Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a lot of data.
• So we do see that relationship with these data.
• We also look at using administrative high school data.
• We add more years of data.
• So short answer, our data don't allow us to look at a lot of that, as is the claims data doesn't have

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Summary: The committee held a work session on earthquake insurance and later on Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) cannabis and I-502 research. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that earthquake coverage is usually excluded from standard property policies, is expensive, and often carries very high deductibles. Staff also described admitted versus surplus line insurers, and introduced parametric insurance and captive insurance as specialized risk-transfer tools mainly used by commercial and sophisticated buyers. OIC data showed about 226,000 admitted earthquake policies in 2023, with most personal policies concentrated in the Puget Sound and Vancouver areas and commercial endorsements more broadly distributed. A second panel, including insurance and banking representatives, focused on potential catastrophic earthquake exposure for commercial buildings and collateralized loans. They argued that many commercial properties may lack earthquake coverage, leaving banks and the broader economy exposed if owners default or surrender damaged properties after a major quake. They discussed the Nisqually earthquake, the Cascadia subduction zone, building age, soil and slope conditions, retrofit standards, pollution remediation, and the need for property resilience assessments and inventories of vulnerable buildings. Members asked about consumer impacts, affordability, education, and whether legislation like prior work on unreinforced masonry buildings could help reduce risk; the Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is costly and that affordability is a major concern. Committee members also discussed inventories and risk assessment efforts, including state geologist work on school buildings and whether similar approaches could be extended to nearby private structures. The presenters said banks likely have good inventories of their collateral but may not know which properties are most vulnerable to earthquake damage. The discussion ended with a request for follow-up information on consumer education and disaster planning resources. WSIPP then presented its long-running evaluation of Initiative 502 and cannabis legalization. Staff explained WSIPP’s nonpartisan role and its legislatively directed 20-year study, with final benefit-cost work due in 2032. The presentation summarized prior findings that cannabis misdemeanor convictions dropped sharply after legalization, though racial disproportionalities persisted at lower absolute levels. WSIPP also reported that shorter drive times to cannabis retailers were associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving local drivers, higher THC-positive rates among blood-tested crash drivers, and higher cannabis use disorder diagnoses and co-occurring substance use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. For high school students, nearby retail access was associated with more reported use, more unexcused absences, and a lower likelihood of graduating on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, WSIPP said retailer openings were associated with higher cannabis use disorder diagnoses, hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, while emphasizing that the analyses show associations rather than direct causation and that results are specific to Medicaid enrollees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Data from the mine's quarterly sampling is used for the study and makes up the bulk of the data that
• Existing monitoring data compiled largely consists of the groundwater and surface water data collected
• with data interpretation.
• They evaluated existing monitoring data, which primarily consisted of data collected by the mine.
• Do we have data?

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• relates to data um data practices or relates to data practices<00:10:41.760><c> that</c><00:10:42.000
• Section 17 also relates to data.
• Section 17 also relates to data.
• Um, it adds the relates to data.
• </c> the consent of the subject of the data. the consent of the subject of the data.

Bills: HF1306

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So I got some data from some wards.
• </c> why having this data matters. why having this data matters.
• Yes. of data. Uh photographs take up a lot of of data.
• So this is data, citizenship... think this is data that the state think this is data that the state already
• So this is data, citizenship data that the state already has.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that the people behind the Beale Data Center project want to build a data center in an area where
• It is about doing the bidding of data centers.
• And now we have a Weninger bill doing the bidding of data centers.
• Do you know how much water these data centers will use?
• centers and data center developers to move forward because money speaks, and data centers have money

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona has a very big problem with data centers.
• I think that makes a loophole big enough to drive a data center through.
• Stop these data centers from harming our neighborhoods.
• We can repeal the data center tax incentives because... ...thing.
• We can repeal the data center tax incentives because, thing.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and received routine communications from the governor and House. The body then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House bills, including HB 2369 on photo-enforcement traffic citations, HB 2423 on advanced math course enrollment, HB 2481 on school district financial records, HB 2621 on access to special education in public schools, and HB 2756 on public utilities and high-load factor customers. Each of these bills received amendments and were advanced with do pass recommendations. Members discussed HB 2423 at length, with supporters saying it would better identify high-achieving students for advanced math while critics argued the larger issue was funding and teacher shortages. HB 2756 also drew debate over data centers, utility reporting, and ratepayer impacts, but was amended and advanced. The Committee of the Whole then rose and reported its recommendations, which the Senate adopted. The Senate also adopted a proclamation supporting stronger Arizona and U.S. relations with Taiwan, and welcomed Taiwan’s Director General Jason Poyon Ma. The chamber calendared HB 2192 for additional Committee of the Whole consideration, adopted a Bolick amendment clarifying that telecom and broadband providers are not included in the definition of online hosting platform, and advanced the bill as amended. Later, the Senate took up third-reading votes on multiple measures, including HB 2249, HB 2482, HB 2641, HB 2661, HB 2662, HB 2673, HB 2745, HB 2752, HB 2895, HB 2923, and several House concurrent memorials on foreign ownership, endangered species, and related federal policy. Most passed, though several senators explained no votes on grounds such as budget concerns, policy objections, or opposition to limiting testimony or subpoena enforcement authority. At the end of the session, the Senate also passed HB 2369, HB 2423, HB 2481, HB 2621, HB 2756, HB 2192, and other listed bills by recorded roll call, with final vote totals announced for each. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, bills were properly assigned, and committee announcements were made for the following Monday. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, April 20, 2026 at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some, uh, 32.1(a) — we’re talking about data protection, so individual or identifying data,
• apps, from selling individual identifying data, does this also prohibit the sale of other data that’s
• would be private data.
• But it doesn’t say that they can’t use this data and literally any other data to compile, uh, to make
• would be private data.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
• ><c> the</c><00:57:52.360><c> data.
• </c> correcting the data. correcting the data.
• /c> data in a data challenge data in a data challenge is<00:58:03.960><c> a</c><00:58:04.080><c> bold-faced
• </c><01:03:45.000><c> An</c> scope of the Data Practices Act. An scope of the Data Practices Act.

Bills: HF3455 , HF3936 , HF3860 , HF3656 , HF4060

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate that you track that data. we need the data.
• Number 15, some of the data points.
• Designate a lead agency on this no no single agency has any of the data, the complete data that needs
• You had the data, or the granularity of the data to be able to say, this variable caused this downward
• We do have some state-level data.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and affordability, which is data and affordability, which is data centers.<00:03:48.200><c> And<
• For data the same in environment.
• </c> answer is for the new hyper-scale data answer is for the new hyper-scale data centers<00:04:18.799
• </c> may have seen in the headlines the data may have seen in the headlines the data center<00:05:17.480
• Not likely, including data go down?

Summary: The program focused first on Minnesota’s energy and affordability agenda, with Senator Nick Frentz discussing the state’s clean-energy leadership, rising electricity demand, and the Senate’s 100% clean energy framework. He said Minnesota’s clean energy growth supports jobs, lowers costs for ratepayers, and includes recent wins such as sustainable aviation fuel tax treatment in the supplemental budget. Frentz also said the Senate passed an energy omnibus bill that continues clean-energy permitting reforms, promotes conservation and demand response, and includes a nuclear study rather than lifting the nuclear moratorium. Frentz spent much of the interview defending data centers as both a challenge and an opportunity. He said large hyperscale projects can create major construction jobs and substantial local property-tax revenue, while a 2025 law requires data-center companies to contribute to low-income energy assistance and report water use. He pointed to the Google data center planned for Pine Island as an example, saying it is air-cooled, will pay $5 million a year, and will fund 1,600 MW of clean energy at its own expense, which he argued could save Xcel ratepayers money over time. He also said climate change is already driving higher costs through homeowners insurance and storm damage. The second segment highlighted Senator Zach Duckworth’s housing and banking bills. Duckworth said Senate File 4168 would make it easier to finance investment properties by giving buyers more flexibility to roll closing costs and lender fees into payments, while keeping strong protections in place for primary residences. He emphasized that the bill is not about predatory lending and is intended to expand options for informed investors. He also described Senate File 4652 as an anti-fraud, no-cost measure that lets bank customers name a trusted contact so banks can alert someone if suspicious activity is detected. Duckworth said both bills passed unanimously in both chambers, and he credited quick action and good working relationships across the aisle for their success. The program closed with a broader reflection on the end of session and the Senate’s political climate. It noted that 15 senators are retiring and two are leaving for higher office, and that final floor votes often split along party lines, including one bill passing 34-33. Several retiring senators used farewell speeches to urge civility, compromise, and putting people first, while the segment emphasized that despite partisan conflict, quiet bipartisan cooperation still produced much of the session’s enacted legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> But what data do we have? Because you said we're currently collecting some data.
• </c> But we but and what data do we have? But we but and what data do we have?
• uh what are we collecting some data uh what are we collecting<00:19:40.320><c> data</c><00:19:40.720
• Are we collecting<00:19:44.480><c> data</c><00:19:44.960><c> on</c> collecting data on collecting data
• It's it's data that is available.

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on February 23, 2026, approved the January 12 minutes, and then focused primarily on Kentucky Medicaid’s coverage and potential expansion of GLP-1 drugs, especially for weight loss. Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee explained that Medicaid currently does not cover drugs for weight loss, anorexia, or weight gain, but the department had filed a regulation to remove that blanket exclusion so GLP-1s could be covered when used for an underlying health condition. She said the administrative regulation review subcommittee found the regulation deficient, and the co-chairs wanted the board to discuss the policy and financing implications before any change. DMS also said it would be open to adding caveats to ensure coverage would not extend to cosmetic weight loss alone. The department provided several data points on current utilization and spending. In 2025, Kentucky Medicaid paid for appetite-stimulating drugs such as Megestrol, Dronabinol, and Marinol, but did not pay for weight-loss drugs. For GLP-1s, DMS said coverage began in 2025 and is limited to FDA-approved medical conditions, with prior authorization requiring a type 2 diabetes diagnosis code and A1C documentation. DMS reported $234.6 million in GLP-1 spending in 2025 before rebates, about 240,931 prescriptions, and said GLP-1s accounted for 7.3% of pharmacy spend in 2024 and 8.3% in 2025. It also said there were 24,844 expansion members and 13,638 non-expansion members using GLP-1s, with spending of about $156 million and $78.5 million respectively, and that 10 pediatric weight-loss prescriptions were covered under EPSDT. The department said outcome analyses, including whether GLP-1 use reduces insulin or other diabetes treatment, are underway and should be completed in a couple of months. Members asked about cost, rebates, and whether the state should wait for more outcomes data before expanding coverage. DMS said average reimbursement to pharmacies was $975 per prescription and the average dispensing fee was $109; it also said 2025 rebate invoices totaled $90.8 million, with $7.6 million collected so far. Several members expressed concern about the high cost and the need to evaluate whether the drugs improve health outcomes before expanding access, while others noted the potential benefits for obesity and diabetes treatment. Some members also discussed whether GLP-1s are effectively being used for weight loss in diabetic patients and whether broader data collection should be used to assess long-term value. After the Medicaid discussion, Eli Lilly executive Tracy Sims presented on obesity as a chronic disease and the economic burden it creates in Kentucky. She said Kentucky’s adult obesity rate is a little over 37%, that obesity is linked to about 200 diseases, and that untreated obesity costs the state billions in GDP and hundreds of millions in state budget impact. She highlighted recent federal access programs for GLP-1s, including a Medicaid-related program that she said could lower the state share of a Zepbound prescription to about $71 per month after federal matching. No votes were taken on the GLP-1 policy question during the meeting, and the main action was the receipt of testimony and discussion of the department’s proposed regulatory change.

Transcript Highlights:

• We analyzed 2023 data; that’s the only complete, most recent data we had last year.
• and store data.
• It does not sell anybody’s data.
• does not collect data and store data<00:37:44.040><c> it</c><00:37:44.200><c> relies</c><00:37:44.720
• It is being able to have what they call a data call to go to them and say, 'This is the data we need.

Summary: The working session focused on the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s budget request and its recent work. Early discussion centered on a technical question about a statutory dedicated fund for donations: members asked why the budget did not show a line item for accepting donations, and DHHS CFO Nathan White explained that the statute already authorizes the fund, but because no revenue has been received yet, it does not appear in the budget. He said any future donations would go through the normal process under RSA 14:30-a, with fiscal committee and Governor and Council approval and a memo to the Department of Revenue Administration. The chair clarified that the account was not a prerequisite to soliciting donations, and White said the fund would supplement, not replace, General Fund support. Kirk Williamson, the board’s executive director, then presented the board’s mission and budget. He said the governor’s budget provides about $256,500 in the first year and slightly more in the second, all General Funds, and that the board had distributed a technical amendment to continue the executive director position. He described the board’s role as analyzing prescription drug costs, identifying savings opportunities, monitoring market trends, promoting transparency, and making recommendations to the legislature and public payers. He also emphasized that the board operates publicly, with live-streamed meetings and a stakeholder advisory council that includes unions, state agencies, Medicaid, corrections, higher education, and other stakeholders. A major topic was the board’s estimate of $6 million in potential savings, based on Medicare’s newly negotiated prices for 10 drugs. Williamson explained that the board used those federal negotiated prices as a benchmark to estimate what New Hampshire public payers might be missing by not having similar leverage, and said the board is trying to build evidence for future recommendations rather than directly setting prices. Members asked how those potential savings could become actual savings, and Williamson said the board is sharing findings through its advisory council and feedback loops, though it has not yet sent a formal recommendation letter to specific purchasers. He also discussed the difference between pharmacy-benefit spending, which relies heavily on PBM-negotiated rebates, and medical-benefit spending, which is administered differently and is being added to the board’s next report. Williamson highlighted other work, including a model on Humira and a pending legislative effort to improve biosimilar competition, plus a proposed state-backed pharmacy savings card that would be no cost to the state and could save users about $240 per prescription based on Connecticut’s experience. No votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so with that data, I think we can definitely feel success. Excuse me for interrupting.
• You understand what the data is.
• No, you talked mostly in your answer about data. Oh, yes. So how do you use the data?
• It's, so you've been there eight months, you understand what the data is.
• No, you talked mostly in your answer about data. Oh, yes. So how do you use the data?

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointments, bill referrals, rule-waiver requests, and floor acknowledgments. The committee approved a series of non-appearing appointments, including Peter Briar-T to the Southern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, multiple appointments to the Acupuncture Board, Roy Mathur to the Board of Pilot Commissioners, and Davina Hurt to the California Water Commission, with most votes unanimous and Hurt’s appointment approved 3-2. The committee also approved bill referrals, rule waivers for guests on the Senate floor, and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard testimony from Lillian Corral, appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Corral emphasized her background as a first-generation college graduate and immigrant, and said her priorities would include helping students connect to livable-wage jobs, supporting Vision 2030, improving data and digital infrastructure, expanding dual enrollment, and considering regional bachelor’s degree programs at community colleges where workforce needs justify them. Senators questioned her about achievement gaps, the role of data in improving student outcomes, the expansion of community college bachelor’s degrees, faculty staffing, and her employer New America’s positions on privacy, age verification, and TikTok. The committee voted 3-0 to advance her appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Paul Tupi, nominated to lead the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Tupi described a career in law enforcement and said he would focus on public trust, timely licensing, licensee education, and enforcement against irresponsible operators. Senators asked about ABC’s enforcement tools, including decoy operations, shoulder-tap checks, delivery compliance, and investigations tied to alcohol-related crashes; funding stability; delivery alcohol violations during COVID; and ABC’s approach to entertainment zones and other alcohol-policy changes. Support testimony came from industry and advocacy representatives, who praised his responsiveness and open-door approach. The committee approved his appointment 5-0 for consideration by the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• data and termina- terminology. terminology. terminology.
• ,</c><00:04:09.280><c> uh</c> crime and justice-related data, uh crime and justice-related data, uh currently
• </c><00:04:19.680><c> on</c> do, is protect that research data on do, is protect that research data on
• She says they do not collect good data on that right now.
• She says they do not collect good data on that right now.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> quality checks uh to make sure the data quality checks uh to make sure the data is<00:20:37.280>
• our data that also indicate that data our data that also indicate that data needs<00:39:29.680><c> to
• that you guys have also have the data that you guys have also have counter<00:43:15.040><c> data</c>
• /c><00:43:17.920><c> you</c> counter data data that says what you counter data data that says what you
• Bring your data.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1232, which would create a three-year wastewater technology testing pilot program at the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center and coordinate testing with state and county agencies. The Department of Health, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and University of Hawaiʻi representatives supported the bill, saying it would help certify new wastewater technologies, lower costs for cesspool conversions, and provide data to the Department of Health. Testifiers said the prior testing effort ended after the departure of Dr. Roger Babcock, and that the new program would use National Sanitation Foundation standards, graduate students, and local wastewater facilities such as Wahiawa. Committee members asked about the $750,000 total cost, the scope of existing research, prior test sites, and whether the program would be tied to individuals or a permanent program. One member raised concerns about the fairness and data basis for sewer conversion decisions in local communities, and the University said it would follow national standards and share results openly. The committee then took up Senate Bill 686, relating to a short-term management initiative for coconut rhinoceros beetle response and related appropriations. The Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaiʻi testified in support, while a county representative and other advocates urged broader statewide coverage, including Kauaʻi, and asked that appropriated funds be usable on any island. Testimony emphasized the need for immediate action, outreach, tree-trimmer training, canopy treatments, K-9 inspections, container fumigation, and biocontrol research. A member summarized the bill’s funding components, including amounts for training, residential palm treatments, response teams, inspections, fumigation, and research, and noted the importance of directing money toward on-the-ground response. Committee questions focused on how much funding remained available, how the agencies would coordinate with DOA, whether the department was prepared to manage all the bill’s functions, and how infestations were being communicated to the public. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 657, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology’s Center for Climate Resilient Development. The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in strong support, and the Department of Health also supported the measure, noting that it relies on the center’s data to inform decisions and recommendations on projects. The discussion on this item was brief in the portion provided, with no vote or final action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• 13, as private data on individuals.
• Or is it a close call, private data, for example, I should say not public data?
• Or is it a close call, private data, for example, I should say not public data?
• private data very well could be Brady data that is non-public, could contain things that prosecutors
• :49.199><c> non-public</c><01:15:50.000><c> could</c> Brady data that is non-public could Brady data

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• We had to update data systems to be able to collect that data, but we've now done that.
• very excited that we will be transferring that data over to the Cradle-to-Career data system later this
• month in order to have that data matched with EDD data and really finally get some of the verified..
• that we will be transferring that data over to the cradle to career data system later this month in
• order to have that data matched with EDD data and really finally get some of the verified Thank you.

Summary: The joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing focused on the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education (BPPE) and its reauthorization, with committee chairs and members emphasizing the Bureau’s role in protecting students, overseeing private postsecondary schools, and responding to a changing federal higher education landscape. BPPE and the Department of Consumer Affairs reported that the Bureau has modernized data systems, improved enforcement, increased citations and inspections, reduced pending complaints, and is now meeting its statutory inspection mandate. They also said the Bureau faces a structural budget deficit and has reduced costs through staffing cuts, streamlined inspections, and shifting some student-relief functions to the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF).

Transcript Highlights:

• The data is in.
• We have data on...” “Over 10,000 PFAS.
• We have data on probably a handful in terms of robust data sets.
• A lot of data in terms of health characterization.
• There have been questions about real-world data.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointees and routine committee actions. Members approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, three not-required-to-appear appointments: Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board. The committee also approved references of bills to committees and floor acknowledgements, each by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard testimony on Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith emphasized protecting Medi-Cal access for 14 million Californians, navigating federal changes, and continuing CalAIM and behavioral health reforms. Senators focused heavily on hospital financial distress, rural access, Medi-Cal redeterminations, work requirements, provider reimbursement, fraud oversight, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and the effectiveness of CalAIM and community supports. Public commenters from county, hospital, and provider groups largely supported the nomination, citing his experience and collaborative approach. The committee voted 5-0 to send his appointment to the full Senate. The committee also considered Chris Thayer’s appointment as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, science-based health assessments, improving risk communication, and supporting tools such as CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 guidance. Senators raised concerns about reliance on models versus real-world data, PFAS, environmental justice, wildfire and battery-fire impacts, and whether CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 are working as intended. Public testimony from environmental and health organizations supported the nomination and highlighted OEHHA’s scientific role. The committee approved Thayer’s appointment 3-1, with one senator not voting, and forwarded it to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Depends on the cooling methods that the data center uses.
• There are also indirect water uses in the data center, such as the fire suppression system, the data
• The data center.
• I know that for the data center itself, I know that for the data center itself, there's a closed-loop
• There are three data inputs.

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, these are personal data points, but you're a personal data point, you're a personal data point
• You know, these, there are personal data points, but you're a personal data point, you're a personal
• data point.
• Be wildfire data comments. This is not yet achieved. Just. B. Wildfire data comments.
• and the data that we have.

Committee: Senate Insurance