain public roads, and Senate Bill 781, a supplemental appropriation measure that was also made effective from passage. The chamber then adopted and passed Senate Bill 844, a large supplemental appropriation to the Department of Human Services, and Senate Bill 87, a supplemental appropriation to the Department of Commerce, both effective from passage. Other third-reading bills passed included the Blue Envelope Program for drivers with autism, dementia, or intellectual and developmental disabilities; coverage for scalp cooling systems during chemotherapy; expansion of sex-offender registration to include solicitation of a minor and non-consensual disclosure of private images; child safety reporting requirements for school personnel; age-verification requirements for websites hosting harmful sexual material; free Gold Star parent vehicle registration; online training and updated standards for sanitarians; sheriff hiring authority; organ donor registration through voter registration; a Cold Case Task Force; abandoned vehicle title procedures; nutrition continuing education for physicians; special plate rules; gift card fraud offenses; protections for athletic officials; in-year school personnel movement; administrative services powers; pharmacy benefit manager regulation; vape shop regulation; reduced parole supervision fees; disability service credit for certain troopers; property valuation reporting changes; and quarterly Hope Scholarship payments. The Senate also advanced a large number of House bills and committee substitutes on second reading, including supplemental appropriations and measures on mental health examinations, dog registration rules, juvenile jurisdiction on military installations, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, a statewide prevention plan, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment levy treatment, and Commerce Department rules for microgrid districts and high-impact data centers. Several committee amendments were adopted, and many bills were advanced to third reading without objection. No executive communications were reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• "Confirm wire instructions verbally.
• Confirm what coverage you actually have.
• Confirm what coverage you actually have, and ensure that the correspondence that you're receiving from

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members hearing from bankers, regulators, law enforcement, AARP, and mortgage and insurance industry representatives. Witnesses described a wide range of scams, including spoofed bank calls and texts, fake websites and social media impersonation, romance and investment scams, business email compromise, gift card fraud, check fraud, wire fraud, reverse mortgage scams, and crypto kiosk schemes. Several speakers emphasized that fraud is increasingly organized, technology-driven, and amplified by artificial intelligence, and that seniors are disproportionately targeted and often suffer the largest losses. Testimony highlighted both prevention and recovery efforts. Bankers said institutions spend heavily on training, customer education, and fraud detection, but often cannot stop losses once customers have been convinced to authorize transfers. The Attorney General’s office described its Consumer Protection Division, a new Financial Fraud Task Force, and examples of recovering funds quickly from crypto kiosk and wire fraud cases. The State Bank Department and Securities Department said Arkansas’s 2025 crypto ATM legislation and related education requirements have helped, and they urged continued public education. The Insurance Department reported major insurance-fraud trends, including fake insurance cards, forged policies, premium-finance schemes, and staged auto accidents, and said it prosecutes these cases aggressively. Members asked about reporting scams, the security of tap payments, how fraud losses are tracked, the role of crypto kiosks, and whether Arkansas should pursue model legislation or stronger action against telecom and social media companies. Witnesses said tap payments are generally safer than chip or swipe, that crypto transfers are often unrecoverable, and that spoofed caller ID and impersonation ads remain major problems. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association urged state and federal action against telecom and social media platforms and supported national scam legislation. No new bills were voted on at the meeting, but members approved the November 3, 2025 minutes and several witnesses offered to share model legislation, consumer education materials, and state-by-state fraud data with the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Confirm wire instructions verbally.
• Best practices on this, when I would tell consumers, is be cognizant of your coverage, confirm what coverage
• Best practices on this, when I would tell consumers, is be cognizant of your coverage, confirm what the

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members hearing from bankers, the Attorney General’s office, the state bank and securities commissioner, the insurance department, AARP, and mortgage industry representatives. Witnesses described fraud as increasingly organized, technology-driven, and often transnational, with common schemes including spoofed bank calls and texts, fake websites and social media impersonations, business email compromise, gift card and wire scams, crypto kiosk fraud, check fraud, and mortgage/real estate fraud. Several witnesses emphasized that seniors are disproportionately targeted and that losses are often underreported because victims feel embarrassed or do not know where to report incidents. Testimony highlighted both state and national responses. Bankers and regulators pointed to Arkansas’s 2025 actions on crypto ATMs and elder-fraud education, including training for gift-card sellers and safe-harbor protections for banks under the Safe AR Act. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division described its complaint process, a new financial fraud task force, and examples of recovered funds, including quick recoveries from Bitcoin kiosk scams and wire fraud cases. The American Bankers Association and others urged stronger accountability for telecoms and social media platforms, citing spoofed caller ID, impersonation ads, Section 230 issues, and the need for a national scam-prevention strategy or federal office. Artificial intelligence was identified as a major emerging risk because it can generate convincing scam emails, websites, and impersonation content at scale. Members asked about reporting procedures, whether banks reimburse fraud losses, how crypto affects recoverability, the safety of tap-to-pay versus chip use, and whether public online records contribute to fraud. Witnesses generally advised victims to report scams through the proper channels, avoid clicking links or responding to suspicious messages, and verify requests independently by contacting institutions directly. The committee also heard that banks and regulators are already sharing information and educating consumers, but that more legislative and cross-agency action may be needed. No formal vote or bill action was taken beyond approval of the November 3, 2025 minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the time that we were appointed last, I think it was in February, you guys confirmed the board and
• In the time that we were appointed last, I think it was in February, you guys confirmed the board and
• In the time that we were appointed last, I think it was in February, you guys confirmed the board and

Bills: HB0015, HB0017, HB0019

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 01:13:25.199> to department of the AG is requested to department of the AG is requested to confirm
• > notify<01:13:27.199> the<01:13:27.440> legislature<01:13:28.719> in confirm
• and notify the legislature in confirm and notify the legislature in writing<01:13:29.679> as<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor gets to pick whoever they want to be the Board of Regents, and they are confirmed by the
• qualified candidates to a governor who would then select from that list, who would still then be confirmed
• I can double confirm. It's time we do this, and I look forward to supporting this effort.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that banks can charge or can't pay more interest on these accounts, but I will look into that and confirm
• that banks can charge or can't pay more interest on these accounts, but I will look into that and confirm
• can 1079 charge or can't pay more interest on these accounts. 1080 But I will look into that and confirm

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard several insurance and banking bills. HB 1399, relating to property insurance affiliates, would increase Office of Insurance Regulation oversight of transactions between property insurers and affiliates, require fair-and-reasonable documentation, review of dividends and asset pledges, contract termination clauses, affiliate registration, and penalties for violations. Members from both parties generally supported the goal of transparency and accountability, though some raised concerns about costs and whether the bill would actually return money to insureds. The bill was reported favorably. HB 427, on public adjuster contracts, would allow vulnerable adults or their legal representatives to rescind public adjuster contracts without penalty, reflecting the sponsor’s personal concerns about protecting elderly and otherwise vulnerable family members from predatory contracting. Public testimony included support from several industry and elder-law groups, while the public adjuster association warned the bill could unfairly target one profession and urged broader language. Members debated whether the bill should be expanded to cover other solicitations and whether legal representatives should be treated differently, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably. The committee also approved HB 893, which aligns bank handling of law-firm trust accounts with Florida Supreme Court rules and supports legal aid funding, and HB 767, a transparency bill requiring insurers to provide consumers with plain-language explanations of rate increases and related factors. Members emphasized consumer education and clearer disclosures, and HB 767 passed 2-0. Later, HB 381, the Office of Financial Regulation agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it updates financial regulation provisions including cybersecurity-related requirements, money services business rules, credit union and financial institution provisions, and fee timing. HB 777, a related public-records bill protecting nonpublic personal information submitted to OFR, was also heard and moved forward without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it just to confirm that people are complying with their work requirements?
• We are assessing how we're able to connect with data sources that already exist in our state to confirm
• several state agencies to see how we can leverage data sources that already exist in our state and confirm

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a work session to review how H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) could affect Washington’s Medicaid, long-term care, developmental disabilities, and food assistance programs, with a focus on implementation challenges, fiscal impacts, and likely coverage losses. Staff and agency officials explained Washington’s Medicaid financing structure, eligibility categories, caseload trends, and the role of the Health Care Authority and DSHS in administering Apple Health and related services. They also described how Medicaid expansion increased access to behavioral health services and how H.R. 1’s provisions are expected to affect the expansion population most directly. Health Care Authority and DSHS officials outlined several major H.R. 1 changes: new work and community engagement requirements for the Medicaid expansion population, six-month redeterminations instead of annual renewals, changes to immigrant eligibility, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, new cost-sharing requirements, reduced retroactive coverage, and changes affecting long-term care eligibility. They said Washington is still awaiting federal guidance on many details, but estimated that about 620,000 Apple Health expansion enrollees could be subject to work requirements, that roughly 30,000 immigrants could lose Medicaid eligibility under the new definition of qualified alien, and that some long-term care and developmental disability clients could be indirectly affected. Officials also said the state is working with other agencies to build shared verification systems and may seek a delay waiver, though they do not expect broad federal flexibility. The committee also heard that H.R. 1 immediately blocks Medicaid reimbursement for Planned Parenthood services for one year, with the state planning to backfill about $11 million to preserve access. In addition, officials warned that the law could reduce federal Medicaid revenue by billions over time and strain hospitals and emergency rooms as more people become uninsured. They noted that Washington’s rural health transformation grant application is due November 5 and could bring some funding, but not to offset coverage losses. No votes were taken; the session was informational only. The committee then heard a separate presentation on food assistance, where staff and DSHS described H.R. 1’s SNAP changes, including expanded work requirements, immigrant eligibility restrictions, higher state administrative costs, and a possible future state share of benefit costs tied to payment error rates. DSHS estimated a four-year fiscal impact of about $750 million for food assistance changes and said the state is working on system and policy changes across agencies before the new requirements take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• I, I just want to confirm, um, because it wasn't on the slides, and I know we don't know what's going
• I just want to confirm, I believe with what passed the House was an $800 billion funding cut to Medicaid
• I just wanted to confirm about that. Uh, Madam Chair, Senator Pope, that, that's my understanding.