Transcript Highlights:

• amendment in Section 3, subsection 1 to state that for adult family homes, all areas within the dwelling
• presumed to be non-public areas unless the adult family home provider designates a specific... ...dwelling

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment in Section 3, subsection 1 to state that for adult family homes, all areas within the dwelling
• non-public areas unless the adult family home provider designates a specific area as public. ...the dwelling

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. On SB 5906, the SAFE Act, staff and Sen. Hansen described protections limiting immigration enforcement access to non-public areas in schools, early learning settings, higher education, health care facilities, adult family homes, and ballot-processing areas, and restricting collection of immigration-status information. Supporters said the bill would clarify and strengthen existing Keep Washington Working policies, while some witnesses requested amendments to better define health care facilities, clarify adult family home and election-related provisions, and keep Section 6 on ballot security. Some members questioned the factual basis for reported ICE activity near schools and daycares and the distinction between judicial and administrative warrants. The committee also heard SB 5886 on personality rights and forged digital likenesses. Staff explained that the bill would add digitally created or modified likenesses to the Personality Rights Act, raise civil penalties, and allow recovery of actual and non-economic damages in forged-digital-likeness cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to address AI deepfakes and identity misuse while preserving satire and fair use; student and advocacy witnesses supported the measure as a way to protect students and victims of digital impersonation. The committee then heard SB 5169, which expands child hearsay and closed-circuit testimony rules to older children and additional offenses. Prosecutors and forensic interviewers supported the bill as necessary in trafficking and child abuse cases, while defense advocates opposed it as an overbroad expansion that could raise confrontation-clause issues and create legal challenges. Additional hearings included SB 5865, which would move garnishment form updates from statute to the Washington Pattern Forms Committee; judges supported it as a way to fix a wage-withholding calculation error and allow future updates without legislation. SB 5912 would reinstate the Indigent Defense Task Force to study statewide public defense delivery and recommend sustainable reforms; counties, the Office of Public Defense, and defense groups supported it. SB 6009 would make permanent the current process for direct review of administrative decisions by the Court of Appeals and retain land-use transfer provisions; a Court of Appeals judge supported the bill. SB 6087 would extend limited liability for donations of children’s items to religious organizations and add strollers and car seats, with support from Zero Waste Washington. The committee did not take final votes on these bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• TAKEN TO REQUEST FEDERAL AUTHORITY TO GO AHEAD FOR BOTH FRAME AND TEACH PROGRAMS TO I DON'T WANT TO DWELL
• WITHOUT DWELLING ON THEM WE PUT OUT AN APPLICATION AND WE RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR THE TEACH PROGRAM

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we will hear an early action bill, Assembly Bill 106, a budget bill junior amending the 2025 Budget
• Erica Lee with the Department of Finance is here to present on AB 106, which is a budget bill junior
• path and everybody's getting free coverage over here, why not everybody come here from the entire United
• And those events should not be happening in the United States. It's incredibly concerning.
• The program will officially be inoperative, leaving hundreds of units in the pipeline without adequate

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• open space, mixed use, industrial, or commercial use; applications for development within planned unit
• Fraudulent entry is the act of entering into and taking possession of a residential dwelling unit by
• Senator DiCeglie has tab 44, CS for SB 1612, on electronic payments made to units of local governments
• Senate Bill 1612 requires each unit of local government and each department, sub-agency, and division
• of such units of local government to accept electronic payment online by use of credit cards, charge

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• to as curtilage, are held out to the public and are not protected by the Fourth Amendment of the United
• Chair recognizes the junior senator from the fifth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• United States—kind of walked back the Open Fields Doctrine in that ruling, that opinion then. ...States
• Chair recognizes the junior senator from the fifth. Thank you, Senator.
• Chair recognizes the junior senator from the fifth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master
• I have a junior there and a freshman, so we'll be second-generation Tech grads.
• Madam Chair, it again is my pleasure to introduce the President of the United States. Introduce Mr.
• We have junior...
• I mean, it would be nice if everybody did that, but… Well, my son graduated from TCU in his junior year

Committee: Senate Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Katie Ta, and I'm a junior at Colani High School.
• I'm a junior high school at Leisure. representatives of the committee.
• </c><01:03:40.400><c> Um</c><01:03:40.640><c> I'm</c> junior high school at Leisure.
• Um I'm junior high school at Leisure.
• I'm a junior at laser Slottnik Page.

Bills: HB1813 , HB2429 , HB2423 , HB1996 , HB1851 , HB2546 , HB2028 , HB2583 , HB2490 , HB2545 , HB2114 , HB1859 , HB2534 , HB2474 , HB1863 , HB2475

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• So I want to talk a little bit about the junior colleges and how they're funded.
• Okay, it's my understanding that in Jefferson County, we have one junior college, Jefferson College,
• my question is, do we take into account all the high school students that spend half a day in the junior
• , the local junior college, to try to upskill, to try to make more money for their family.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal, and numerous introductions of visiting groups and guests, including schoolchildren, Republican women’s organizations, county commissioners, and family members of legislators. Members also suspended House Rule 98 to allow baseball apparel in celebration of opening day, with the motion passing 118-22. The chamber then took up the state budget bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2002, covering elementary and secondary education and child care, drew the most debate. Supporters said it maintained record funding for the foundation formula, transportation, and early childhood programs, while critics argued it still fell short of fully funding the formula and underfunded child care subsidies by about $51 million. After extended debate over statutory obligations, school funding, and child care policy, the bill passed 85-70. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2003, the higher education and workforce development budget, also prompted substantial debate over a proposed shift to an FTE-based funding model for colleges and universities. Supporters called it a fairer, more equitable system that follows students and encourages efficiency, while opponents warned it would sharply reduce funding for some institutions, including community colleges and regional universities. The bill passed 83-66. The House then passed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2004, covering revenue and transportation, 91-50, despite objections over a public transit cut and constitutional concerns raised about MoDOT appropriations. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2005, the Office of Administration and employee benefits budget, passed overwhelmingly after members discussed state worker compensation, deferred compensation, and benefits funding. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2006, covering agriculture, natural resources, and conservation, passed 133-17 after members highlighted restored funding for agriculture business development and food insecurity grants, while others criticized cuts to natural resources and parks funding. The chamber then moved on to House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2007, covering economic development, commerce and insurance, and labor and industrial relations, with the budget chair introducing the bill and outlining its major departmental appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply landing on this list is what triggers that deep dive on the cost, unit cost analysis.
• I know some are doing unit cost analysis at the departmental level, and again, creating data.
• There's the freshman, sophomore, then the junior, senior.
• There's the freshman, sophomore, then the junior, senior.
• Because... ...to sophomores, sophomores to juniors, that area.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review a proposed process for identifying and addressing low-producing academic programs, then moved into discussion of draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the ND University System described how other states and systems define low-producing programs, emphasizing multi-year enrollment and completion thresholds, cost and workforce review, and the role of governing boards. She reported that North Dakota institutions already review programs in varying cycles, often use shared resources and stackable credentials to keep low-enrollment programs viable, and cited recent system actions over five years: 100 programs placed on inactivation, 75 terminated, and 384 new programs created. Committee members raised concerns about workforce-critical programs, duplication, exemptions, and whether the legislature or the State Board of Higher Education should drive the process. The chair said he wanted the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting and suggested the legislature may use funding leverage, including a possible holdback, to encourage the review process. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft funding formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal used fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder rate of $7,000 per undergraduate FTE and $10,500 per graduate/professional FTE, plus incentives for completions in high-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council explained that the formula also included separate treatment for research funding, external grants, and capital building tiers, and that the MD program at UND would remain fixed funding outside the formula. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the in-demand program list, the treatment of external grants, and how the proposal compared with current appropriations. The chair noted that the formula numbers were illustrative and not final budget amounts. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. It used fall census FTE with no weighted economic factor, a higher undergraduate rate of $8,750 per FTE, and completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other credentials. Members noted that the proposal would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and questioned whether the same structure should apply across institutions with very different missions and sizes. Committee discussion focused on fairness, hold-harmless concerns, and whether the nine institutions should be grouped differently. The committee did not take formal action, but the chair indicated the formulas would continue to be discussed later in the meeting and in future work.

Transcript Highlights:

• During a time when our differences may be on full display and challenging decisions dwell on our hearts
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands
• It was the United States.
• The country, the United States of America, federally passed a minimum wage increase three years later
• improve health outcomes and shorten hospital stays, and support babies both in neonatal intensive care units

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we will hear an early action bill, Assembly Bill 106, a budget bill junior amending the 2025 Budget
• Erica Lee with the Department of Finance here to present on AB 106, which is a budget bill junior that
• And those events should not be happening in the United States. It's incredibly concerning.
• The program will officially be inoperative, leaving hundreds of units in the pipeline without adequate
• The program will officially be inoperative leaving hundreds of units in the pipeline without adequate

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard AB 106, an early-action budget bill providing $90 million one-time General Fund to support reproductive health providers affected by the federal H.R. 1 prohibition on Medicaid funding. Department of Finance staff explained that the money would be administered as grants through the Department of Health Care Access and Information because affected providers can no longer bill Medi-Cal during the federal restriction, which lasts through July 4, 2026. Members also discussed why the amount increased from an earlier $60 million estimate, with Finance saying the figure was updated based on additional claims data and provider information. The committee debate focused heavily on the policy implications of the funding. Supporters argued the bill is an emergency response to a targeted federal attack on Planned Parenthood and related family planning services, emphasizing that the funding would backfill non-abortion services such as cancer screenings, contraception, STI testing, mammograms, and prenatal care. Opponents questioned the use of General Fund dollars, the grant structure versus loans for other distressed providers, the Public Records Act exemption, and the bill’s priority compared with rural hospitals, developmental services, public safety, and other budget needs. Finance clarified that the federal funds at issue do not pay for abortion services and that the grant program would be open to eligible providers meeting criteria set by the department. Public testimony was overwhelmingly in support from Planned Parenthood affiliates, Essential Access Health, Western Center on Law and Poverty, the California Medical Association, family physicians, OBGYN groups, and others, while some commenters used the opportunity to raise unrelated budget concerns such as Medi-Cal dental cuts, IHSS, and CalHome funding. After discussion, the committee approved AB 106 on a 12-4 vote and reported it out. The chair also noted that a later hearing would examine broader H.R. 1 impacts in more detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• And before I forget, ICUC, Inland Congregations United for Change. Thank you.
• And before I forget, ICUC, Inland Congregations United for Change. Thank you very much.
• He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, retired as a master gunnery sergeant, and then went on
• In these disciplines in China and four times as many engineers in Russia as in the United States.
• We need to generate the next president of the United States.

Summary: The committee first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Arthur Krantz to the Public Employment Relations Board and Christopher Ferguson, Brian Haynes, Anna Marie de Mars, and Ronald Fiore to the Student Aid or Student Athletic commissions, all by unanimous 5-0 votes. It also approved references of bills to committees by a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard from Julia Montgomery, nominated for a third term as General Counsel of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, who described her work on farmworker rights, outreach, and enforcement of labor protections. Members questioned Montgomery closely about card-check unionization procedures, signature authenticity, outreach to Spanish-speaking and indigenous-language farmworkers, make-whole enforcement delays, and a long-running Tri-Fanucchi farm case. Montgomery said objections and unfair labor practice charges can be investigated, that signature verification is handled by board staff rather than her office, and that delays often stem from appeals, difficulty locating workers, employer obstruction, and court backlogs. Vice Chair Grove voted no, while Senators Laird and Reyes supported the nomination; the committee advanced Montgomery to the full Senate on a 3-2 vote. The committee then considered three State Board of Education appointments: Cynthia Glover Woods, Brenda Lewis, and Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez. In opening statements, all three emphasized long careers in public education and support for students, teachers, and families. Questions focused on math achievement, the 2023 math framework and access to Algebra I in middle school, transitional kindergarten, community schools, and the effectiveness of education spending. The nominees said the framework still allows ready eighth graders to take Algebra I, pointed to new instructional materials, professional learning, TK expansion, and community schools as key improvements, and said they had not been involved in the governor’s proposed education governance changes. Public witnesses and education groups testified in strong support. The committee advanced Glover Woods 3-1, Lewis 4-1, and Gonzalez 3-1 to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• And before I forget, ICUC, Inland Congregations United for Change. Thank you.
• And before I forget, ICUC, Inland Congregations United for Change. Thank you very much.
• He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, retired master gunnery sergeant, and then went on for
• In junior high.
• We need to generate the next president of the United States.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Do the junior colleges get the... Yeah. So the way it worked in Georgia was...
• let's just say $7,000 from the foundation program for the high school level, would pay for their junior
• college when they moved on. ...to the junior college when they moved on.
• You know, we fund the junior college dual enrollment, and I've got the higher ed people coming to see
• So, is the idea for the student not to have to pay when they go to the junior college? Potentially?

Bills: SB278 , HB459 , HB61

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• Today, there are over 2.2 million Korean Americans living in the United States, making Korean Americans
• Many people don't know that Riverside was home to the very first Koreatown in the United States.
• And there are so many Korean veterans here in the United States. So many Korean veterans.
• United States.

Transcript Highlights:

• for joining us today, Lieutenant General Brian Effler, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel for the United
• Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower Personnel and Services for the United States.
• Catherine Kelly, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital for the United States Space Force
• Representing the incredible sailors and families of our United States Navy.
• Thank you for your continued... partnership and your advocacy of the United States Air Force.

Committees: Senate Subcommittee on Cybersecurity , Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: NDAA, military recruitment, personnel readiness, testimony, military leaders

Summary: The committee meeting focused on pressing issues related to the U.S. military's recruitment and personnel strategies, especially in light of the upcoming NDAA for fiscal year 2026. Chairperson expressed appreciation for the service of witnesses including senior military leaders from different branches, emphasizing the importance of personnel as the backbone of national defense. Discussions revealed concerns regarding the recent lowering of recruitment standards across military branches, which could potentially affect the quality of service members and long-term military readiness. Witnesses were asked to address the implications of these changes on military health and efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's won first place across the state of Arkansas, and it won fifth place across the United States.
• to attend Girls Nation, maybe the next governor of Girl State, or maybe the next President of the United
• that that opportunity, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they can only do it after their junior
• It's right after their junior year, going into their senior year, so it's not like those girls can apply

Committee: All HOUSE MANAGEMENT

Summary: House Management took up a series of House resolutions, mostly honoring Arkansas schools, teams, and individuals. Resolutions passed recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and commending CASA programs, the Mountain Home Bombers’ 2025 boys and girls 5A cross-country championships, a corrected resolution for a girls’ championship team roster, Mount St. Mary Academy’s 6A girls golf title, Central Arkansas Christian High School Choir, a local candy shop for state and national awards, Joe T. Robinson’s 5A football championship and 1–4A swim and dive title, Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns coach Dave Wilbers and the Golden Suns cross-country team, and North Rock’s girls basketball championship. One resolution honoring the Passion Play was pulled from the agenda and moved to regular session. The main substantive discussion centered on House Resolution 1052, which urged support for Arkansas Girls’ State applicants who missed a school deadline because of counselor or administrative error. Sponsors and supporters said roughly 150 girls statewide were affected, that the deadline fell during spring break, and that the American Legion Auxiliary had previously extended deadlines but declined to do so this year. They argued the girls had met the requirements, that the issue was caused by adults, and that the program is a once-in-a-lifetime civic opportunity. They also said they had contacted the board, offered help with space, funding, and volunteers, and received no willingness to change course. Committee members asked about the impact on students, including families with both a son and daughter where only the boy was being allowed to participate, and about whether the message to girls was fair. Supporters said the situation teaches civic engagement, grace, and advocacy, but that it also sends a harmful message if girls are denied because of adult mistakes while boys are still being accepted. After discussion, the committee voted to pass the resolution, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's won first place across the state of Arkansas, and it won fifth place across the United States.
• attendee at Girls Nation, maybe the next governor of Girls State, or maybe the next president of the United
• that that opportunity, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—they can only do it after their junior
• It's right after their junior year, going into their senior year.

Committee: All HOUSE MANAGEMENT

Transcript Highlights:

• In Bloomfield is consolidating three of its schools, Central Primary, Nawa Ani, and Mesa Alta Junior
• systems, plumbing, exterior walls, roofs, drainages, and that included Alamogorda High School, Clayton Junior
• housing awards, we have Corona, who had 2 teacher housing duplexes awarded and Hatch, 5 teacher housing units
• school there, and a beautiful brand new school being built, and they had a number of teacher housing units

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force