Transcript Highlights:

• </c> expands the government's financial expands the government's financial integrity<02:42:42.800><c>
• For example, this legislation would require federal agencies to annually assess financial reporting internal
• <03:15:08.960><c> reporting</c><03:15:09.439><c> internal</c><03:15:09.920><c> controls,</c> financial
• reporting internal controls, financial reporting internal controls, link<03:15:11.200><c> agency</c>
• The clerk will report the are order. The clerk will report the title. title. title.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and that's where that financial and that's where that financial assistance<00:15:24.440><c> is</
• </c> in and tries to provide that financial in and tries to provide that financial assistance,<00:15:
• It was always my class financially.
• And then as terms of what we report, we report our financials every year as a nonprofit, and so we do
• </c> able to report on it or or not? able to report on it or or not?

Summary: The meeting began with introductions and approval of the previous minutes, including a small amendment clarifying a note about “leakage” in a prior presentation. The committee then heard a presentation from Sarah Hall of the American Forest Foundation on the Family Forest Carbon Program, which she described as a voluntary carbon and forest management program for smaller landowners. She said the program provides annual payments and technical assistance, requires a forest management plan within two years, and is designed to support improved forest management while still allowing compatible uses such as recreation, hunting, and some harvesting. Hall emphasized that the program is intended as one tool among many and is not a fit for every property. She said most enrolled landowners did not previously have a forest management plan or work with a forester, and that the program helps bring “unengaged” landowners into active management. She also said the program is compatible with current use and other commitments on a case-by-case basis, and that landowners retain ownership of their land and timber rights while AFF holds the carbon rights for the contract term. She highlighted examples of landowners using the program to support taxes, family ownership, wildlife habitat, timber stand improvement, and continued recreational or business uses. Committee members asked about registry compliance in New Hampshire and the relationship between carbon markets and the program. Hall responded that AFF handles registry administration for landowners and would follow up on the specific registry count raised by a member. She explained that the program is funded through a mix of carbon market revenue, philanthropy, and grants, and that carbon credits are generated through landscape-level methodology and monitored using randomly selected plots compared with FIA data. She also noted that consulting foresters are key partners in the program and that AFF has paid more than $3 million to consultants nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not a lot of it is publicly reported or publicly available.
• Right now, we're aligning the report of reports.
• And it's not even that, it's a report on that and reporting, but also ensuring that we identify metrics
• Also, campus financial aid offices package multiple types of financial aid awards for students.
• Financial aid to the state's lowest income students.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Scott Fennell, and I am one of the Deputy Chief Financial Officers for the Department of Financial
• Thank you very much for that report. Committee, any questions?
• report.
• Russell Weigel, Commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation, I stand here today pleased to report
• The report shows that there are 129 positions filled.

Transcript Highlights:

• It modifies the exemption for financial institutions by exempting financial institutions that are subject
• discretionary to report to the Attorney General instead of mandatory. is made discretionary to report
• the report, the required contents of the report that's supposed to be submitted with the plan, such
• Commerce subsequently published three reports over the next four years, including a preliminary report
• reinvestment plan report, and a community investment plan implementation report.

Bills: HB2157 , HB2351 , HB2365 , HB2357 , HB2446 , HB2523 , HB2606

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI regulation, algorithmic discrimination, high-risk AI, machine learning, generative AI, synthetic content, impact assessment, risk management policy, consumer protection, civil rights, discrimination, facial recognition, automated decision-making, deployers, developers, Washington RCW, Title 19 RCW, employment, housing

Transcript Highlights:

• And that emotional and financial strain, it trickles down to our students.
• We're also looking to support and increase more equitable access to financial aid.
• And at that signing ceremony, we actually got students to cheer about financial aid.
• Schools organized financial aid events with these microgrants.
• Again, you can read more information about all this in our recently released report.

Summary: The committee held a work session on the state of Washington’s community and technical college system with State Board executive director Nate Humphrey and Tacoma Community College president Ivan Harrell. They described the system’s open-access mission, 34 colleges serving more than 307,000 students, relatively low tuition, enrollment growth over 12 consecutive quarters, and strong outcomes such as more than 46,000 credentials awarded last year. They also highlighted system initiatives including guided pathways, I-BEST, dual enrollment, tribal partnerships, a new program search tool, and six colleges named Aspen Prize finalists. At the same time, they emphasized major challenges: high rates of student food, housing, and homelessness insecurity; sharply rising emergency aid requests; and federal funding disruptions affecting TANF, BFET, adult basic education, Carl Perkins, NOAA-related tribal work, and several federal grants. Members asked about SNAP impacts, declining high school graduates, and how BFET and TANF interact with other aid programs. The presenters also discussed system priorities such as AI, Workforce Pell, capital planning, nursing accreditation alignment, and the Washington College Grant. The committee then heard testimony from AFT Washington and the Washington Association of Higher Education on faculty and staff conditions in the community and technical college system. Jackie Kane and Suzanne Sutherland argued that classified staff, professional staff, and contingent faculty are essential to student success but face low pay, instability, and weak retention, and they urged lawmakers to protect existing funding and avoid further cuts. They said working conditions for faculty and staff are student learning conditions, and that underfunding leads to reduced services, shortened advising, and program instability. Marina Parr of the Workforce Board presented on federal H.R. 1’s new Workforce Pell provisions and the updated Career Bridge website. She explained that Workforce Pell would allow federal aid for short-term training programs of 8 to 15 weeks, with high completion, employment, and earnings thresholds and a requirement that credentials be stackable and portable. She said Washington is well positioned to implement the program because of its existing eligible training provider evaluation system and Career Bridge, which now has a redesigned public portal, digital portfolios, multilingual access, and performance data on programs. Members asked about rulemaking, possible gaps in state services, and how the wage and completion standards would be applied. The Washington Student Achievement Council then briefed the committee on the new Washington Completes FAFSA campaign created by executive order. Staff described an advisory board with statewide representation, a pilot that used microgrants and other supports at 25 priority schools, and a new goal of 46,000 FAFSA or WASFA completions this year. They reported that completion rates were tracking slightly ahead of last year, with 24% of high school seniors having completed a FAFSA by the end of November, and they showcased a public dashboard with subgroup data and a WIAA-based leaderboard. Members asked about outreach to rural and homeschool students, legislative communications, Pierce County representation, and barriers to FAFSA completion, and staff said they would provide toolkits and continue expanding outreach. The committee then began hearing from student presenters about affordability, access, equity, and student experience.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you're coming out of a subcommittee, the report is made back to the full committee, and the report
• When you're coming out of a subcommittee, the report is made back to the full committee, and the report
• When you're coming out of a subcommittee, the report is made back to the full committee, and the report
• aid through various and financial aid through various financial<01:21:43.120><c> aid</c> financial aid
• </c> forgive me while I look at my financial forgive me while I look at my financial statements<01:44

Summary: The meeting was the first session of a newly created House Education Funding Committee, which also handles career technical education and higher education legislation. The chair explained that the committee was split off from the larger education committee because of the high volume of bills in the prior biennium, and said its focus would be on education funding policy and related fiscal issues. He noted that the committee had already reviewed major topics with the Department of Education, including the foundation formula, building aid, career technical education, special education aid, catastrophic aid, and higher education funding, and that chancellors from the university and community college systems were scheduled to appear later that morning. The bulk of the meeting was an orientation on committee procedures and decorum. The chair reviewed attendance and replacement rules, hearing procedures, time limits for testimony, and how the committee would handle crowded hearings, early bills, and fiscal notes. He emphasized that hearings are not debates, that sponsors and co-sponsors may present but should not use their position to dominate questioning, and that the chair controls whether additional technical questions are asked of witnesses. He also stressed neutrality, saying members should not display buttons or placards or engage in running debates with testifiers, and that the committee should treat all testimony respectfully regardless of party or viewpoint. Additional housekeeping guidance covered security procedures, use of cell phones and computers during hearings, breaks and hydration in the dry hearing rooms, and courtesy toward the clerk and other staff. The chair also asked members to notify leadership in advance of absences and explained that some bills may require larger rooms or overflow arrangements. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have been a financial advisor for over 50 years. I am a certified financial planner.
• </c> be sued because you didn't financially be sued because you didn't financially secure<00:58:32.319
• We have a contact financial planners.
• </c> that could expose the state to financial that could expose the state to financial liability.<02:
• , an annual reporting requirement, that the department was just supposed to report on its progress.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• financial goals through ethical and competent financial guidance.
• </c><01:26:30.400><c> Our</c> financial planners in the state. Our financial planners in the state.
• They issued a report. We largely supported the provisions of that report.
• They issued a report. we revenue.
• reporting requirements.

Bills: HF2730 , HF2257 , HF2768 , HF1932 , HF2437

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• reporting on financial stabilization of hospitals statewide.
• distressed. and also reporting on financial and also reporting on financial stabilization<01:27:53.640
• </c> be financially distressed. be financially distressed.
• Section one of the bill establishes an important annual report on the financial stability of Minnesota's
• This report will help elevate the serious financial challenges facing our hospitals and better equip

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I was surprised by the same report. But, uh... ...surprised by the same report that you saw.
• UC has reported that it has already exceeded its current-year target UC has reported that it has already
• And that concludes our recommendations relating to UC report.
• Also note that about 10% of CSU spending is on financial aid.
• Including financial aid, bond debt service, and retirement fund contributions.

Transcript Highlights:

• reports for their clients.
• And then finally, one of it, the last area terms of the key takeaway was financial reporting.
• When you go back to the financial reporting, a little bit more information here as it relates to the
• requirements on to the statute, districts had to provide, you know, financial report fiscal years, 2
• I said earlier in terms of using this type of information is being able to provide sound financial reports

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal was to utilize as many of our existing financial assistance programs as possible.
• The SWIFT reporting requirement bill.
• Chairman mentioned our regional financial assistance workshops. This is a schedule that we have.
• So we do have data with respect to self-reported water loss.
• That cost in that reported water loss.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Senate chair of this commission and the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Financial Services
• Our community banks are invaluable financial partners to our small business owners and entrepreneurs,
• our major financial contributors to countless nonprofits within their communities, and serve customers
• According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report in 2025, approximately 61.3 million Americans were victims
• In fact, consumers cover 21.8% of the fraud losses, which is nearly as much as financial institutions

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission studying the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses held what leaders described as its last public hearing, though they said the commission would continue meeting to develop a report and recommendations. Chair Paul Feeney and other members noted the issue is complex and that they had sought testimony from a wide range of stakeholders before moving into a more deliberative phase. The commission adjourned after hearing from several in-person and virtual witnesses. Banking and card-industry witnesses, including the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Card Coalition, the Electronic Payments Coalition, and others, argued that payment cards provide major benefits to consumers and merchants, including convenience, fraud protection, fast settlement, and broad access to electronic commerce. They warned that state-level changes to interchange rules could create a patchwork of conflicting requirements, disrupt global payment systems, and especially affect state-chartered community banks and small businesses. Several also said recent federal actions and litigation, including OCC and NCUA preemption rules and the Illinois interchange-fee litigation, have limited the practical reach of state laws. Restaurant, retail, and convenience-store witnesses pushed for relief from swipe fees, saying independent businesses operate on thin margins and pay fees on amounts that are not really their revenue, such as sales tax and gratuities. They urged transparency, the ability to surcharge, vendor compensation for tax collection, and limits on interchange or related fees. Some witnesses said merchants bear significant fraud and chargeback costs and that banks and card networks have not offered enough direct relief. Commissioners asked questions about surcharging, fee regulation, fraud, and whether industry should share more of the burden. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adjourning the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Still to report on? That's correct. Yes, uh, so go ahead and report on those. Thank you so much.
• That was my report to Dr.
• We began digging into the financials and found that our financial statements have been misstated for
• </c> Um, we began digging into the financials Um, we began digging into the financials and<01:30:17.280
• <01:42:29.280><c> that</c><01:42:29.520><c> are</c> reports that are reports that are not<01:42:31.960

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of minutes, and informational items on school district financing and KCTCS equipment purchases. It then considered two KCTCS capital projects after initially rolling them together and later unrolling them: a Fire Commission Fire Academy maintenance building project that had grown from an original $2 million authorization to $4.7 million because of design changes, soil issues, and higher mechanical costs, and a $1.5 million renovation of the Blake Lee building at Somerset Community College for a health science simulation lab. Members questioned the large cost increase on the fire academy project and the adequacy of front-end due diligence, while KCTCS said the project was bid and ready to proceed and that a 15% contingency had been included. Both projects were approved by roll call vote, with the Blake Lee project ultimately approved after the committee unrolled the items and took them separately. The committee next heard and approved a University of Kentucky public-private partnership for the Hamburg East Medical Office Building, a five-story, 220,000-square-foot facility with a not-to-exceed budget of $275 million. UK said the project is intended to expand outpatient access, consolidate some services, and support projected growth in patient volume; the building will house multiple specialties, urgent care, therapy, imaging, and a retail pharmacy. Members asked about possible community uses, consolidation of services, and whether the project would free up other space, and UK said it hopes to consolidate some services and free campus space. The project was approved by roll call vote. The committee then approved three UK lease renegotiations: a specialty pharmacy and infusion services lease at Wellington Way in Lexington, a Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences lease at Conte Terrace, and a College of Social Work lease at McGrath Park Way. Members asked about rising lease rates, occupancy, and whether space needs should be reduced; UK and the lessor’s representative said the pharmacy space remains busy, the ophthalmology lease was lower than before, and the social work lease had been negotiated down from a higher request. The committee also approved a Department of Military Affairs project amendment for a Mutual Field Maintenance Shop Restoration project, increasing federal funding by $1 million to $4.5 million because of higher construction costs, and approved a Kentucky State University Shanty Hall renovation project funded by bond and HBCU Title III funds. Finally, it approved a new lease for the Office of Mines and Minerals in Pike County, a new lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Pulaski County, and a lease renewal for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Kenton County after questions about rent increases and office utilization; the cabinet said the Kenton County space still has limited vacancy and remains in use by field staff. The meeting ended as the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority began presenting six sewer and water loans and six cleaner water program grant reallocations, with members agreeing to roll those items for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• This hotline is to give individuals a place to call and report abuse by breeders to better crack down
• the Property and Casualty Product Review and Financial Oversight Division.
• Regulation to create a new financial investigation team in Jacksonville, where none currently exist.
• And so a lot of times it is a financial burden.
• Otherwise, some other common And so a lot of times it is a financial burden.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote, CS for SB 1178 is reported favorably. Thank you.
• for a late-filed financial disclosure if the reporting individual filed his or her financial disclosure
• the financial disclosure, and the... ...the maximum automatic fine for the late filing of the financial
• to the late filing of a financial disclosure, and that is the bill.
• Yes, and by your action, the bill has been reported favorably. Thank you very much.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1178, the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act. Senator Grohl explained that the bill expands state restrictions and disclosure requirements related to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including foreign-agent registration, gift bans for public officials, ethics training, procurement limits for IT and critical infrastructure, restrictions on sister-city/sister-state affiliations, changes to linkage institutes and in-state tuition provisions, and new criminal penalties for certain offenses committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist organizations. Senator Polsky raised questions about higher education, election technology, federal FARA overlap, and whether the bill would affect candidates or events involving CARE; the sponsor responded that the bill focuses on foreign countries of concern, ownership/control, and gifts, and does not prohibit speaking at events. An amendment clarifying definitions, willful violations, and ethics-training content was adopted, and after supportive testimony from Kelly Curry and Robert Pierce, the committee reported CS for SB 1178 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1622, which provides a one-time waiver of the automatic fine for a late-filed financial disclosure if the filing is made before the maximum fine accrues and the filer has not previously received such a waiver or accrued the maximum fine in prior years. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified that the bill supports transparency and makes the fine and appeals process more efficient, noting it was a commission recommendation. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee held confirmation hearings on appointments in Tabs 3 through 26. No senator requested separate votes on any appointee, no public testimony was offered, and the block of appointments was approved and recommended favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote, CS for SB 1178 is reported favorably. Thank you.
• Chairman, Vice Chair, and members of Or statements of financial interest. Thank you, Mr.
• for a late-filed financial disclosure if the reporting individual filed his or her financial disclosure
• the financial disclosure, and the The reporting person has not previously received in past years a waiver
• Yes, and by your action, the bill has been reported favorably. Thank you very much.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd ask for a favorable report on that bill.
• I urge the committee to report the bill favorably.
• us again to report it once again.
• us again to report it once again.
• And then, financial drain.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a public hearing on several bills related to driver’s license suspensions, junior operator training, online driver education, and regulation of e-bikes/scooters. A major focus was the Road to Opportunity Act (H. 3662/S. 2368), which would end license suspensions and registration holds for unpaid fines and fees unrelated to road safety, create hardship waivers and payment options, and replace suspension with nonrenewal in some cases. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, ACLU, CPCS, Greater Boston Legal Services, transportation and anti-poverty advocates, and several affected residents who described job loss, housing instability, and difficulty paying toll and fee debts. They argued the current system punishes poverty, disproportionately affects Black and Latino residents, and is costly to enforce. Some testimony also noted that the bill would preserve suspensions for dangerous driving offenses. District Attorney Marion Ryan testified in favor of two bills: one allowing partial payment plans for certain RMV penalties and another closing a loophole that makes the penalty for violating a hardship license less severe than driving after a full suspension. Senator Sear and Representative Reed also spoke for the Road to Opportunity Act, while the AAG said the Attorney General supports it. Committee members asked about RMV implementation and whether the agency supports payment plans; Ryan said the RMV has been cooperative but believes legislation is needed. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting young drivers. Senator Lovely and Representative Cruz supported a bill to create a junior operator license training fund, expand access for low- and moderate-income families, require refunds in some cases, and allow earlier passenger privileges. Another bill would make virtual instructor-led driver education permanent; AAA and several driving school owners supported it as an access and convenience measure, while other instructors opposed it, arguing in-person instruction is safer and more effective. Finally, Senator Collins and others testified for a transportation safety bill regulating motorized bicycles, scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds, increasing fines, requiring insurance for commercial use, and requiring public hearings and accessibility review for new bike lanes. Advocates for blind and disabled pedestrians supported that bill, while some transportation and business voices backed it as a safety and planning measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff report. Good morning, E.D. Adams, staff with the committee.
• And we'll start with the staff report.
• I did a report on suspicious activity reporting and surveillance. It was very eye-opening.
• Today, my medical debt financial struggles aren't over.
• We can report certain things, but there's not an avenue to report an unwarranted fishing expedition.

Bills: SB6011

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: court security, bailiffs, threat assessment, judicial safety, law enforcement