Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1402 expands the current group of students who are eligible to enroll in dropout retrieval
• That are particularly harmful to small and rural school districts.
• And so we're proposing that a small fiscally constrained school district that has a decline in student
• Why would a homes...
• Appreciate you coming up from home to be here.

Summary: The committee first heard the Pre-K-12 education budget proposal for fiscal year 2025-26 and voted to adopt it as the committee’s recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The proposed $34.7 billion budget includes increases for the FEFP, Family Empowerment Scholarships, VPK, school safety, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, school hardening, Jewish day school security, and an education enrollment stabilization fund. Members asked no questions on the budget before it was advanced, and staff was authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then passed CS/SB 1402, which expands eligibility for dropout retrieval services to any individual who has withdrawn from high school and clarifies how school grades are calculated for virtual instruction providers that offer only dropout retrieval services. An amendment to clarify the grading calculation was adopted without objection, and the bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee also took up SPB 7030, a comprehensive scholarship-program bill sponsored by Senator Gates, which would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding as its own categorical, expand the education stabilization fund, create fall and spring application windows, require a single scholarship application and more documentation, assign student IDs, change payments to a monthly schedule, require background checks for paid instructional providers, mandate annual FTE audits by the Auditor General, and standardize reimbursement and eligibility procedures. After extensive discussion and public testimony, the bill was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably, with Senator Osgood voting no. Finally, the committee considered CS/SB 508, which requires private schools participating in the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to disclose in writing what accommodations, modifications, and services they will provide for students with existing plans such as IEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans. An amendment was adopted to require public schools to consult with private schools about equitable services, and the bill was reported favorably. Public testimony included support from parent-choice advocates and concerns from private-school representatives about administrative burden and the scope of the required disclosures. The meeting concluded after the final roll call votes and adjournment motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• In ways big and small, noticed and unnoticed, you inspire our communities.
• Our sergeants will notify the next group of members when it's time to line up.
• The clerk will read the name of our first group of honorees.
• Her efforts have resulted in 2,700 homes for farmworkers and low-income families.
• Her efforts have resulted in 2,700 homes for farmworkers and low-income families.

Transcript Highlights:

• The district's dynamic has shifted to a majority-minority group.
• are doing as best of a job as they can as the brick-and-mortar groups here.
• The online groups are doing as best of a job as they can as the brick-and-mortar groups here in the state
• But the consequences of our votes fall on real homes, real families, and real children.
• But the consequences of our votes fall on real homes, real families, and real children.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior day’s journal by roll call, and recognized a Black History Month tribute to Dr. Penelope Martin Knox, superintendent of Raytown C-2 Schools. Members also introduced guests, including the day’s pledge leader Adeline Overcast and visitors from a rural hospital in Rolla. Several new bills were read for the first time, including measures on blind pensions, first responder harassment, and flag display at the state capitol, and committee reports were received recommending passage of several deferred measures. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 2596, concerning multiple employee self-insured health plans for small businesses, passed 145-0 after supporters said it would help small employers offer affordable coverage. House Bill 1644, addressing franchise employment liability and joint-employer issues, passed 103-45 after debate over whether it would unfairly limit workers’ rights to sue franchisors. House Bill 2423, dealing with Division of Finance licensing fees and oversight, passed 146-0 despite concerns about fee increases. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2641, which aligns state law with federal restrictions on intoxicating hemp-derived products, passed 109-34 after extensive debate over whether the bill unfairly carves out beverages and harms hemp businesses. House Bill 2498, a juvenile justice reform measure shifting some certification-related responsibilities and expanding information sharing, passed 100-44 after supporters argued it would improve accountability and opponents warned it would politicize juvenile cases and burden treatment facilities. House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155, a sentencing bill increasing mandatory minimums and clarifying time-served and parole eligibility, passed 102-45 amid debate over whether it was truly a transparency measure or an increase in punishment. The House also debated House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution 154, a proposed constitutional amendment tied to Medicaid expansion/work requirements. Supporters said it would encourage work and reduce administrative costs, while opponents argued it would undermine Medicaid expansion and risk coverage for vulnerable residents. After a previous-question motion, the resolution passed 99-48. The session ended with announcements about upcoming committee meetings, a Black History Celebration, and other caucus and committee gatherings, followed by adjournment until Monday afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number two is that we have kids who are in placements in group home settings, primarily in the custody
• Number two is that we have kids who are in placements in group home settings, primarily in the custody
• , inside the home.
• inside the home.
• Arizona is a small business state.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a memorial adoption of HCR 2064 honoring former legislator Barbara Leff, which was unanimously adopted and sent to the Senate. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Eladio Pereira, and numerous student and constituent guests in the gallery. After routine desk business and bill referrals, the House moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of measures. Several bills were amended and advanced with do pass recommendations. HB 2170 was narrowed to restrict state purchases of certain electronic and information technology from China/Chinese-controlled entities and to address third-party resellers. HB 2375 dealt with middle housing in historic districts, with amendments limiting demolition of historic structures unless necessary for health and safety and preserving local discretion. HB 2380 focused on school district transparency and meeting location rules, requiring governing board materials online and keeping meetings within district boundaries, with debate over local control and comparisons to legislative caucus retreats. HB 2617, HB 2621, and HB 2671 also moved forward after amendments; HB 2621’s discussion centered on certificates of educational convenience and ensuring special education access for children in unorganized territory and DCS placements. The committee also advanced HB 2720 on anti-human trafficking and prostitution-related reforms, including sealed records for sex trafficking survivors and an anti-human trafficking grant fund; HB 2772, allowing a DNR designation on driver’s licenses, prompted extended questions about emergency care and liability; HB 2784, dealing with school district excess cash refunds, was amended to phase in implementation; HB 2902, affirming support for the Electoral College, drew the most ideological debate, with supporters citing constitutional structure and opponents arguing for a national popular vote; and HB 2950, concerning a tourism/hospitality district, saw a failed attempt to make participation voluntary. The House also considered HB 4025, a study bill on the feasibility of building an oil refinery in Arizona, which sparked extensive debate over fuel prices, refinery capacity, environmental impacts, and whether a study was necessary, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Las Cruces, because during the pandemic many of our small businesses needed help, and the Small Business
• I've been a small business owner for 23 years, and it started over at WNMU with the Small Business Development
• buy the uniforms for the small businesses.
• That's how you honor your small businesses.
• Points well taken, but as we do move forward, Again, it's the small businessmen, the small businesswomen

Transcript Highlights:

• The next age groups, 21 to 24, 25 to 29, and 30 to 34 year olds are the three highest age groups in terms
• And within that group, 156 of those fatalities involved a driver who was below... ...that group, 156
• Here you can see the shift by demographic group.
• Here you can see the shift by demographic group.
• What is this group going to look at specifically?

Bills: SB5234 , SB6110 , SB6176

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: snowmobile, snowmobile registration, vehicle registration fees, registration fee, Department of Licensing, DOL, recreational vehicles, winter recreation, vintage snowmobile, parks and recreation, vehicle license fee, RCW 46.17, fee schedule, renewal fee, initial fee, Washington state, electric-assisted bicycles, electric motorcycles, transportation regulation, safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• California is home to more AAPI residents than any other state.
• Business Academy to empower thousands of entrepreneurs from underserved groups. ...and Small Business
• WSP. ...real estate group, Walt Disney Imagineering, and WSP USA.
• And you've walked through the ashes of my community and even my own home.
• And, Liz, Sacramento is a better place because you chose to call it home.

Transcript Highlights:

• The summary also says protecting small businesses.
• And if every business gets that cap, then a small business would... ...to small businesses, and if every
• The state has already launched a Safe Home, Save Our Homes property tax savings calculator before the
• I asked the question about a small town.
• You take away the taxes from those 500 homes in the city with 800 homes, and they're bankrupt.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Kentucky, we estimate about one in three homes.
• I looked into many devices, with Nightlock being the one that we chose as a small group of 30 of us,
• home in Westborough and at a day hab in Northborough.
• For us within the deaf community, it is a small community, but we have to be a small community...
• and group-setting interventions.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The hearing focused on a range of public safety bills, with especially emotional testimony on the Maggie Hubbard Rental Safety Act, which would require short-term rentals to be inspected for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and require platforms or agents to verify compliance before listing. Rep. Hadley Luddy, Sen. Julian Cyr, and the Hubbard and Waldron families described the fatal Airbnb fire that killed Shannon Hubbard and her daughter Maggie in New York, saying the deaths were preventable and that the bill would save lives. Committee members expressed sympathy and support for the families’ efforts to turn their loss into legislation. The committee also heard testimony on a proposed peace officer oath (S. 1680), described by Sen. Lydia Edwards as a binding ethical standard tied to certification and recertification, with discipline and annual reporting to promote accountability and de-escalation. Rep. Tom Walsh testified for a bill requiring hotel and motel workers to be trained to recognize human trafficking and to post hotline signage, and later testimony supported a school safety data grant program to provide first responders with standardized, up-to-date school maps for emergencies. Another major topic was a bill to allow temporary door-locking devices in public buildings; supporters said the devices are removable, do not alter fire code, and could improve lockdown response during active shooter events. Additional bills discussed included measures to transfer the Office of Emergency Medical Services to EOPSS, increase penalties for unlicensed hood-system cleaning, expand membership on the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, and strengthen confidentiality for peer support and critical incident stress debriefings. Firefighters and fire chiefs also supported a bill to tighten penalties for violations of hot-work regulations, citing the 2014 Beacon Street fire that killed Lt. Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy. Law enforcement groups backed a package including a Blue Star plate and Blue Alert system for fallen officers’ families, stronger move-over penalties, and a memorial fund, while the State Police Association supported the move-over provisions but asked for further work on the special state police officer bill before final action. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As it really sort of drives home the point of what I think we should be focused on.
• Most of these are small family-owned businesses that cannot absorb the cost of such extreme fees.
• We can't ignore what's happening in our schools, in our homes. homes, in our hospitals, and Senate Bill
• And yet, here we are debating... this failed attempt to silence the voices of groups.
• One lobbyist group, while another lobby group is welcome.

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Susan Little with Environmental Working Group.
• These are very small molecules that are going to require extensive treatment.
• These are very small molecules that are going to require extensive treatment.
• Brett Burnt, UCLA Student Homes, in support. Thank you. Good morning.
• Only a small number are subject to lengthy litigation.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you define for me a small amount? You mentioned a small amount.
• It was a small dose and a small quantity. All right, thank you. Any other questions?
• Could you define for me a small amount? You mentioned a small amount.
• </c><00:20:04.039><c> quantity</c><00:20:04.880><c> all</c> a small dose and a small quantity all a small
• Your buying group is a group that buys at wholesale or below wholesale, correct?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, we're not the hiring group.
• We're not the hiring group.
• I would hire Boston Consulting Group.
• Chair, Representative Dow, when the DDS group and the facility licensing group moved from the Department
• Chair and Secretary, the new part of the Veterans Home, the community homes, they're beautiful.

Summary: The committee first recognized Mark Roper of the Economic Development Department for his long service and retirement, with members and the secretary praising his work on economic development across the state. Secretary Rob Black then presented EDD’s budget and special appropriation requests, describing strong recent job and income growth and outlining the department’s strategy around science and technology, site readiness, workforce development, foreign direct investment, and rural/community programs. He highlighted wins in advanced energy, quantum, space and defense, and biosciences, and asked for funding for quantum/DARPA matching funds, additional site readiness work, LIDA closing funds, JTIP training support, New Mexico Partnership, and healthy foods and other community programs. Members asked detailed questions about the quantum proposal, site readiness, the new mapping tool for industrial sites, workforce participation, trade missions, foreign investment, tariffs, water and produced water, tribal site evaluation, and public engagement on major projects. Black said the quantum request was intended to match federal dollars and build a workforce pipeline, that the site-readiness software would be a set enterprise license, and that the department was working with tribes and local partners on future site evaluations. He also said tariffs have created uncertainty but New Mexico’s infrastructure and foreign trade zones could help attract manufacturing, and he acknowledged concerns about transparency and community input while noting that some projects, such as Pacific Fusion, had gone through extensive public processes. The committee also discussed specific projects and funding balances, including Mantis Space’s move to Albuquerque, the status of Virgin Galactic’s spaceport lease, and the current LIDA fund balance and encumbrances. Black and Deputy Secretary Isaac Romero said the department was trying to use State Investment Council-backed venture funds to attract companies and that the new investments were already producing deals and jobs. Members generally supported the department’s direction but pressed for more targeted expertise, faster deployment, and stronger community involvement in future economic development decisions. Later, Secretary de Blassie of the Department of Health presented the department’s budget request and progress report. He said DOH had improved revenue cycle management, reduced old Medicaid-pending cases, increased census at facilities, improved budget and contract timeliness, and responded effectively to the measles outbreak. The department requested additional base funding for epidemiology and response, the DOH helpline, the Vital Records Virtual Vault, state labs, and the veterans home, along with special requests for respiratory vaccinations and marketing and lab equipment replacement. He also noted progress on MOUD and the medical psilocybin program, and said the department was not seeking to launch new programs given the limited time left in the administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some small grocery stores, absolutely.
• We have some really wonderful cultural, small bodega-style grocery stores.
• We also have a small grocery outlet as well, and we're... Small bodega-style grocery stores.
• So a lot of these small towns have the same type of little franchise-type, small grocery stores that
• The public library directors group participated in the TIF study group convened by the Association of

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2517, which would give regional transit authorities, especially Sound Transit, more flexible permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects. Staff and the bill sponsor said the goal is to let permit applications and technical reviews proceed concurrently with property acquisition and land use decisions, reducing delay and uncertainty for large transit projects. Sound Transit testified that the bill could save as much as nine months, while a city representative from Bothell asked for an amendment requiring notice to property owners before permits are advanced on land not yet owned or controlled by the agency. The committee then took testimony on HB 2313, concerning publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas. The bill would let cities acquire land, build or rehabilitate stores, seek capital grants, and create tax increment financing areas for grocery access projects, with annual reporting requirements. Supporters, including the sponsor, Food Lifeline, and Northwest Harvest, argued that grocery closures and food deserts are real problems and that local governments need tools to fill gaps when private grocers leave. Opponents, including grocery industry groups and several students, warned that public stores could undercut private grocers, burden taxpayers, and create operational and property-rights concerns; some testimony also questioned the need for government ownership and the use of tax increment financing. A proposed substitute removed eminent domain and tax increment financing provisions and narrowed the bill to grant-funded stores in underserved areas. Next, the committee heard HB 2451, a major rewrite of local tax increment financing rules. The bill would tighten notice, consultation, reporting, and mitigation requirements for TIF areas, strengthen the “but-for” test, limit where increment areas can be located, and protect existing taxing districts by excluding certain levies and requiring negotiation, mediation, or arbitration when impacts are significant. Cities, ports, counties, libraries, fire chiefs, and hospital districts largely described the bill as a negotiated compromise that improves transparency and addresses unintended impacts, though some local governments said they still wanted more flexibility or protections for existing projects. One city testified against the bill, arguing the new restrictions would make TIF much less useful for large redevelopment efforts. The committee then heard HB 2298, which would authorize county auditors to create voluntary property title protection programs to help prevent land-record fraud by allowing owners to record a protection instrument that delays recording of a title transfer for up to five business days unless identity verification is provided. Auditors, treasurers, and county officials strongly supported the bill as a practical response to rising deed fraud, while title and foreclosure industry representatives said the proposal was too limited, could interfere with foreclosures or other transfers, and would only delay—not prevent—fraud. The final bill heard was HB 2566 on local government procurement, which would raise certain small-purchase and small-public-works thresholds for counties, remove some differences between larger and smaller counties, and give counties more options when no bids are received. County representatives supported the bill as a needed update to procurement rules and a way to reduce bureaucracy and keep pace with inflation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like you build a home, a new home, and they could probably hold strong for about 100 years, maybe 120
• home park owners and mobile home owners.
• I live in a manufactured home too.
• We applaud ...home for affordable homeownership, production, and home preservation.
• how we're even able to build Habitat homes in such expensive environments, and that is Cal Home.

Transcript Highlights:

• > we</c> a lot of group work groups, then we a lot of group work groups, then we would<00:16:09.279><
• of out-of-home care children?
• to support those groups?
• to support those groups?
• . groups. groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was placed in another foster home in Nampa that also operated an in-home daycare.
• I was placed in another foster home in Nampa that also operated an in-home daycare, where the teens were
• The home functioned more like a group facility than a family environment.
• I am a provider out of Region 2 of home and community-based services.
• And I think that provider group is pretty... ...the time.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• today, regarding the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card and the impacts for small
• today, regarding the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card and the impacts for small
• I am a small business owner based on Martha's Vineyard. Welcome, India. Thank you.
• We have a talented group of commission members here.
• We have a talented group of commission members here.

Summary: The House and Senate chairs opened the first organizational meeting of the special initiative commission created by Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024 to study the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card and the impacts on small businesses. They explained that no testimony would be taken at this meeting; instead, the commission would begin its work, introduce members, and prepare for future hearings and a final report with recommendations on credit cards and other payment methods. The chairs outlined the commission’s charge: to examine payment trends, cashless transactions, credit card fees, mobile payments, buy now, pay later financing, and the effects of section 28A of chapter 140D on small businesses. They said the commission would likely organize hearings around business and consumer impacts, the legal and regulatory landscape, and policy options such as transparency measures, reporting requirements, and possible limits. Members discussed the importance of hearing from retailers, restaurants, banks, small businesses, and possibly experts, and suggested considering cryptocurrency and whether hearings should be held outside the State House or include regional access. Several commissioners and stakeholders introduced themselves, including representatives from the Attorney General’s office, the House, the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Commissioner of Banks, retail and restaurant associations, a banking representative, and two small business owners. The chairs said interested parties could sign up to testify or receive notices, written testimony would be accepted, and the first hearing was tentatively set for April 8 in Gardner Auditorium. The meeting ended with a motion to close, which passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• What if she got COVID at child care, or what if I brought COVID home to her?
• What if she got COVID at child care, or what if I brought COVID home to her?
• It’s a privilege to be able to stay home and be with their children.
• It requires the work group to report its findings back to the Legislature.
• Isabel Megan, with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, in support.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative Garcia, so the municipal libraries in this group get small amounts of money
• They have a small library.
• And any other group, if there's other villages in your community, they need to form a group of interested
• It's a one-stop, basically, for these small communities.
• It's small—very small in the scheme of things... ...but it says what Artesia likes: to have fun and do

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee