Transcript Highlights:

• It extends eligibility for sovereign immunity under the Access to Health CARE Act to students of accredited
• I have talked to nurses, students, and doctors and they have showed me their books in these things are
• Students routinely develop a dental hygiene diagnosis and plan treatment based on that diagnosis, as
• A lot of our college students and a lot of people count on Planned Parenthood to get that care, and now
• health department to go out and help people download stuff and get things in the forms when you're homeless

Transcript Highlights:

• It is ensuring a student, like me, knows how to apply... ...state contract.
• It is ensuring a student, like me, knows how to apply to college.
• I experienced homelessness at 16. I was a kid trying to figure out survival, not strategy.
• I'm a mother, and I'm a current graduate student. And I'm testifying in support of House Bill 2309.
• Challenges disproportionately target voters with non-traditional housing, such as students, nursing home

Bills: HB2309 , HB2249 , HB2417 , SGA9066 , SGA9246 , SGA9268

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: state employment, classified service, civil service, job qualifications, degree requirements, postgraduate degree, master's degree, doctorate, higher education, Office of Financial Management, OFM, classification plan, salary survey, market rate pay, compensation, workforce diversity, hiring reform, employment eligibility, work authorization, DACA

Transcript Highlights:

• Student supportive services.
• helping students.
• emergency assistance grant and supporting students experiencing homelessness.
• assistance grant and supporting students experiencing homelessness.
• So students know that.

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a lifelong Democrat who once worked in this building, and I am politically homeless because of this
• I'm a lifelong Democrat who once worked in this building, and I am politically homeless because of this
• this was concerns over discrepancy when hearings involve or cases involve youth, and I'll call it student
• versus student.
• versus student.

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2735, the “Troxel 2” bill relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases. Staff explained that the bill would add legislative findings and intent to Chapter 26.09 RCW, emphasizing parental fitness, equal standing for similarly situated parents, and a duty to cooperate. The prime sponsor and public testifiers largely supported the bill, arguing that family courts too often restrict fit parents’ access to children without sufficient due process and that the bill would restore constitutional protections and reduce conflict. Some testimony also framed the proposal as a way to improve child safety, stability, and outcomes. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on multiple bills. It advanced bills on garnishment forms (ESSB 5865), child hearsay/testimony rules (SSB 5169, amended), immigration-enforcement policies for health care and related facilities (ESSB 5906, amended), compensation claims for wrongly convicted persons (SSB 5520), reinstating the Indigent Defense Task Force (ESSB 5912), preserving streamlined administrative and land-use review procedures (SSB 6009), authorizing court security threat assessments (ESSB 6086), adding superior court judges in Skagit and Yakima counties (SB 5868), requesting reinstatement of the limited license legal technician program (SJM 8006), expanding personality rights to digital likenesses (SSB 5886), and liability protections for certain children’s item donations, including car seats (ESSB 6087). Several bills were amended before passage out of committee. Votes were recorded on each measure, with most passing on strong bipartisan margins. Notable split votes occurred on SSB 5169 and ESSB 5906, reflecting concerns about balancing child protection, due process, and immigration-related enforcement issues. The committee concluded by thanking staff and adjourned after reporting all listed executive-session bills out of committee with do pass recommendations, some as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The issue that we have is homeless encampments on the water, and they are directly affecting our marine
• When we see the problem of derelict vessels, of the homeless along here, the hurricane damage for the
• We oppose this bill because our students currently, and you as well, are consuming a credit card worth
• Last year, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of students, a private religious school in my district
• To speak to a group of students, a private religious school in my district decided to write letters to

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met and heard several bills on boating, anchoring, plastics, coastal resilience, and permitting. HB 735, expanding the Boating Improvement Program to fund boat-trailer parking at public ramps and offering a submerged land lease discount for manufacturers using environmental best practices, drew no opposition and was reported favorably. HB 371, a nature-based coastal resilience bill, was amended with a strike-all and then reported favorably with committee substitute. HB 287, allowing building or plumbing permits to move forward while septic system permits are still under review, also passed favorably after testimony from the onsite wastewater industry and a brief debate about construction delays and final occupancy certification. The committee also took up HB 565 on auxiliary containers, which would preempt local regulation of items like bags, cups, and bottles and maintain statewide uniformity. The sponsor argued it protects consumer choice and business consistency, while environmental groups, PTA representatives, and others warned it would worsen plastic pollution, microplastics, and local cleanup burdens. Despite opposition and a 13-5 vote with several members opposed, the bill was reported favorably. Members also discussed HB 565’s policy background, including prior DEP studies and the tension between state preemption and local environmental regulation. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 565 in the transcript’s boating context, actually HB 565 on anchoring limitations in Biscayne Bay and other heavily impacted areas. Supporters from Miami Beach and North Bay Village said derelict and anchored vessels are harming waterways, seagrass, public safety, and enforcement efforts, while cruisers and boating groups argued the bill would displace responsible boaters and fail to solve derelict-vessel problems. The committee adopted an amendment, then reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by an 18-0 vote. The meeting concluded after all agenda items were completed and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• She'd said, 'The more control states have over K-12 public education, the better all students in those
• who are unhoused, homelessness, women in sports, and the protection of women and girls in programs,
• Students and the laws that we have to comply with.
• I'm thoroughly convinced the outcomes are determined by the student-teacher interface is where those
• I'm thoroughly convinced the outcomes are determined by the student-teacher interface is where those

