Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we are trying to keep out of our lakes we are trying to keep out of our lakes in<01:14:36.360><c
• </c><01:15:21.440><c> So,</c> species checks for the local lakes.
• So, species checks for the local lakes.
• It's the retired person that works on a lake or something.
• </c> that works on a lake or something. that works on a lake or something.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She added that the 4R program is well known in the Lake Erie Basin, where it originated, and that it
• was intended to help curb algae blooms along Lake Erie.
• </c> program is is well known in the lake program is is well known in the lake Eerie<00:06:34.080><c>
• Erie um so they've had good along Lake Erie um so they've had good good<00:06:46.560><c> progress</c
• </c> member in my district from AA Lake member in my district from AA Lake actually<00:13:33.160><c>

Bills: HF2233 , HF1524 , HF1893 , HF1396 , HF2456 , HF2959 , HF2300 , HF2412 , HF3022 , HF2825 , HF1862 , HF1373 , HF1039 , HF3070

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: Uniform Special Deposits Act, special deposit, banking law, financial institutions, escrow, escrow account, trust account, security deposit, beneficiary, depositor, creditor process, garnishment, attachment, levy, setoff, recoupment, financial market infrastructure, retirement benefits, compensation, earnest money

Transcript Highlights:

• Lake Pontchartrain. Only applicable there? It's only applicable in those very limited areas.
• This is a property transfer in Caddo Parish on Caddo Lake.
• Because I know personally I live on a lake and I call you all the time saying we have nuisance gators
• have the WMAs and the public... ...about the fee, because currently you have the WMAs and the public lakes
• you have the WMAs and the public. about the fee, because currently you have the WMAs and the public lakes

Summary: The committee first adopted the 2025 minutes, then took up House Bill 727, which would allow burning untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber such as two-by-fours. The bill was presented as a narrow exemption to existing restrictions on burning construction debris, and it was reported favorable without objection. Members then heard from DEQ Secretary Courtney Burdett on House Bill 697, the department’s sunset/recreation bill. She outlined DEQ’s work on permit modernization, interagency coordination, field inspections, spill response, criminal investigations, environmental education, and small business assistance. Members raised issues including a large waste-tire site, an oil spill response, and a stormwater discharge issue at Smitties. The committee praised DEQ’s responsiveness and reported the bill favorable without objection. House Bill 758, dealing with DEQ fees, was then considered. The bill and amendment package would update and increase various permit and program fees, add annual or biennial CPI-based adjustments, and remove outdated provisions, with the stated goal of aligning revenues with expenditures and reducing reliance on the state general fund. Several industry and landowner groups supported the measure, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorable. The committee also advanced House Bill 726, which increases penalties for abandoning vessels and related gross littering. Members discussed how abandoned boats are identified, owner notice procedures, registration versus title issues, hurricane-related losses, and protections for older or distressed owners. Wildlife and Fisheries said the bill targets intentional dumping and that existing law allows case-by-case discretion for true hardship situations. The bill was reported favorable. House Bill 756, concerning personal watercraft, was also reported favorable after testimony that it would require reasonable suspicion for vessel stops, align state rules more closely with federal boating safety standards, and update provisions on accident reporting and inflatable PFDs. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 767, which creates recreational alligator hunting license and lottery fees contingent on separate legislation authorizing the season. Supporters said the measure would help create a recreational opportunity while generating conservation funding, but landowners and commercial harvesters warned the fee may be too low, the proposal may be moving too quickly, and recreational harvest could affect commercial operations and landowner interests. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill favorable. House Bill 964, authorizing a state property transfer in Caddo Parish, was also reported favorable, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lake Pontchartrain. Only applicable there? It's only applicable in those very limited areas.
• This is a property transfer in Caddo Parish on Caddo Lake.
• Because I know personally I live on a lake and I call you all the time saying we have nuisance gators
• Well, I would like to talk about the fee, because currently you have the WMAs and the public lakes where
• you have the WMAs and the public. about the fee, because currently you have the WMAs and the public lakes

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lake? Aye. Nickles? O'Connowitz? Rukty? Runeagh? Aye. Simoroff? Shippy? Right. Runag? Aye.
• of these pages, 59 and 61, are from the north end of the state, but looking at that map page 61 and Lake
• If you look kind of right up there, up in the middle, slightly to the right by the lake, If you look
• kind of right up there, up in the middle, slightly to the right by the lake, and you see all those black
• Lake. Kaiser. Kohl. Lakey. Lent. Nichols. O'Connell. O'Conowitz. Robbie. Ricks. Rukti. Ranaugtie.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and approval of the prior day’s journal, then moved through committee reports, House messages, and bill introductions. Several measures were referred to committees or held on the calendar, including new Senate bills and a number of House bills and resolutions. The chamber also received enrolled bills and transmitted others between the House, Senate, and governor’s office. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 1363, the natural resources maintenance appropriation. The bill funded maintenance budgets for the Department of Environmental Quality, Fish and Game, Lands, Parks and Recreation, Water Resources, and the Endowment Fund Investment Board, with reductions tied to statewide adjustments and removal of one-time funding. Supporters described it as a responsible “tightening of the belt,” while opponents argued the cuts would harm firefighting, water management, park staffing, permitting, and other services. After debate, the Senate passed SB 1363 on a roll call vote of 28-7. The Senate then considered and passed House Bill 558, protecting federal survivor and dependent benefits for children in state custody; House Bill 500, clarifying e-bike and bicycle traffic protections; House Bill 577, eliminating mandatory 10-year license plate replacement; House Bill 636, allowing school districts to use facilities funds for lease purchases; House Bill 539, limiting temporary administrative rules; House Bill 511, raising the cap on the fire suppression surcharge for structures on forest land; House Bill 639, updating midwifery medication authority; and House Bill 628, expanding parent-taught driver education options. House Bill 620, giving county commissioners special-expertise status in federal land management planning, also passed. House Bill 610, which would have extended the homestead tax exemption to homeowners absent for religious missionary service, failed on a 16-17 vote. The Senate then returned to miscellaneous business, made announcements, and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lake? Aye. Nickles? O'Connowitz? Rukty? Runeagh? Aye. Simoroff? Shippy? Right. Runag? Aye.
• of these pages, 59 and 61, are from the north end of the state, but looking at that map page 61 and Lake
• If you look kind of right up there, up in the middle, slightly to the right by the lake...
• If you look kind of right up there, up in the middle, slightly to the right by the lake, and you see
• Lake.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jeff Renetti, District 123, representing Camden County, home of the number one recreational lake in the
• That's the Lake of the Ozarks, here to present House Bill 2055, which is basically...
• That's the Lake of the Ozarks, here to present House Bill 2055, which is basically the, pardon me, Representative
• If people take pictures of the fish hatchery in the lakes, would this bill stop them from being able
• I was on a boat on Table Rock Lake, and a friend from that boat flew a drone over Silver Dollar City.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jeff Renetti, District 123, representing Camden County, home of the number one recreational lake in the
• That's the Lake of the Ozarks, here to present House Bill 2055, which is basically...
• That's the Lake of the Ozarks, here to present House Bill 2055, which is basically the, pardon me, Representative
• If people take pictures of the fish hatchery in the lakes, would this bill stop them from being able
• I was on a boat on Table Rock Lake, and a friend from that boat flew a drone over Silver Dollar City.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The Committee on Crime and Public Safety first heard House Bill 397, a companion to HB 1882, which would create a youth police initiative tax credit to support the Youth Police Initiative program. Representative Tiffany Price and supporters described the program as a way to build trust between at-risk youth and law enforcement through a week-long, relationship-based experience. Testifying in support were a youth participant, Kansas City Police Department Commander Kari Thompson, and others who said the program improved behavior, mentorship, and community trust. Members raised questions about the tax credit structure, eligible entities, and how the program would operate, but no opposition testified. The committee then heard House Bill 2055, which would fix a language issue in Missouri’s hands-free cell phone law so municipalities can enforce mirror ordinances in their own municipal courts. Representative Jeff Vernetti and several law enforcement witnesses said the current statute prevents local enforcement and forces cases into overburdened county or state systems. Supporters argued the change would improve efficiency and roadway safety while preserving the law as a secondary offense. No one testified in opposition. House Bill 2587, sponsored by Representative Jones, followed and would update Missouri law on unmanned aircraft to address drone threats near critical infrastructure and large public gatherings, including upcoming World Cup events in Kansas City. The sponsor and law enforcement supporters said the bill would allow trained officers to detect, track, and mitigate dangerous drone activity using federally authorized tools, while protecting lawful recreational drone use. Some members and the Missouri Chamber raised concerns about the scope of “mitigation,” possible use of force, and the need to avoid conflict with federal rules, but supporters said the bill includes guardrails and notice requirements. After the hearings, the committee adopted a committee substitute combining HB 1882 and HB 3097 and voted the combined substitute do pass by a 16-0 roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• functioning well, serving small businesses, many immigrant businesses and mom and pop businesses on Lake
• functioning well, serving small businesses, many immigrant businesses and mom and pop businesses on Lake
• 33.440><c> on</c> businesses and mom and pop businesses on businesses and mom and pop businesses on Lake
• </c><00:27:34.880><c> And</c><00:27:35.440><c> you</c><00:27:35.600><c> know,</c> Lake Street, Minneapolis
• And you know, Lake Street, Minneapolis.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes the Hometown Heroes program, Camp Bliss, Veterans on the Lake, Veteran Mentorship for Black
• This includes the Hometown Heroes program, Camp Bliss, Veterans on the Lake, Veteran Mentorship for Black
• 54.560><c> the</c> program, uh Camp Bliss, Veterans on the program, uh Camp Bliss, Veterans on the Lake
• c> Veteran</c><00:06:56.400><c> Mentorship</c><00:06:56.880><c> for</c><00:06:57.120><c> Black</c> Lake
• , Veteran Mentorship for Black Lake, Veteran Mentorship for Black Youth,<00:06:58.319><c> and</c><00:

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• The flip side of that is I stepped out this morning to go—Red Lake Nation is here doing drumming and
• The flip side of that is I stepped out this morning to go—Red Lake Nation is here doing drumming and
• > to</c><00:21:32.960><c> go</c><00:21:33.600><c> um</c><00:21:33.919><c> Red</c><00:21:34.159><c> Lake
• </c> out this morning to go um Red Lake out this morning to go um Red Lake Nation<00:21:34.640><c> is

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He'll be followed by Lake Road. Should be followed by Teri. We do. >> Good afternoon.
• Lake Lake Ranch followed by Teri Weigel followed by Kelly Stafford. Good afternoon.
• Senator Lake, you're recognized for question. Thank you.
• Thank you. >> Thank you, Senator Lake in debate. Thank you.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Corrections Department is going to be focused on Lake Correctional Institution and the mental health
• Lake Correctional Institution and the mental health facility that they are requesting for down there.
• As I brief you today about the Lake Correctional Institution and the Mental Health Facility Construction
• , we began the process of building the 550-bed inpatient mental health treatment facility there at Lake
• Currently, it's my understanding that the bond that we had can only be spent with the department at Lake

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• As an example, we've been working on a phased development in a rural area near Lake Tahoe in El Dorado
• As an example, we've been working on a phase development in a rural area near Lake Tahoe and El Dorado
• I'm the president of the Lake Greenhaven Association.
• Lake Greenhaven is approximately 59 acres of lake and about 19,000 lineal feet of bulkhead.
• So, lake quality: we get significant algae blooms.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's basically from the southern shore of Upper Red Lake down to nearly Detroit Lakes.
• </c><00:04:38.919><c> down</c><00:04:39.160><c> to</c> southern shore of upper Red Lake down to southern
• shore of upper Red Lake down to nearly<00:04:39.880><c> Detroit</c><00:04:40.600><c> Lakes</c><00:04
• uh served in the nearly Detroit Lakes uh served in the Navy<00:04:43.520><c> myself</c><00:04:44.280
• Veterans on the lake so those are um Veterans on the lake so those are um some<00:15:44.959><c> various

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , rivers, lakes, and ocean. ocean. ocean.
• </c> other lakes other lakes and<01:15:14.800><c> a</c><01:15:15.120><c> fair</c><01:15:15.440><c> number
• Uh but we our healthy and clean lakes.
• So, we represent um the Mount Washington cruise ship on Lake Winnipesaukee and the Lake Sunapee cruise
• Um, have a major lake or a sea coast.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we have our seventh bill, S 4075A by Senator Suarez: an act in relation to authorizing the Silver Lake
• S 4075A by Senator Suarez: an act in relation to authorizing the Silver Lake Foundation to receive retroactive

Committee: Senate Local Governments

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Local Government Committee held its first meeting of 2026 and considered nine bills focused on municipal governance, local finance, emergency services, land use, and tax exemptions. Measures included changes to volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker death benefits (S190), local bond installment rules (S273), environmentally conscious planning training for municipal boards (S600), expanded Open Meetings Law training requirements (S2598), an expanded farm building tax exemption (S3665), lease information requirements for certain housing accommodations (S3742A), retroactive building tax exemption status for the Silver Lake Foundation (S4075A), preservation of regionally significant projects (S4980), and youth programs sponsored by fire departments (S609). Most bills were moved and reported out with little discussion. S4980 drew a nay vote from Senator Rolison but was still reported out. S4075A prompted Senator Weik to raise a broader concern about recurring retroactive real property tax exemption requests, saying exemptions should be handled at closing when possible; the chair asked him to send over the bill he mentioned that would address that issue. The committee also noted that some bills were reported to other committees, including Finance and Housing, where applicable.

Transcript Highlights:

• My favorite part about living in Nampa is probably the lake.
• I live pretty close to the lake, so we go boating out there a lot and wake surfing. That's awesome.

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee met briefly to open the session and outline its upcoming agenda. The chair said the committee would be discussing conformity with the federal “big beautiful bill,” noting that a conformity bill is expected soon and that the committee is still working through the budget implications. Senator Groh added that the committee has been in discussions with the House Taxation Committee, that the governor’s budget includes conformity for fiscal year 2027 but not 2026, and that a revenue number had just been set in Joint Finance Appropriations Committee, which should help the budgeting process. The committee also introduced its page, Jace Rackham of Nampa High School, who said he is a 12th grader planning to serve an LDS mission after graduation. Members asked him about his mission preferences, favorite parts of living in Nampa, language study, and his activities outside school, including weightlifting, football, cheerleading, and spending time with family. The chair also invited him to ask questions of senators, though he declined at that time. No legislation was heard or voted on during this meeting. The chair noted that Thursday’s meeting would include a housing presentation from the Mercatus Institute and remarks from Chris Cargo of Mountain States Policy on polling and related housing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• My favorite part about living in Nampa is probably the lake.
• I live pretty close to the lake, so we go boating out there a lot and wake surfing. That's awesome.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jonah, and I'm a high school student from Lake Washington High School in Kirkland.
• My name is Jonah and I'm a high school student from Lake Washington High School in Kirkland.
• My name is Geithika Burgupoli, and I'm also a student from Lake Washington High School.
• My name is Eliblicani, and I'm a senior at Lake Washington High School that worked on the Purple Alert
• I'm part of the group of students that Lake Washington originally proposed this bill, and I'm testifying

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on four bills. SB 5925 would expand the Attorney General’s civil investigative demand authority to investigate possible violations of the U.S. and Washington constitutions, certain labor and civil rights laws, law enforcement use-of-force issues, and jail-related statutes. Supporters, including the Attorney General’s office, Teamsters 117, and Working Washington, said the bill would make investigations faster and more effective, especially in wage theft and discrimination cases. Opponents, including police, sheriffs, cities, counties, and retail and business groups, argued it would give the AG broad investigative power without enough threshold showing, could burden local governments and employers, and raised constitutional concerns about speech and search protections. No vote was taken. SB 5906 would codify and expand protections for non-public spaces in schools, child care facilities, health care facilities, higher education institutions, and county auditor election areas by limiting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant or court order and restricting collection of immigration-related information about students and families. Supporters said the bill would reduce fear, protect privacy, and make existing Keep Washington Working policies clearer and more durable, with testimony from immigrant rights groups, faith organizations, students, PTA, and health advocates. Some organizations, including health care and child care stakeholders, supported the goal but asked for amendments to clarify definitions, create model policies, add training and enforcement provisions, and adjust warrant/subpoena language. The committee also heard strong opposition concerns about federal immigration enforcement, but no action was taken. SB 6070 would expand missing-person tools by allowing certain digital investigative tools to be used in missing endangered person cases, creating new Abney and Purple Alerts for missing Black people and people with disabilities, and broadening the definition of missing endangered person. Supporters included prosecutors, law enforcement, tribal and disability advocates, families of missing persons, and students who argued that faster alerts and better digital tools save lives and address racial and disability disparities in missing-person responses. Testimony described delays in prior cases and the need for more urgent, targeted alerts. The committee then heard SB 6002, which would regulate automated license plate reader systems, set registration, use, retention, audit, and disclosure rules, and prohibit certain uses such as immigration enforcement and surveillance near protected locations. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create statewide guardrails for a technology already in use, and testimony was expected to continue after the excerpt ended; no vote or final action was recorded in the portion provided.