Transcript Highlights:

• entities that is paying a lower value of ad valorem tax on it, but they are getting some kind of a subsidy

Bills: HB1590 , HB1242 , HB3818 , HB4305

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee first considered and unanimously approved the nomination of Keith Ventress to the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority and then to the Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authority. Members noted his banking background and asked a brief question about the reference to old congressional district boundaries in the nomination materials, but there was no substantive opposition and both nominations advanced to the Senate. House Bill 1590, by Senator Daniels, would create an Oklahoma education infrastructure linked deposit program to provide reduced-interest loans for charter schools and nonprofit private schools for capital and building needs. Supporters said it would use existing state linked-deposit structures already used for agriculture and affordable housing, while opponents raised concerns about using taxpayer-backed funds for private schools, the bill’s broad nonprofit language, and whether it could lead to more state oversight of private education. The bill passed 9-2. House Bill 1242, which would add survey day to the list of agricultural sales tax exemption items, was discussed briefly but received no motion for a do pass recommendation and remained in committee. House Bill 3818, by Senator Coleman, would create tax-advantaged insurance loss savings accounts for homes and vehicles; members expressed concern about missing definitions, contribution limits, and the potential for abuse, but agreed the concept had promise and the bill passed 9-2 after the enacting clause was stricken for further work. House Bill 4305, as amended, clarified how affordable housing properties are assessed for ad valorem tax purposes by excluding certain income-based subsidies from valuation; after questions about prior court cases and assessment practices, it passed 6-5.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to remind folks that we just got off the House floor within the week voting for low-income subsidies

Bills: SB6013

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: ski areas, winter sports, terminology, recreation, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• want to remind folks that we just got off the House floor within the week voting for low-income subsidies

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on SSB 6269, which updates the Motor Fuel Quality Act by removing the separate definition of alternative fuel and broadening the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous products and fuels used for transportation purposes. The Washington State Department of Agriculture testified that the change would let weights and measures staff test a wider range of fuels, including hydrogen and other clean fuels, and Douglas County PUD supported the bill as necessary to help regulate the state’s first hydrogen fueling station and future hydrogen infrastructure. A question clarified that the bill concerns the purity of the final hydrogen fuel product, not certification of the production process. The committee then received a briefing on three amendments to SB 5982, which expands Clean Energy Transformation Act coverage to additional entities. Amendment 170 would remove a requirement tied to affected market customers consuming the same or greater share of non-emitting and renewable electricity for the same end uses; Amendment 171 would exempt electricity used solely for emergency backup purposes; and Amendment 173 would similarly exempt backup generation using de minimis fossil fuels and related load from CETA compliance. Members discussed whether the amendments were needed to protect cogeneration facilities and emergency backup systems, while others argued they could weaken CETA’s clean-energy goals. In executive session, SB 6013 was reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation by a 21-0 voice vote. On SB 5982, Amendment 170 failed, Amendment 171 failed, and Amendment 173 passed. The committee then adopted the amendments into a striking amendment and voted 12-8 to report Substitute Senate Bill 5982 out of committee with a do pass as amended recommendation. Members supporting the bill said it levels the playing field and preserves exemptions for backup power and existing cogeneration, while opponents argued it could undermine CETA and allow continued fossil-fuel use or create loopholes.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1588 gives law enforcement clearer tools to stop these dangerous events and strengthens accountability
• provide financial support back into the arts, cultural preservation, youth engagement, and community events
• subsidies be cut from an industry that quite honestly should not be struggling because California feeds
• tourism and hotels, those lavish boards of charcuterie boards that we like at wine tastings and Napa events
• tourism and hotels, those lavish boards of charcuterie boards that we like at wine tastings and Napa events

Transcript Highlights:

• the shared infrastructure that was paid for ultimately by net metering, because net metering has subsidies
• The net metered system has subsidies paid for by ratepayers.
• Was there any other subsidies involved? But there are solar contracts that are 8 or 9 cents.
• Was there any other subsidies<00:41:40.480><c> involved?
• But there are solar subsidies involved?

Transcript Highlights:

• We know abuse often happens in the context of everyday events.
• We know abuse often happens in the context of everyday events.
• We know abuse often happens in the context of everyday events.
• We know abuse often happens in the context of everyday events.
• We know abuse often happens in the context of everyday events.

Summary: The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission. DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC. The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the last 16 months, HHS has experienced over 80 catastrophic events like flooding or HVAC failure.
• These are expensive events and add challenges to providing care for patients.
• These are the events that are severe enough that our in-house maintenance staff cannot attend to them
• </c> experienced over 80 catastrophic events experienced over 80 catastrophic events like<00:13:10.079
• These are expensive<00:13:12.959><c> events</c><00:13:13.200><c> and</c><00:13:13.440><c> add</c><00:

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But in no event shall debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m.
• But in no event shall debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m.
• Tomorrow's event is slated to welcome several.
• Tomorrow's event will also feature a special panel that discusses the legacy of Mr.
• ><c> claimed</c><07:41:14.478><c> the</c> This devastating event also claimed the This devastating event

Transcript Highlights:

• of this, many retailers in this space operate specialty cigar shops or participate in adult-only events
• This ensures that adult-only cigar events and mobile retailer experiences can operate appropriately while
• provides clarity for experimental cigar services such as on-site cigar rolling at a private adult event
• This provision supports lawful adult events while continuing to prohibit uncontrolled product giveaways
• We did vote on a budget for the subsidies of this program, which has been going on since 1991, and those

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:41:40.160><c> There's</c><00:41:40.400><c> no</c><00:41:40.640><c> subsidies</c><00:41:41.200><c
• There's no subsidies in cannabis. crops. There's no subsidies in cannabis.
• Kentucky Farm Bureau is having an event and uh afterwards my grandson and I are going to be in the barn
• Kentucky Farm Bureau is having an event, and uh afterwards my grandson and I are going to be in the barn
• </c><01:58:32.320><c> and</c><01:58:33.199><c> uh</c> Farm Bureau is having an event and uh Farm Bureau

Committee: Joint Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• .allow the appropriation as well as increasing it for all retirees to get a better bang for their subsidy
• cover a portion of health insurance premiums for retirees, possibly look at increasing the state subsidy
• The subsidy has been increased since 2008, from $345 as a maximum, which is equivalent to about $213

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Then Congress failed to renew the ACA subsidies, so we saw that millions—hundreds of thousands into the
• millions—of people would be losing Covered California subsidies and no longer be able to afford that
• This is a health care safety net program, not a corporate subsidy, and corporations need to pay their

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• about transit cost of money and up<00:20:49.760><c> to</c><00:20:49.919><c> $29</c><00:20:50.799><c> subsidies
• </c><00:20:51.280><c> and</c><00:20:51.520><c> what</c><00:20:51.600><c> it's</c> up to $29 subsidies
• and what it's up to $29 subsidies and what it's costing<00:20:52.080><c> us.

Bills: HF3919 , HF3791 , HF1781 , HF3908 , HF4233 , HF3966 , HF3430

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• you want to encourage them to build affordable housing, the reality is there isn't enough money or subsidies
• There isn't enough money or subsidies from different sources of government programs to support that affordable
• The housing needs of people in the low and very low income brackets require additional subsidies to make

Committee: Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The meeting began with introductions from members of the Joint Transportation Committee and a presentation from the Association of Washington Cities and the public works directors of Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, and West Richland. The cities described the Quad Cities region as one of the fastest-growing in the state and outlined shared transportation priorities that align with the committee’s focus on safety, multimodal access, climate resilience, and economic development. They emphasized Vision Zero efforts, complete streets, ADA accessibility, regional trail and bike/pedestrian planning, and coordinated long-range transportation and land-use planning to manage growth. The city officials also discussed major funding and delivery challenges, including rising construction costs, project phasing, pavement preservation, right-of-way acquisition, and delays caused by state and federal permitting and review processes. They highlighted regional cooperation through the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments, Good Roads, and local funding tools such as impact fees, transportation benefit districts, REET, tax increment financing, and state and federal grants. Specific projects discussed included Richland’s SR 240/Aaron Drive complete streets project and downtown connectivity work, Kennewick’s Columbia Center Boulevard improvements and rail study, Pasco’s Court/Road 68, Sylvester Street corridor, I-182 bridge/interchange work, and a new north-south bridge study, and West Richland’s SR 224 Red Mountain corridor project, which officials said was awarded under budget and is scheduled to begin construction. Committee members asked questions about sidewalk connections to schools, state-agency right-of-way timelines, apprenticeship utilization, contractor selection, and whether complete streets requirements add burdens to pavement preservation projects. The city officials said new development is generally meeting sidewalk standards, but older infill areas remain a gap; that state right-of-way transactions can take much longer than expected; that apprenticeship requirements are common but harder for smaller contractors and local labor markets; and that low-bid contracting leaves little room to screen for performance history. They also said complete streets requirements are usually manageable on major projects but can be difficult to absorb in smaller preservation work. The committee then shifted to a JTC-funded study on transit-oriented development, presented by Urban Institute researcher Yona Freemark. The study examined TOD conditions in 33 cities in Snohomish, King, Pierce, Clark, and Spokane counties near rail and bus rapid transit stations. Freemark said Washington’s housing affordability crisis is severe, especially near transit, and found that high-cost cities have seen more development near stations but also signs of gentrification and loss of affordable housing, while lower-cost cities have had less development and worsening affordability relative to income. He identified barriers including high debt costs, land costs, infrastructure costs, zoning and parking rules, and limited subsidies for affordable housing. He recommended more neighborhood infrastructure funding near stations, stronger affordable housing investment, and better use of public land, noting that HB 1491 and related legislation are already changing some local requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the event that it doesn't, this amendment would make sure that we fund those things because we all
• In the event that it doesn't, this amendment would make sure that we fund those things because we all
• fed and hopefully he'll gain the ability and capacity to not have to rely on any type of government subsidy
• fed and hopefully he'll gain the ability and capacity to not have to rely on any type of government subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBATE CONTINUE BEYOND 1:50 P.M.
• This will help Americans still reeling from a devastating event.
• The lobbyists who run around wanting billions of subsidies for something that are not going to connect
• THE LOBBYISTS WHO RUN AROUND WANTING BILLIONS OF SUBSIDIES FOR SOMETHING THAT ARE NOT GOING TO CONNECT

Transcript Highlights:

• we are expanding opportunities for families and small builders without spending a dime of public subsidy

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, you've got 300,000 Washingtonians right now who have lost subsidies.

Summary: State legislative leaders held a press availability focused on the upcoming session’s priorities, framing the federal government as the main source of pressure on Washington residents’ access to health care, food assistance, housing, and other services. They said the session would center on defending Washingtonians from federal overreach while also addressing affordability, with emphasis on a balanced 2025-27 budget, possible spending cuts, and longer-term tax reform. Leaders also said they expect to pursue measures on housing costs, transportation, child care, preventive health care, and energy/data-center impacts. A major topic was a proposed “millionaire tax” or income tax on adjusted gross income over $1 million. Leaders said the basic mechanics are largely agreed upon between House and Senate sponsors, though a draft is still pending and stakeholder outreach remains ahead. They described the proposal as part of a broader effort to rebalance the tax code, with some revenue potentially used to reduce more regressive taxes such as property taxes or to support credits for working families and small businesses. They also said any major new revenue would likely not arrive in time to solve the current biennial budget gap, though smaller tax changes and loophole closures could contribute. The leaders also discussed the House and Senate response to two citizen initiatives, saying the legislature will not hold hearings on them and that they will instead go to voters if certified. They rejected claims that the state constitution requires hearings or floor votes on such initiatives, and questioned the signature-gathering process described by the Secretary of State’s office. Another issue was a public records exemption bill related to child care providers; leaders said they were not tracking it closely but defended broader privacy and safety concerns for child care businesses and families. The press availability included a lengthy exchange about allegations of fraud and reports of journalists or others knocking on child care doors. Leaders said concerns should be reported to DCYF, the state auditor, or legislative auditors rather than handled by ad hoc visits, and they tied those concerns to broader fears about masked individuals, ICE activity, and public safety. On the budget, they said the rainy day fund is likely to be considered this year, especially if it helps avoid cuts to education, child care, and health care, and noted that federal policy changes could impose significant state implementation costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• CASE LOAD GROWTH IN THE GUARDIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, EXTENDED FOSTER CARE AND MAINTENANCE ADOPTION SUBSIDY

Transcript Highlights:

• This significant subsidy helps to keep families in the workforce and ensures early learning experiences
• This significant subsidy helps to keep families in the workforce and ensures early learning experiences
• This significant subsidy helps to keep families in the workforce and ensures early learning experiences
• This significant subsidy helps to keep families in the workforce and ensures early learning experiences

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs