Transcript Highlights:

• type of project we can use them on because of the way that the concrete reacts and responds in the curing

Bills: HB2273 , SB5188 , HB2353 , HB2420 , HB2470

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: embodied carbon, building materials, sustainability, construction, environment, broadband, infrastructure, loan assistance, economic development, technology access, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, capital budget, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning

Transcript Highlights:

• type of project we can use them on because of the way that the concrete reacts and responds in the curing

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held public hearings on several bills. On Substitute House Bill 2236, staff explained changes to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage loans for multifamily housing, clarifying it is not a retail mortgage lender, extending bond counsel terms, removing a notice requirement before bond issuance, and repealing outdated statutory provisions. Representative Zahn and commission staff said the bill modernizes the agency and would help finance affordable housing without using state general funds. Testimony was generally supportive, with questions focused on higher interest rates, down payment assistance, and equity for borrowers of color; the commission said it works with banks, administers programs such as Covenant Home Ownership, and aims to support both homebuyers and developers. The chair then closed the hearing on SHB 2236. The committee next heard House Bill 2273 on reducing embodied carbon emissions in buildings and building materials. Staff described requirements for the State Building Code Council to adopt phased embodied-carbon standards for large projects, with reporting, a public database, and Commerce educational resources; the fiscal note showed operating and capital costs. Representative Duerr said the bill responds to rising energy demand and could help lower building costs while supporting innovation, including Washington wood products. Supportive testimony came from environmental justice advocates and an architect, who said embodied carbon reductions are already feasible and often cost-neutral. Opponents, including the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, argued the bill could raise costs, create sourcing and delay problems, and should not exempt schools. The hearing on HB 2273 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5188, which would let the Public Works Board issue loans for broadband infrastructure repair and replacement. Staff said the bill expands the existing broadband service expansion program to cover repair and replacement of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure, with Commerce fiscal impacts noted. The Association of Washington Cities testified with concerns that the bill could signal further use of the Public Works Assistance Account, which has already seen sweeps and could affect future water, sewer, wastewater, and solid waste funding. A question from Representative Dye raised whether the program should instead be tied to the Curb Board; staff and the witness agreed to continue that discussion. The hearing was then closed. In executive session, the committee took up House Bill 2353, House Bill 2420, and House Bill 2470. HB 2353, which raises the predesign threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and indexes it to inflation, was reported out of committee 18-0 with one excused. The committee then adopted and reported out the proposed substitute for HB 2420, which increases the small works roster contract limit and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027, also by an 18-0 vote with one excused. Staff also briefed members on a proposed substitute for HB 2470 concerning school construction assistance for on-base schools, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The chair announced another hearing and executive session for Friday and asked members to submit amendments by the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• make sure that they have that legally permissible avenue, absent a gray area, which we're trying to cure

Bills: S0386 , S0528 , S0806 , S0696 , S0930 , S0874 , S0898 , S0826 , S0838

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: farm equipment, agricultural machinery, farm machinery, tractor, combine, harvester, implements, warranty, lemon law, defective equipment, repair rights, consumer protection, manufacturer liability, authorized service agent, replacement, refund, rural agriculture, urban agriculture, Florida Statutes, chapter 604

Transcript Highlights:

• information to public health officers and researchers, helping to inform cancer treatment, prevention, and cures

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several Senate bills focused on health care access, privacy, and public health data. SB 81 (Arreguín) would require health care facilities to create nonpublic areas and bar immigration enforcement from entering without a judicial warrant or court order, while also protecting disclosure of immigration-related information in medical records. The bill drew strong support from labor, immigrant-rights, health care, and patient advocacy groups, with committee members emphasizing patient safety and privacy; one member raised implementation concerns about how the restrictions would work in practice. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, with one no vote recorded. SB 250 (Ochoa Bogh) would add skilled nursing facilities to DHCS’s managed care provider directory so Medi-Cal beneficiaries can more easily identify covered facilities. Supporters said the change would help seniors and people with disabilities avoid confusion and rushed placement decisions, especially during hospital discharge, and would make existing information easier to use. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a unanimous vote. SB 717 (Richardson) would formally recognize California’s three regional cancer registries in state law to help preserve federal funding and support cancer surveillance data collection. The author and supporters said the measure would protect more than $15 million in annual federal support and strengthen cancer research and tracking; the committee approved it unanimously to Appropriations. SB 504 (Laird) would allow health care providers to disclose personally identifying information about previously reported HIV infections to state or local health officials when needed for disease control or care coordination. The author described the bill as a modernization of reporting and coordination practices, and supporters from the California Medical Association and Planned Parenthood backed it. The committee sent the bill out as amended to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on a unanimous vote. The meeting also included routine consent-calendar action and multiple add-on votes, with the committee repeatedly holding the roll open to record additional members’ votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Deer breeders will be the cure for the disease.

Bills: HB509

Committee: House Agriculture and Forestry

Keywords: HB509, game breeder, game breeder license, cervid, deer breeder, whitetail deer, elk, fallow deer, deer farm, captive deer, cervidae, wildlife disease, disease testing, antemortem testing, state veterinarian, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, property rights, private property, animal transfer, breeding stock

Transcript Highlights:

• One is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1183, by Rep. G. Lombardo, as amended by a strike-all. The bill would provide liability protection for local governments and private-sector entities that substantially comply with certain cybersecurity practices, including multi-factor authentication, disaster recovery plans, and related policies and procedures. Rep. Lombardo said the measure is intended to create incentives for better cybersecurity and to limit class-action exposure after incidents, while still allowing suits where negligence can be shown. Supporters included TechNet, the Florida Justice Reform Institute, the Florida League of Cities, Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Association of Counties, and Dr. Edward Long of the James Madison Institute; Vice Chair Steele, Rep. Blanco, and Rep. McFarland also spoke in favor. Ranking Member Bracy Davis opposed the bill, saying she was not comfortable granting liability protections to entities that may have contributed to breaches and questioning whether substantial compliance would be self-attested. The amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably by a 14-2 vote. After the vote, the committee shifted into an extended discussion about Florida’s state IT governance structure, procurement, and project management. Members criticized the current federated model as fragmented and lacking clear accountability, with repeated references to long-running problems such as cost overruns, weak vendor oversight, workforce shortages, and the troubled I-Connect system. Several members argued that the state needs a single accountable leader or stronger enterprise authority over agency technology decisions. Ranking Member Bracy Davis raised concerns about the impact of broken systems on vulnerable populations and asked about the role of advisory councils. Rep. G. Lombardo, Vice Chair Steele, Rep. Miller, and Rep. Groh all emphasized the need for centralized leadership, better alignment of authority and budget, and more disciplined procurement and integration practices. A public witness, Victoria Zep of Team 180, testified in support of a more enterprise-wide approach and said the private sector also wants more organization and transparency. She criticized short procurement timelines, limited competition, and poorly written scopes, and urged the state to post procurements more openly and seek broader vendor input. She also discussed the need to respect agency-specific federal requirements while still improving statewide coordination. The chair closed by asking members to bring forward ideas for immediate and long-term reforms, including review of Senate Bill 7026, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• BUT PART OF WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR CONDOS IS NOT ONLY TO REMEDY OR CURE ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING

Transcript Highlights:

• SOMEONE COULD WELL SUBMIT SOMETHING THAT IS WOEFULLY INCOMPLETE AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM SOME CURING

Transcript Highlights:

• our top universities, children's hospitals, and industry experts to collaborate and coordinate on cures

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and approved four bills focused on school safety, student health, and classroom environment. HB 1403, Safety of Students, would expand Guardian program participation to child care facilities, require substitute teachers to receive campus safety protocols, and allow limited exceptions for certain CTE classrooms; it drew supportive testimony from school safety and education groups and passed 16-0. PCS for HB 907, the Sunshine Genetics Act, would create the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and launch an opt-in newborn whole-genome screening program funded with $20 million; supporters said it could speed diagnosis, save lives, and reduce health care costs, and it passed 17-0. HB 949 would prohibit student use of wireless communication devices during the full school day, while allowing districts flexibility in implementation and medical exceptions; supporters cited distraction and bullying data, and the bill passed 17-0. The committee also approved HB 723, the Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection Program, which requires the Department of Health to provide school-based informational materials to parents and guardians about early warning signs, risk factors, and screening for type 1 diabetes. An amendment broadened the notification to include voluntary pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade and shifted the annual notice to September 30. Testimony in support came from diabetes advocates and pediatric groups, and members spoke about personal experiences with diabetes and the value of earlier education. The bill passed 17-0 after the amendment was adopted. Across the meeting, members from both parties generally praised the bills as bipartisan efforts to improve student safety, health, and learning conditions. Several members raised questions or concerns about implementation details, including school guardian tracking, cell phone pouches and emergency access, and how the diabetes notice would be distributed, but no bill faced opposition in committee. All four measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• So judicial pay plays into the democratic process and the true cure for our weakness in the judicial

Bills: SB260 , SB263 , SB293 , SJR18

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• ROSEN BECOMING DEDICATED TO FINDING A CURE FOR CANCER AFTER HIS SON ADAM MICHAEL ROSEN DIED OF BRAIN

Transcript Highlights:

• You got to say, "Hey, you know you need to do this," and they have the right to cure that.

Bills: SB36 , SB39 , SB40 , SB12 , SB29 , SB121 , SB131 , SB12

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: competitive bidding, procurement, disclosure statements, state contracts, contract protest, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40, Houston/Hunter Act, firearm hold agreement, gun storage, temporary firearm storage, firearms dealer, federal firearms licensee, FFL, civil immunity, gun owner

Transcript Highlights:

• asked whether part of the urgency is that some grocery stores are asking consumers, when they buy meat
• Walter replied that she could not address the issue of packaging meat, but that is exactly an example
• </c><04:15:35.600><c> that's</c><04:15:35.800><c> see</c><04:15:36.159><c> that's</c> of packaging meat
• This is the meat of this bill.
• of this bill this is one of is the meat of this bill this is one of this<05:29:03.680><c> is</c><05:

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee met in work session on several bills, beginning with HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training. Members said the bill had been sent to the Animal Protection and Licensing Subcommittee, where Representative Kuttab is expected to schedule a meeting soon to consider possible amendments based on testimony and other ideas. The committee later returned to HB 153 and confirmed a work session was planned for February 14, with discussion also including whether to explore a task force concept raised in testimony. The committee also discussed HB 215 and HB 566, both related to landfill permitting and leachate or harm/benefit reporting. Representative Gerana said he had met with the DES director and was working on amendments that would add a preliminary screening phase for determining net public benefit and expand the list of benefits beyond capacity need to include items such as economic and infrastructure benefits. HB 566 was said to be in the same posture as HB 215, and both were slated for subcommittee review the following Tuesday morning. HB 171 was also added for subcommittee discussion, with members saying the changes would be technical rather than substantive. HB 240, which removes forfeiture penalties for non-payment of dog licenses, drew support for a simple amendment changing a statutory “shall” to “may” so municipal officials would have discretion about issuing a warrant. Representative Bixby said OLS advised that this was the cleanest way to provide flexibility, and he reported that the sponsor was agreeable to the change. The committee also discussed HB 179, concerning hazardous waste accident fees, where the sponsor proposed a revised amendment imposing a $1,000-per-day penalty after 90 days of non-payment. Members raised concerns about homeowners, hobby farmers, and whether the bill could unfairly burden people who were not negligent or whose insurance claims were delayed. The sponsor and others said the intent was to recover costs from responsible parties, especially businesses, and to protect local taxpayers and fire departments from bearing the cost of damaged hazardous materials equipment. No votes were taken; the bills were left for further subcommittee work and amendment drafting.

Transcript Highlights:

• the program got to the... ...developing of how the program got to the point where it is now, putting meat

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• our meet-in day to celebrate agriculture, and this all started when the governor came out with his meat-out

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, if you look at the real meat of the bill, it's on the third page in section 19-55-6, and you'll

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• And then when we go on to page three and you get into the meat of the bill, who established a high-wage

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2510, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeier, which would create a coordinated state framework for critical minerals involving the Departments of Natural Resources, Economic Development, and Higher Education and Workforce Development. The sponsor said Missouri is well positioned because it contains 36 of 60 minerals deemed critical to national security and manufacturing, and argued the bill would help Missouri pursue federal funding, build a workforce pipeline, and support advanced manufacturing with a five-year sunset. Committee members questioned the need for a new state structure and fund, the cost to Missouri, the role of universities, and whether the task force was too narrowly written around the University of Missouri system and mistakenly included DESE instead of higher education. A Missouri Chamber witness supported the bill for its economic and national security benefits, while an environmental witness urged adding an environmental professional to the task force and a mining permitting framework, citing health and water concerns and suggesting a separate mining-regulation bill as an amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 2585, sponsored by Rep. Castile, which updates Missouri workforce development statutes to align with federal law and implement the new Workforce Pell Grant program. The sponsor said the bill would allow short-term, high-value training programs in fields like welding, public safety academies, health technology, and trucking to qualify for Pell support, while preserving oversight and tying eligibility to outcomes such as completion, job placement, and earnings. Members asked about the number and makeup of the workforce board, whether the bill’s staffing references still pointed to the wrong department, how the 150% poverty-level threshold and reporting metrics would work, and whether the board could move quickly enough to meet federal timelines. A Missouri Community College Association witness said all 12 community colleges have programs likely to qualify and explained the federal eligibility standards, including a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and three-year rolling data review; a FGA Action witness and the Missouri Chamber also supported the bill as a way to expand access to skills training and draw down federal funds. After the bill hearings, the committee received an informational presentation from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. The presenter described the compact’s regional cost-saving work, including reciprocity for distance education, technology contracts, grants, and efforts on dual credit and FAFSA support. She also shared Missouri-specific data on educational attainment, enrollment trends, student migration, and net price, noting that Missouri lags slightly behind the U.S. in attainment, has projected declines in high school graduates, retains most in-state students, and has higher net prices for low-income students than the Midwest average. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• More potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar, meat, and hop production, and more diverse seed production than

