Transcript Highlights:

• Port Orchard and up into Bremerton. Thank you. Good morning.
• We visit tribal reservations, we meet with tribal leadership, we attend tribal gatherings, and we participate
• You know, I've visited these manufacturing plants.
• And thank you for all the amazing coffee shops that we've been able to visit. I appreciate that.
• And I'll say that no matter where I've visited many of you in your district and other legislators and

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• An inspection fee will be assessed on the owners of the charging ports, $100 per inspection per port.
• 14.000><c> charging</c> assessed on the owners of the charging assessed on the owners of the charging ports
• 00:09:15.839><c> per</c><00:09:16.160><c> inspection</c><00:09:16.640><c> per</c><00:09:16.880><c> port
• </c><00:09:17.600><c> Um</c> ports, $100 per inspection per port.
• Um ports, $100 per inspection per port.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• shops growing with color late into the evening, the jewelry stores that generations of families have visited
• >> Yes. >> The sponsor yields. >> Well, what I'm saying is that shouldn't we not bill porting power from
• &gt;&gt; WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT SHOULDN'T WE NOT BILL PORTING POWER FROM OTHER STATES?
• The internet is not a place where our kids just visit. In many ways, it is a place where they live.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then moved through a series of budget-related and ceremonial items. The chamber accepted Rules and Finance Committee reports and took up several budget extender and budget implementation bills, including the main appropriations extender and later a transportation, economic development, and environmental conservation budget bill. Senators questioned the sponsor extensively about the status of the remaining budget bills, the use of messages of necessity, and the absence of joint budget conference committees. The extender bill passed 59-2, and later budget-related measures were advanced after reconsideration and amendment. A major portion of the session focused on the environmental and energy provisions in the budget bill, especially changes to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Senators debated extending emissions targets, the role of cap-and-invest, utility affordability, ratepayer impacts, and the structure of a proposed blue-ribbon commission. Supporters said the changes were needed to give the state more time to implement the law and to protect affordability, while opponents argued the bill was a political delay that would not lower energy costs and relied too heavily on subsidies and future planning. The bill also drew questions about electric vehicle rebates, thermostat control programs, emergency diesel generation for Micron, and how imported electricity and out-of-state emissions would be treated. The Senate also adopted several previously adopted resolutions honoring the 50th anniversary of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, India Independence Day, the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame, and the 50th anniversary of Interfaith Works of Central New York. Senators spoke in support of each resolution, highlighting the contributions of Black legislators, Indian-American communities, veterans, and refugee and interfaith service organizations. The Veterans Hall of Fame ceremony was specifically noted as a chamber event, and guests were recognized from the floor and gallery. In addition, the Senate restored recalled bills to the third reading calendar through reconsideration votes and amendments, including a highway law bill and another recalled bill, and then stood at ease for scheduled conferences and a Veterans Hall of Fame ceremony before resuming session. The transcript ended with discussion of a separate bill affecting automobile insurance serious-injury standards, with questions about what claims would remain available and whether the change would improve affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• So just a reminder, golden mussel was first detected at the Port of Stockton in October of 2024.
• The Delta is a critical lifeline, not only for boating and ports and recreation, but also for agriculture
• However, We have tens of millions of visitors that come to the Sierra Cascade every year to visit places
• people that live there, we're also looking at reducing wildfire risk to those folks that are coming to visit

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• visas and student visas, and other hardworking, tax-paying individuals from wanting to live, work, and visit
• But the one section in there is when he visits a daycare center that actually has children from all backgrounds
• They're not turning themselves in at one of the ports of entry, and they're going about it that way.
• to differentiate here, I think, in the statute is there's some illegal immigrants who show up at a port

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee took up SB 2-C, a major immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Senator Gruters and co-introduced by Senator Fine. Gruters described the measure as a broad crackdown on illegal immigration that would replace a single immigration officer with a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, create a $250 million grant program for local law enforcement, fund additional Department of Agriculture interdiction staff and facilities, expand pretrial detention for certain unauthorized immigrants, increase criminal penalties, require more cooperation with ICE, and eliminate in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students. He and supporters framed the bill as a way to support law enforcement, deter illegal immigration, and align Florida with federal enforcement efforts. Committee questioning focused heavily on the bill’s education, detention, and enforcement provisions. Senators pressed Gruters and Fine on why the bill did not address employer sanctions or E-Verify, whether the tuition changes would affect students who had grown up in Florida, how sanctuary-policy enforcement would work, and whether the bill would create practical burdens for prosecutors, jails, and local officials. Gruters said he was open to working on E-Verify in regular session but not to amending this bill, and Fine argued the tuition repeal would apply to undocumented students who had qualified under existing law. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified in support, saying ICE bed capacity was still insufficient and that county jails needed more resources to honor detainers. Mark Schlachman of FSU Law offered historical context, noting prior state-federal cooperation efforts and warning of unintended consequences, while several public witnesses opposed the bill as unconstitutional, costly, and harmful to immigrant families and the economy. Opponents from the Southern Poverty Law Center, ACLU of Florida, Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, Florida Policy Institute, AFL-CIO, and immigrant advocacy groups argued the bill would invite litigation, encourage racial profiling, harm the workforce and higher education, and punish law-abiding immigrants and their families. They emphasized that immigration is a federal matter, that K-12 education must be provided regardless of status, and that removing in-state tuition would reduce access to college and hurt Florida’s economy. Some speakers urged the committee to grandfather current students if the tuition waiver is repealed. The meeting ended with continued public testimony and no final vote reflected in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• skid that takes the hydrogen from the tank trailer onto the vessel, and it uses an entirely existing port
• facility, which is the process that we've operationalized for the Sea Change. ...an existing port facility
• So it is relatively cheap and would be pretty easy to bring to the Port of Anacortes, which was the first
• basically requires filling the hydrogen tank trailer at the production facility, bringing it to the port
• For the record, John Flanagan, Senior State Government Relations for the Port of Seattle, testifying

Bills: SB6352

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, resources, funding, state law, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• skid that takes the hydrogen from the tank trailer onto the vessel, and it uses an entirely existing port
• An existing port facility, which is the process that we’ve operationalized for the Sea Change and would
• So it is relatively cheap and would be pretty easy to bring to the Port of Anacortes, which was the first
• basically requires filling the hydrogen tank trailer at the production facility, bringing it to the port
• For the record, John Flanagan, Senior State Government Relations for the Port of Seattle, testifying

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for a work session and public hearing on February 19, 2026. In the work session, Switch Maritime presented a proposal for hydrogen fuel cell ferries for Washington State, including a budget proviso directing the Joint Transportation Committee to study hydrogen propulsion and a lease model for future Washington State Ferries procurement. The company described its Sea Change vessel, said the design could be adapted for Washington routes such as San Juan Islands–Anacortes, and emphasized that hydrogen fueling could be delivered through a mobile supply chain without new charging infrastructure. Senators asked about vessel flexibility, size, hydrogen availability, and terminal compatibility. The committee also received an update from WSDOT on the new public-private partnership program authorized in 2025. Staff said the agency is developing a four-phase implementation process, including consultant selection, a steering committee, a program manual, stakeholder engagement, and candidate project identification, with a report due to the transportation committees on September 1, 2026 and program launch targeted for January 1, 2027. The presentation stressed that the program manual will provide flexibility within the statute and that legislative input is being sought on engagement and project timing. The public hearing was on Senate Bill 6352, an omnibus transportation resources bill that revises and expands provisions from last year’s ESSB 5801. Staff outlined sections covering a mobile driver’s license and ID card program, a reduced-fee ID card for older drivers, changes to alternative fuel and aviation taxes and fees, revised sales tax distributions for ferry and multimodal funding, transit and bicycle education grants, fish passage permitting, clean energy siting on WSDOT right-of-way, toll notice procedures, older driver safety outreach, traffic safety camera revenue sharing, and a delay to the tow-truck indigent impound reimbursement program. The prime sponsor highlighted two priorities: digital driver’s licenses and dedicated ferry funding. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included airlines and aviation groups backing mobile ID and repeal of the luxury aircraft tax, transit and bicycle safety advocates supporting grant flexibility and continued bike education funding, and ferry advocates supporting dedicated ferry revenue. Local governments, including Bellevue, Kenmore, and Tacoma, raised concerns about the traffic camera revenue change, saying the shift from net to gross revenue would reduce local safety funding and could discourage new camera programs. The Association of Washington Cities also warned about unintended consequences in the fish passage and traffic camera provisions. RV dealers sought a delay to the luxury vehicle tax, and peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo asked for clarification on documentation requirements. The committee took no final vote and announced it would consider executive action the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• that didn't have a tax increment financing tool, and the legislature authorized cities, counties, and ports
• that didn't have a tax increment financing tool, and the legislature authorized cities, counties, and ports
• For the record, John Flanagan, Senior State Government Relations for the Port of Seattle, testifying
• bill before you today represents significant work and time, compromise from cities, counties, and ports
• From cities, counties, and ports.

Bills: HB1983, HB1974, HB2334, HB2367, HB2650, HB2655

Keywords: timberland, real estate, excise tax, governmental entities, property taxation, land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation

Transcript Highlights:

• Galveston is home to the 4th busiest cruise line port in the nation and hosts nearly 9 million tourists
• Coastal ports produce $450 billion in economic activity and produce 1.8 million jobs.
• My name is Charlie Zahn, and I'm a 55-year resident of Port Aransas, Texas and an attorney practicing
• I'm the past chairman of the Port of Corpus Christi and the current chairman of the Texas Windstorm.
• And as we decouple from China, and we have more economic activity in this hemisphere, those ports are

Transcript Highlights:

• What about trade ports? Did the trade ports survive through the swimming through the building?
• Chair, Senator Padilla, trade ports did survive. It came over at $90 million.
• If you're passing through, not all of your truck stops at a port anymore.
• We had PNM come out; they gave us just under $700 to help with the installation of the charge port outside

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Energy, there are 2,276 charging ports across 862 stations in Minnesota.
• this staff necessary to do this work on a routine basis would come through a fee of $100 per charging port
• of $100 basis would come through a fee of $100 per<00:07:03.800><c> charging</c><00:07:04.199><c> port
• </c><00:07:04.520><c> collected</c><00:07:05.440><c> um</c><00:07:05.560><c> from</c> per charging port
• collected um from per charging port collected um from businesses<00:07:06.560><c> undergoing</c><00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• general revenue when it comes to expanding and more. such as general aviation, public transit, rail, and port
• , but the areas of the economy that we contribute, for instance. the Rio Grande Valley because the ports
• and so my question is how do we resolve those problems where you've got huge contributors like the Port
• is everyone who lives there. work some plays there, plus every single truck that has to go to the Port
• We have sea with three deep water ports. and we have space.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The port construction and development program and the state highway priority program.
• Next one is the port construction and development priority program.
• We've got a motion by Cine McMath to approve the priority port construction development program without

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works met on March 9, 2026, established a quorum, and approved the March 3 minutes. The chair introduced new members and then moved through four priority-program items: the statewide flood control program, the airport construction and development priority program, the port construction and development priority program, and the state highway priority program. DOTD staff said there were no changes to the flood control, airport, or port projects from the prior week, and the highway priority packet reflected about $1.2 billion in total investment, including about $913 million slated for construction in the upcoming fiscal year. Members also discussed the written justifications for projects raised during the road show but not included in the highway priority list, with the department explaining that those comments would continue to be tracked and addressed in future priority programs. Each of the four programs was approved without objection. The committee then received a presentation from Amtrak’s Todd Stennis on Louisiana service and the new Mardi Gras route between New Orleans and Mobile, which began in August 2025. He described the route as a state-supported service funded by Louisiana, Mississippi, the city of Mobile, and their transportation agencies, and said ridership had exceeded projections, with more than 80,000 riders in about six months against a first-year estimate of 76,000. He also outlined strong on-time and customer-service performance, station usage patterns, fares, and planned capital improvements funded through federal CRISI grants and state matches that are intended to improve rail fluidity and shorten travel times over the next several years. A substantial portion of the Amtrak discussion focused on railroad crossing safety after members raised concerns about recent accidents and fatalities. Stennis emphasized the blue emergency placards at crossings, the 800-number system for reporting incidents, and ongoing coordination with Operation Lifesaver and the host railroads to improve public messaging. Members also asked about an app used to identify crossings when signs are unreadable, and Stennis said he would follow up. The meeting concluded with a motion by Vice Chair Carter to adjourn, which carried without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is whatever the vessel is moored and port without the permission of the port or whatever.
• So can you tell me, you know, that to me seemed very strange Port St.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then you're going to have your city tax, your county taxes, your flood taxes, and your port taxes.
• In Texas, the City of Houston, the Port, the Department of Education, you're going to have your community
• Like I showed here, the Port of Houston, the community college.
• three tiers of routes: there's market... ...80%, and 60%, and you will see that should you choose to visit
• We’d like to have the ability to visit with that developer to say no if we can't afford to do it, or

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that we continue to monitor these ports that we continue to monitor these ports with<02:24:39.080
• Oahu is the busiest port in the ports.
• , Madam Speaker, but all our ports state, Madam Speaker, but all our ports across<02:24:55.320><c> the
• ><c> 2150</c><05:26:07.040><c> SB</c> Stand committee port number 2150 SB Stand committee port number
• ><c> 2153</c><05:26:27.360><c> SB</c> Stand committee port number 2153 SB Stand committee port number

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, Madam Chair, we know from our visits that we're talking about working people, working poor, people
• We learned that in Rochester and on our other visits.
• We learned that in Rochester and on our other visits.
• Pediatricians routinely ask families about food insecurity during well-child visits because nutrition
• But good afternoon, Chair Port and members of the committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Energy, there are 2,276 charging ports across 862 stations in Minnesota.
• Department of Energy, there are 2,276 charging ports across 862 stations in Minnesota.
• /c> of Energy, there are of Energy, there are 2,276<00:35:45.760><c> charging</c><00:35:46.079><c> ports
• <00:36:14.400><c> $100</c><00:36:14.960><c> per</c><00:36:15.280><c> charging</c><00:36:15.680><c> port
• </c> a fee of $100 per charging port a fee of $100 per charging port collected<00:36:16.640><c> from<

Bills: HF1646, HF2443

Keywords: medical debt, debt relief, healthcare financing, consumer protection, financial hardship, commerce, cannabis, insurance, housing, ombudsperson, affordability, property, task force, financial institutions, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I will note that we have Senator Housley and Chair Port on the Zoom.
• And then Senator Port had asked us to... underfunding of both that operating fund underfunding of both
• and<00:10:59.519><c> then</c><00:11:00.000><c> um</c><00:11:00.440><c> Senator</c><00:11:00.920><c> Port
• had</c><00:11:01.440><c> asked</c><00:11:01.959><c> us</c><00:11:02.160><c> to</c> And then Senator Port
• and I have been uh that Senator port and I have been uh conversing<00:53:22.319><c> about</c><00:53:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, I'll turn to Senator Port. Good afternoon. I'm Senator Lindsey Port from Burnsville.
• c><00:04:27.520><c> turn</c><00:04:27.919><c> to</c><00:04:28.160><c> Senator</c><00:04:28.560><c> Port
• </c> with that, I'll turn to Senator Port. with that, I'll turn to Senator Port.
• I'm Senator Lindseay Port<00:04:37.440><c> from</c><00:04:37.680><c> Burnsville.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and several DFL senators held a press conference after a floor session to announce a package of bills responding to recent ICE operations in Minnesota. Murphy said the proposals are meant to restore and protect Minnesotans’ rights after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Prey, arguing that authorities should render aid when they injure someone. She said one bill, to be heard the next day in Sen. Ron Latz’s Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, would create a civil remedy for victims of constitutional violations by federal agents and their leaders. Another bill would give the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension independent investigative authority in cases where federal agents kill Minnesota residents, after the BCA was reportedly shut out of recent investigations. Sen. Lindsey Port described a bill to bar federal law enforcement from hiding their identities while on duty, citing masked ICE agents, alleged use of fake license plates and impersonation tactics, and a recent incident in which a health care worker was allegedly boxed in by masked men. Sen. Elise Mann said the package would designate hospitals, schools, daycares, colleges, and courthouses as protected spaces and require a judicial warrant for ICE entry, arguing that federal agents have been entering hospitals and schools and detaining people at vulnerable moments. The senators framed the effort as a response to unconstitutional enforcement tactics rather than immigration policy, and said they hoped for bipartisan support, though they acknowledged the legal issues may be challenged under federal supremacy and could reach the courts. In response to questions, the senators said the civil-rights bill is intended to create a state-court cause of action against federal officials acting under color of law, because current remedies are limited. They said people in schools or hospitals should not put themselves in danger if confronted by armed agents, and that the law would provide later accountability. Latz said the Judiciary Committee would take up the bills and that Minnesota must have a seat at the table in seeking justice for affected residents. Asked about funding for related community burdens, Murphy said it was not a budget year but the state has a rainy day fund and balance available from last session.