Transcript Highlights:

• That will be up to the transportation.
• Budget capacity, staffing capacity, transportation capacity.
• Um also um we transportation capacity.
• There's a transportation issue in Ohio.
• Minnesota, Michigan, behave responsibly.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This Conference Committee Report contains our supplemental transportation budget proposal.
• The latest bipartisan transportation budget proposal that comes before the Senate.
• The latest bipartisan transportation budget proposal comes before the Senate on transportation.
• In Washington State, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
• We also know that the transportation system has had uneven impacts on Washingtonians across time.

Bills: SCR8410 , SCR8410

Keywords: returning bills to house of origin, sine die, end of session, legislative procedure, Rules Committee, third reading, unfinished business, pending bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, joint memorials, special session, bill numbering, legislative records, House of Representatives, Washington Legislature, session adjournment, procedural resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair recognizes the gentle lady from Minnesota, Miss Morrison, for five minutes.
• ><c> seek</c> gentleman from Minnesota seek gentleman from Minnesota seek recognition?
• </c> ship played a vital role in transporting ship played a vital role in transporting troops<02:16:48.000
• </c><06:05:36.400><c> and</c> Committee on Transportation and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• </c><06:05:43.760><c> and</c> committee on transportation and committee on transportation and infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Transportation 100 million. Transportation 100 million.
• </c> Transportation Committee. Transportation Committee.
• </c> been uncovered in Minnesota. been uncovered in Minnesota. Remember<04:21:08.880><c> that?
• </c> subject of the fraud in Minnesota. subject of the fraud in Minnesota.
• </c> of Minnesota. of Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• they're at DHS, whether they're within the autism program, child care, non-emergency medical transportation
• Chair, members, the citation that Representative Fisher noted is the current citation that is in the Minnesota
• is the current citation that is in noted is the current citation that is in the<00:18:10.040><c> Minnesota
• </c><00:18:10.480><c> rules</c><00:18:11.000><c> and</c><00:18:12.000><c> um</c> the Minnesota rules
• and um the Minnesota rules and um it's<00:18:12.800><c> just</c><00:18:13.000><c> drafted</c><00:18:13.480

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Powski, former member of the Minnesota Powski, former member of the Minnesota House,<00:04:10.879
• </c> of the people of Minnesota. of the people of Minnesota.
• </c><00:25:03.679><c> Counties</c> Association of Min Minnesota Counties Association of Min Minnesota
• </c> and Britta Torqulson from the Minnesota and Britta Torqulson from the Minnesota Rural<00:25:08.799
• </c> ecosystem in Minnesota. Thank you. ecosystem in Minnesota. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• To move this ahead, we will need to transport oil, gas, and electrons, requiring either pipelines or
• To move this ahead, we will need to transport oil, gas, and electrons, requiring either pipelines or
• To move this ahead, we will need to transport oil, gas, and electrons, requiring either pipelines or
• All the CO2 that was transported up there is now locked in the rocks or being used in that closed-loop
• It's very small physically, creating some challenges with storage and transport.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota has passed it. A number... Everybody needs to be informed.
• The language I should say, which is adopted from Minnesota, and that was by suggestion by one of the
• Minnesota has passed it. A number...
• Minnesota has passed it.
• I believe that individual has some pretty solid experience from Minnesota, specifically.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• to the laws of Minnesota.
• to the laws of Minnesota.
• </c> have has a reach outside of Minnesota have has a reach outside of Minnesota but<00:25:09.399><c>
• you're subject to the laws in Minnesota you're subject to the laws of<00:25:38.520><c> Minnesota</c>
• </c><00:27:01.520><c> that</c> happening within Minnesota that happening within Minnesota that Minnesota

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> security in our schools and Minnesota security in our schools and Minnesota can<00:23:13.600><c>
• </c> Minnesota taxpayers to solve a Minnesota Minnesota taxpayers to solve a Minnesota issue<00:40:37.560
• </c> opportunity to point out that Minnesota opportunity to point out that Minnesota Falls<00:47:50.359
• </c> for nearly 30,000 students in Minnesota for nearly 30,000 students in Minnesota so<01:05:02.880>
• </c><01:32:03.320><c> repres</c> public schools in Minnesota repres public schools in Minnesota repres

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Sir, you mentioned, was it a Minnesota study? Objective evidence.
• Sir, you mentioned, was it a Minnesota study in Wisconsin? Wisconsin? Yes. Somewhere cold.
• It includes transportation by force, taking children out of homes, off school buses.
• So that check mark dropping down to some paragraph three on line 16, a court can’t order the transportation
• So that check mark dropping down to some paragraph three on line 16 a court can't order the transportation

Bills: HB40 , HB1916 , HB1973 , HB2524 , HB2530 , HB3180 , HB3421 , HB3783 , HB4170 , HB4213 , HB40

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee heard several House bills, most of them relating to family law and court procedure, and left each bill pending after testimony. House Bill 1916 would clarify that the court that issued a final divorce decree retains exclusive jurisdiction over later actions involving undivided property. House Bill 1973 would require a certified birth certificate, if reasonably available, to be filed with a SAPCR petition or allow alternative proof of parentage while keeping the information confidential. House Bill 2530 would add qualifications and procedural safeguards for appointing amicus attorneys in SAPCR cases, including notice and hearing requirements, minimum qualifications, conflict rules, and limits on what amicus attorneys may do. House Bill 2524 would make Family Code references to attorney’s fees consistent by using “reasonable and necessary” language. House Bill 3180 would correct a scrivener’s error in the civil discovery rules by changing “settlement” to “statement.” The committee also heard House Bill 4213, which would change the interest rate on overdue child support from the current 6 percent simple interest to a fixed 5 percent and require the Attorney General to report on the impact of the change. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters argued lower interest could improve collections and help low-income obligors catch up, citing research and the size of child-support arrearages; opponents said lowering the rate would reduce incentives to pay and harm custodial parents and children. The Attorney General’s office raised implementation concerns about a House version that would have created a variable rate, while the committee substitute was described as restoring a simple fixed rate. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also discussed House Bill 40, updating business court provisions and supplemental jurisdiction; House Bill 3421, streamlining probate procedures for original wills and copies; and House Bill 417, clarifying venue for lawsuits involving private transfer fees on real property. Each drew limited testimony and was left pending. Finally, House Bill 3783 drew extensive testimony on court-ordered counseling and reunification therapy in family cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would protect children and abuse victims from coercive, unregulated reunification practices, while opponents argued it was too broad, could interfere with legitimate therapy and judicial discretion, and might affect military families and other high-conflict cases. The committee heard testimony from judges, therapists, parents, survivors, and advocates, but took no final action and left the bill pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did not study whether or not Minnesota had a false claims act, but I looked at whether or not Wyoming
• as a result of the out of Minnesota as a result of the extensive<00:35:07.760><c> fraud</c><00:35:08.320
• had a false claims act, but I Minnesota had a false claims act, but I looked<00:35:27.920><c> at</c>
• An issue that happened with the Department of Transportation—not to say that it actually did, but where
• An issue that happened with the Department of Transportation—not to say that it actually did, but where

Bills: SF0087 , SF0088 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we had two ambulances called that day for mental health transports.
• I think we had three health transports.
• It is a Facebook post from the Autism Society of Minnesota.
• </c><01:52:40.080><c> What</c><01:52:40.320><c> struck</c> Autism Society of Minnesota.
• What struck Autism Society of Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• I paid up to $2,000 for a rigorous program to be certified in the state of Minnesota.
• Um, after I in the state of Minnesota.
• </c> development policy for the Minnesota development policy for the Minnesota Chamber<00:15:39.120><
• So uh um area of service into Minnesota.
• Uh I will also talent here in Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• They can go to the transportation department and say, hey, you know what, I'd be willing to put in more
• My name is Doug Pickett, and I represent District 27, Kaja, Oneida, Minnesota, Minnesota County.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Melissa Hortman was the 61st Speaker of the House of the great state of Minnesota.
• May we have a moment of silence for the families of the mentioned individuals: Minnesota Speaker Melissa
• Requiring the transport of a serious youthful offender to a district court when ordered and for that

Transcript Highlights:

• , including Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• </c> in greater Minnesota. in greater Minnesota.
• </c> across Minnesota. across Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• or reporting requirement for any use of the chemical in any product, like in other states, like Minnesota
• Just looking at, and who knows anymore, what AI is telling me about Maine, Minnesota, but it looks to
• like they're backing off several that, I guess what you're saying, so I looked up what Maine and Minnesota
• they manufacture a range of products including paper, food, building materials, airplanes, and transportation
• Of products, including paper, food, building materials, airplanes, and transportation fuels.

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on PFAS, no-cost allowance allocation for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries (EITEs), and regional resource adequacy. Department of Ecology staff outlined Washington’s Safer Products for Washington PFAS program, including completed restrictions on intentionally added PFAS in outdoor furniture, carpets, stain/water-resistant treatments, and newer rules adopted in November restricting PFAS in most apparel, cleaners, and automotive washes, with reporting required for some remaining products such as cookware and firefighting gear. Ecology also reviewed a 2024 biosolids PFAS sampling study showing PFOS and PFOA levels in Washington biosolids were comparable to other states, and the Department of Health reported that PFAS monitoring of Group A public water systems is nearly complete, with 317 sources and 188 systems expected to exceed contaminant levels under the new federal-aligned state standards. Members asked about consumer sales, compliance, private wells, health impacts, and the cost of treatment, which DOH estimated at roughly $970 million for public water system treatment alone, with a remaining funding gap after state and federal support. Ecology then presented its analysis of no-cost allowance allocation to EITEs under the Climate Commitment Act. Staff explained that EITEs receive allowances to reduce emissions leakage and protect competitiveness, with allocations based on 2015–2019 production and emissions data and phased reductions from 100% in the first compliance period to 94% in 2031–2034. Ecology said it is preparing a report due by the end of 2025 on policy options for 2035–2050, after extensive engagement with industry, labor, environmental, utility, port, and tribal stakeholders. Senators asked about leakage, comparisons with California and Quebec, whether specific industries such as Boeing or semiconductor manufacturers are included, and whether EITEs are banking or selling allowances; Ecology said the report will address benchmarking, leakage mitigation, decarbonization barriers, and economic and environmental justice impacts. E3 then presented a regional resource adequacy study for the Pacific Northwest, warning that electricity demand is rising faster than in years past, retirements are outpacing replacements, and the region could face supply shortfalls beginning in 2026, especially during extended winter cold events. The study found that wind, solar, and batteries provide limited reliability value in the Northwest’s winter-peaking, hydro-dependent system, while firm gas and emerging technologies such as geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture, and long-duration storage may play larger roles. E3 estimated a near-term gap of about 9,000 megawatts by 2030, with roughly 3,000 megawatts of advanced-development resources and a remaining gap of about 6,000 megawatts if planned projects do not materialize. Members asked about Energy Northwest, hydro, data centers, battery storage, transmission, and whether neighboring states’ coal use affects Washington; E3 emphasized the need to accelerate permitting, interconnection, and project development. Finally, EPRI briefed the committee on its DC Flex initiative, which is studying how data centers can operate more flexibly to reduce strain on the grid and protect ratepayers. The presentation described work streams on flexible data center design, utility programs and tariffs, operational forecasting and interconnection, and on-site energy supply options, along with demonstrations in the U.S. and abroad. The speaker said the goal is to make data centers more responsive to grid conditions without compromising uptime, and noted that the initiative has a public forum and website for broader participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• or reporting requirement for any use of the chemical in any product, like in other states, like Minnesota
• I think, Chair, just looking at, and who knows anymore, what AI is telling me about Maine, Minnesota,
• like they're backing off several that, I guess what you're saying, so I looked up what Maine and Minnesota
• they manufacture a range of products including paper, food, building materials, airplanes, and transportation
• Of products, including paper, food, building materials, airplanes, and transportation fuels.

Summary: The committee held a work session covering PFAS regulation and impacts, no-cost allowance allocation for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries (EITEs), and regional resource adequacy and data center load growth. Senator Victoria Hunt was welcomed as a new member. The Department of Ecology reviewed Washington’s Safer Products for Washington PFAS work, including completed restrictions on PFAS in outdoor furniture, carpets, rugs, stain/water-resistant treatments, and newer rules adopted in November restricting PFAS in most apparel, cleaning products, and automotive washes, with reporting requirements for some other products such as cookware and firefighting gear. Ecology also described Cycle 2 PFAS reviews now underway, including artificial turf and paints, and answered questions about compliance, online sales, sell-through periods, and how Washington’s approach differs from broader bans in states like Maine and Minnesota. The Department of Ecology also presented on PFAS in biosolids, describing a 2024 sampling study, limitations in testing methods, and a 2025 statutory amendment requiring additional sampling between 2027 and 2028 and a report to the legislature in 2029. The Department of Health then updated the committee on PFAS in drinking water, reporting that most Group A public water systems have completed sampling, that 317 sources and 188 systems are expected to exceed new contaminant levels, and that treatment costs for public systems are estimated at about $970 million, leaving a large funding gap; members also asked about private wells, health effects, bathing exposure, and home filters. The Board of Health’s new state action levels are being aligned with federal MCLs, and the department said it expects to continue monitoring and notification under state rules. Ecology also briefed the committee on no-cost allowance allocations to EITEs under the Climate Commitment Act, explaining the leakage-mitigation rationale, the current allocation schedule through 2034, and a forthcoming report on policy options for 2035-2050; members asked about industry barriers, competitiveness, and whether facilities might leave the state. Finally, E3 presented a regional resource adequacy study showing rising load, retirements outpacing additions, limited winter reliability value from wind, solar, and batteries, and a projected shortfall beginning in 2026 that could grow to about 9,000 MW by 2030 if planned projects are not built. The presentation emphasized winter cold-weather events, hydro variability, the importance of permitting and transmission, and longer-term options including nuclear, geothermal, hydrogen, carbon capture, and long-duration storage. EPRI then introduced its DC Flex initiative, which is studying how data centers can provide flexible load through workload shifting, cooling optimization, and on-site backup or bridging resources to reduce grid stress and protect ratepayers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriation of Transportation, Technology, and Natural Resources.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology, and public safety.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology.