Transcript Highlights:

• So this, the amendments would require, and I'm just going to read the way it, may I have it here.
• It would hold these agencies accountable because they would have to come before us and by way of the
• We're just saying it in a different way. And with that, Madam... I agree.
• We're just saying it in a different way. And with that, Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
• Hi, Matt Morris, Latino Media Collaborative. ...simply doesn't perform the way it should.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Congratulations, by the way. Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate that.
• Would this hurt in any way conservation of the budget? No. No, it will not.
• But I think this is a way, again, it's going to increase public safety.
• It says the organization will operate in various ways to help the poor...
• You know, on a lot of ways, but I do understand one thing.

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 43rd day by roll call vote, 122-1. Members also used points of personal privilege to honor former state representative and St. Louis public servant Edward L. Bushmeyer with a moment of silence, and to recognize Jean Carnahan during Women’s History Month. The chamber then welcomed numerous guests, including students from California Middle School, Missouri Centers for Independent Living, Southern Boone cheer teams, Conservation Day participants, Project Home woodworking students and veterans, Coro Fellows, YMCA advocacy day participants, Easter Seals guests, and others. The House then took up several appropriations bills. House Bill 2017, the reappropriations bill, was explained as carrying forward previously approved capital and other projects into a new fiscal year; members raised concerns about unspent general revenue and the large $186 million storm-recovery item for St. Louis, but the bill was adopted and perfected. House Bill 2018, the maintenance and repair bill for state facilities, was described as routine upkeep of state buildings and was also adopted and perfected. House Bill 2019, the capital improvements bill, drew more debate over new projects, the $104 million transfer from the Capital Commission Fund, and whether some projects had been adequately vetted; an amendment by the gentleman from Texas to shift $3 million from the Conservation Commission Fund to help repair a state-owned road to the George O. White Nursery was adopted, and the bill then passed through committee substitute adoption and perfection. House Bill 2020, the ARPA spending bill, was described as the final year for spending federal pandemic funds, with any unspent amounts to flow to the foundation formula; members discussed how much might remain and whether funds could be used to offset education costs, and the bill was adopted and perfected. The House also considered House Bill 2760, the “Praise Act,” which would bar government from imposing stricter emergency restrictions on houses of worship than on comparable private entities, while preserving emergency carve-outs for disasters, terrorism, and civil unrest. Supporters framed it as a religious liberty bill and argued it would prevent unequal treatment during emergencies; opponents warned it could undermine public health protections during pandemics and noted past restrictions on church gatherings. The debate included extended exchanges over whether churches were treated differently from airports and other venues during COVID-19. The transcript ends during continued discussion of House Bill 2760, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• That a million dollars is a lot of money to send that way.
• It's still a three-way arrangement. We certainly recognize that.
• It's still a three-way arrangement. We certainly recognize that.
• My name is Danielle Bautista with United Ways of California.
• My name is Danielle Bautista with United Ways of California, also doing a meet-too with the United Way

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the September budget package, which included SB 105 and a series of trailer bills covering health, human services, education, resources, child care, transportation, labor, public safety, housing, revenue, background checks, collective bargaining, and a special election. The Department of Finance described the package as largely technical and clarifying, but also responsive to state and federal changes, especially H.R. 1. Key items included roughly $3.3 billion in Proposition 4 climate and environmental spending, $540 million in discretionary greenhouse gas reduction funds, and major responses to H.R. 1 such as CalFresh error-rate mitigation, food bank support, and Medicaid-related changes. Other notable provisions included vaccine policy flexibility, an Abortion Access Fund, a gender-affirming care program, community college basic-needs and aid changes, CEQA and coastal permit exemptions tied to the 2028 Olympics, invasive mussel prevention funding, a civic media program, labor and pension-related provisions, and special election administration changes. Members raised questions and concerns about several parts of the package. There was support for climate, water, transit, offshore wind, food security, and health investments, but also significant criticism of the lack of cleanup language for SB 131 and its advanced manufacturing exemptions, with multiple members saying promised fixes had not materialized and expressing concerns about tribal consultation, labor standards, and environmental protections. Members also questioned the scale and timing of some Proposition 4 allocations, including fairground upgrades, regional conveyance, and a UC Davis alternative protein research center. The Department of Finance said some programs would roll out over time and that certain funding levels reflected current implementation capacity. The hearing also featured discussion of Bay Area transit financing, with Finance saying SB 105 directs the department and CalSTA to examine loan or other financing options rather than immediately providing loans. Members and public commenters also discussed the state’s response to H.R. 1, with advocates supporting food bank, health care, and immunization provisions while warning of ongoing harm to immigrants, foster youth, and other vulnerable groups. Public testimony broadly supported the health, food, water, offshore wind, and golden mussel provisions, while many speakers echoed legislative concerns about SB 131 and urged cleanup action in the next session. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only, though the chair noted votes on the bills were expected later that night or the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The simplest way of doing that is saying they are identical to the 2025 session except that where 2025
• Those are not necessarily across the board, but we're done in a way where we really tried to look at
• I manage Foss Harbor Marina in Tacoma, and I live in the 29th Legislative District.
• So we ask that you look for other ways to avoid that sweep and for other ways to fund local infrastructure
• There's just no way.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the amendments would require, and I'm just going to read the way it may have it here.
• It would hold these agencies accountable because they would have to come before us and, by way of the
• Once again, I think we will disagree on the fact that asking the agencies to come before us in the way
• We're just saying it in a different way. And with that, Madam... I agree.
• We're just saying it in a different way. And with that, Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused largely on regulatory oversight, food insecurity, state symbols, immigration-related funding, and ethnic media outreach. SB 885 and SB 986 would require major regulations with estimated economic impacts over $50 million to come back to the Legislature for review; supporters said this would restore accountability and help address affordability, while opponents warned it would delay health, safety, and worker protections. SB 1025 would create an Office of Food Security and Affordability to coordinate food programs across state departments, expand outreach, run a hunger hotline, and analyze service gaps; members generally supported the goal but urged stronger reporting and oversight language. SB 1214 would designate the Western monarch as California’s state butterfly, and SB 1178 would designate the California yellow jacket as the state wasp, with testimony emphasizing conservation, ecology, and agricultural benefits. SB 1286 would recognize the California sea lion as the state pinniped, with supporters citing its role as a sentinel species and conservation success story. SB 1171 would make private entities that contract with ICE ineligible for state-funded grants or loans; supporters framed it as a response to ICE conduct, while opponents raised concerns about unintended impacts on contractors providing essential services and possible federal retaliation. SB 1358 would create the Ethnic and Community Media Equity Act to improve state advertising and outreach to ethnic and community media through a database and contracting requirements, with supporters arguing it would improve effectiveness and reach underserved communities. Several bills were advanced on committee votes, many with roll calls held open for absent members. SB 885, SB 986, SB 1025, SB 1214, SB 1178, SB 1286, and SB 1171 all received motions to do pass, with some members noting support but also urging amendments or guardrails, especially on timing, reporting, and oversight. The committee also took up a consent calendar of multiple items after quorum was established.

Transcript Highlights:

• You say that the legislature... okay, because let me back up and say, in many ways, we're creating a
• Today, there are things happening potentially at any moment that threaten our way of life.
• It's just the particulars of the most effective way for the long-term functioning of this. ...and the
• I'm open to working with everybody and finding a way to get this done.
• The Rio Grande water compact. ...water comes from Colorado all the way down. We have agreements.

Bills: HB146 , HB150 , HB1500 , HB1545 , HB1562 , HB2067 , HB2520 , HB2818 , HB3214 , HB3250 , HB3466 , HB3512 , HB3623 , HB4063 , HB4395 , HB4464 , HB4668 , HB4690 , HB5331 , HB3833 , HB146 , HB150

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, a civil investigative demand is an investigative tool that allows the Office of
• So, just by way of brief background, Keep Washington Working we passed with bipartisan support.
• I'm going to ask Patty Gauch and James McMahon to make their way to the front. Go ahead, Sarah.
• So I'm just wondering how other states compare to the way this bill is written.
• Second, we need a safe harbor provision for civil liabilities.

Bills: SB5925 , SB5906 , SB6070 , SB6002

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: Attorney General, civil investigative demand, CID, subpoena-like demand, investigative authority, consumer protection, civil enforcement, pre-suit investigation, document production, interrogatories, deposition, oral testimony, confidentiality, trade secrets, judicial review, enforcement action, Washington RCW, law enforcement powers, government transparency, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> strawberry strawberry blonde by the way. strawberry strawberry blonde by the way.
• </c> way that conforms to gender stereotypes. way that conforms to gender stereotypes.
• a way that shouldn't.
• Let's remain that way.
• </c> way. Thank you, Madam President. way. Thank you, Madam President.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, our normal way of asking for one.
• It will come in your way.
• </c><04:03:06.000><c> It's</c> and the Pearl Harbor survivors. It's and the Pearl Harbor survivors.
• You've got to do it our it that way. You've got to do it our way.
• </c><04:26:19.040><c> Um,</c> somebody didn't get their way. Um, somebody didn't get their way.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot spend our way out of a spending problem.
• Way closed. Is there debate? Representative Salzman, you are recognized to close on the motion.
• And by the way, they don't need a background check.
• We have a long way to go in the mental health crisis.
• He just turned 21, by the way. Charlie has autism.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum confirmed, and several recognitions, including a moment of silence for retired fire captain Bill Guston and a welcome for guests in the galleries. The Speaker then outlined the House’s budget approach, saying the proposed General Appropriations Act would be lower than both the governor’s proposal and last year’s budget, and announced plans to seek a permanent 0.75% reduction in the state sales tax. The chamber also received the governor’s veto message on portions of HB 5001 and began considering motions to restore several vetoed appropriations. Members unanimously reinstated funding for the Florida Senior Veterans and Crisis Fund, the Rockledge Advanced Water Treatment Phase 1 project, the automated staffing/time management system for the Department of Corrections, and the Baldwin sanitary sewer and water main replacement project. The House also adopted special order and GAA amendment-procedure reports. On the special order calendar, the chamber passed HB 289 on boating safety (“Lucy’s Law”), HB 735 on water access facilities, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates, CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions, and CS/HB 157 on service of process, all by wide margins. The most debated measure was HB 6017, which would repeal Florida’s “free kill” law limiting wrongful-death damages in medical negligence cases. Supporters described the bill as a long-sought justice measure for families who lost adult children and were barred from suing, while opponents argued it was needed to provide accountability and fairness. The bill passed 104-6. The House then took up HB 759, which would lower the minimum age to purchase or transfer a firearm from 21 to 18. An amendment to keep the age at 21 was defeated, and debate featured strong arguments on both sides about constitutional rights, public safety, Parkland, military service, and data on youth violence; the transcript ends during continued debate on the bill, before final passage is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You believe About the best way to go about doing this. You believe this is the best way to do it.
• I’ve got different—one of my uncles is a genealogist who traced back family going way, way back.
• Are the two related in that way? So that is one part of... Are the two related in that way?
• This is a very risky way to go.
• in a way that would be harmful.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee without quorum at first, then later established quorum and continued hearing several bills. SB 27, the annual CARE Court cleanup bill, would require courts to consider CARE referral for certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial, combine some hearings, allow limited data sharing among licensed medical professionals, and expand eligibility to include mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would clarify the meaning of “clinically stabilized,” streamline the process, and help more severely ill people receive treatment; opponents argued it would expand CARE Court too broadly, strain county resources, and divert attention from housing and voluntary services. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call. SB 82, dealing with so-called “infinite arbitration clauses,” would limit consumer contract arbitration provisions to disputes arising from the product or service actually purchased. The author and supporters said the bill would stop companies from forcing arbitration in unrelated claims and would not ban arbitration itself. Opponents from business and banking groups argued the language was too restrictive, could create litigation over related transactions, and should be clarified as prospective only. The committee approved the bill and placed it on call after a roll call vote. The committee then heard two reparations-related bills. SB 437 would direct CSU to develop a genealogical methodology and framework for verifying descendants of enslaved people, with oversight, reporting, and guardrails tied to recently allocated state funding. Supporters said the bill would create a fair, evidence-based process; opponents, including professional genealogists and reparations advocates, argued the work is already well understood, the bill is unnecessary, and it could delay action. SB 518 would create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within state government, with divisions for genealogy, property reclamation, outreach, and legal affairs. Supporters framed it as needed infrastructure to implement reparations recommendations; opponents objected to locating it in the Department of Justice, warned about data privacy and law enforcement control, and criticized the inclusion of broader communities. Both bills were moved to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 52, the End AI Rent Hikes Act, which would prohibit the use of algorithms to collude on and artificially inflate rental prices; the author and supporters described it as a response to AI-assisted rent fixing in California’s housing market.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an amendment that was in Ways and Means.
• The Committee on Ways and Means will meet today.
• Let me just do it this way.
• And I'm grateful for your service, by the way.
• Work products will find their way to market.

Bills: SB31 , SB33 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB10 , SB2581 , SB2570 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SB4 , SB23 , SB1762 , SB34 , SB60 , SB706 , SB1814 , SB1220 , SB523 , SB565 , SB1253 , SB840 , SB764 , SB2383 , SB2155 , SB1535 , SB1423 , SB1566 , SB1804 , SB1728 , SB1816 , SB1952 , SB75 , SB2068 , SB1455 , SB213 , SB627 , SB2037 , SB670 , SB896 , SB917 , SB1184 , SB971 , SB1255 , SB1261 , SB1283 , SB991 , SB1733 , SB21 , SB231 , SB739 , SB1252 , SB1371 , SB646 , SB3 , SCR27 , SB552 , SB1405 , SB1948 , SB243 , SJR1 , SB31 , SB33 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB10 , SB2581 , SB2570 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SB546 , SB647 , SB648 , SB1493 , SB1709 , SB2001 , HB5669 , HB3115 , HB5655 , HB5675 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HB5653 , HB3228 , HB2802 , HB45 , HB1318 , HB5560 , HB2894 , HB4344 , HB2775 , HB33 , HB 12 , HB148

Keywords: SB 31, Life of the Mother Act, Texas abortion law, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, unborn child, abortion exception, abortion ban, physician liability, health care liability claim, aiding and abetting, Texas Medical Board, State Bar of Texas, continuing medical education

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make your way to the testifying table with your testifiers.
• Thank you for making your way down here today from Kwaton.
• Thank you for making your way down here today from Kwaton.
• I mean, maybe in high school I thought it might have been that way, but I haven't been that way since
• been that way since um you've I haven't been that way since um you've heard<00:42:19.680><c> a</c><00

Bills: HF220 , HF230 , HF240 , HF241 , HF295 , HF429 , HF490 , HF505 , HF574 , HF576 , HF581 , HF865 , HF918 , HF1085 , HF1449 , HF1452 , HF1454 , HF602

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF220, Minnesota transportation, highway user tax distribution fund, trunk highway fund, Minnesota Department of Transportation, MnDOT, transportation finance, dedicated funds, funding restrictions, arts in transportation, cultural strategies, transportation project planning, project design, project construction, placemaking, public art, infrastructure spending, state statutes 161.045, HF230, Wyoming

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have some members on the way.
• We need to do better in this way.
• beneath way. detained.
• and in an aggregated way.
• It's a one-way communication.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• BECAUSE THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN, IT IS NOT CLEAR AND LEAVES ROOM FOR...
• I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE.
• THAT IS THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN TODAY. Representative Gantt.
• We way back.
• We way back in totality. Representative Maggard having waived time...

Bills: HB 29 , HB 125 , HB 145 , HB 171 , HB 255 , HB 50 , HB 796 , HB 363 , HB 116 , HB 491 , HB 589 , HB 1495 , HB 368 , HB 1285 , HB 1905 , HB 1360 , HB 2002 , HB 917 , HB 2723 , HB 2067 , HB 1238 , HB 2337 , HB 745 , HB 1188 , HB 1606 , HB 2003 , HB 2147 , HB 2391 , HB 2355 , HB 2546 , HB 2495 , HB 2818 , HB 2249 , HB 1749 , HB 3109 , HB 3228 , HB 3240 , HB 1507 , HB 658 , HB 1748 , HB 1851 , HB 1922 , HB 2001 , HB 2798 , HB 107 , HCR 29 , SB 5 , SB 262 , HB 11 , HJR 72 , HB 106 , HB 18 , HB 48 , HB 27 , HB 37 , HB 1481 , HB 581 , HB 1696 , HB 2216 , HB 1035 , HB 1633 , HB 742 , HB 754 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 2669 , HB 391 , HB 517 , HB 1024 , HB 1607 , HB 252 , HB 1716 , HB 1562 , HB 4116 , HB 1866 , HB 1741 , HB 2103 , HB 2637 , HB 2884 , HB 503 , HB 1089 , HB 2986 , HB 972 , HB 502 , HB 29 , HB 125 , HB 145 , HB 171 , HB 255 , HB 50 , HB 796 , HB 363 , HB 116 , HB 491 , HB 589 , HB 1495 , HB 368 , HB 1285 , HB 1905 , HB 1360 , HB 2002 , HB 917 , HB 2723 , HB 2067 , HB 1238 , HB 2337 , HB 745 , HB 1188 , HB 1606 , HB 2003 , HB 2147 , HB 2391 , HB 2355 , HB 2546 , HB 2495 , HB 2818 , HB 2249 , HB 1749 , HB 3109 , HB 3228 , HB 3240 , HB 1507 , HB 658 , HB 1748 , HB 1851 , HB 1922 , HB 2001 , HB 2798 , HB 107 , HCR 29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Summary: The Florida House of Representatives conducted legislative business including prayer, pledge, and voting on multiple bills. Key legislation included HB 1105 expanding Florida Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility, HB 443 on charter school regulations (passed 83-23), and HB 1539 on materials harmful to minors (passed 81-29) after extensive debate about book challenges in schools. Other bills addressed education funding, law enforcement benefits, parole guidelines, and various local issues. The Speaker announced budget negotiations with the Senate have stalled, with disagreements over spending levels and tax cuts. The House will not meet this weekend as originally planned. Session adjourned until tomorrow at 10 AM.

Transcript Highlights:

• are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways
• </c> I firmly believe in and that's the way I firmly believe in and that's the way that<00:40:15.920>
• </c><00:42:58.880><c> So</c> excess in a way that she would like.
• So excess in a way that she would like.
• Um, and their way into that apartment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It does this in three main ways.
• One way or another, please advance this bill.
• One way or another, please advance this bill.
• There's so many different ways that they could happen.
• Nonetheless, we think that number is way out of whack.

Bills: HB2675 , HB2681 , HB2714 , HB2688 , HB2481 , HB2116 , HB1408

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: accounts, finance, business regulation, transparency, audits, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, HB 2714, caseload forecasting, food assistance, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state food assistance, budget forecasting, caseload forecast council, caseload forecast supervisor, Washington State

Transcript Highlights:

• And if it doesn't, how might that affect projects in any way?
• </c><00:08:28.639><c> Uh</c> that affect uh projects in any way?
• Uh that affect uh projects in any way?
• </c> find a way to include this. Thank you. find a way to include this. Thank you.
• This, as has been mentioned, is a great way to retain tax base.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Way to come here, and I will say that this legal way is a process that we all know has been broken for
• Representative Way? All right. Mr. Marshall? Representative Way? Representative Harris?
• Representative Way. Aye. Bye. Thank you. Representative Way? Aye. Vice Chairman Pell? Aye.
• Thank you, Representative Way. No. Representative Marshall? Representative Way? No.
• There are ways of addressing this.

Committee: House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills on criminal justice, victims’ rights, education, and public safety. SB 1094, which creates a civil cause of action for minors who received irreversible gender reassignment surgery in violation of Arizona law, drew strong opposition from civil liberties and LGBTQ advocates who called it discriminatory and unnecessary, and support from the sponsor and medical-policy witnesses who argued minors cannot consent and that the procedures are not medically supported; it passed 6-3. SB 1635, a bill making it a crime to warn a person of an imminent arrest when the speaker knows police are there to arrest that person, prompted extensive First Amendment objections from the ACLU and others, while supporters said it was narrowly tailored to prevent people from helping suspects evade arrest; it also passed 6-3. The committee then approved SB 1673, appropriating lottery-funded money for the law enforcement crime victim notification system, after testimony that the program standardizes and improves victim notifications statewide; an amendment increased the amount from $5 million to $8.2 million, and the bill passed 9-0 as amended. SB 1092, which would bar early termination of probation for dangerous crimes against children, drew emotional testimony from victims’ advocates and opposition from defense-side speakers who warned it would remove judicial discretion and could sweep in people whose conduct was nonviolent or based on accidental online clicks; it passed 6-2 with one member present. Other bills considered included SB 1239, extending the statute of limitations for failure to register as a sex offender, which supporters said would help law enforcement and opponents said was redundant because registration violations are already tracked and prosecuted; it passed 5-4. SB 1139, a strike-everything bill requiring GPS monitoring for homeless registered sex offenders, failed after testimony that existing probation tools already cover the same population. SB 1502, increasing penalties for unlawful flight from police when aggravated by danger, injury, DUI, or transporting a child, passed 5-1 despite concerns about over-criminalization and possible impacts on innocent drivers. The committee also passed SB 1248 on county detention education programs, SB 1240 excluding certain DCAC probationers from county probation incentive calculations, SB 1669 narrowing rape-shield evidence rules to physical injury, and SB 1540 creating a new offense for fuel dispenser theft after an amendment removed mere possession of a device from the criminal statute.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill did go to Ways and Means, and we did have an amendment in the Ways and Means Committee as we
• But this bill has a long ways to go before being anything I could vote for, a long ways. ...anything
• I could vote for, a long ways.
• And this is not the way to address it. It was And this is not the way to address it.
• I ask for this body's support, and this goes a long way for our PUDs along the way.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Senate took up Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, which would modernize and strengthen laws governing sheriffs, police chiefs, town marshals, and other law enforcement agencies, particularly by setting certification and background-check standards and addressing what happens if an elected sheriff is decertified. The chamber first considered several amendments focused on preserving voter control over sheriffs, limiting the bill’s reach, and shifting costs to the state. Amendment 632, which would have required a recall-style vote if a sheriff were found uncertified, failed. Amendment 628, which would have excluded foreign convictions from consideration, failed. Amendment 633, which would have made the state pay background-check costs, failed. Amendment 634, which would have exempted current sheriffs from the bill’s five-year uninterrupted employment requirement, failed on a roll call vote of 21 yeas to 28 nays. Members then rejected additional amendments: Amendment 631, which would have carved out an exception for Capitol security personnel, failed; Amendment 629, which would have prevented a vacancy if a sheriff was acting consistently with the state and U.S. constitutions, failed; Amendment 630, which would have created a private right of action for removed sheriffs, failed; and Amendment 627, which would have retained language barring men and women from being confined in the same cell when removing an old “police matron” provision, failed on a roll call vote of 19 yeas to 30 nays. Supporters of the bill argued it was about accountability, integrity, and aligning sheriffs with certification standards already applied to other law enforcement officers. Opponents argued it would override voter choice, create unfunded mandates, and let an unelected state body remove elected sheriffs. After amendments were disposed of, the Senate suspended the rules and advanced the bill to third reading and final passage. In final debate, supporters emphasized public safety, professional standards, and the need for clear decertification rules when a sheriff loses certification. Opponents repeatedly framed the bill as an unconstitutional intrusion on local democracy and a solution in search of a problem, warning it would disenfranchise voters and set a dangerous precedent. The transcript ends during final-passage debate, with no final vote on the bill shown in the excerpt.