Summary: The committee first heard reports from the House and Senate Health and Welfare chairs on budget issues and related policy concerns. Senator Van Orden said the department’s non-Medicaid budget had been presented and that members were focused on scrutinizing public health contracts, avoiding broad across-the-board cuts, and preserving essential services. She also said she was not in favor of moving 988 suicide crisis hotline services into the behavioral health managed care contract at this time, while Representative Tanner noted prior intent language had only required a cost-benefit analysis and that any change would need more detail. Representative Van der Woude said the House committee was committed to a bill holding back about $21 million for RESHAB, with audit and oversight provisions, and raised concerns about rural health fund oversight, provider rate reductions, and Medicaid expansion spending. Members then questioned the chairs about possible policy changes to reduce costs, including reviewing programs not in Idaho Code, restoring provider rates if revenues improve, and adding work requirements or enrollment caps to Medicaid expansion. Van der Woude said he was drafting a bill that would let Medicaid expansion expire and restart with work requirements and a cap, and he said he would support an asset-based waiver request for people with substantial assets. Several members raised concerns about the human impact of cuts, especially in adult dental and developmental services, while others emphasized the need for clearer evaluation tools and better return-on-investment data for programs. Van der Woude explained that RESHAB funding concerns stemmed from unclear assessment standards and the loss of a prior evaluation tool in litigation, and Senator Wintrow cautioned that a straight $21 million reduction could harm services and providers. The committee then heard from House Agricultural Affairs Chair Gerald Raymond, who reviewed agriculture-related budget items and emphasized the importance of dedicated funds, research, and invasive species prevention. He highlighted funding for quagga mussel prevention, Mormon cricket control, Japanese beetles, and carnal bunt response through a deficiency warrant, and said prevention at boat check stations is cheaper than treatment. He also discussed the University of Idaho dairy/cafe project, saying the facility was nearing completion and expected to have about 400 cows milking by the end of the summer. Members asked about the impact of recent cuts on check stations, and Raymond said his committee had not yet discussed that issue but would consider it, and that the Snake River Basin study had mostly been left to the resource committees. The meeting ended with notice that work groups would meet immediately after adjournment and that budget-setting would begin the next day, with the committee reconvening at 7:15 a.m. and the full committee at 8:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I still feel like we're not getting to the meat of the question because ultimately there is a democratic

Bills: HB2950 , HB2978 , HB3132 , HB3242 , HB3467 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB4115 , HB4274

Committee: House Education Oversight

Keywords: postsecondary education, standardized test scores, educational equity, higher learning access, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, HB2978, school libraries, library media center, library media program, community standards, sexually explicit conduct, obscene material, age-appropriate materials, school curriculum, book challenges, book banning, censorship, public schools, school board, education committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I still feel like we're not getting to the meat of the question because ultimately there is a democratic

Bills: HB2950 , HB2978 , HB3132 , HB3242 , HB3467 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB4115 , HB4274

Committee: House Education Oversight

Summary: The Education Oversight Committee heard several bills focused on higher education, school library materials, military student transfers, women’s privacy, academic grading standards, program review, and teacher professional development. HB 2950, by Rep. Woolley, would remove the ACT requirement for homeschool students seeking Oklahoma’s Promise and bar colleges from imposing extra homeschool-specific hurdles; supporters said it would treat homeschoolers the same as other students, while opponents raised concerns about oversight and taxpayer-funded aid. The committee also heard HB 3132, which would direct higher education institutions to seek accreditors that do not impose DEI mandates, and HB 3700, which would require colleges to grade students only on academic criteria rather than opinions or beliefs. HB 3701 would codify regents’ procedures for reviewing and acting on low-performing degree programs, and HB 4115 would cap required teacher professional development hours, with the sponsor emphasizing local control and that the bill is permissive rather than mandatory. The committee also considered HB 2978, which would prohibit public school library materials from including descriptions or depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Supporters framed it as protecting children and aligning library collections with community standards, while opponents worried the language could limit access to materials that help students understand abuse and safety. HB 4274, a cleanup bill on military student schooling and school choice, would restore omitted transfer language, clarify in-district enrollment timing, and align the six-month relocation requirement with the Open Transfer Act. HB 3242, dealing with privacy for women in schools, universities, and domestic violence shelters, drew questions about how gender would be verified and how the bill would affect transgender students and shelter access. Most bills advanced on motions for due pass after committee discussion. HB 2950, HB 2978, HB 3132, HB 4274, HB 3242, HB 3700, HB 3701, and HB 4115 all received due pass recommendations. HB 3467 was laid over until the next meeting, and the committee then adjourned.