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33584, introduced by Representative Tanner. He said the proposal would remove a current Idaho Code requirement that constitutional amendments and initiatives be separated from the ballot by a page break or separate form, allowing them to be printed in the next available space and potentially saving counties money on ballot printing. Representative Scott moved to introduce the RS, and the motion carried without opposition. The committee then heard RS 33633 from Representative Mitchell, a cleanup bill correcting election-related timelines from prior legislation. He said it would restore soil and water conservation districts to the same election schedule as other local offices, confirm mail-in ballot precinct timing at 45 days, and fix a canvassing deadline from 10 days to 9 days. Representative Scott asked about the odd-numbered November election timing, and Mitchell said it was intended to align with other elections. The motion to introduce the RS passed. Next, Representative Furman presented RS 33656, which would require youth service organizations to check the state and national sex offender registries for adults working with children, with limited exceptions for short-term or one-time volunteers. He said it was meant to protect children and align with practices already used by some organizations and insurers. Questions focused on churches, vacation Bible school, and the fiscal note; Furman said churches already doing background checks would generally satisfy the requirement and that there was no state budget impact, though private organizations might incur small training costs. The motion to introduce the RS carried. Finally, the committee debated RS 33683, a memorial supporting elimination of the U.S. Department of Education and greater state control over education. Representative Monks said the memorial reflected the governor’s office and the Trump administration’s agenda, and argued that education should be managed by the state without federal bureaucracy. Representative Church moved a substitute motion to introduce the memorial and hold a hearing, arguing the committee should examine the costs and practical effects of shifting federal responsibilities to the state. Several members discussed federal education mandates, special education, Title IX, and whether state bureaucracy would replace federal bureaucracy. The substitute motion to introduce RS 33683 passed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> What we're banning is homelessness.
• </c> &gt;&gt; What we're banning is homelessness. &gt;&gt; What we're banning is homelessness.
• We have uh multiple students from their fifth and sixth grade class.
• We have uh multiple students from Zang.
• </c> pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists<01:26:54.719><c>

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, February 19, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently experience students We currently experience students that don't quite meet the membership
• And that's all students.
• So we are about 300 students.
• , or non-Native students.
• We're able to get those students where they need to be, and those are the students that we ultimately

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and first heard welcoming remarks and introductions from tribal leaders and program directors. Chairwoman Street and other tribal representatives outlined a range of concerns and requests for state action, including taxation of reservation lands, support for non-beneficiary students at the tribal school, homelessness funding, Indian-managed health care, gaming and e-tabs, Feather Alert improvements, industrial farming near waterways, tourism, and better state-tribal consultation. Committee members responded that the meeting was intended to improve understanding and communication, and several members suggested future legislation or resolutions could be used to advance some of the issues. The tribe also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to legislators and staff. A major portion of the discussion focused on Spirit Lake fish and wildlife jurisdiction and the lake boundary. Tribal representatives asked for an MOU or co-stewardship agreement with the state to clarify hunting and fishing rights, recognize tribal licenses, and reduce recurring disputes over “gray areas” on the reservation and lake. Committee members discussed whether to draft a bill or resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and asked that North Dakota Game and Fish be invited to a future meeting. Related concerns included aquatic nuisance species prevention, with both sides agreeing that more aggressive boat inspection and cleaning measures would be beneficial. The committee also discussed taxation and county relations. Tribal leaders raised concerns about county resistance to fee-to-trust transfers and about property and vehicle taxation affecting members living on or near reservation lands. Committee members and tribal counsel reviewed federal treaty principles and court cases, and one member noted that the committee had previously taken no formal action on similar issues. Later, Benson County’s tax equalization director explained how the county values taxable land, handles inundated land applications, and tracks land coming off the tax rolls when the tribe repurchases acreage. The discussion ended with a presentation from the president of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, followed by an HHS presentation on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion as the committee moved to its next topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did want to recognize Dan Chow, a student at the University of Pennsylvania and an advocate for all
• Systemic barriers to good health, like poverty, discrimination, homelessness, pay gaps, lack of health
• Systemic barriers to good health, like poverty, discrimination, homelessness, pay gaps, lack of health
• campaign focused on giving students job opportunities at the UC campuses, regardless of immigration
• In the back room was the United We Dream students who were organizing around DACA.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session on recognitions and resolutions honoring community groups and observances. Members welcomed the Far West region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Los Angeles South Bay alumni chapter, and later recognized the 2026 Latino Spirit Award honorees after adopting SR 86 on Cinco de Mayo Week. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support of the resolution, emphasizing Mexican history, Latino resilience, and shared struggles for justice. The Latino Spirit honorees included leaders in higher education, philanthropy, labor, health, advocacy, business, environmental justice, journalism, culinary arts, and music, along with a legacy award for Los Tigres del Norte. The Senate also adopted SCR 146 declaring May Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, SCR 154 establishing Green Star Veterans and Families Day, SCR 123 honoring California Peace Officers Memorial Day, SCR 164 recognizing Black Health Equity Advocacy Week, and SCR 103 designating Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. Testimony and floor remarks focused on health disparities, mental health, veteran suicide, and the sacrifices of peace officers, with several caucuses speaking in support of the health equity resolution. Each of these resolutions passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber then took up several appointments from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, confirming Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, Jason Johnson, Madeline McLean, Brian Bishop, and Sarah Larson, despite some protest votes from Senator Grove over the lack of action on another appointment. In third reading, the Senate passed SB 1159 on AI and public participation, SB 1416 on faster refunds for duplicate medical payments, SB 1273 on winery video advertising at instructional events, SB 941 limiting commissary markups in private detention facilities, SB 990 on a highway information sign near Ridgecrest, SB 1099 clarifying local authority to provide public benefits, and SB 1195 expanding tied-house exemptions for certain venues. The session concluded with adjournment memories for labor leader Kent Wong and Navy veteran-artist Vittaliano Victor Villar, and the Senate adjourned until May 7, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, today I would like to recognize ten outstanding students from the Thomas Downey High School
• These students participated in the tax literacy ambassador cohort through San Jose County's United Way
• Members, please help me welcome these students from Thomas Downey High School. Thank you.
• Students should be able to participate in their student body associations free from threat.
• AB 409 will modernize the Brown Act for student body associations on community college.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, our first year $20 per student."
• , homeless, homeless, those<01:25:51.920><c> that</c><01:25:52.080><c> are</c><01:25:52.320><c> MF</c
• </c> care and homelessness. care and homelessness.
• Chair. understand that many students do come understand that many students do come from<01:39:28.639>
• </c> income or the same kind of demo student income or the same kind of demo student that<01:48:34.719

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's all students.
• Right now we top out at 12 students.
• So we are about 300 students.
• , or non-Native students.
• For our non-beneficiary students, and that was a full-time equivalent of 25.8 students.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and heard an extended discussion with Spirit Lake tribal leaders and program directors about government-to-government relations with the state. Chairwoman Street and others outlined a number of concerns and requests, including taxation of tribal and trust lands, state school support for non-beneficiary students, homelessness services, Indian-managed health care, gaming/e-tabs, the Feather Alert system, industrial farming near waterways, tourism and cultural issues, and the need for more consistent tribal consultation. Committee members responded that many of these issues had previously been passed along without direct action, and several members emphasized the committee’s role in education, communication, and preparing possible legislation or resolutions for the next session. Tribal representatives also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to help legislators better understand tribal jurisdiction and billing issues. A major portion of the meeting focused on Spirit Lake Fish and Wildlife concerns, especially jurisdictional “gray areas” around hunting and fishing on the reservation, recognition of tribal licenses, and the boundary of the reservation around Spirit Lake/Devils Lake. Tribal officials said they wanted a co-stewardship agreement or MOU with the state to clarify jurisdiction, improve cooperation, and address invasive species and aquatic nuisance species. Committee members discussed whether to draft legislation or a resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and they asked for further input from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at a future meeting. The committee also discussed county involvement in land status changes and trust land issues, with Spirit Lake leaders describing a past Benson County resolution that tried to block fee-to-trust transfers and saying it was later rescinded. The committee then heard from Benson County tax equalization director Randy Thompson, who explained how the county values land and handles tax-exempt, inundated, and fee-to-trust parcels. Members asked about the impact of tax-exempt lands on county services and discussed prior legislation that helped counties with large tax-exempt bases. The committee also received a presentation from Dr. Steven Smith of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, including support for non-beneficiary students and workforce training. Members asked about expanding tribal college education into correctional settings, and Smith said the idea was worth exploring through the tribal college system. Finally, HHS interim medical services director Christoph Framing presented remotely on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion, explaining current state funding mechanisms for inpatient and residential behavioral health services and the bill draft directing HHS to pursue a waiver for IMD payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• economic success that many see in Miami-Dade County is accompanied by a very troubling rise in homelessness
• I have seen a huge uptick in female senior homelessness. I know because I go out there.
• Fortunately, we've got good programs like the Homeless Trust and Camillus House, and it's not enough.
• We have counties with high numbers of students, but low income.
• our best to represent fairness: fairness for homeowners, fairness for renters, fairness for the homeless

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment on property tax reform. The measure would increase the homestead exemption in stages, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses such as public safety, education, infrastructure, natural resources, debt service, employee benefits, and certain administrative costs. Supporters, led by Senator Avila, argued the proposal would provide meaningful property tax relief and push local governments to rein in spending, while opponents warned it would shift costs to fees, reduce local flexibility, and threaten funding for core services. Several amendments were offered and rejected. Senator Sharief proposed an income-based circuit breaker for property tax relief; Senator Smith offered a sunset clause; and Senator Berman proposed revising the ballot statement to better match the amended proposal and remove outdated references. Each amendment failed on recorded votes. During questioning and debate, senators pressed Avila on the ballot language, the effect on local services, whether the legislature could later restrict local spending by statute, and whether renters would benefit. Avila said the ballot language was not his and repeatedly stated he was presenting the governor’s proposal, while also saying local governments would need to prioritize budgets and that future legislatures could address implementation details. After the amendment votes, the joint resolution was read a third time and moved into final debate. Supporters said the proposal would give homeowners relief and force fiscal discipline at the local level. Opponents, including Senators Nathan, Bracey Davis, Smith, Polsky, and Errington, argued the measure was rushed, lacked a completed fiscal analysis or replacement revenue, and could harm police, fire, libraries, parks, housing, and other local services. They also criticized the ballot summary as misleading, especially regarding the staged homestead exemption increase. The transcript ends during debate, before any final vote on the joint resolution itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• economic success that many see in Miami-Dade County is accompanied by a very troubling rise in homelessness
• I have seen a huge uptick in female senior homelessness. I know because I go out there.
• Fortunately, we've got good programs, like the Homeless Trust and Camillus House, and it's not enough
• We have counties with high numbers of students, but low income.
• Fairness for homeowners, fairness for renters, fairness for the homeless, fairness even for those that

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It targeted students with one or more risk factors.
• Programs are universally free to all students.
• the majority of our students in the state.
• This still increases in student participation, indicating that universal access for all students is indeed
• What if the students don't eat beef?

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• where people either<02:57:36.640><c> end</c><02:57:36.840><c> up</c> either end up either end up homeless
• 40.040><c> the</c><02:57:40.439><c> town</c><02:57:40.840><c> W</c><02:57:41.160><c> welfare</c> homeless
• uh or on the town W welfare homeless uh or on the town W welfare roles roles roles or<02:57:44.200><
• It's important to note that not included in these estimates are things like student loan debt, credit
• </c> these estimates are things like student these estimates are things like student loan<04:28:40.880

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Student elections. SB 1573, judicial determinations, religious secretarian laws. No, SB 1570.
• SB 1596, appropriation, homeless shelter services fund. ATT and HHS.
• Student Elections. SB 1649, digital assets strategic reserve fund.
• Student Elections. ATT. SB 1660, Attorney General policies, immigration. MABS.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• was medical director for Addiction Recovery Services, our opioid treatment program, as well as our homeless
• Navy veteran, and a student at St. Catherine University pursuing a career in medicine.
• treatments that are offered from the state or private insurance, private practice, whether it is homelessness
• treatments that are offered from the state or private insurance, private practice, whether it is homelessness

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention will come to order.
• </c><00:10:41.680><c> for</c> um Alliance housing I was homeless for um Alliance housing I was homeless
• </c><00:49:02.280><c> increased</c> higher rates of homelessness increased higher rates of homelessness
• </c> and homelessness and homelessness prevention prevention prevention and<01:11:39.639><c> I</c><01
• Since then, I've been in and out of homelessness.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can nurture scientists, and students.
• </c><00:41:52.000><c> and</c> not to mention the students and not to mention the students and colleagues
• </c> initiative to end veteran homelessness initiative to end veteran homelessness through<01:03:48.079
• </c><02:18:18.800><c> of</c> leadership, educators, and students of leadership, educators, and students
• ,</c> progress on ending veteran homelessness, progress on ending veteran homelessness, erodess<02:50

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 1012, house, all