Video & Transcript : 'hospital protocols' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Apr 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Add to that restaurant, hospitality, and beauty industry workers, and you're talking about hundreds of
- Excuse me for having not operated under protocol. That's quite all right.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met under suspense-file procedures, with the chair explaining limits on testimony, position letters, and that bills with fiscal impacts of $150,000 or more would generally be sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. Several bills were pulled from hearing, and a consent calendar of committee bills later passed 4-0. AB 761 by Addis, the only item initially slated for a vote, was ultimately held over to the next hearing.
The committee heard testimony on a series of tax-related proposals. AB 232 would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax money for wildfire, flood, or earthquake-related expenses; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, but was sent to suspense. AB 1443 would exempt tips from state income tax for five years and was supported by the California Restaurant Association and a restaurant owner, but also went to suspense. AB 1435 would provide relief to businesses and property owners facing cleanup and security costs from unauthorized encampments and illegal dumping; it received broad support from business, real estate, trucking, retail, and local government representatives, and was referred to suspense.
The committee also heard AB 1428, which would create a California Affordable Child Care Fund financed by a 0.5% tax on income above $10 million; child care workers and SEIU-backed witnesses supported it, while taxpayer and business groups opposed it as harmful to competitiveness and affordability. AB 691 proposed a tax credit for adopting shelter pets and covering veterinary costs, AB 1219 proposed a middle- and low-income personal income tax cut, AB 1354 proposed a credit for increased homeowners insurance premiums, AB 19 proposed an education savings account/voucher-style program, and AB 567 proposed insurance rate stabilization and related tax/fund changes; each drew testimony for and against where present, but all were referred to suspense. The meeting ended with the committee adjourning after the held-over AB 761 item was postponed.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Apr 21st, 2025
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- Add to that restaurant, hospitality, and beauty industry workers, and you're talking about hundreds of
- Excuse me for having not operated under protocol. That's quite all right.
Committee:
House Revenue and Taxation
Summary:
The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met with several bills, first reviewing housekeeping rules, announcing that AB 317 and AB 480 had been pulled, and noting that most other measures would go to suspense. The committee established a quorum and then heard AB 232, which would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax dollars for wildfire, flood, or earthquake preparedness and recovery costs. Support came from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, with no opposition testimony, but the bill was referred to suspense.
The committee then approved a consent calendar of four bills by a 4-0 vote. It next heard AB 1443 to exclude tips from state income tax for five years; AB 1435 to help small businesses and property owners recover cleanup costs from unauthorized encampments and illegal dumping; AB 1428 to create a child care fund financed by a new tax on income above $10 million; AB 691 to provide a tax credit for adopting shelter pets and paying related veterinary costs; AB 1219 to cut personal income taxes for middle- and low-income taxpayers; AB 1354 to offer a tax credit for increased residential insurance premiums; AB 19 to establish education savings accounts for school choice; and AB 567 to provide insurance rate stabilization and suspend certain insurance taxes when premiums rise sharply. Each of these bills drew testimony from authors and supporters, with some opposition on the tax and insurance measures, and each was referred to the suspense file.
Throughout the hearing, committee members generally acknowledged the policy goals of the bills while noting fiscal concerns and the need for further discussion. AB 761, the only item slated for an immediate vote, was ultimately pulled by the author and held over to the next hearing. The committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Judiciary Jan 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- consisted of court rules, local administrative orders, and recently enacted active case management protocols
- presented a challenge to some circuits regarding the time limitations under the active case management protocols
- However, in all other respects, the active case management protocols remained in place in the 4th Circuit
- process, and they've been critical to helping manage this workflow under the active case management protocols
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Thirty Three - Thursday, March 5
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- standing underneath law today in the chamber, we have Nicole Chung, Executive Director of the Christian Hospital
- Christian Hospital sought the importance of healthy eating and partnered with Lincoln University to build
- Where you already don't have hospitals, now you ain't going to have access to schools. My God.
- Where you already don't have hospitals, now you ain't going to have access to schools. My God. Mr.
- These discussions are designed to strengthen training, improve protocols, and ultimately deliver better
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 31 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> the hospital? the hospital?
- . hospital. hospital.
- And I know a lot of from the hospital.
- I don't know what the exact protocol is. I don't recall it.
- I don't know what the exact protocol is. I don't recall<03:42:38.800><c> it.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Mar 16th, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- park, and where patients park, they use about five to six crosswalks in order to get to the major hospital
- We recently put into a new protocol as to oversize, not overweight, but oversized vehicles. ...protocol
Bills:
HB309 , HB487 , HB503 , HB590 , HB606 , HB679 , HB693 , HB695 , HB707 , HB720 , HB728 , HB733 , HB746 , HB777 , HB846 , HB849 , HB856 , HB868 , HB873 , HB875
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on March 16 with a quorum present and first deferred three local bills at the sponsor’s request: HB 590, HB 679, and HB 873. The committee then advanced HB 503, which cleans up prior local language for Golden Meadow by removing a reference to electric golf carts and updating the definition of utility terrain vehicles; the technical amendment set was adopted and the bill was reported with amendments. HB 720, dealing with tacit dedication of roads and preserving historic public access to waterways and related access points, was reported favorably after members agreed to continue working on the amendment language before floor debate.
The committee spent substantial time on HB 309, which originally made it a crime to walk in a crosswalk while looking at a cell phone. After amendments converted the proposal to a $25 civil fine and added a rebuttable presumption of liability for damages, members from both parties raised concerns about enforceability, tourism and urban pedestrian patterns, free-will and overreach arguments, and the lack of data tying the conduct specifically to crosswalk crashes. The author argued the measure was intended to promote situational awareness and reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities, but after opposition testimony the bill was voluntarily deferred.
Members then reported HB 856, which expands DOTD’s use of indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity construction contracting and adds the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, after technical amendments clarified the contracts are for construction-phase work. HB 487, increasing penalties for drivers who use shoulders or turning lanes to bypass red lights, was reported with a technical correction after police support testimony. HB 846, prohibiting license plate coverings or films that obscure plates, was reported favorably after law enforcement support and discussion of clear frames versus obscuring covers. HB 733 and HB 875, both tied to OMV fee and lapse-of-insurance recommendations from the Legislative Auditor, were reported with amendments adjusting grace periods and offense timing.
The committee also took up HB 695 on consensual non-commercial towing permits. After extensive questioning about whether the bill applied to multiple vehicles, interstate travel, OMV implementation, and the practicality of an honor-system QR code permit, the sponsor agreed to amend the bill to cover multiple vehicles and then voluntarily defer it for further work with OMV and State Police. HB 777, requiring a driver’s license renewal knowledge exam, was amended at the department’s request and then voluntarily deferred for further review. HB 868, prompted by a fatal trailer accident involving a farmer’s wife, would require trailers to meet safety-chain and braking standards consistent with manufacturer specifications or federal standards; after concerns from members and the Agriculture Commissioner about impacts on older farm equipment, the bill was reported with amendments. Finally, HB 707 moved the LPG Commission’s marketing functions to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and was reported with a technical amendment, HB 693 on legislative district highway signs was voluntarily deferred after amendments, and HB 746 on local oversized trucking permits opened a broader discussion about parish-by-parish permit disparities, with the sponsor proposing a one-year moratorium on new local standards while stakeholders work toward a more uniform system.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (02/05/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> provide in their communities to hospital provide in their communities to hospital services<01:31
- Hospitals also need nurses. Hospitals in Manchester also need nurses.
- Hospitals also need nurses. Hospitals in Manchester also need nurses.
- </c><01:51:20.159><c> and</c> cook and gorm and the hospitals and cook and gorm and the hospitals and
- </c> are being discharged from the hospital are being discharged from the hospital so<02:56:53.840><c
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/19/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- :18.079><c> 20</c><00:15:19.040><c> um</c><00:15:19.440><c> again</c><00:15:19.680><c> house</c> protocols
- house file 20 um again house protocols house file 20 um again house file<00:15:20.240><c> 2259</c><00
- on how to volunteers aren't trained on how to implement<01:05:15.480><c> the</c><01:05:15.760><c> protocol
- ><01:05:16.760><c> then</c><01:05:17.079><c> having</c><01:05:17.440><c> these</c> implement the protocol
- then having these implement the protocol then having these high-tech<01:05:18.119><c> security</c><01
Committee:
House Public Safety Finance and Policy
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Tourism Apr 15th, 2026
Special Committee on Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- That's not House protocol, but I override that so you can remain at the desk.
- That's not House protocol, but I forward. Senator, you can remain.
- That's not House protocol, but I override that so you can remain at the desk.
Committee:
House Special Committee on Tourism
Summary:
The Special Committee on Tourism first met in executive session and approved the Senate substitute for Senate Bill 1000, which concerns the tourism supplemental revenue fund and how its money is collected and distributed. The motion to do pass received 11 ayes and 0 noes.
In public hearing, the committee heard House Bill 2213, which would establish U.S. Grant Day in Missouri on April 27, Grant’s birthday. Representative Riggs described Grant’s many Missouri ties and his later legacy, and members offered supportive comments. No opposition was presented, and the hearing was closed without a vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1613, which would designate November 24 as Frankie Muse Freeman Day in Missouri. Senator Mosley and supporters emphasized Freeman’s civil rights work, especially in housing discrimination and voting rights, and witnesses spoke about her legacy and the importance of remembering segregation-era history. There was no opposition.
The committee also heard House Bill 3216, which would designate May 10 as Missouri River Runner Day to raise awareness of Amtrak’s River Runner route across Missouri. Representative Wilson explained the bill’s connection to Train Awareness Day and the route’s usefulness for travel across the state, including to Jefferson City, St. Louis, and Kansas City. A witness provided informational testimony about the broader rail network and tourism value, and members discussed train travel safety and access. No opposition was offered, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Oversight REVISION 2: Delayed until 11:30 AM
Health and Human Services Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- The drug protocol only calls for a very short, less than a week protocol.
- A very short, less than a week, protocol. It's not something you take the rest of your life.
Bills:
HB2947 , HB2964 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3519 , HB3522 , HB3530 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3834 , HB4300 , HB4422 , HB4423
Committee:
House Health and Human Services Oversight
Keywords:
behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, clinical interns, mental health services, licensing requirements, medical records, patient rights, privacy, fees, healthcare access, legal claims, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, Medicaid
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Oversight REVISION 2: Delayed until 11:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- The drug protocol only calls for a very short, less than a week protocol.
- A very short, less than a week, protocol. It's not something you take the rest of your life.
Summary:
The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee considered a series of bills, beginning with House Bill 4422 and House Bill 4423, which strengthen immigration status verification for public assistance programs, including SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid. Supporters said the measures would improve eligibility checks through the SAVE system, reduce fraud, and help address Oklahoma’s high error rate in benefit programs. Members raised concerns about whether the bills could discourage eligible children or mixed-status families from seeking services, but the author said the bills were intended to target ineligible applicants and would not affect eligible U.S.-citizen children. Both bills were reported out with due pass recommendations by 8-3 votes.
The committee also advanced House Bill 3834, which would create a state-backed vehicle to support ibogaine research for conditions such as PTSD, alcoholism, and opioid addiction, with private matching funds and potential state royalties if a product is commercialized. House Bill 2947 would allow Medicaid billing for mental health therapist interns working under supervision, with an estimated fiscal impact discussed in the hundreds of thousands of dollars rather than millions; it passed 11-0. House Bill 2964 would remove the mandatory fee for copies of medical records requested by attorneys, insurers, or subpoenas, while still allowing providers to charge at their discretion; it also passed unanimously.
Several marijuana-related bills were heard. House Bill 3143 would extend the current moratorium on new marijuana grow licenses, and House Bill 3144 would cap the number of licenses if the moratorium is later lifted. Supporters argued the limits would help law enforcement and regulators control illegal activity and reduce black-market diversion, while critics questioned whether the issue was really license count or agency resources. Both bills were reported out, 9-2 and 8-2 respectively. House Bill 3519 would replace a failed bond approach for cleaning up abandoned grows with a fee-based revolving fund, and House Bill 3522 would require the ABLE Commission to report disciplinary actions annually; both passed 10-0. House Bill 3530 would give ABLE-regulated businesses 10 days to produce requested records, and House Bill 4300 would align DHS child care worker background-check statutes with federal law; both were reported out unanimously. The committee also laid over several other bills before adjourning.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/12/2026 - African American Legislative Day
Transcript Highlights:
- The joint protocol session of African American Legislative Day is called to order.
- The Joint Protocol Session of African American Legislative Day is now dissolved. Thank you.
- The joint protocol session of African American Legislative Day is now dissolved.
Summary:
The Arizona House and Senate held a joint protocol session for African American Legislative Day, opening with prayer, presentation of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and performances of the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” A representative from the Buffalo Soldiers of America also used the occasion to correct the program name and ask lawmakers for help securing a vacant building for a museum to preserve and display its historical exhibits and community work.
Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen welcomed attendees and said the event was an opportunity to hear directly from community leaders on priorities such as opportunity, public safety, education, affordability, and economic security. Representative Quante Cruz, chair of the African-American Legislative Conference, read a Black History Month proclamation and emphasized the importance of recognizing African American contributions and history. Ashley Anderson and Jerry McPherson of the Governor’s Office of African American Affairs highlighted the conference theme, “Made for This Moment,” and urged continued civic engagement, policy advocacy, and year-round collaboration with the office and community organizations.
Senator Keiana Maria Sears delivered the main remarks, focusing on Black history, legacy, and the need to keep pushing for equality, economic parity, food security, and housing access. She spoke about the experiences of Black veterans, South Phoenix history, and the importance of teaching Black history and encouraging voting and civic participation. Representative Blackman also offered brief remarks about courage, faith, and the contributions of Black Americans to the country. The session ended with closing remarks and a benediction by Representative Cruz, who stressed building connections across districts and communities, followed by adjournment of the joint protocol session.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/12/2026 - African American Legislative Day
Transcript Highlights:
- The joint protocol session of African-American Legislative Day is called to order.
- The Joint Protocol Session of African American Legislative Day is now dissolved. Thank you.
- The joint protocol session of African American Legislative Day is now dissolved.
Summary:
The joint protocol session for African American Legislative Day opened with prayer, the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and performances of the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” A representative from Buffalo Soldiers of America used the occasion to correct the program name and briefly described the organization’s history, community events, and interest in obtaining a vacant building for a museum.
Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen welcomed attendees and said the event was an opportunity to hear directly from African American leaders and advocates on issues such as opportunity, public safety, education, affordability, individual freedoms, and economic security. Representative Quante Cruz, chair of the African-American Legislative Conference, read a Black History Month proclamation and emphasized the 100-year recognition of Black History Month and the importance of honoring African American contributions in Arizona and nationally. Ashley Anderson and Jerry McPherson of the Governor’s Office of African American Affairs highlighted the conference theme, “Made for This Moment,” and urged continued civic engagement, policy advocacy, and year-round collaboration with the office.
Representative Leah Landrum Taylor introduced the guest speakers, including Senator Kiana Maria Sears, who spoke about Black history, legacy, and the need to keep pushing for justice, food security, housing, and economic parity. She reflected on her father’s military service and the barriers Black veterans faced in Arizona, including difficulty using VA benefits to buy homes, and urged attendees to use their voices and votes. Representative Blackman also offered remarks connecting the day’s message to biblical themes of courage and perseverance. The session ended with closing remarks and a benediction from Representative Cruz, who stressed building community across districts and thanked participants before the joint protocol session was dissolved.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Jan 26th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Higher Education & Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 6227 relates to formalizing data collection protocols to support parenting students.
- One of the strategies in the brief was to formalize administrative data collection protocols to better
- students and One of the strategies in the brief was to formalize administrative data collection protocols
- Achievement Council to work with institutions of higher education to develop formal data collection protocols
- We found that Oregon, Illinois, and California have formalized administrative data collection protocols
Keywords:
financial aid, higher education, private institutions, student awards, affordability, Washington college grant, postsecondary education, nondegree programs, educational access, data collection, parenting students, education, support services, academic performance, college athletics, private equity, sovereign wealth funds, student athletes, financial agreements
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AEN-PSM, AEN, AEN DEFER, AEN DEFER Public Hearings 02-07-2025
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- I definitely expect interagency coordination between the protocols.
- inter agency coordination<00:14:27.759><c> between</c><00:14:28.000><c> the</c><00:14:28.199><c> protocols
- </c><00:14:28.839><c> don't</c> coordination between the protocols don't coordination between the protocols
- University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, has thus far set up the protocols
- They have thus far set up the protocols to do the sampling.
Committee:
Senate Agriculture and Environment
Summary:
The joint AEN-PSM hearing on February 7, 2025 focused primarily on three agriculture-related measures and one animal welfare bill, with additional discussion of pesticide drift monitoring, coffee labeling, and a gas-pump labeling bill. SB 762 would create an Agricultural Crimes Council and authorize agricultural crime investigators; testimony from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Law Enforcement, the Attorney General’s office, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and several members of the public was generally supportive, with repeated calls for stronger enforcement, community involvement, and in some cases allowing investigators to be armed. Some testifiers also urged changes to the appointment process for council members, preferring neighborhood boards or local officials over gubernatorial appointments. The committee discussed combining related agricultural crime bills and noted concerns about investigator safety in remote areas.
SB 763 would establish an agriculture enforcement program within the Department of Law Enforcement and a special fund. Testimony was strongly supportive from state agencies and farm groups, with speakers emphasizing the need for more effective response to agricultural theft, poaching, and related crimes. Several public testifiers linked the bill to broader community safety and asked for clearer funding, training, coordination, performance metrics, and technology use. The committee also heard SB 1022, which would prohibit leaving pets in dangerous conditions in vehicles and allow officers, firefighters, animal control, and in some cases private citizens to rescue animals; the Attorney General said existing cruelty statutes may already cover the conduct and suggested amendments, while HPD opposed the bill. Members asked about liability for rescuers and whether the proposal might affect property-crime enforcement.
The committee also heard SB 1304 on pesticide drift monitoring funding, with the Department of Agriculture supporting the measure and explaining it was needed to complete a required project under an EPA-related agreement. A Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action representative raised concerns about the methodology of prior studies, and a public testifier described a recent odor incident near a roadway and school. SB 1015, requiring labels on gas dispensing equipment warning about fossil fuel impacts, drew support from the Department of Agriculture and the Public Utilities Commission but opposition from the Hawaii Energy Marketers Association. SB 500 on coffee labeling and regional origin was also heard, with the Department of Agriculture in support. In decision-making, the committees adopted recommendations to pass SB 762 with amendments, SB 763 with amendments, SB 1022 with technical amendments, SB 1304 with technical amendments, and SB 1015 as is; SB 500 was not acted on in the portion provided.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- health care workers to be vaccinated, especially in our medical schools, when they're going into hospital
- First off, hospitals were mentioned. Hospitals are not affected in this bill.
- Hospital staff are not affected by this.
- First off, hospitals will mention hospitals are not affected in this bill.
- Hospital staff are not affected by this.
Bills:
HB2015 , HB2060 , HB2062 , HB2100 , HB2118 , HB2165 , HB2258 , HB2327 , HB2397 , HB2445 , HB2460 , HB2641 , HB2745 , HB2876 , HB2917 , HB4011 , HB4049 , HB4056 , HB4087 , HCR2013 , HCR2016 , HCR2040 , HCR2044 , HCR2048 , HCR2056
Keywords:
budget procedures, late filing penalty, accounting standards, financial reporting, state appropriations, abortion, educational institutions, health education, state aid, public schools, Buffalo Soldiers, monument, commemoration, Arizona, public funding, Wesley Bolin Plaza, military history, historical memorial, small land subdivision, land use
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Aug 19th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- When an uninsured patient cannot pay for their care, hospitals and emergency physicians rely on the Maddy
- Without this support, hospitals will be forced to stretch care within their already dwindling numbers
- While the driver followed all safety protocols, his fire extinguisher was too far away to be effective
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- the pictures of my pregnant daughter laying on the ground because MoDOT did not follow their own protocols
- I was hospitalized for five weeks at With her baby, Jack Allen.
- I was hospitalized for five weeks and in outpatient therapy until December of 2022, all because my supervisor
Summary:
The Transportation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2926, which would extend sovereign immunity and a $500,000 liability cap to private contractors and subcontractors working on Missouri Department of Transportation projects under certain conditions. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to protect contractors from being named in lawsuits before they begin work, or when they have followed MoDOT plans and specifications and are being sued as “deep pockets” despite no negligence. Several members repeatedly questioned the bill’s language and whether immunity would apply before work starts, during construction, and after project completion, with witnesses offering differing readings and acknowledging the draft may need clarification.
Supporters, including representatives from asphalt, construction, insurance, and engineering groups, argued that contractors are routinely sued in work-zone crashes even when they did nothing wrong, driving up insurance premiums and legal costs that ultimately affect taxpayers and project delivery. They cited examples of lawsuits filed before contractors had even set foot on a site, and said the bill would align Missouri with other states that extend similar protections. Opponents, including trial attorneys, a public advocate, and individuals who described serious injuries or family deaths in MoDOT-related incidents, argued the bill would reduce accountability, limit recovery for injured people, and improperly extend government immunity to private businesses. They said existing tort rules already allow dismissal of claims against parties with no duty or negligence, and warned the bill could make it harder for injured people to find attorneys or recover full damages.
The committee did not take a vote during the portion provided. The chair limited testimony as the hearing ran long, and the bill remained under public testimony with additional witnesses still to come.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Jan 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- creates a 20-cent tax per month per line on all wireless, cell, prepaid wireless, voice over Internet protocol
- 11,000 instead of the 4,000 homes impacted, a number of commercial and agricultural properties, a hospital
- , ...impacted, a number of commercial and agricultural properties, hospitals, government facilities,
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2579, which would create a Public Media Broadcaster Program and a Digital Equity Program funded by a 20-cent-per-line monthly tax on wireless, prepaid wireless, VoIP, and landline service. Staff explained that 80% of the revenue would support public media grants, 20% would support digital equity grants, and a small share could be used for administration. The prime sponsor, Rep. Chris Stearns, and many public media, community media, and digital equity supporters testified that public radio and television provide emergency alerts, local news, education, training, and community connection, especially in rural and underserved areas, and that federal funding cuts have made state support more urgent. Several witnesses described how public media helped with emergency communications, youth training, Indigenous programming, and access to local information.
Opposition came from CTIA and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes. CTIA argued the tax would add to already high wireless taxes in Washington and would be regressive because low-income residents rely heavily on wireless service. Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes objected to the bill as another tax increase and said it would worsen affordability. One supporter said an amendment would be offered to address a misunderstanding in the fiscal note. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing.
The committee then received a cybersecurity and critical infrastructure briefing from state emergency management and cybersecurity officials. They described Washington’s layered cybersecurity model, the role of state agencies, the Fusion Center, WOTEC, the National Guard, and the Emergency Management Division, and the growing threat from ransomware, supply-chain attacks, and AI-enabled attacks. Members asked about volunteer cyber response capacity, the most vulnerable sectors, and whether the legislature should fund more real-time threat monitoring and intelligence sharing. Officials said the state is working to establish a volunteer cyber incident response team and that the main gap is real-time monitoring across participating local and private networks.
The committee also heard updates on the December 2025 flooding response and wildfire resilience. Emergency management officials reported widespread flooding, landslides, power outages, evacuations, rescues, and infrastructure damage, but said mitigation investments helped prevent worse outcomes. They identified gaps in statewide alerting, search and rescue coordination, and local emergency management capacity, and said a statewide alert system like Oregon’s would require ongoing funding. In the wildfire update, DNR and partner agencies described increasing wildfire risk, the use of aircraft, AI-enabled detection cameras, and common operating pictures, and ongoing work on hazard and risk mapping, community wildfire preparedness, and home hardening. Members asked about predictive technology, sediment removal, and other mitigation tools, and officials said they are working with universities and federal partners to improve prevention and response.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Labor & Workplace Standards
Transcript Highlights:
- About 25 years ago, when I was a CNA, I was pregnant and my uncle was in the hospital in critical condition
- Hospital 24-09 honors the principle of, then I get to work by ensuring that when people do the work that
- But for those inspection protocols and that framework, we think that gives manufacturers here and out
Committee:
House Labor & Workplace Standards
Keywords:
labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, factory built housing, commercial structures, national standards, construction regulation, building safety, workers' compensation, benefits, employment, injury claims, insurance, liability, fire protection, sprinkler systems, licensed contractors, certified fitters