Transcript Highlights:

• of good repair, or I could say that's the lowest life cycle cost.
• be half the cost of buying a new vessel.
• We'd also like to get it up to a standard that works for today's operations and operations into the future
• And how does that compare in cost to a 140-car diesel?
• The storm was a good 10 days where we were responding with outreach and operations and the operations

Summary: The committee first met in brief executive session and advanced Senate Bill 5989 without recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee. Staff explained the bill would redistribute sales tax on aircraft fuel, affecting general fund revenue, which was why it was better suited for Ways and Means. The motion passed by voice vote. The committee then heard a presentation from Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith on WSDOT’s 2025 work and 2026 priorities. She highlighted agency reorganization, safety initiatives, preservation needs, bridge strikes and storm damage, ferry service improvements, major projects such as Revive I-5, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, fish passage work, and preparations for the World Cup. Members praised the department’s communication and work, and asked about additional paving and preservation funding; Meredith said WSDOT had prepared projects that could be advanced if more money were available. Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary John Vizina and staffer Jenna Forty followed with a detailed briefing on vessel and terminal preservation. They described the aging fleet, the need for new hybrid-electric vessels, the governor’s proposed funding for three additional ferries and life-extension work on older vessels, and the importance of terminal upgrades such as Fauntleroy. Senators asked about service contingency planning, the cost and timing of hybrid versus diesel vessels, and whether additional vessels would require rebidding; staff said hybrid-electric construction is the fastest path and that any expansion would depend on statutory direction and legal review. The committee then heard from local government representatives on preservation and storm recovery. The Association of Washington Cities and the Transportation Improvement Board described city road and bridge needs, limited local funding, and the importance of sustained preservation investment and programmatic grants. County representatives from the Washington State Association of County Engineers, Snohomish County, and the County Road Administration Board discussed the December flooding, road washouts, bridge damage, and recovery costs, emphasizing that counties face large preservation backlogs and need state and federal help for repairs and resiliency.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just-in-time deliveries versus inventories of long lead-time items cut warehousing costs and increase
• DoD reinforces this behavior by choosing the lower-cost proposal among technically equal options.
• in most operational planning is the role of industry.
• One is, in fact, the impact of COVID and both the inflation in general costs and the increase in cost
• Both for workforce, for wages and benefits, and for other costs associated with that.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• And then allowing utility costs added to operating cap capital revenue. >> Good morning, Mr.
• added to operating cap uh utility costs added to operating cap uh capital capital capital uh<00:50:55.480
• This is requiring school districts and staff to report health insurance costs that are raising costs
• </c> Uh to pay utility service costs. Uh to pay utility service costs.
• </c><01:13:39.760><c> Is</c> used to pay an operating expense. Is used to pay an operating expense.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• With relatively limited investment, we can modernize an aging system, reduce long-term operating costs
• With relatively limited investment, we can modernize an aging system, reduce long-term operating costs
• With relatively limited investment, we can modernize an aging system, reduce long-term operating costs
• With relatively limited investment, we can modernize an aging system, reduce long-term operating costs
• the</c> reduce operating cost, and extend the reduce operating cost, and extend the life<00:59:16.559

Bills: HF4680 , HF4047 , HF4590 , HF3757 , HF3569 , HF4507 , HF4426 , HF4927 , HF4788 , HF4757 , HF4747 , HF3561 , HF4014 , HF4013 , HF4689 , HF4766 , HF4589

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to continue to operate under the committee's guidelines from '25, and they were provided
• It enables cities to address unmet infrastructure needs while keeping costs for communities affordable
• It enables cities to address unmet infrastructure needs while keeping costs for communities affordable
• Today I'm here to sound the alarm over the Governor's supplemental operating budget, which raises the
• Affordable housing developers and operators are experiencing extraordinary rises in costs, and this holistic

