Transcript Highlights:

• on a person based on participation in activities protected by the U.S.
• a person based on participation in activities protected by the U.S.
• legal in the state, including protected health care activity.
• And we don't mind. protected activity.
• So if I've got some of this activity, who am I going to call?

Bills: HB99 , HB38 , HB165 , HB127 , HB72 , HB151 , SB40 , SB104 , SB136 , SB164

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 40, a committee substitute addressing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and privacy. Sponsor Sen. Worth said the bill was intended to preserve ALPRs as a law-enforcement tool while adding guardrails to prevent sharing or selling data for immigration enforcement, protected health care activity, or criminalizing constitutionally protected conduct. Supporters included state and local law enforcement, the ACLU, immigrant-rights, reproductive-rights, and sexual-assault advocacy groups. Law enforcement witnesses said the bill balanced privacy with public safety and cited cases where ALPRs helped locate kidnapped children, murder suspects, and stolen vehicles; opponents and some senators argued the bill was too narrow, too focused on immigration and health care, and raised concerns about federal law, data sales, and enforcement. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment removing subsection F, then approved the committee substitute and advanced SB 40 on a do-pass motion. The committee then heard Senate Bill 104, which would create a process for removing wildlife commissioners after the 2023 wildlife commission legislation and the governor’s veto of the prior removal language. Sen. Worth explained that SB 104 would allow the governor to initiate removal for malfeasance, incompetence, or failure to attend meetings, with notice, a hearing, and exclusive review by the state Supreme Court; he said it was modeled on the Board of Regents removal process and was intended to complete the wildlife commission reforms. The New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Audubon Southwest, and the Department of Game and Fish supported the bill, saying it would depoliticize wildlife management and provide stability. Senators asked about the existing “three consecutive meetings” vacancy language, current vacancies, and the prior removal of a commissioner. The committee discussed the governor’s earlier veto and whether the bill was necessary, but no amendment was adopted and the committee approved SB 104 on a do-pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It actually actively destabilizes the entire market. Please oppose this.
• It actually actively destabilizes the entire market.
• Costs must remain separate from dedicated 911 funding as required by our all to activate.
• Ground-floor activation is not just about retail, it's about access.
• Ground floor activation is not just about retail, it's about access.

Bills: SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• They might define... ...for domestic terrorist activity, but even groups that I revile like the KKK are
• By Commerce Committee, Industry, and Professional Activities Subcommittee, Representative Overdorf and
• She went to run their foundation when it was kind of not that active and worked on growing it and did
• She went to run their foundation when it was kind of not that active and worked on growing it and did
• In fact, GRU has hired two separate lobbying firms to lobby on this bill using taxpayer money, my money

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker said it seems to come down to the funding for the contracts, and that if people actively
• The speaker said it seems to come down to the funding for the contracts, and that if people actively
• He did not want to activate the Guard.
• He did not want to activate the reserves for political reasons.
• So it was pretty much an active duty fight.

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud to have had my son who carries that name and continues his activism in California.
• Madam Speaker and gentlemen, after that job, did you automatically start lobbying?

Bills: HB145 , HB164 , HJR6 , HR1 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB166 , HB295 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HB99 , HB206 , HB213 , HB270 , HJR5 , SB104 , SB193 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, constitutional amendment, legislative sessions, veto override, New Mexico legislature, session length, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Every one of these officers knows I lobby in the building and wanted me to explain why other issues in

Bills: HB372 , HB414

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met and heard three bills. HB 372 would reorganize Justice of the Peace Court resources by shifting the number of judges and court locations among counties, consolidating overnight operations into a single 24-hour court in Kent County, and adjusting staffing to address workload and efficiency concerns. Chief Judge Alan Davis said the change responds to increased civil filings, automated enforcement, and staffing shortages, and that a Sussex County pilot closing a 24-hour facility had worked without major issues. Some members raised concerns about impacts on Sussex and Kent County, bail processing, and local response times, while public comment included one supporter. The committee voted to release HB 372. The committee then considered SB 324, which amends Delaware’s permit-to-purchase law to allow constable agencies, including those serving institutions like Delaware Tech, to purchase handguns for newly hired constables without duplicative background checks. Sponsor Representative Cook said the bill aligns constable procurement with existing law-enforcement exemptions while preserving gun-safety requirements. Public testimony included support from Delaware Tech and comments urging broader fixes to the permit-to-purchase law, including exemptions for retired officers with federal 218 credentials and clarification on firearms returned from manufacturers, gunsmiths, or police departments. The committee voted to release SB 324. Finally, the committee heard HB 414, which clarifies that the Superior Court’s exclusive jurisdiction over certain destructive-weapon offenses applies only to adults, while juvenile cases would still begin in Family Court. Sponsor Representative Romer said the bill preserves the Family Court’s role in handling youth cases and allows referral to Superior Court when appropriate. The Department of Justice said it still believes Superior Court is the proper venue for these serious charges, while the Office of Defense Services supported keeping youth cases in Family Court first, arguing that rehabilitation and juvenile-specific dispositions are more appropriate. After public comment, the committee voted to release HB 414, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And add to that the best minds among the lobbying and non-profit communities, folks who have become my

Transcript Highlights:

• members, Senate Bill 1100 was subject to a strike-everything amendment entitled for an adversary's lobbying

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of bills, with members instructed to move quickly, note short titles, and pull only selected measures from consent. Many bills were reported as passing committee on party-line votes or with split votes, while others were unanimous. Several members repeatedly requested bills be pulled from consent, especially on contentious topics such as artificial intelligence content verification, gender transition procedures provider liability, vaccine reimbursement rates, light rail expansion feasibility, public employee merit hiring, health board evaluations, rural health funding, patient steering, DCS policies, school safety, virtual currency payments, undocumented immigrants’ financial services, central bank digital currency, and various criminal justice and education measures. A number of bills drew brief substantive comments or objections. One member criticized SB 1015 on Trans Visibility Day. Another raised concerns about fingerprinting requirements for behavioral health facilities, arguing similar safeguards should apply to universal voucher programs. Judiciary-related bills also prompted strong reactions, including measures on narcotics sentencing for minors, probation and immigration notification, crimes against children monitoring, and a death penalty bill involving firing squad, which drew an explicit objection for the record. Several bills were flagged because of split votes, Democratic no votes, or concerns about funding, constitutional issues, or policy consistency. The caucus also discussed a blue-sheet amendment to HB 2874 on campaign committee termination statements and penalties. Members asked about the retroactive date, the size of outstanding fines, the Secretary of State’s position, and who offered the Senate amendment. Supporters described it as a cleanup bill that would help committees close out old accounts, while others questioned the retroactive scope and financial impact. The chair ultimately announced that Mr. Winninger was refusing the Senate amendment, so final passage would not occur that day and the measure would instead go to conference committee or remain unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I was speaking at the NAMI lobby day just the other day.

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders held a post-cutoff media availability to review the first half of session and outline priorities for the remainder. They said both chambers made substantial progress on protecting Washington from federal overreach and on affordability, citing measures on ICE access and notice, private spaces, housing expansion, medical debt interest caps, senior property tax relief, working families and small business tax credits, and proposals to phase out sales tax on services. They also highlighted that the House moved nearly 200 bills, about 80% with bipartisan support, and said the chambers are now processing each other’s bills and preparing for a fast-paced final stretch. A major focus was the “millionaire’s tax” and related tax relief proposals. Leaders said the governor’s suggestions, including a sales tax holiday and diaper relief, were welcome and that the updated revenue forecast gives the budget more breathing room and reserves, though much of the new revenue is offset by caseload growth and federal cuts. They said the tax package is intended to support long-term fiscal sustainability and affordability, and that House members will continue shaping the bill in committee. They also discussed a separate proposal to tax large employers whose workers rely on Medicaid, saying it is being considered in light of new federal requirements to track Medicaid employment data, while noting concerns from employers and nonprofits. The conversation also covered several bills that stalled or were delayed. Leaders said the JR bill did not advance because it lacked votes, though support and stakeholder engagement increased this year. They said child welfare bills and Senator Wilson’s proposals were paused after stakeholder concerns, while Representative Fitzgibbon defended the House’s approach to child safety and said lawmakers are still working on the issue. Other topics included the transmission and cultural resources bills, where a late procedural request to read a bill in full disrupted plans to move multiple measures together, and a tort-liability bill that passed the Senate and is expected to continue in the House with amendments. They also addressed the 0.05 impaired-driving bill, the Left Plan 1 pension proposal, the farmworker unionization bill, and the initiative-related bill, with several of these measures described as still under discussion or lacking enough support to move this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is their annual lobby day.

Summary: The House met in session with 127 members initially present, opened with prayer and the journal reading, and then took up introductory business. House Bills 394 through 444 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, and Introductory House Bond Initiatives Number Two was referred to Appropriations. The Speaker also announced and the House adopted appointments to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics and the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. Most of the meeting consisted of committee and delegation announcements. Appropriations, Environment and Transportation, Health, Judiciary, and Ways and Means all announced briefings later that day, while several other committees said they would not meet. Delegations from Frederick, Anne Arundel, the Eastern Shore, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Charles, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Southern Maryland announced upcoming meetings, many by Zoom. A Montgomery County delegate also announced a Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee briefing on the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The floor included multiple guest and caucus recognitions. The Women’s Caucus promoted a service drive for hygiene, baby, and women’s products for the YMCA Druid Hill pantry, and the Legislative Black Caucus announced new leadership, with Chair N. Scott Phillips and Senate Vice Chair Shaneka Henson. The House welcomed visitors for Maryland Bankers Association Day, Transportation Association of Maryland advocacy day, the Maryland chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies, CPA Day, and sportsmen and sportswomen day, along with student visitors and a guest of a Prince George’s County delegate. No substantive debate or recorded votes occurred beyond the adoption of committee appointments, and the House adjourned until Friday, January 23 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, they didn’t lobby us as hard as they have been the last few days.

Bills: SB2012

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division

Summary: The Government Operations division met to consider House Bill 1015, the OMB budget, with several amendments already in hand. A major portion of the discussion centered on Senator Mathern’s concerns about the proposed new state hospital in Jamestown. He argued the project is outdated, too expensive, and should be delayed or reduced in favor of local behavioral health services and deferred maintenance at the existing LaHogue facility. Other members questioned him about staffing, capacity, constitutional issues, and the relationship between the hospital proposal and broader mental health investments in other bills. The committee also reviewed budget mechanics, including the transfer of up to $240 million from the Social Services Fund to the Human Services Finance Fund, a $40 million deferred maintenance fund, a $3 million deficiency appropriation for the new and vacant FTE pool, and other OMB-related items. Members discussed whether OMB should have managerial control over the Jamestown project and generally agreed that OMB oversight could help manage costs, though concerns about the hospital remained. The committee then considered two funding items that drew the most debate: guardianship grants and a pro-life education campaign. After testimony from a representative supporting the campaign, members agreed to reduce that item by $500,000 and add $1 million for guardianship grants, while leaving the overall bill to be finalized in conference. The committee adopted Amendment Version 2006 with those changes and then passed HB 1015 as amended on a roll call vote, with all members voting aye except Senator Burckhard on the amendment vote; he later voted aye on the bill itself. The chair indicated the bill would move to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alcohol and tobacco bring in billions of tax revenue and have powerful lobbying groups.

Bills: HB194 , SB87 , SB237

Committee: Senate Healthcare

Keywords: healthcare, advanced practice nursing, nurse collaboration, medical board, nursing board, committee structure, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery, licensure fees, professional liability insurance, complaints investigation, emergency care plan, out-of-hospital care, hemp, hemp beverages, psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive hemp products, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC

Transcript Highlights:

• This is standing in the elevator lobby, looking towards the main doors of the SOB.

Transcript Highlights:

• Randall had a controversial... ...forget Randall had a controversial bill, and we were all being lobbied

Bills: SJR 3 , SB 5 , SB 21 , SB 72 , SB 703 , SB 764 , SB 790 , SJR 36 , SJR 3 , SJR 34 , SJR 18 , SCR 9 , SB 616 , SB 565 , SB 384 , SB 5 , SB 21 , SB 72 , SB 140 , SB 262 , SB 370 , SB 372 , SB 495 , SB 627 , SB 703 , SB 764 , SB 842 , SB 971 , SB 790 , SB 767 , SB 480 , SB 1066 , SB 929 , SB 765 , SB 523 , SB 62 , SB 19 , SB 18 , SB 666 , SB 688 , SB 707 , SB 888 , SB 687 , SB 706 , SB 847 , SB 869 , SB 890 , SB 992 , SB 1145 , SB 494 , SB 290 , SB 766 , SB 11 , SB 10 , SB 13 , SB 263 , SJR 3 , SB 5 , SR 172 , SR 176 , SR 177 , SR 190 , SR 193 , SR 194 , SR 202 , SR 203 , SR 208

Transcript Highlights:

• further definitions, including drug checking, drug checking equipment, drug packaging, eligible activities
• , eligible activities, and harm reduction. reduction. reduction.
• I do feel like it's statutorily mandated inappropriate lobbying. So that's all I have.
• </c><01:13:51.679><c> Thank</c> lobbying. So that's all I have. Thank lobbying.
• So I don't I don't criminal activity.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Further just south of Sublet, this is my understanding, the LeBarge activity bus is funded through the
• They keep seniors active in the winter, and they are attractions for people wanting to move to this area
• They keep sen seniors<00:55:09.760><c> active</c><00:55:10.079><c> in</c><00:55:10.319><c> the</c><00
• and they seniors active in the winter and they are<00:55:11.680><c> attractions</c><00:55:12.319><c>
• I am not going to speak to the amazing programs and activities that these funds support throughout the

Bills: HB0147 , HB0127

Committee: Senate Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I just want to highlight these very active efforts.
• We've had an active marketing program, in part already, if people didn't know it, regarding the water
• I think active water resources management is coming to the middle of the valley.
• So I think when we start hearing about active water management, maybe from you, Mr.
• They used to be very at odds with each other, but now they go on joint lobbying trips to D.C.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't just harm state revenue; it actively destabilizes the entire market.
• Costs must remain separate from dedicated 911 funding as required by our all to activate.
• Last week during our lobby day, we wore buttons that said, 'We create taxpayers,' and we do.
• Ground-floor activation is not just about retail; it's about access.
• We have someone who's actually lobbying there, and that's what they told me. Hmm. Okay. All right.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of them is eliminating all proposed activities in the Coastal Master Plan.
• And so those guys participate pretty actively. A specific number?
• What type of activities require a coastal use permit today?
• Generally, activities that don't result in significant impact.
• , industrial activity project in the lake?

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• so critical to the work of preventing pollution, permitting for businesses, remediation, cleanup activities
• And I can attest to this because I was a member of the LCCMR and they do come and lobby you on them.
• they</c><01:02:12.000><c> do</c><01:02:12.240><c> come</c><01:02:12.319><c> and</c><01:02:12.559><c> lobby
• </c><01:02:12.880><c> you</c><01:02:13.040><c> on</c> LCCMR and they do come and lobby you on LCCMR and
• they do come and lobby you on them.<01:02:13.839><c> And</c><01:02:14.000><c> then</c><01:02:14.240>

Bills: HF1587 , HF2293 , HF2218 , HF1208 , HF1482

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty