Transcript Highlights:

• Our committee's contribution to amending this section was to fix a typo and replace the word affirmation
• </c> members of our community, members of our members of our community, members of our families,<00:58
• Act 250 Act 181 land use review board Act 250 Act 181 report<01:15:01.440><c> on</c><01:15:01.640><c
• in our state.
• would be our um um um our our our our our our CAP<01:53:36.360><c> agencies,</c><01:53:37.360><c> um

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But right now, it's just so unpredictable because our forests are just so thick.
• A lot of that reason is because we have allowed our forests to become completely overgrown.
• Now regarding the forest, I'm the state forester; myself and our staff are completely committed to doing
• houses, we're working on our buffer zone, and then we're working on our forest.
• Need to know that they are mismanaging our forests, and they're burning our people's houses down.

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• music, our dance, our art, or our sense of community.
• our music our dance Define who we are our music our dance our<00:20:37.360><c> art</c><00:20:37.960>
• c> community</c> our art or our sense of community our art or our sense of community Morhead<00:20:40.640
• The Clean Water Legacy Act deals mostly with nonpoint source pollution, which makes up 85% of our impaired
• how</c> science to base our our findings and how science to base our our findings and how we're<01:47

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Climate Commitment Act.
• So from our standpoint, this is a great investment in our future workforce. Great.
• ag sector, which is such a huge part of our Washington economy.
• eggs sector, which is such a huge part of our Washington economy.
• So I'm here today to convey our enthusiasm for this bill.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5971, which would create a green fertilizer incentive program to support low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer production in Washington. Committee staff and agency witnesses described the bill as implementing recommendations from a prior work group and said the Department of Agriculture and Ecology could develop the program, though Ecology recommended clarifying lifecycle emissions accounting, defining green fertilizer, and tying incentives to emissions reductions. Supporters, including a labor representative, Atlas Agro, NRDC, and TRIDEC, said the bill could reduce emissions, stabilize fertilizer prices for farmers, create jobs, and help Washington capture federal hydrogen tax credits. The committee also heard testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 6097, which would add federally recognized Indian tribes as eligible participants in the Conservation Futures Program; tribal, county, and land trust witnesses said the change would improve conservation partnerships, reduce transaction complexity, and better support stewardship of open space, farmland, and habitat. Public testimony tallies were read into the record for both bills, with strong support and opposition noted on each. After the hearings, the committee took up executive session on three bills. Senate Bill 5919, encouraging fire districts and insurers to create voluntary incentives for wildfire mitigation and agricultural activities, was moved out of committee with a due pass recommendation on a 10-0 vote with one excused. Senate Bill 5816, adding juice grapes as a covered agricultural product under the Agricultural Marketing and Fair Practices Act, was also reported out with a due pass recommendation on a 10-0 vote with one excused. The committee deferred action on engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5838, which concerns membership on the Board of Natural Resources and includes tribal representation; staff explained a proposed amendment would reduce tribal seats to one and alternate east-west representation by term. The chair announced the next day’s hearing would start at 9 a.m. and reminded members to submit any amendments by 6 p.m. that evening.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Climate Commitment Act.
• So from our standpoint, this is a great investment in our future workforce. Great. Are you? Yep.
• ag sector, which is such a huge part of our Washington economy.
• So I'm here today to convey our enthusiasm for this bill.
• This bill would align our conservation...

Bills: SB5919 , SB5816

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our mills depend on a diverse and reliable log supply from our own lands, private lands, Our mills depend
• So please reject 2170, keep our working forests accessible for their intended and best use, not speculative
• Generations of Mason County residents have benefited from our working forests and continue to rely on
• Generations of Mason County residents have benefited from our working forests and continue to rely on
• Twenty-nine or so of our members are direct beneficiaries of over 600,000 acres of state forest lands

Bills: HB2170 , HB2544 , HB2578

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: natural climate solutions, ecosystem services, revenue generation, economic opportunities, environmental policy, water rights, adjudication, Columbia River, environmental impact, natural resources, tribal members, fish and wildlife, commission, indigenous rights, state regulation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's good for our schools, our counties, our hospitals.
• Think of these large companies that have done amazing things not only for our state, our region, our
• Biomass is a solution to help us keep our forests clearer and cleaner so we don't have to worry about
• It hurts our breweries, which sell THC beverages, and it hurts our liquor store distributors and our
• , or by our upbringing, or by our allegiance to our community and our ancestors and the people who got

Transcript Highlights:

• our juvenile justice system, and out of our Department of Corrections. out of our juvenile justice system
• of our youth.
• In the 5th Legislative District, many of our neighborhoods are right against forests or green belts or
• Unfortunately, our science and our evidence of how our kids are learning is also indicating that the
• water, our lands, our streams, and our cultural resources.

Bills: SB5223 , SB5928 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB6061 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB6137 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB5890 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5834 , SB5837 , SB5872 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB5925 , SB6019 , SB6148 , SB6190 , SB6237 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5992 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB5395 , SB6282 , SB5905 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB5609 , SB5827 , SB5838 , SB5845 , SB5862 , SB5880 , SB5901 , SB5922 , SB5943 , SB5971 , SB5975 , SB5981 , SB5982 , SB5984 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6034 , SB6035 , SB6070 , SB6097 , SB6110 , SB6246 , SB6248 , SB6278 , SJM8016 , SB5496 , SB6054 , SB5835 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6247 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB6194 , SB5909 , SB5868 , SB6026 , SB5974 , SB6044 , SB5906 , SB6081 , SB6239 , SB5923 , SB6323 , SB6210 , SB6045 , SB6106 , SB5346 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5968

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, zero emission, cargo handling, port district, environmental impact, grant allocation, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:47:17.960><c> neighbors</c> opportunity to see what our neighbors opportunity to see what our
• </c><00:47:25.839><c> watchdog</c><00:47:26.920><c> for</c> our our association as a watchdog for our
• </c><01:02:10.480><c> existing</c> to continue to work with our existing to continue to work with our
• </c> into our into our law<01:21:33.520><c> I'm</c><01:21:33.679><c> happy</c><01:21:33.880><c> to</c
• </c> context and my own involvement with our context and my own involvement with our committee<01:32:

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, last year we published our Act 238 decarbonization report.
• c> um</c> prioritizing our our projects we're um prioritizing our our projects we're um developing<01
• Native forests are critical to the recharge of our aquifers and can help reduce flood and landslide risk
• erosion on our Coastal communities native<01:33:00.000><c> forests</c><01:33:00.800><c> are</c><01:33
• to the native forests are critical to the recharge<01:33:02.800><c> of</c><01:33:02.920><c> our</c><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And to also remember that, if I may, final statement, that our budget is a reflection of our... ...our
• And to also remember that, if I may, final statement, that our budget is a reflection of our... ...our
• It's in our rules. It's in our structure. It's in our committees. The process is fully laid out.
• , with our, with our, with our, under the leadership of our chairs, under Hurtado, you know, last year
• So I agree with my colleague about fixing our courthouse and would be interested in the information that's

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget and presentations from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Chair Laird described the proposal as roughly balanced with $23 billion in reserves, while Vice Chair Niello argued the revenue estimates were overly optimistic and warned of a structural deficit, calling for a deeper review of programs and concern over the state’s $20 billion unemployment insurance debt. Finance said the budget is balanced in the budget year but still leaves a roughly $2.9 billion deficit, with out-year gaps above $20 billion, and characterized the plan as largely a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. The LAO said its office sees substantial downside risk to the revenue forecast, emphasized the volatility of stock-market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to begin addressing the structural deficit now rather than waiting until May. Members focused on the implications of federal policy changes, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and the MCO tax, as well as the state’s reserve strategy. Senators Menjivar and Richardson raised concerns about health coverage reductions, county costs, hospital finances, and the lack of a broader revenue solution, while Finance said the state cannot fully backfill federal cuts and is still assessing the impacts. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal to suspend the rainy day fund deposit and setting aside the proposed Proposition 98 settle-up rather than using it for spending. Finance defended both proposals as necessary to balance the budget year and said it plans to begin discussions with legislative leaders before the May Revision. The committee also discussed climate and transportation funding, including cap-and-trade/GGRF allocations for Cal Fire, interest earnings from the fund, zero-emission vehicle incentives, and AB 617 air quality investments. Senator Reyes questioned the focus on light-duty ZEV incentives instead of heavy-duty vehicles, and Finance said the proposal is intended to partially replace the federal consumer tax credit and that some heavy-duty funding remains from prior years. Senator Richardson also raised concerns about Olympics-related infrastructure, courthouse repairs, and displaced workers, while other members stressed homelessness funding and the need for more immediate action on out-year budget problems. No formal votes or actions were taken during the portion provided; the hearing was informational and moved into member questions after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our... So our plan is not a replacement of humans with AI.
• It's in our rules. It's in our structure. It's in our committees. The process is fully laid out.
• , with our, with our, under the leadership of our chairs, under Hurtado, you know, last year, Senator
• So I agree with my colleague about fixing our courthouse and would be interested in the information that's
• It needs to be fixed.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget, which the chair described as roughly balanced in the budget year but still facing large out-year structural deficits. The vice chair criticized the revenue assumptions as overly optimistic and stressed the need to review recent program expansions and address the state’s $20 billion federal unemployment insurance debt. The Department of Finance said the budget is a “workload” plan with about $350 billion in total spending, $23 billion in reserves, a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit, and out-year gaps above $20 billion, while the LAO warned of downside revenue risk tied to stock market volatility and urged earlier action on the structural deficit rather than waiting for May. Finance and the LAO discussed major budget components, including Proposition 98 funding, higher education base increases for UC and CSU, climate and wildfire spending, a new ZEV incentive, child care COLAs, and tax proposals involving marketplace facilitators, renewable aviation fuel, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. Members raised concerns about proposed Medi-Cal and CalFresh changes tied to federal HR1 impacts, the MCO tax extension, hospital finances, county costs, and the decision not to backfill all federal funding losses. Finance said the administration is not in a position to replace all lost federal funds, but wants to work with the Legislature on priorities and timing before the May Revision. Several senators used the hearing to preview subcommittee priorities and request more detail on spending growth, reserves, and program cuts. Topics included homelessness funding, Care Court throughput, wildfire and climate investments, AB 617, data centers, the judicial branch’s facilities backlog, displaced workers, transit funding, and preparations for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. No budget action or vote was taken at this hearing; the committee mainly received presentations and member questions, with public comment scheduled later.

Transcript Highlights:

• On slide three, you will see our technical assistance goals, and our aim is to make forest management
• is that we were tasked with developing and revising our forest plan.
• communities, As outlined in our forest plan, that means that when you look at our forest plan, there's
• Um, really taking a new path in the way that the forest has dealt with our land grants. Mr.
• And here is a little image in New Mexico of our forest lands. Does the...

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, again, I would say that either lawmakers trust our veterinarians to act ethically and in the best
• veterinarians either lawmakers trust our veterinarians to<02:27:28.560><c> act</c><02:27:28.920><c>
• </c><03:42:04.080><c> things</c> is uh in our in our window of things is uh in our in our window of things
• <c> is</c><05:45:03.320><c> very</c> know our GE our hydrogeology is very know our GE our hydrogeology
• our rivers and our water bodies and our drinking supplies are irreplaceable.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee met in work session on several bills, beginning with HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training. Members said the bill had been sent to the Animal Protection and Licensing Subcommittee, where Representative Kuttab is expected to schedule a meeting soon to consider possible amendments based on testimony and other ideas. The committee later returned to HB 153 and confirmed a work session was planned for February 14, with discussion also including whether to explore a task force concept raised in testimony. The committee also discussed HB 215 and HB 566, both related to landfill permitting and leachate or harm/benefit reporting. Representative Gerana said he had met with the DES director and was working on amendments that would add a preliminary screening phase for determining net public benefit and expand the list of benefits beyond capacity need to include items such as economic and infrastructure benefits. HB 566 was said to be in the same posture as HB 215, and both were slated for subcommittee review the following Tuesday morning. HB 171 was also added for subcommittee discussion, with members saying the changes would be technical rather than substantive. HB 240, which removes forfeiture penalties for non-payment of dog licenses, drew support for a simple amendment changing a statutory “shall” to “may” so municipal officials would have discretion about issuing a warrant. Representative Bixby said OLS advised that this was the cleanest way to provide flexibility, and he reported that the sponsor was agreeable to the change. The committee also discussed HB 179, concerning hazardous waste accident fees, where the sponsor proposed a revised amendment imposing a $1,000-per-day penalty after 90 days of non-payment. Members raised concerns about homeowners, hobby farmers, and whether the bill could unfairly burden people who were not negligent or whose insurance claims were delayed. The sponsor and others said the intent was to recover costs from responsible parties, especially businesses, and to protect local taxpayers and fire departments from bearing the cost of damaged hazardous materials equipment. No votes were taken; the bills were left for further subcommittee work and amendment drafting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding the presentation, I will tell you that in our conversations with the US Forest Service and
• We often act as the local link, ensuring that the needs of our communities get communicated effectively
• The less obvious need that we need to balance in terms of fixing our foundation is in people in very
• I mean, our.
• part of our budget, a central part of our base budget.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And many of our firefighter recruits have gone on to work for the Forest Service.
• Our academy... Our academy is also sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service.
• Forest Service, in fact, has committed to hiring the top 50 graduates from our spring 2026 cohort.
• We're also leveraging our partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service... ...partnerships.
• Forest Service is maximizing the resources we have and ensures that our training meets our industry standards

Summary: The hearing opened the Select Committee on Effective Postsecondary Career, Technical Education, and Workforce Development Programs at Santa Ana College, with Assemblymember Mike Fong emphasizing the need for affordable, accelerated pathways into high-demand careers and noting his bill AB 1098 creating the California Interagency Education Council. Chancellor Marvin Martinez welcomed the committee and urged changes to AB 927 to remove the “duplication” barrier for community college bachelor’s degrees, arguing that applied baccalaureate programs can lead to high-wage jobs and expand access for low- and middle-income students. The first panel focused on statewide workforce trends and policy. California Community Colleges Vice Chancellor Anthony Cordova highlighted credit for prior learning, Strong Workforce funding, dual enrollment, and apprenticeship growth, asking the Legislature to restore and increase Strong Workforce funding and expand applied baccalaureate degrees. LAEDC’s Josep Bilayo described regional labor market data showing growth in health care, education, construction, bioscience, and clean energy, while stressing the need for employer-led, data-driven programs, wraparound supports, and flexible funding. Andrew Gonzalez of the Building and Construction Trades Council argued that registered apprenticeship must be paid, combine classroom and on-the-job training, and end in a portable credential; he also promoted apprenticeship readiness programs, community workforce agreements, and stronger exposure to trades starting in K-12. Eric Morrison Smith of the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color discussed the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program and related youth apprenticeship recommendations, including bridge programs, intermediary infrastructure, reduced employer barriers, and better coordination of state funding. A later panel highlighted Santa Ana College’s fire technology and firefighting academy programs. President Annabelle Neri and Vice President Jeffrey Lamb said the college is one of the state’s largest fire training providers, with strong partnerships with local fire agencies, law enforcement, and the U.S. Forest Service, and with high job placement and six-figure starting salaries for some graduates. They also described related certificates, advanced officer training, wellness services, and workforce preparation such as mock interviews and sponsorships. Throughout the hearing, members and panelists repeatedly stressed the importance of aligning education with labor market demand, expanding apprenticeships and work-based learning, and using regional collaboration to connect students to living-wage careers.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> use us, guide us, and act through us. use us, guide us, and act through us.
• From classrooms to our parks, forests, farms, and waterways, their work has helped build not just knowledge
• > parks,</c><01:04:27.880><c> forests,</c> From classrooms to our parks, forests, From classrooms to
• our parks, forests, farms,<01:04:28.760><c> and</c><01:04:28.880><c> waterways,</c><01:04:29.680><c>
• </c> them on to our next generation. them on to our next generation.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Shield Act, HP1427, restores discipline to local borrowing and it protects our taxpayers, especially
• Then would I protect our forest products industry by pushing the green button to table HB 1752.
• We didn't fight for 250 years of independence just to lease our forests back to bad actors.
• </c><05:23:43.040><c> forests</c> independence just to lease our forests independence just to lease our
• You are pushed to the edge of our society, if not fully out of it. This bill fixes that imbalance.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And just to round out our brief overview of the cap and invest program, And just to round out our brief
• Our population is up 27% since 1990. Our emissions are down 8.5%.
• It ...does not affect our economy.
• And we really believe it will help the health of our patients. So that's our interest in this.
• This aligns with our other climate policies, including our statutory climate pollution limits.

Summary: The committee began with member and staff introductions, then held a work session on emissions-intensive trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) under Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. Ecology staff reviewed how cap-and-invest works, explained EITE no-cost allowance allocations, and summarized a new report to the Legislature on policy options for 2035-2050. Ecology recommended continuing no-cost allocations but adjusting them to fit the cap, considering a consignment approach that would require EITEs to invest part of the value of free allowances in decarbonization, and studying additional benchmarking and leakage-mitigation refinements. Quebec officials described their cap-and-trade system, including a consignment model that withholds part of free allocations, holds the value in trust for facilities, and requires technical studies and investment in mitigation projects; they said it has encouraged industrial investment and no business closures. Members asked about facility closures, compliance costs, eligible uses of consigned funds, and adaptation spending. The work session then closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2296, which would expand distributed energy resources by allowing portable plug-in solar devices and meter-mounted devices. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to lower barriers and startup costs for renters and homeowners who want to electrify or add solar. Supporters, including a nonprofit promoting plug-in solar and a physician group, said the devices could broaden access to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas and health harms. Utilities, labor, and industry groups opposed the bill as written, citing safety concerns, lack of national electrical code standards, possible backfeeding and fire risks, utility-worker hazards, unclear interconnection rules, and concerns about multifamily housing and small-utility review burdens. Some witnesses said they were open to continued work on the proposal. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2285, which would allow natural gas generation paired with carbon capture, utilization, storage, or mineralization to count toward Clean Energy Transformation Act compliance. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would provide a “bridge” for firm power, help address reliability and transmission constraints, and support jobs while reducing emissions compared with conventional gas. Opponents said the bill would weaken CETA’s 100% clean electricity target by allowing resources that still emit carbon to qualify, and they questioned whether 75% capture is sufficient. Other testimony raised cost concerns and warned that carbon capture could increase ratepayer costs. The hearing on HB 2285 was later suspended and reopened briefly for additional testimony from Ecology, which said the bill would permanently weaken CETA standards and likely reduce emissions reductions. The committee also briefly received a staff briefing on House Bill 2272, a ski-area terminology bill, and then suspended that hearing to take it up later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generations of Mason County residents have benefited from our working forests and continue to rely on
• Generations of Mason County residents have benefited from our working forests and continue to rely on
• Twenty-nine or so of our members are direct beneficiaries of over 600,000 acres of state forest lands
• But our concerns are about the long-term impacts of the bill on the state's forest land trust, especially
• I think that raises a whole new set of questions for me with how the department is managing our forest

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2170, which would authorize DNR to enter ecosystem service and carbon contracts on state trust lands, and House Bill 2578, which would add tribal members and alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. For HB 2170, the Department of Natural Resources and supporters said the bill would diversify revenue, help meet climate goals, and allow DNR to participate in emerging carbon and ecosystem markets without necessarily eliminating timber harvest. Opponents, including counties, school districts, timber companies, loggers, and forest industry groups, argued the bill could reduce harvest levels, harm rural jobs and mill supply, and lower revenues for schools and other trust beneficiaries; several said any new authority should be limited to additive projects with stronger safeguards. Supporters included environmental groups and some local officials who said the bill would provide a more stable revenue stream and better align land management with climate and watershed benefits. The chair noted there are two related vehicles in committee, HB 1508 as the negotiated version and HB 2170 as the department version, and the public hearing on HB 2170 was closed after extensive testimony. For HB 2578, staff explained that the bill would add four tribal commissioner positions and four alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission, with representation from federally recognized tribes on both sides of the Cascades and staggered terms. Prime sponsor Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the measure would strengthen co-management and the state’s government-to-government relationship with tribes, while acknowledging there are other related bills and ongoing legal issues involving WDFW. The chair asked whether the bill would affect existing tribal consultation obligations, and Lekanoff said it would not replace government-to-government consultation; she also said she would follow up on how the governor would make appointments. The hearing on HB 2578 was then suspended so the committee could return to HB 2170 testimony. The committee also heard staff briefing and sponsor testimony on House Bill 2544, which would create a pilot process for the Upper Columbia River water rights adjudication. Staff said the bill would require Ecology to run the adjudication in two phases, starting with tribal and federal claimants and allowing time for settlement before bringing in other claims, with a report due by June 2035. Rep. Larry Springer said the bill is intended to establish a baseline of water use more efficiently in a process that can otherwise take decades. After the briefing and sponsor remarks, the committee began public testimony on the bill, with tribal representatives and other stakeholders queued to testify.