Bills: HB2295

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: Washington capital budget, supplemental capital budget, capital appropriations, state building construction account, taxable building construction account, climate commitment account, natural climate solutions, housing trust fund, affordable housing, supportive housing, homelessness, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, school construction, school modernization, school seismic safety, healthy schools, school electrification, SCAP, behavioral health facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• HB1580 increases operating<01:27:53.199><c> costs</c><01:27:53.520><c> substantially</c><01:27:54.080
• ><c> and</c><01:27:54.400><c> may</c> operating costs substantially and may operating costs substantially
• These upfront costs can suppress participation, resulting in fewer certified operators and more salt
• </c><02:46:49.200><c> Thank</c><02:46:49.359><c> you,</c> their operating costs.
• Thank you, their operating costs. Thank you, &gt;&gt; Representative. &gt;&gt; Representative.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• So this funding would go towards any of those operations.
• We’ll get the users who operate these drones user accounts to operate the Vantis system, and we will
• I think that's more appropriate for operations.
• salary costs.
• I didn’t get a cost out of that.

Committee: Joint Government Finance Committee

Summary: The committee first received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. Staff reported that the state started the biennium about $176 million above prior estimates, but year-to-date revenues were now running below legislative forecast, mainly due to lower individual income tax and sales tax collections. The budget stabilization fund was above its cap, the legacy fund continued to grow, and oil revenues were slightly above forecast overall. Members also asked about federal funding uncertainty and mineral leasing variability, and OMB said agencies would be asked to address potential federal reductions case by case during budget preparation. The committee then reviewed compliance reports and trust fund analysis materials, followed by a bill draft for a fixed-route city transportation grant program. Testimony from transit officials in Fargo and Minot supported the proposal, saying state aid would help match federal transit funds and support operations, but members raised questions about the funding source, fare structures, and whether the program should be limited to the current four fixed-route cities or allow future eligible cities. Several members asked for more time to study the formula and possible funding options before moving the bill forward. Next, the committee approved a bill draft repealing obsolete language related to a proposed North Dakota-South Dakota bi-state authority. Staff explained the provision had been unused for about 30 years and that existing law likely already allowed joint powers agreements without the specific language. The committee voted to adopt the repeal bill draft. The Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site then provided an update on uncrewed aircraft system initiatives, including the Vantis radar data enclave, the drone replacement program, and future revenue models. Officials said North Dakota had received FAA approval to operate the radar data pathfinder, had begun replacing non-compliant drones from restricted foreign sources, and was working on phased procurement and cost-recovery plans. Members asked about deadlines, funding, supply-chain issues, and how the system would be used; staff said the federal restrictions were already in effect and that Vantis was being positioned as infrastructure for future beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. Finally, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation presented on the design of a new minimum-security prison and on a reentry housing task force. The new facility is planned for the penitentiary grounds, with a reduced estimated cost of about $263 million, 600 beds initially, possible expansion to 732 beds, and completion projected around 2031 if funded in 2027. The reentry housing task force described a data-driven effort to identify housing needs for people leaving incarceration, with the goal of reducing homelessness and recidivism through targeted housing support and possible subsidies. Members asked about staffing, site selection, housing duration, and whether employment and transportation needs would be included in the assessment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought you wanted the per-employee cost. No, I wanted the cost. I wanted the dollar amount.
• But it has a cost. I want to understand the cost better.
• The cost was brought up.
• The cost was brought up.
• costs.

Bills: SB1041 , SB1050 , SB1131 , SB1138 , SB1249 , SB1267 , SB1272 , SB1317 , SB1461 , SB1488 , SB1504 , SB1517 , SB1523 , SB1580 , SB1582 , SB1584 , SB1585 , SB1602 , SB1630 , SB1654 , SB1672 , SB1673 , SB1718 , SB1761 , SB1819 , SB1826 , SB1827

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, veterans, lifetime pass, state parks, Arizona, access, disabled veterans, cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, automated license plate readers

Transcript Highlights:

• to outside vendors and compare those costs to some of the state contract costs and trying to narrow
• The total cost identified includes costs for all claim types, so it's other programs, headquarters, incarcerated
• the policy in light of new information about these costs.
• the policy in light of new information about these costs.
• the Southern Emergency Operations Facility.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> cost of 127 million. cost of 127 million.
• </c> visits uh to confirm operational visits uh to confirm operational business<00:09:56.200><c> locations
• </c> inappropriate cost of living adjustment. inappropriate cost of living adjustment.
• </c><01:24:58.080><c> and</c> these changes that they have costs and these changes that they have costs
• be born by the provider as a would cost be born by the provider as a cost<01:34:00.200><c> of</c><01

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill extends the operations of the board until...
• And the cost of producing in California is increasing rapidly.
• The cost of producing in California is increasing rapidly.
• In the last four years, we've seen 3.3% inflation, while the operating costs for festivals have increased
• We cannot pass these costs onto the fans.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development heard several sunset and policy bills affecting state boards and professional practice. SB 1302 would extend the Board of Registered Nursing for four years and make operational changes such as streamlining renewals, updating simulation and school-approval standards, and allowing certain out-of-state nurse practitioner experience to count toward California recognition; nursing groups supported it, while the California Medical Association raised a concern about the out-of-state NP provision. SB 1303 would extend the Board of Naturopathic Medicine to 2031 and add a fictitious name permit program, term staggering, and other technical changes; it drew support from the board and naturopathic doctors, but the California Naturopathic Association opposed it unless amended to clarify the board’s jurisdiction. SB 1304 would extend the Respiratory Care Board to 2031 and revise respiratory care rules, including LVN practice in certain settings; it was supported by some providers and respiratory therapists, but hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other groups opposed it unless amended to allow LVNs to perform basic respiratory tasks in more health care settings. SB 1363 would extend the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and update apprenticeship, licensure, and tribal exemption provisions, and SB 1368 would extend the speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing aid dispensers board while adding a retired license category and continuing-education oversight changes; both were supported and had no opposition. All of these bills were voted out of committee, generally on a 10-0 basis after the committee later established quorum and took recorded votes. The committee also heard SB 865, which would create a California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program within the Office of Small Business Advocate to support large independent multi-day music festivals. The author and supporters argued that festivals like Aftershock and GoldenSky generate substantial tourism, hotel nights, jobs, and tax revenue, and that state support would help keep events in California rather than other states. Opposition focused on the use of public funds during a deficit year and questioned whether profitable festivals should receive a grant subsidy. The bill passed on a 9-1 vote, with Senator Choi opposed. Members also heard SB 1297, which would create regional wildfire public-private partnerships and a financing structure using local commitments, a revolving fund, and state-backed revenue bonds coordinated with iBank to fund wildfire mitigation projects. Supporters said the bill would help address the state’s large wildfire mitigation funding gap by leveraging public and private capital for home hardening, vegetation management, and other prevention work; questions centered on where bond repayment funds would come from, and the author said the bill was still a work in progress and not intended to cost the state. The bill passed unanimously. Finally, SB 993, presented on behalf of Senator Ochoa-Bogue, would restore privacy protections for mental health professionals in correctional and state hospital settings by limiting routine disclosure of identifying information while preserving a complaint process; testimony described safety concerns and staffing impacts, and the bill passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it cost of living? Is it housing?
• Is it cost of living? Is it housing?
• The bill's focus on lowering costs for businesses is especially important for operators who face rising
• Policy is operational reality.
• , these costs matter.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Summary: The committee held a hearing on Governor Healey’s economic development proposal, H.5386, the Mass Winds Act, with the governor and administration officials describing it as a follow-on to the 2024 Mass Leads Act. They said the bill is intended to help Massachusetts compete globally for capital, talent, and companies by creating a Global Mass initiative, including a proposed $50 million innovation access fund and $20 million for site development to help international firms locate or expand here. The administration also highlighted about $305 million in new bond authorizations, plus operating proposals such as lowering the LLC filing fee, expanding the small business energy tax exemption, funding internship incentives, and supporting downtown revitalization and the creative economy. Committee members and witnesses focused on several policy areas within the bill. On talent, Northeastern University supported the internship tax credit, and the Latino Empowerment Advisory Council backed a provision waiving redundant English testing for internationally trained nurses who have already demonstrated proficiency in practice. On labor mobility, the governor defended changes to the non-compete law as closing a loophole, while attorney Russell Beck opposed the revisions, arguing they would upset the 2018 compromise and could reduce employer-provided compensation. Municipal and housing witnesses supported codifying site plan review and broader zoning reforms, while others urged attention to affordable housing, tiny homes, and commercial-to-residential conversions. Local officials and municipal groups generally supported the bill’s downtown, arts, and planning provisions but asked for more detail on implementation and infrastructure, especially around energy, water, and data centers. The Massachusetts Municipal Association said the bill’s standardized site plan review and downtown investments could help communities, but stressed the need for close state-municipal partnership. The AFL-CIO asked for trigger language to preserve labor rights if federal protections weaken. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office opposed the LLC fee reduction, warning of significant revenue loss and possible fraud concerns. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with the committee accepting written testimony afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, wineries in Texas operate under a general G permit.
• So there's a big cost to that.
• And... ...rocketing insurance costs.
• What kind of increase have you all experienced in your insurance costs as individual operators over the
• tactical operations.

Bills: HB223

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• :23.520><c> of</c> respects the operational needs of respects the operational needs of employers<00:02
• there might be some cost.
• there might be some cost.
• Employers face high operating costs and significant lease obligations while simultaneously being locked
• And if operating costs rise, airlines have options and they can route those passengers through other

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> costs of interconnection. costs of interconnection.
• Reliability comes at a cost. There is a cost there, right?
• There's an enormous cost. It would that. There's an enormous cost.
• We operate as a regional grid. We also operate as a nation, right?
• </c> much this cost? Correct. much this cost? Correct.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Operation Guardian is our ongoing operation, the governor's initiative to work on deportation of illegal
• There's no cost of living raise.
• We could put our warehouse and operations center next door to their warehouse and operations center.
• We'll be sharing the cost for the fencing. We'll be sharing the cost for the parking lot.
• And so, cars don't really operate well.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will provide crucial support for nurses considering a career in the operating room.
• This bill will provide crucial support for nurses considering a career in the operating room.
• This provides an exemption for nursing homes operated by state agencies from the requirements.
• So in your close, could you talk about maybe the cost of that, or will there be a cost concerning this
• So to me, it's not a cost driver. It doesn't increase costs.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services first heard and adopted the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the committee, which was presented as a $1.8 billion increase over the current base budget. The budget emphasized Medicaid and KidCare funding, IT modernization, workforce reductions tied to unfilled or augmented positions, provider rate increases, mental health and substance use funding, opioid treatment, elder care, veterans’ services, cancer research, and school nurse staffing. The committee approved technical adjustments and then adopted the budget proposal for submission to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered several bills, most of which were reported favorably. SB 152 on surgical smoke required hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt smoke evacuation policies; it drew strong support from nurses and other health care workers describing workplace and patient safety risks. CS/SB 958 on early detection of type 1 diabetes required the Department of Health to develop informational materials for schools and, by amendment, early learning coalitions. CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing homes required consumer satisfaction surveys, patient safety culture surveys, reporting to the health information exchange, financial reporting penalties, and Medicaid quality incentive reporting; an amendment exempted state-operated homes, including veterans’ facilities, and directed a study of quality incentive systems. CS/SB 738 updated and streamlined child care regulation, and CS/SB 1356 created the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at Florida State University and a related pediatric rare disease screening pilot. The committee also passed SB 1370, which reorganized ambulatory surgical centers into their own statutory framework, with testimony emphasizing their lower costs compared with hospitals. Finally, the committee considered CS/CS/SB 1626 on child welfare and related issues. After adopting multiple amendments that removed references to unaccompanied alien children and special immigrant visas, changed language on child abuse definitions, and required DCF to set room-and-board rates by methodology rather than fee schedule, the bill was explained as strengthening child welfare protections, codifying military-family coordination, improving domestic violence shelter certification, adjusting children’s services council appointments, clarifying missing-child procedures, and updating licensing and compliance provisions. The bill drew both support and opposition, particularly over missing-child jurisdiction and immigration-related concerns, and was ultimately reported favorably. A final motion to record a vote on SB 958 was also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs.
• wildfire mitigation costs, lowering the cost of transmission infrastructure investments through the creation
• to charging the actual cost.
• Reducing some of the charter school authorizer's cost to charging the actual cost of the existing process
• to charging the actual cost.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor file of bills. Early measures passed with little or no debate, including AB 698 on local transfer taxes and affordable housing analysis, AB 456 on mobile home sales, AB 1129 on reportable infant health conditions, AB 69 on Fair Plan insurance notices and voluntary market searches, AB 357 on expedited student and faculty housing permits, AB 383 on firearms code cleanups, AB 426 on drones interfering with emergency response, AB 825 on energy affordability and transmission financing, and AB 699 on ballot transparency for local tax and bond measures. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan margins, while AB 825 drew the most extended debate over whether it would lower costs or expand state control of energy infrastructure; it ultimately passed 45-5. The most contentious item was AB 84, which would strengthen oversight of non-classroom-based charter schools and tighten accountability for charter spending and operations. Supporters argued it was needed to stop fraud and misuse of public education dollars, citing major scandals and audit findings, while opponents warned it would harm legitimate charter schools, reduce educational options, and disproportionately affect rural and special-needs students. Several members said they supported the bill only to keep negotiations going, and others urged more targeted or delayed action. After extensive debate and multiple amendments, the Assembly passed AB 84 on a 41-22 vote. The chamber also took up AB 610, a housing bill that would require cities and counties to disclose planned housing restrictions and limit new constraints for three years after housing element approval. The author framed it as a certainty and transparency measure to help address the state’s housing shortage, while noting continued discussions with local governments and housing advocates. The transcript ends with the bill’s presentation and request for an aye vote, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't cost a lot of money to a landlord.
• It doesn't cost a lot of money to a landlord.
• Number one, what would the cost increase be if you triple the rate?
• There is a cost to extend infrastructure and maintain that system.
• Certainly, I’d like to find out more about the cost to some of these counties.

Bills: S0018 , S0028 , S0260 , S0848 , S0934 , S1014 , S1102 , S1264 , S1566 , S1622 , S1724

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills focused on water safety, utilities, housing, transparency, and claims relief. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was presented as a follow-up to prior water-quality legislation and reported favorably with one support waiver. SB 28, a claims bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child-drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy and drowning-prevention groups in strong support; amendments required rental license applicants to certify compliance and removed local-government add-on authority, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 18, a claims bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, prompted questions about settlement and responsibility but was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from a waiver form. Several utility and infrastructure measures were considered. CS/SB 1724 would regulate municipal utility service outside city limits, limit revenue transfers, require public meetings, and cap rate differences; an amendment added gas utilities, and the bill was reported favorably after testimony from municipal utility representatives and small-county advocates. CS/SB 1014 would require municipal utilities to extend water and wastewater service to certain nearby residential properties without conditioning service on annexation; an amendment narrowed the bill to residential uses and clarified capacity and grandfathering provisions, and it passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 would allow local infrastructure surtax revenue to fund body camera programs, with an amendment making the surtax authorization prospective and requiring a new referendum; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 260 on electric-vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to focus on storage only and to tie the higher fee to the period before fire-risk inspection, then reported favorably after testimony from insurers, fire officials, and EV industry representatives. The committee also advanced education, housing, and ethics-related bills. SB 1264 would ease zoning and code barriers for small private schools and micro-schools, with supporters arguing it would expand school choice and opponents raising implementation concerns; it was reported favorably. SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a tax-exemption section that conflicted with the Live Local Act, then reported favorably. SB 1622 would provide a one-time waiver of late financial-disclosure fines under specified conditions and was reported favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related materials, and an amendment added utility revenue reinvestment and other changes while removing DEI spending restrictions; the bill drew support for transparency but concern from small cities and counties about cost and workload, and it was reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment after senators recorded votes on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:33.759><c> On</c> Operating Adjustment. On Operating Adjustment.
• Funding the operating adjustment for DHS to ensure mounting cost pressures do not impact services delivered
• Funding the operating outcomes.
• These shifts include new competency attainment cost, increasing county cost shares for cost of care at
• These shifts include new competency attainment cost, increasing county cost shares for cost of care at

Bills: HF2434

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding