Transcript Highlights:

• do is figure out what a budget is for maintenance of the roads, keeping Halepohaku, and then they split
• roads, um keeping Halepohaku, and then roads, um keeping Halepohaku, and then they<00:20:49.960> split
• 00:20:50.840> the<00:20:51.040> the<00:20:51.440> observatory<00:20:52.120> split
• they split the the the observatory split they split the the the observatory split up<00:20:53.040

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts held a confirmation hearing on GM 742 for John Komeiji, the gubernatorial nominee to serve as chairperson of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority through 6/30/2029. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. The executive director of the authority, representatives of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation and the Mauna Kea observatories, and authority member Noenoe Wong-Wilson all praised Komeiji’s leadership, describing him as fair, transparent, steady, and effective at building trust and relationships among stakeholders. Chris Matsuda also supported the nomination, citing Komeiji’s presence at community workshops, his neutral facilitation of public discussion, and his careful handling of the authority’s work on observatory leases and the comprehensive EIS. In his remarks, Komeiji described the authority’s work as implementing Act 255 by building a new state agency, developing a master plan, drafting rules and regulations, and beginning the process for a comprehensive environmental impact statement related to observatory leases. He said the authority is trying to balance community voice, cultural and spiritual concerns, and the state’s policy supporting astronomy. He also discussed staffing and recruitment challenges, saying the authority is repurposing positions, using special project positions, and looking for creative ways to recruit qualified staff despite the controversy surrounding Mauna Kea. He noted that the authority is working through asset transfers from UH, managing operational needs, and addressing a projected $4 million federal funding gap affecting CMS. Members asked about timelines, contingency planning, staffing capacity, and financial sustainability. Komeiji said the authority is on track for the master plan and EIS, but would return to the legislature if delays require more time. He acknowledged that no detailed contingency plans have been developed yet for possible IT or other implementation problems, but said the board is continuing to monitor progress. He also said the authority is accelerating contracts to encumber funds while available and expects to cover planned EIS and master plan consultant costs if funding remains at current levels. After discussion, the committee voted to advise and consent; the chair and acting vice chair voted aye, with excused absences noted for Senators Inouye, Chang, and Lamosao. The measure was adopted and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ben and Mary and I tend to coordinate and split things up as they come through this committee.
• Ben and Mary and I tend to coordinate um Ben and Mary and I tend to coordinate and<00:09:17.480> split
• things up as they come through and split things up as they come through this<00:09:19.320> committee
• c><00:21:14.360> and<00:21:14.600> I<00:21:15.159> basically<00:21:15.559> split
• <00:21:15.960> that chair so she and I basically split that chair so she and I basically split

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee met for an introductory session focused on committee organization, staff roles, and an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction. Members and staff introduced themselves, and the chair explained that one member was absent due to a meeting with the governor. House fiscal staff member John Walls reviewed the committee’s budget spreadsheet and explained the agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction, including the Supreme Court, Board of Civil Legal Aid, Court of Appeals, district courts, Guardian ad Litem Board, Tax Court, Uniform Laws Commission, Board of Judicial Standards, Board of Public Defense, Human Rights Commission, Office of Appellate Counsel and Training, and the Competency Restoration Board. He also explained how fiscal notes work and how costs or revenue impacts are tracked for bills. Nathan Hopkins then described the committee’s broad civil law jurisdiction, covering areas such as property, torts, contracts, civil rights, consumer protection, employment, family law, remedies, statutes of limitations, damages, burdens of proof, due process, and attorney general enforcement. He also outlined the committee’s role in government data practices under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, emphasizing the distinction between transparency and privacy and noting that bills affecting Chapter 13 are often re-referred to this committee. Ben Johnson added that he handles appropriations and court-related policy provisions, with most budget drafting expected later in the session. A member asked about the Competency Restoration Board, and Johnson explained that it was created to address cases involving criminal defendants found incompetent to proceed, with the goal of coordinating placements and services to restore competency rather than serving as long-term civil commitment. The chair also noted the importance of privacy and technology issues, mentioning past bipartisan work on body cameras, license plate readers, and drones. The meeting ended with a brief announcement about a law school for legislators program and an invitation to attend upcoming Zoom sessions, after which the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You look at when you did that conducting a study of the impact of the rate floor payments.
• You look at when you did that conducting a study of the impact of the rate floor payments.
• You look at when you did that conducting a study of the impact of the rate floor payments.
• You look at when you did that conducting a study of the impact of the rate floor payments.
• Um Aaron May Quaid take split committee. Um Aaron May Quaid take it<02:58:31.840> out.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• classes, but only 6% of that 11,000 is taking the architecture and construction cluster, which is then split
• So you can look and say there's 265 in welding, but that's split between 10th through 12th grade, so
• Also, one last point that I hear so often is when you have programs split around the county and just
• able to follow through these programs also last point that I hear so often is when you have programs split

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Why is that split weighted a little bit higher toward higher education?
• The split, as you can see, between K12 and higher education is about The K12 and higher education split
• If you follow the split, that would be about $76 million for higher education and $200 million for K-

Bills: SB113, SB114, SB305, SB111, HB600, SB112, SB150, SB109, SB122

Keywords: education funding, appropriations, local education boards, school safety, workforce development, Alabama, technology, higher education, career technology centers, public institutions, grants, local education agencies, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students

Transcript Highlights:

• We send our payments to South Carolina. they're skilled in doing that.
• <00:50:11.359> There's Our payments to South Carolina.
• <02:58:30.960> for deprivives workers of full payment for deprivives workers of full payment
• <03:00:35.439> records, payroll records, payment records, payroll records, payment records
• <03:19:23.279> hairs<03:19:23.600> here there's a way of splitting hairs here there's

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would split that money significantly over to the operations that are going on at HTA that we need
• We would split that money significantly over to the operations that are going on at HTA that we need
• We would split that money significantly over to the operations that are going on at HTA that we need
• And then finally, on page 11, you'll see it's two because they're split funded on a 25 special fund.
• jurisdictions and had split jurisdictions and had split jurisdictions<00:54:52.160> so<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that we should not allow any elected official that is not a member of this house to split this house
• >> Yes. >> So what did you get a split on the resolution?
• <01:00:11.920> on<01:00:12.079> the >> So what did you get a split on the >
• ;> So what did you get a split on the resolution?
• They split the public and private schools.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• many crashes at the I-89 junction interchange, particularly as you're coming into Concord for the split
• 00:26:47.120> the you coming into conquered um for the you coming into conquered um for the split
• 26:50.159> both<00:26:50.400> have<00:26:50.640> lots<00:26:50.880> of split
• So they both have lots of split at 93.
• kind of DOT, you've always kind of split kind of DOT, you've always kind of split the<00:31:21.440

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, it is a water splitting on the electrochemical process. We use 100% renewable energy.
• The reactor has, um, the catalyst inside of it, and then the cat the catalyst can split the water.
• So electrolyzer is use electricity to split the water.
• But for this technology, we use the solar energy directly to split the water and then to generate the
• So under the um photocatalytic oxidation process, and the water will be split and then generated the

Transcript Highlights:

• We sort of have similar concerns about the lot splitting bill, which was 2025 House Bill 1096.
• raises some concerns administratively for us as far as how cities are supposed to track these lot splits
• You could imagine, for example, a larger residential lot where somebody splits off a portion and then
• several connections removed from the original property owner, also wishes to take advantage of a lot split
• about how the newer tools were still figuring out how to integrate unit lot subdivision and lot splitting

Summary: The committee held a work session on local government issues, beginning with an update from the State Building Code Council on four legislatively mandated code amendments now in CR-102 rulemaking: temporary emergency shelters, reduced minimum dwelling unit size, multiplex housing up to three stories and six units, and single-exit apartment buildings up to six stories. Council staff also described a separate embodied-carbon appendix proposal that remains under public review, with testimony both supporting and opposing it. Members asked about the rationale for some of the code limits, including the restriction on connecting multiplex buildings. The committee then heard a panel on annexations from MRSC, Pierce County, and the Association of Washington Cities. Witnesses reviewed annexation methods, including petition, election, and interlocal agreement approaches, and said larger annexations are increasingly using interlocal agreements because they can address infrastructure, revenue sharing, and public process concerns. They described barriers such as inconsistent local standards, the cost of infrastructure, referendum risk, census requirements, and the difficulty of persuading residents and local officials to support annexation. Members asked about the five-year restriction on residential zoning changes in one annexation method and whether a hearing examiner could reduce political pressure on local decision-makers. A second panel discussed subdivision reform. The Master Builders Association urged raising the short-plat threshold within urban growth areas to 30 lots as a simpler first step, citing permitting delays and added housing costs. The City of Spokane described implementation problems with recent housing laws, including uncertainty about how to review plats under HB 1110, lot-splitting administration, and added notice requirements for unit lot subdivisions. AWC said there was broad agreement that subdivision decisions should be more administrative, but public hearings remained a point of disagreement. The committee also heard from FutureWise, the Washington State Association of Counties, and Lewis County on county development regulation and enforcement, with witnesses emphasizing underfunded code enforcement, inconsistent standards between counties and cities, and the need for better coordination, incentives, and possibly stronger enforcement tools. No votes were taken; the chair said the committee would continue working on possible solutions in future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• closer to you all since you're<00:15:36.560> the<00:15:36.800> evenly<00:15:37.279> split
• <00:15:38.480> Um you're the evenly split chamber here?
• Um you're the evenly split chamber here?
• they<00:15:58.320> have<00:15:58.480> sent<00:15:58.720> a<00:15:58.959> split
• Senate and they have sent a split house. Senate and they have sent a split house.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Democratic leaders and House Republican leaders announced a compromise set of budget targets reached Friday night, describing it as a numbers-only deal that leaves policy issues aside. They said the targets are the first step in the budget process: House committee chairs will write bills to fit the targets, those bills will go to Ways and Means, and later leaders will negotiate global targets with the governor and Senate. Leaders emphasized that the agreement reflects compromise rather than either party’s ideal budget, and that they will continue talks with Governor Walz and the Senate over the next several weeks. The speakers highlighted what was not included in the deal, saying it does not target paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time, reproductive rights, or universal school meals. They said the House priorities that did make it in include housing, education, pensions, public safety, and transportation. On education, they said the compromise provides $40 million in new money in the first biennium for the READ Act and no cuts in either biennium, contrasting that with larger cuts in the governor’s and Senate proposals. They also said schools could still choose to fund unemployment insurance for school workers from existing resources, though it was not earmarked in the targets. Leaders said the agreement leaves room for committee chairs to make choices within the targets, including in health and human services, where they described the target as a reduction in projected growth rather than a cut to existing appropriations. They said the budget plan sets aside discretionary inflation adjustments in the first biennium while preserving inflation indexing for items like the K-12 formula. They also said the deal improves the state’s long-term balance, with a projected $1.6 billion balance in the first biennium and a $1.3 billion deficit in the second, and that the House’s numbers do not include the same revenue assumptions as the governor’s and Senate’s plans. In questions, leaders said conference committees will require majority support from both House and Senate conferees, and that the House will send equal numbers of Democratic and Republican conferees. They said the bonding bill size is still under discussion, but the adopted numbers would allow for roughly a $700 million general obligation bill. They also said large state spending for professional sports facilities is likely over, and explained that the press conference was held without Republican leaders for logistical reasons after the deal was reached late Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are also major security concerns with digital payments that don't exist with cash payments.
• Companies cannot misuse your data after a cash payment.
• > to<02:24:00.720> everybody, payments not accessible to everybody, payments not accessible
• <02:24:09.680> The<02:24:09.920> Payment The Payment Choice Act is rooted in fundamental
• That's not just ironic; it is a glaring contradiction in our payment systems.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, May 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When an officer walks up to a car, they often must make split-second decisions about whether the driver
• I make high monthly payments.
• I make high monthly payments.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 46 bills covering bicycle and pedestrian safety, autonomous and specialty vehicles, street design, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate co-chair Brendan Crighton opened the hearing, noted that Senate Bill 2347 was postponed at the sponsor’s request, and explained the hearing procedures. No votes were taken during the hearing. A major portion of testimony focused on autonomous vehicles. Labor representatives from the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Machinists, and app-based driver organizations opposed bills that would authorize fully autonomous vehicles, arguing they could displace workers, weaken bargaining power, increase congestion, and create safety and data-privacy risks. Waymo and Chamber of Progress supported legislation creating a framework for autonomous vehicles, saying the technology has strong safety results and could improve mobility and economic opportunity, but they opposed provisions requiring a human operator in the vehicle. Transportation and environmental advocates urged stronger oversight, local control, crash-data reporting, and privacy protections before deployment. Several bills on pedestrian and bicycle safety drew support from advocates and affected residents. Testimony backed measures to improve crosswalk timing for slower pedestrians, raise penalties for crosswalk violations, expand truck sideguard and safety-device requirements, and improve roadway marking reflectivity. AARP, MassBike, and other advocates emphasized the need to protect older adults, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, while some speakers opposed bills expanding e-bike access to sidewalks and natural-surface trails, citing safety concerns. The committee also heard strong support for the Blue Envelope program for drivers with autism and developmental disabilities, with testimony from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, and individuals describing how the program can reduce misunderstandings during traffic stops and crashes.

Transcript Highlights:

• effort in pushing this legislation forward, which... ...which is helping with some differential payments
• The neighbor islands are able to use the half percent to have those differential payments and increase
• Instead of splitting the membership, we both want individual members.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, regarding the payment error rate, as with other policy changes of this scale, the time limit
• could increase the payment error rate in federal fiscal year 2027.
• As soon as a community school agrees to the partnership, an incentive grant would be provided and split

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we never actually collected that, which means it’s a straight payment from the road fund.
• It writes a check that we never actually collected that payment for to the Port District.
• one year of preservation and then modified our preservation program to be, for economy of scale, splitting

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• the placement does not work out and the referral agency is utilized again, they receive yet another payment
• And this evening, members, I just want to say we split today's schedule between today and tomorrow so
• unanimously out of the Senate, requiring health care providers to provide an itemized bill requesting payment

Bills: SB331, SB883, SB926, SB1137, SB1138, SB1144, SB1151, SB1236, SB1270, SB1522, SB1869, SB2207, SB2422

Keywords: healthcare, cost disclosure, transparency, administrative penalties, health facility compliance, COVID-19, off-label use, prescription drugs, patient access, medical standards, insurance, physician ranking, incentives, fiduciary duty, health plan issuers, SB 1137, group home, assisted living, residential care, board and care

Transcript Highlights:

• So, on a split vote, the bill does not advance. So, thank you very much for your testimony.
• So,<00:12:39.520> on<00:12:39.680> a<00:12:39.760> split<00:12:40.200> vote,<
• > the<00:12:40.560> bill<00:12:41.040> does<00:12:41.320> not So, on a split
• vote, the bill does not So, on a split vote, the bill does not advance.<00:12:42.839> So,<00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But that's the area that I see as being a real subjective call as to how that fund's gonna be split.
• But that's the area that I see as being a real subjective call as to how that fund's gonna be split.
• If one of the concerns you have is that perhaps we ought to be doing a 50/50 split or taking and saying
• that it has to be within a certain number of miles or something for the Split.

Bills: SB1519, SB1775, SB1900, SB1948, SB2080

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI