Transcript Highlights:

• We continue to have the ports of landing for about 50% of cargo that's going across the country.
• When we can stop stuff at our ports of entry, we're protecting other trees and landscapes from our invasive
• the loss of the park rangers and the impact of the loss of the park rangers.
• It's sort of an eye of a needle, I guess, to thread in a way in terms of sort of where we can go.
• Any idea of what percentage of locals within five miles of the Science Center?

Transcript Highlights:

• Signed Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives. >> Pursuant to the order of House of January
• LEONORE, NIKOLA CAPUTO, SULTAN AHMED BIN SULAYEM, CEO OF DUBAI PORTS WORLD, AND BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN
• It is a reflection of the core values of just too many of my colleagues on their side of the aisle, who
• Position of strength because of this tool, not a position of weakness.
• Speaker of the House of Representatives, part of this Congress is a separate and co-equal branch of government

Transcript Highlights:

• by mail voting, application of member of U.S.
• This year, there are 13 new entries of opioids to Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances
• It's kind of part of the modification of the rules that we went through.
• A lot of them do, but some of them don't.
• Ports and Waterways Investment Commission to the Office of Multimodal Commerce within DOTD, becomes

Bills: HR72 , HR73 , HR74 , HR75 , HR76 , HR77 , HR78 , HR79 , HR80 , HR81 , HR82 , HR83 , HCR36 , HCR37 , HCR38 , HCR39 , HCR40 , HCR41 , HB368 , HB433 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1019 , HB1020 , HB1021 , HB1022 , HB1023 , HB1024 , HB1025 , HB1026 , HB1027 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1030 , HB1031 , HB1032 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1035 , HB1036 , HB1037 , HB1038 , HB1039 , HB1040 , HB1041 , HB1042 , HB1043 , HB1044 , HB1045 , HB1046 , HB1047 , HB1048 , HB1049 , HB1050 , HB1051 , HB1052 , HB1053 , HB1054 , HB1055 , HB1056 , HB1057 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1060 , HB1061 , HB1062 , HB1063 , HB1064 , HB1065 , HB1066 , HB1067 , HB1068 , HB1069 , HB1070 , HB1071 , HB1072 , HB1073 , HB1074 , HB1075 , HB1076 , HB1077 , HB1078 , HB1079 , HB1080 , HB1081 , HB1082 , HB1083 , HB1084 , HR70 , HR71 , HCR35 , HB31 , HB326 , HB1013 , HB1014 , HB1015 , HB1016 , SB192 , SB196 , SB198 , SB203 , SB204 , SB214 , SB216 , SB257 , SB291 , SB383 , HB13 , HB23 , HB25 , HB32 , HB41 , HB42 , HB90 , HB120 , HB121 , HB122 , HB127 , HB138 , HB139 , HB141 , HB179 , HB187 , HB213 , HB247 , HB286 , HB332 , HB344 , HB357 , HB367 , HB370 , HB462 , HB505 , HB527 , HB537 , HB605 , HB680 , HB681 , HB725 , HB780 , HB782 , HB847 , HB892 , HB911 , HB916 , HB1012 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HB53 , HB57 , HB64 , HB102 , HB106 , HB111 , HB137 , HB152 , HB155 , HB177 , HB238 , HB256 , HB258 , HB337 , HB359 , HB363 , HB386 , HB434 , HB546 , HB557 , HB584 , HB661 , HB697 , HB726 , HB727 , HB747 , HB756 , HB758 , HB759 , HB765 , HB767 , HB825 , HB858 , HB930 , HB941 , HB957 , HB964 , HB58 , HB69 , HB93 , HB166 , HB199 , HB201 , HB202 , HB218 , HB223 , HB224 , HB231 , HB235 , HB246 , HB338 , HB349 , HB352 , HB379 , HB405 , HB429 , HB535 , HB547 , HB577 , HB588 , HB626 , HB636 , HB652 , HB653 , HB669 , HB688 , HB691 , HB721 , HB738 , HB806 , HB851 , HB857 , HB861 , HB889 , HB904 , HB907 , HB908 , HB929 , HB1009 , HB868 , HB119 , HB140 , HB739 , HB842 , HB875 , HB919 , HB61 , HB185 , HB233 , HB613 , HB848 , HB52 , HB228 , HB289 , HB735 , HB796 , HB722 , HB284 , HB301 , HB827 , HB953 , HB901 , HB9 , HB46 , HB193 , HB400 , HB436 , HB468 , HB570 , HB582 , HB733 , HB746 , HB923 , HB952

Summary: The House met on March 26, 2026, established a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a large number of introductions, resolutions, and committee reports. The chamber recognized Women of the Storm on its 20th anniversary, honored Saint-Amant FFA for winning a national coastal restoration championship, and later recognized Elevate Louisiana. The House also received Senate bills on topics including freshwater fishing limits, bridge preservation, emergency medical services, ambulance reimbursement, eye care coverage, and other matters, and introduced numerous House resolutions and bills covering education, ethics, transportation, elections, public records, criminal law, and appropriations. Several measures were referred to committees or were allowed to lie over, while some resolutions were adopted without objection. The House then considered and passed a series of bills, many by wide margins. Criminal justice and public safety measures included HB 53, adding illegal gambling as a RICO predicate offense; HB 57, allowing courts to consider criminal histories when issuing temporary restraining orders; HB 64, authorizing magistrates to recall arrest warrants; HB 102, creating second-degree cruelty to the elderly and persons with infirmities; HB 106, requiring written parental consent before melatonin is administered to children; HB 137, strengthening penalties and school notification procedures for terroristic threats against schools; HB 152, updating controlled dangerous substances schedules; HB 155, restricting drone use near the Capitol; HB 177, allowing retired court reporters to return on contract; and HB 727, allowing burning of certain untreated construction lumber and wood mats. Members also approved HB 11, adding associate degrees to sentence-diminution eligibility, and HB 726, increasing penalties for abandoning vessels, with discussion noting the need for future funding to remove derelict boats. Education and workforce-related bills also advanced, including HB 238, easing ethics restrictions so former school board members who are certified teachers or school psychologists can return to work sooner; HB 256, clarifying mandatory reporter training for school employees; HB 363, allowing virtual-school students to participate in extracurricular activities and athletics at their resident public school; HB 386, allowing locally authorized charter schools to operate as their own LEA under local rules; HB 434, giving superintendents more authority over probationary school bus employees; HB 557, defining long-term care pharmacies; and HB 584, ending the practice of giving foster children trash bags for belongings and providing proper luggage instead. The House also passed HB 661, expanding nepotism exceptions for certain lower-paid school positions such as paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers, and HB 697, recreating the Department of Environmental Quality through 2030. Most bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan support, though HB 137 on school threats drew significant debate over parental liability and juvenile intervention before passing 71-26.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> argue a sense of urgency because uh of argue a sense of urgency because uh of activities<00:12:46.800
• </c> of sending setting a blanket standard of of sending setting a blanket standard of exclusions<00:
• </c> is a matter of urgency and of great is a matter of urgency and of great importance<01:02:50.720>
• the ports of Savage, which is in Senator's district.
• /c><01:14:14.120><c> of</c> this highway much of it to the ports of this highway much of it to the ports

Transcript Highlights:

• of billions of dollars in economic activity, and eliminating a rapidly growing stream of tax revenue.
• </c><00:19:48.183><c> [applause]</c> Well, thank you, Senator Lindsey Port, who has been a champion of
• If we lost 23% of all of our Minnesota.
• million dollars worth of taxes for the state of Minnesota.
• </c><00:54:06.319><c> screw</c> couple of bad actors that kind of screw couple of bad actors that kind

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a to do this type of of work.
• One of the I got lots of closing comments. Absolutely. One of the I got lots of closing comments.
• Chair Port, members of the committee, my name is Cecile Smith.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, Chair Port, and members of the committee.
• </c> of commerce. of commerce.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• the prophet Isaiah and the work of righteousness, the vision of the prophet Isaiah, and the work of
• Anyway, one of Ireland's largest and most dynamic ports.
• Ferry Port of the Year in 2023.
• strategic assets and to secure the future of the port as a key gateway Strategic assets and to secure
• the future of the port as a key gateway to Europe and Ireland's southeast hub for offshore renewable

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized the doctor of the day and several guests, and then moved through a long floor agenda. Members received House messages, handled committee appointments, and considered a large number of bills in Committee of the Whole, including SB 1046 on information technology, SB 1066 on civil liability and fraudulent scientific research, SB 1332 on light rail expansion participation, and SB 1286 on veterinary prescriptions. Amendments were adopted on each of those measures, with SB 1332 drawing a notable objection from Senator Kuby over state interference in local transit decisions and preference for autonomous vehicles over light rail. SB 1286 was described as a compromise between stakeholders on electronic veterinary prescribing, including limits for antimicrobial drugs and longer windows for flea and tick medications. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several bills. SB 1009 on school curriculum passed 16-10 after debate over AED training and whether it created an unfunded mandate. SB 1086 on the Arizona health care cost and payment system passed 18-8. SB 1317, appropriating money to the Attorney General for a coordinated jail reentry program, passed 22-4 amid discussion about the program’s success and concerns over the funding source. SB 1580, SB 1582, SB 1709, SB 1550, and SB 1761 also passed, with comments focusing on school safety funding, probation revocation for dangerous crimes against children, a Queen Creek-related appropriation, and university cooperative extension and experiment station needs. SB 1046 and SB 1286 later passed third reading as well. The chamber also paused for a St. Patrick’s Day recognition, welcoming Speaker Murphy of the Irish Parliament and reading a proclamation honoring Irish heritage and the Phoenix-Ireland relationship. Afterward, the Senate returned to business, received House requests to return HB 4027 and HB 2444 for reconsideration, heard a personal privilege statement on an ICE detention death, and announced upcoming committee meetings and caucus schedules. The Senate adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• of different railroads that have ownership structures that don't have tax liability, like ports and
• anymore because of a lack of investment.
• anymore because of a lack of investment.
• anymore because of a lack of investment.
• anymore because of a lack of investment.

Committee: House Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Going back to the description of our program, we're within the Department of Natural Resources of the
• Just very quickly, it's a short timeline of sequence of events that led to the creation of the Traffic
• Because of the number of lives that have been lost Be safe because of the number of lives that have been
• It shows you the number of vehicles and also the speed of that vehicle.
• First of all, with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction. The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions. The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• We focus on all the modes of transportation, including aviation, port and waterways, freight and passenger
• That has kind of parlayed into a lower five Mississippi River ports unified marketing strategy.
• That has kind of parlayed into a lower five Mississippi River Ports, Unified. that has kind of parlayed
• And, of course, And, of course, Mr.
• So, I've got a lot of experience on ports and waterways while I served for seven and a half years.

Bills: HB9 , HB177 , HB181 , HB202 , HB225 , HB398 , HB459 , HB540 , HB906 , HB1052 , HB1057 , HB1245

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Messages from the House of of business.
• </c> out of state prior um for purposes of out of state prior um for purposes of the<00:21:05.919><c>
• </c> of documenting this during the period of of documenting this during the period of program<00:31:
• </c><00:58:52.480><c> And</c> priorities of the of the Senate. And priorities of the of the Senate.
• </c> that of the author of the A4 amendments. that of the author of the A4 amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me give an example of that. In the state of Washington, Juliana Leon died of a heat stroke.
• This bill goes out of its way to not impact any of this.
• of the bill is.
• So they were having to go all the way back to either Morgan City or Terrebonne, Houma, one of these ports
• So they were having to go all the way back to either Morgan City or Terrebonne, Houma, one of these ports

Bills: SB480 , HB621 , HB637 , HB804 , HB841 , HB1056

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• The task force membership was comprised of a co-chair structure, which were Senator Port and Representative
• Thank you, Chair Port, and again I just want to thank really the members of this work group who worked
• Thank you, Chair Port, and again I just want to thank really the members of this work group who worked
• Thank you, Chair Port, and again I just want to thank really the members of this work group who worked
• </c><00:43:59.200><c> of</c> affordability of of affordability of of HOAs<00:44:01.200><c> um</c><00:

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• and</c><00:02:24.160><c> so</c><00:02:24.319><c> I'm</c> best of uh of abilities and so I'm best of uh
• I’m sure you’ve seen many of those types of reports.
• I’m sure you’ve seen many of those types of reports.
• </c><00:36:00.400><c> Um,</c> many of those types of reports. Um, many of those types of reports.
• </c> And one of the one of the um important And one of the one of the um important functions<01:27:31.360

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• of the United States of America. remain standing and join with me in President of allegiance to flag
• of the United States of America.
• Port of committee.
• Third reading of the bill: An act relative to certain powers of the Board of Water Commissioners of the
• Third reading of the bill: An act changing the terms of the elected office of moderator in the town of

Summary: The House began with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Committee on Rules reports extending committee reporting deadlines on various House orders. The House suspended the rules as needed and adopted each extension, including for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Housing, and Transportation. The House also concurred in several Senate petitions referred under Joint Rule 12, including proposals on charter school funding, a Salem police retirement, utility shut-off protections during extreme heat, and seatbelt education for passengers in large vehicles. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported four local bills for House consideration: legislation concerning employees of the Dedham-Westwood Water District, the membership of the Prim Board, the Williamstown Library Trustees, and rodeos. After suspending Rule 7A, the House gave each bill a second reading and ordered them to a third reading. The House then passed several local bills to be engrossed, including measures on the Cotuit Fire District water commissioners, the town charters of Acushnet and Provincetown, the elected term of Holden’s moderator, and a bill designating Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, which was amended to add an emergency preamble. The House also adopted an amendment substituting a new bill for House Bill 2244, relating to making the Chicopee city charter gender neutral, and passed the amended bill to be engrossed. Later, the House considered and enacted additional measures, including House Bill 4530 making fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations, House Bill 4531 establishing the 2026 state primary election day, and House Bill 3298 designating July 2 as Machado-Joseph Disease Awareness Day. The session ended with the House adopting an adjournment order and adjourning to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• You look at some of the cranes in Manzanillo Port, which again, are Chinese, you know, do they have access
• and has one of the most spectacular views of the Old City in all of Israel.
• And again, in some of their ports where they have some cranes that have been given to them by the Chinese
• of folly.
• the neutrality of the of the Treaty of the Canal.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Keywords: Israel, Hamas, Panama Canal, U.S. foreign policy, terrorism, diplomacy, Chinese influence

Summary: The committee meeting was focused on various key issues, including the implications of recent violence in the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy in relation to Israel and Panama. Members discussed the need for diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Israeli officials following the recent attack by Hamas. Governor Huckabee emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and reiterated the need for accountability for terrorist organizations involved in violent acts against civilians. Senators shared their concerns regarding the ramifications of U.S. actions in Panama and the presence of Chinese influence, highlighting the significance of the Panama Canal in terms of trade and security.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he is the director of tourism development at the Port of Seattle.
• of the Port of Seattle’s long-term strategic agenda is to advance the region as a leading tourism destination
• ’s economy and is essential to the Port of Seattle’s work.
• Leonti said the Port has been a great partner of State of Washington Tourism over the years, and that
• Because of, because of, because of, million-dollar convention center expansion in the city of Kennewick

Bills: HB2278 , HB2325 , HB2481 , HB2503

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: tourism, promotion areas, state funding, economic development, community engagement, tourism promotion, Washington Tourism Marketing Authority, assessment, self-supported assessment, visitor economy, destination marketing, statewide marketing, lodging, hotels, restaurants, travel services, attractions, recreation, retail, beverage producers

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we do have our state law, Port of Cologne, which is very important.
• Port of Cologne is an important backstop but it is insufficient to protect our waterways the way the
• I want to point out that we have a robust water quality protection law in Port of Cologne in California
• The companies that we represent bring these products in through the ports of Long Beach, the ports of
• LA, Port of Oakland, they'll go to They'll go to a shipping warehouse, they'll go to a distribution

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the truck accidents, how many of those were in-state drivers versus out-of-state drivers?
• I am Brian Hammer, president of Citizen Air, headquartered in Port Angeles.
• the Port of Port Angeles regarding a large hangar facility that would expand local capacity and create
• of money.
• For the record, John Flanagan, Senior State Government Relations for the Port of Seattle.

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on House Bill 2410, which would establish a commercial truck safety and education council, increase the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from $16 to $32, and direct the new revenue to a dedicated account for truck safety and training programs. Committee staff outlined the bill’s CDL and training requirements, council structure, confidentiality provisions, and fiscal impacts. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to improve truck safety through industry-led education and noted that a substitute was expected because details still needed work. Testimony from the Washington Trucking Associations, insurers, the Association of Washington Business, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission was generally supportive of the safety goals, though the commission said operational details and agency roles still needed clarification. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2347, which would repeal the recently enacted luxury aircraft tax on non-commercial aircraft valued above $500,000. Staff explained that the tax is scheduled to take effect April 1 and that repeal would reduce revenue to the Sustainable Aviation Fuel account. Representative Dent, the sponsor, argued the tax is harming business aviation, emergency services, wildfire response, agricultural operations, and rural access, and said aircraft and related jobs were already leaving the state. Most public testimony came from aviation businesses, airport operators, industry associations, and related employers, all urging repeal and warning of aircraft departures, lost hangar tenants, reduced fuel sales, and job losses. One witness from the Port of Seattle supported addressing the tax’s impact but urged working toward a narrower fix rather than full repeal so sustainable aviation fuel funding would remain stable. After closing the hearing on HB 2347, the committee received a work session on tolling technology. Transportation Commission staff presented the results of a pilot using a smartphone app to support toll collection, explaining that the current tolling system remains accurate but that new technologies could reduce costs and improve flexibility over time. The pilot found high accuracy when the app was paired to a vehicle by Bluetooth, lower accuracy without pairing, strong customer satisfaction, and some privacy concerns. The commission recommended keeping the current system in place for now, conducting a more fully operational smartphone-based pilot in the near term, and eventually developing a broader technology marketplace for future tolling systems. Members asked about the role of tags versus apps, video tolling accuracy, and the timeline for replacing existing tolling methods. The meeting ended with adjournment for caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Brian Hammer, president of Citizen Air, headquartered in Port Angeles.
• the Port of Port Angeles regarding a large hangar facility that would expand local capacity and create
• It hurt Bombardier immensely, like hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage to them.
• of money.
• For the record, John Flanagan, Senior State Government Relations for the Port of Seattle.

Bills: HB2347 , HB2410

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: luxury aircraft tax, tax reduction, economic impact, business aviation, state revenue, HB2410, commercial truck safety, commercial vehicle safety, trucking industry, truck driver training, driver education, highway safety, traffic safety commission, Washington State, commercial motor vehicles, vehicle registration fee, IRP fee, state patrol highway account, safety enforcement fee, public-private partnership