Bills: SCR48, SCR28, SCR74, SCR62, SCR60, SCR89, SCR147, SCR179, SCR182, SCR59, SCR54, SCR180

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, Vietnam veterans, commemorative medal, recognition, working group, Hawaii, no-bid contracts, emergency procurement, audit, state agencies, public funds, accountability, emergency response, disability access, 911 systems, life-saving measures

Transcript Highlights:

• We're here for an informational briefing of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection.
• Kusch, and then we're also joined by Vice Chair of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,
• 30.480><c> committee</c><00:18:30.799><c> on</c><00:18:31.039><c> consumer</c><00:18:31.440><c> protection
• </c><00:18:31.760><c> and</c> uh committee on consumer protection and uh committee on consumer protection
• Um, there were even under Biden, we had really big tariffs on imports because they wanted to protect

Bills: SCR48, SCR28, SCR74, SCR62, SCR60, SCR89, SCR147, SCR179, SCR182, SCR59, SCR54, SCR180

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, Vietnam veterans, commemorative medal, recognition, working group, Hawaii, no-bid contracts, emergency procurement, audit, state agencies, public funds, accountability, emergency response, disability access, 911 systems, life-saving measures

Bills: SCR48, SCR28, SCR74, SCR62, SCR60, SCR89, SCR147, SCR179, SCR182, SCR59, SCR54, SCR180

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, Vietnam veterans, commemorative medal, recognition, working group, Hawaii, no-bid contracts, emergency procurement, audit, state agencies, public funds, accountability, emergency response, disability access, 911 systems, life-saving measures

Transcript Highlights:

• The fourth place is workplace and pipeline to careers.
• The fourth place is workplace and pipeline to careers.
• The fourth place is workplace and pipeline to careers.

Bills: SB342, HB379, HB326, HB233, HB388, SB342, HB379, HB326, HB233, HB388

Keywords: land bank, land bank authority, local land bank authority, Alabama Land Bank Authority, tax delinquent property, tax sale, tax lien, redemption period, quiet title, blight remediation, vacant property, foreclosure, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, intergovernmental agreement, county government, municipal government, redevelopment, brownfields, floodplain management

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will also protect the department's food safety inspectors.
• So thank you for protecting our First Amendment rights. Thank you.
• The intention, I believe, all along, was to protect Florida produce.
• You know, protect the right to free speech along with protecting freshly grown, wonderfully healthy produce
• Senate Bill 1004 protects buyers of dogs and cats from… Senate Bill 1004 protects buyers of dogs and

Bills: S0050, S0054, S0176, S0178, S0198, S0290, S0420, S0502, S0538, S0706, S0834, S0936, S0962, S1004, S1080, S7022

Keywords: veterans, treatment court, nonviolent felony, probation, mental health, cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, campus safety, higher education, university safety, college safety, student safety, threat assessment, violence prevention, credible threat, campus security

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with CS for CS for SB 54, which requires district medical examiners to perform toxicology screenings for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of violent offenders and report findings to state agencies. It was reported favorably after brief discussion about how the data would be used. CS for SB 176 also passed, requiring public postsecondary institutions to make campus safety reporting and response procedures clearer and more accessible for students, faculty, and staff who receive threats. Both bills were approved without opposition in the meeting. The committee then took up the large Florida Farm Bill, CS for CS for CS for SB 290, which drew extensive testimony and multiple amendments. The bill includes changes to fair associations, a preemption on local restrictions affecting gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinary loan repayment program, permanent authorization for Farmers Feeding Florida, expanded Florida Forest Service training, a ban on signal jamming devices, tougher CDL English-proficiency penalties, protections for food safety inspectors, biosolids provisions, and contractor payment enforcement. Amendments expanded veterinary loan eligibility to equine veterinarians, merged citrus research entities, made technical corrections, and revised contractor payment language; a late-filed amendment removed the bill’s disparagement clause after significant First Amendment concerns and public testimony. A separate amendment delayed biosolids compliance deadlines. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Also approved were CS for CS for SB 834, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement; SB 936, allowing temporary door locking devices at any height above the floor and directing the Building Commission to add standards to the code; and CS for SB 50, expanding veterans’ courts statewide. Later, CS for CS for SB 1004 advanced with a strike-all regulating dog and cat sales, requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and consumer protections against deceptive pet sales; an amendment removed an appropriation section. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 178, which directs the FHSAA to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide limited good-faith support to student-athletes, and CS for CS for SB 198, regulating virtual currency kiosks with registration, warnings, transaction limits, receipts, and refund protections. Each of these bills was reported favorably by recorded vote.

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• A KXAN investigation found many Central Texas hospitals lack adequate bollard protection.
• There are multiple other mechanisms within facilities to protect patient safety.
• Successfully protecting the health, safety, and welfare of all Texans.
• We can't protect Texans by locking them away. ...protect them by honoring their rights and offering them
• This bill does not protect people; it exploits them.

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Bills: HB198, HB303, HB1535, HB2742, HB3305, HB3348, HB3505, HB3711, HB4753, HB2715, HB21, HB30

Keywords: HB 198, Wade Cannon Act, firefighter cancer screening, occupational cancer screening, fire protection personnel, local government, political subdivision, Texas Commission on Fire Protection, National Fire Protection Association, NFPA standards, occupational medical examination, public safety, firefighter health, cancer prevention, annual health screening, confidential medical exam, pulmonary function test, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, blood test

Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard and discussed a series of House bills dealing with municipal structure, tax payment timing, local provider participation funds, firefighter cancer screenings, sunset review of the Trinity River Authority, replacement certificates of occupancy, and open meetings enforcement. HB 303 would remove the 501-resident floor so very small type A and B municipalities can convert to type C cities; HB 2742 would give property owners a later first split-payment deadline when tax bills are mailed after November 30; HB 3305 and HB 3348 were local provider participation fund measures with committee substitutes; HB 198 would require political subdivisions to offer occupational cancer screenings for firefighters; HB 1535 was a sunset bill for the Trinity River Authority; HB 4753 would allow a municipality-issued proof of a certificate of occupancy to substitute for a lost original; and HB 3711 would treat certain Open Meetings Act violations as offenses against public administration and require public explanation when prosecutors decline to act. Testimony was generally supportive or limited, with several witnesses and senators emphasizing practical fixes, firefighter health and cost savings, local government transparency, and administrative cleanup. For HB 198, firefighter representatives gave emotional testimony about cancer deaths and the value of early screening. On HB 3711, a witness supported the bill but urged stronger enforcement and broader application. Several senators raised policy concerns on HB 2715 about routing removal proceedings through a regional presiding judge rather than the local county, arguing it could politicize the process. The committee took no public testimony on most bills and repeatedly left them pending subject to call of the chair before later voting them out. HB 21, HB 30, HB 1535, HB 1520, HB 198, HB 303, HB 2742, and HB 4753 were reported to the full Senate, generally by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HB 30 passed on a 5-1 vote, while the other reported bills were approved unanimously or with no recorded opposition. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to protect people.
• This amendment would protect them, give them that opportunity.
• This amendment very fundamentally protects law enforcement.
• Protects law enforcement discretion from being political.
• This is a good protection. It protects local control. It protects, dare I say it, democracy.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002, HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, a bill modernizing and strengthening laws concerning sheriffs, police chiefs, town marshals, law enforcement volunteers, youth cadets, specially commissioned officers, and related matters. Debate centered on whether the bill improperly shifts authority away from elected sheriffs to appointed bodies, creates unfunded mandates for counties, and overreaches in regulating volunteers, youth cadets, and information handling. Supporters of the bill argued it standardizes qualifications and eligibility, improves accountability, and clarifies roles for local agencies; opponents repeatedly framed it as a threat to local control, voter authority, and constitutional protections for elected sheriffs. The House first rejected Amendment 2343, which would have added intent language emphasizing sheriffs as elected constitutional officers accountable directly to the electorate. Members supporting it argued the bill would effectively decertify sheriffs through unelected boards and undermine voter choice; opponents said the amendment omitted other countywide elected offices and misstated the bill’s effect. The roll call on 2343 was 41 yeas and 56 nays, so it was not adopted. The House then rejected Amendment 2373, which would have shifted the cost of background checks to the state through the Washington State Patrol; supporters called it a fix for an unfunded mandate, while opponents said current practice already places the cost on appointing agencies. That amendment also failed, 44 yeas to 53 nays. The House next rejected Amendment 2374, which would have exempted private security firm personnel working for local jurisdictions from the bill’s background-check requirements. Supporters said it would clarify overly broad language and reflect existing courthouse and school security practices; opponents said the bill already allows flexibility through specially commissioned officers and that the amendment was unnecessary. The vote was 41 yeas and 56 nays. Amendment 2369, aimed at clarifying rules for volunteers and youth cadets and preserving local training and liability structures, also failed on a 41-56 vote after debate over whether volunteers should be allowed to carry firearms or perform law-enforcement-like functions. Amendment 2371, which would have limited surveillance-related restrictions to situations requiring a warrant, was likewise defeated, 42 yeas to 55 nays. Amendment 2372, which would have limited information-sharing restrictions to non-public information, was also rejected, 41 yeas to 56 nays. Finally, Amendment 2370, which would have aligned the bill’s definition of volunteer law enforcement officers with existing state standards, was defeated 42 yeas to 55 nays. After these votes, the House moved to Amendment 2352, which would prevent the bill’s new decertification rules from applying to currently elected sheriffs and was presented as a protection against changing the rules midstream for offices already filled by voters. The transcript cuts off during debate on that amendment, so no final action on it is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I ask you to vote yes, to protect your family, to protect my family, so that the food that we enjoy
• So to protect your family, to protect my family, so that the food that we enjoy doesn't inadvertently
• This bill is about common-sense guardrails that protect residents, protect data, and preserve the public
• And I think we really need to protect children.
• That should be allowed so that we can protect children.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002, HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House received several Senate messages, including passage of Substitute House Bill 2239 and signed Senate bills, then took up a series of second-reading measures and advanced them to final passage. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6302, dealing with misclassification in the finishing trades, passed 92-4 after supporters said it would level the playing field for legitimate contractors and reduce fiscal leakage. Senate Bill 5420, expanding access to state benefits and opportunities for veterans, military families, and spouses, passed unanimously after a cleanup amendment was adopted. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5969, aimed at reducing duplication between high school special education transition planning and the online high school-and-beyond plan, also passed unanimously after committee amendments were adopted. The House then passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6026, which would ease certain ground-floor retail requirements in commercial and mixed-use development to support housing production; supporters described it as a compromise to remove barriers to housing, while opponents raised concerns about local control, and it passed 69-27. Senate Joint Memorial 8002, a memorial to the President and federal officials urging changes to Medicare and Medicare Advantage, passed 64-32. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5252, which removes an acreage limit affecting Grange Hall property tax exemptions, passed 96-0 with bipartisan support emphasizing rural community use. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5975, addressing consumer access to safe cookware and lead exposure, was amended on the floor and passed 86-10. Supporters said the bill balances consumer safety with industry concerns by tightening lead standards while allowing safe products to remain available. After caucuses, the House returned to consider Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6002 on driver privacy protection. The bill drew extensive debate over automatic license plate readers, with supporters emphasizing privacy guardrails and opponents split between wanting stronger limits and wanting broader law-enforcement use. After adopting a striker and two clarifying amendments, the bill passed 84-0 with 10 excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Protect them. God, protect them from their own pride, from their own hearts.
• work from the gentleman from the 31st in connecting with DCYF to come up with some language that can protect
• What we need to do, and what we need to focus on as a state, is protecting and making sure that these

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002, HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, heard a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior day’s minutes, and recognized guests honored by House Resolution 4693. It then received several Senate messages, including passage of House Bills 2215 and 2254 and the President’s signature on engrossed House Bill 1345 and Senate bills 5 and 681. The chamber also agreed to consider several bills on second reading and later suspended the rules to advance measures to third reading. On Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6027, which concerns expanding allowable uses for certain local sales and use tax revenues for affordable housing and related services, Representative DeFoe’s transparency amendment was ruled beyond the scope of the bill. Amendment 2407, offered by Representative Orcutt to remove rental assistance from eligible uses, was debated at length; supporters argued funds should prioritize homeownership and housing supply, while opponents said rental assistance is part of the housing ecosystem and can support eventual homeownership. The amendment failed, the Finance Committee amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 61-34. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5845, dealing with timely payment of clean claims under insurance law, received a technical amendment requested by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and passed unanimously, 95-0. Substitute Senate Bill 5911, which addresses financial stability for youth in state care and the handling of Social Security benefits, was amended to clarify DCYF fiduciary responsibility and passed 93-2 after supporters emphasized protecting vulnerable youth and ensuring benefits return to them. Senate Bill 5868, adding an additional superior court judge for Skagit and Yakima counties, passed 95-0 after members cited local caseload pressures, access to justice, and county funding commitments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are responsible for making sure that people like that are protected and that if we do a taking
• One of the most common reasons is fire protection and access of first responders.
• This bill protects your personality digitally.
• I mean, it's not just that we want to protect the Ed Harrises or the Ed Sheerans or Ed Begley Jr.s.
• It also helps our state agency support industry and protect consumers by ensuring fuel quality. Mr.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House received a Senate message that Substitute House Bill 1570 had passed the Senate, then moved several bills from Rules to the second reading calendar, including Substitute Senate Bill 5242 on anaphylaxis medications in schools and Senate Bill 6132 on Inland Port District debt. The chamber then took up several bills, beginning with Senate Bill 5988 on Department of Health accreditation fee authority for opioid treatment programs. Amendment 2336 to cap the fee at $17,000 was debated at length but rejected, and a separate amendment to add safe-injection-site language was ruled out of scope. Senate Bill 5988 then passed 62-34. Substitute Senate Bill 6309 on enhanced municipal permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects drew multiple amendments focused on Sound Transit’s authority. Amendments to require written consent from abutting property owners, to add flood-zone and seismic/critical-area protections, and to address public-records issues were either rejected or ruled beyond scope, though the local government committee amendment was adopted. The bill passed 56-38. The House also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5886 on digital personality rights and Senate Bill 6136 on transparency in workers’ compensation rate-setting, both with strong bipartisan support. Later, the House passed a series of additional bills: Substitute Senate Bill 6034 codifying the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs; Gross Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on prior authorization reform, with remarks emphasizing limits on AI in health care decisions; Substitute Senate Bill 6248 creating the Washington Travel Insurance Act; Substitute Senate Bill 5720 establishing uniform consumer debt default judgment procedures; Senate Bill 5995 on port modernization funding and labor considerations; Senate Bill 6103 affecting rural hospitals; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110 creating a work group on e-motorcycles; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5156 allowing smaller elevators to support accessible, more affordable housing; Substitute Senate Bill 6269 updating motor fuel definitions to include hydrogen; Substitute Senate Bill 6189 giving Thurston County more time to pursue an aquatics public facilities district; and Senate Bill 6134 requiring unemployment applicants to acknowledge repayment obligations if retroactive union pay is received. Most of these bills passed with large margins, and the House adjourned after completing final passage votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's changing some adult protective arrangements.
• Speaker, this is an absolutely essential amendment to protect people's liberties, to protect people's
• We have to protect religious freedoms. We have to protect religious freedoms. Please vote yes.
• Speaker, let's protect that.
• The bill seeks to protect constitutional rights of inhabitants of Washington State. seeks to protect

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up a series of Senate bills and moved most of them quickly to third reading and final passage, often suspending the rules and adopting committee amendments without objection. Early action included Senate Bill 5944, which addresses compensation for interpreters working for L&I when appointments are canceled or missed; it passed 86-10. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5837, dealing with guardianship and supported decision-making, drew debate over a new right to counsel in guardianship cases and concerns about expanding civil legal obligations, but it passed 73-23. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6197, a plumbers enforcement/discipline measure tied to task force work on wages and the underground economy, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019, fixing a loophole in home care worker parity law, also passed unanimously, as did Senate Bill 6011, which extends authority for Court of Appeals bailiffs to assess threats against judges and staff, though members noted concerns about access to non-conviction data. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6058, aimed at improving Labor and Industries’ ability to address wage theft complaints and backlog, passed 96-0 after House amendments. Substitute Senate Bill 5923, allowing an island hospital in Skagit County to become a critical access hospital, passed 96-0 amid support for rural health care. Senate Bill 5994, which changes how timber tax revenue is distributed so school districts are not penalized when levies fail, also passed 96-0. Substitute Senate Bill 6076, streamlining public utility district procurement and raising spending thresholds, passed 95-1 after a capital budget amendment. The House then moved to second reading of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925, a major bill expanding the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands in constitutional and discrimination-related matters. The bill prompted extensive debate over civil liberties, due process, and the potential for government overreach. Amendment 2160, which would have required clear and convincing evidence before a CID could issue, was rejected 38-48. Amendment 2149, creating a right to cure before a CID, was also rejected. Amendment 2150, requiring assistant attorney general approval and a reasonable suspicion standard, failed 38-48. Amendment 2151, requiring the Attorney General personally to approve CIDs in writing, failed as well. However, several narrowing amendments were adopted, including limits on scope and relevance (2288), a prohibition on CIDs to federal agencies (2289), a ban on sharing CID-derived information for criminal law enforcement purposes (2290), and a requirement that the Attorney General’s office consult with other agencies in certain overlapping investigations (2154 was rejected, but later amendments continued). Other proposed protections, such as fee-shifting for successful CID challenges and reimbursement when a CID produces no action, were debated at length but not adopted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does is permit it to pay legal, medical, and administrative expenses and protect those funds
• the Department of Retirement Systems to make sure that we have some additional fraud prevention and protect

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard a prayer from Tammy Stamphley, a Presbyterian minister and hospital chaplain. After approving the previous day’s minutes and receiving a Senate message, the chamber moved to second and third reading of several bills, with multiple measures advanced under suspended rules. The first major vote was on Engrossed Senate Bill 5872, which establishes a pre-K-related account to support up to 10,000 additional early learning slots for three- and four-year-olds. Supporters emphasized the Balmer Group’s private funding commitment and the value of early learning and family support; the bill passed 97-0. Substitute Senate Bill 5834, a Department of Retirement Systems request bill changing the fund source for legal, medical, administrative, and fraud-prevention expenses using interest earnings from pension funds, also passed 97-0. Substitute House Bill 2689, dealing with the Working Connections Child Care program, drew the most debate. Supporters said it aligned attendance policy with federal rules, adjusted reimbursement rates, and helped balance the budget while preserving child care resources. Opponents argued it cut support in rural and underserved counties, would worsen child care deserts, and placed budget savings on the child care industry; it passed 53-44. The House then passed Senate Bill 5922, allowing school districts to transfer vehicle depreciation funds with OSPI approval, by 59-38, and Senate Bill 6065, a narrower bill for districts under enhanced financial oversight such as Prescott, by 97-0. The session ended with announcements that both caucuses would meet later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the most common reasons is fire protection and access of first responders.
• One of the most common reasons is fire protection and access of first responders.
• This bill protects your personality digitally.
• I mean, it's not just that we want to protect the Ed Harris's or the Ed Sheerans or Ed Begley Jr.'
• This bill protects your personality digitally.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House received a Senate message announcing passage of Substitute House Bill 1570 and then moved several bills from Rules to the second reading calendar, including Substitute Senate Bill 5242 on anaphylaxis medications in schools and Senate Bill 6132 on Inland Port District debt. The chamber then took up a series of bills, beginning with Senate Bill 5988 on Department of Health accreditation fee authority for opioid treatment programs. An amendment to cap the fee at $17,000 was debated at length but failed, and a separate amendment was ruled beyond the scope of the bill. Senate Bill 5988 then passed 62-34. The House next considered Substitute Senate Bill 6309 on enhanced municipal permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects. Several amendments were offered to require written consent from abutting property owners, preserve setback and seismic/critical-area protections, and add transparency provisions, but the scope challenge to the transparency amendment was sustained and the other amendments failed. Supporters argued the bill would streamline permitting for Sound Transit and reduce taxpayer costs; opponents said it gave a large transit authority too much discretion and weakened property-rights and land-use protections. The bill passed 56-38. The House also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5886 on personality rights and digital likeness protections, and Senate Bill 6136 on workers’ compensation transparency, both with strong bipartisan support. After caucuses and a rule suspension to work past 10 p.m., the House took up additional second-reading bills. It passed Substitute Senate Bill 6034 to codify the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, Gross Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on prior authorization and AI in health care, Substitute Senate Bill 6248 creating the Washington Travel Insurance Act, Substitute Senate Bill 5720 on uniform consumer debt default judgments, Senate Bill 5995 on port modernization funding with labor-related concerns, and Senate Bill 6103 affecting rural hospitals and enrollment status subject to appropriation. Later, the House passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110 on e-motorcycle regulation, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5156 allowing smaller elevators in some housing, Substitute Senate Bill 6269 updating motor fuel definitions to include hydrogen, Substitute Senate Bill 6189 extending time for Thurston County to pursue an aquatics public facilities district, and Senate Bill 6134 requiring unemployment applicants to acknowledge repayment if retroactive union pay is received. Most bills passed with large majorities, though some drew dissent over labor, property rights, transit governance, or regulatory scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a plain meaning difference between promote or protect.
• I was raised to protect, defend, took an oath, so did you, about protecting and defending.
• There's a plain meaning difference between promote or protect.
• There's a plain meaning difference between promote or protect.
• I was raised to protect, defend, took an oath, so did you, about protecting and defending.

Bills: S0092, S0110, S0192, S0212, S0260, S0350, S0394, S0422, S0434, S0442, S0484, S0546, S0556, S0684, S0696, S0706, S0748, S0786, S0820, S0824, S0838, S0840, S0848, S0856, S0962, S1000, S1014, S1036, S1050, S1054, S1080, S1118, S1134, S1338, S1480, S1500, S1506, S1622, S1724

Keywords: employee protections, whistleblower, retaliation, public trust, ethics complaint, Commission on Ethics, Public Employees Relations Commission, public employee, local government attorney, public officer, adverse personnel action, protected disclosure, whistleblower retaliation, state agency, independent contractor, public employment, civil service, reinstatement, back pay, front pay

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and considered a long agenda of bills, many of them retained from the prior week. The most debated measure was CS for SB 706, which would preempt naming of major commercial service airports to the state and designate Palm Beach International Airport as the Donald J. Trump International Airport, subject to FAA approval and a trademark agreement. Amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to prevent private financial benefit from the naming. Several senators spoke in opposition, citing concerns about naming an airport after a sitting president, lack of local input, and the trademark/licensing arrangement; supporters argued there was no cost to the airport and that the bill simply set a state naming policy. The committee reported the bill favorably after a roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably CS for SB 546 on conservation land notice requirements, CS for CS for SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, CS for SB 1500 on uncontested probate proceedings, SB 962 on excluding farms from certain zoning definitions, and CS for SB 820 on problem-solving court reporting requirements. The committee then approved several bills from Senator DiCeglie and Senator Arrington. SB 840, addressing land-use regulations for local governments affected by natural disasters, was supported by local-government and environmental advocates who said it would restore local control after SB 180’s hurricane-related restrictions; the sponsor said it was intended to correct unintended consequences of last year’s law. CS for SB 856, requiring online listing platforms to show estimated ad valorem taxes on residential listings, was amended to exclude social media platforms and broaden liability protections; the sponsor and a county property appraiser described it as a consumer-transparency measure. CS for SB 110, clarifying homestead exemption treatment for long-term leases that end at death, was also reported favorably. The committee took up a controversial strike-all amendment to SB 212, which focused on public swimming pools and added residency and related restrictions for certain sex offenders and offenders on community control or probation. The amendment drew strong opposition from advocates and affected families, who argued it would worsen homelessness, impose broad geographic restrictions, and lack evidence of improving child safety; supporters said it was a targeted public-safety measure. Despite the objections, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total-loss vehicle and vessel titles, SB 394 on reinsurance intermediary managers, SB 434 on property tax assessment treatment for wind-hardening improvements, CS for CS for SBs 658 and 608 on water-safety requirements for rental properties with pools or nearby water, SB 748 on adding voting-rights restoration information to sentencing score sheets, and CS for SB 824 requiring school districts to inventory unimproved real property. The meeting ended while the committee was beginning SB 848 on stormwater treatment, with an amendment being introduced as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Intentional wrongdoing is not protected.
• my family protected.
• It protects it. Those who suffer the most remain fully protected under this bill.
• So under the stalking protection act, that goes into, I think it's the 70s, 21, 71, dating violence protection
• So we went in to defend that protection order.

Bills: HB37, HB51, HB173, HB180, HB192, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB485, HB516, HB521, HB526, HB638, HB752, HB817, HB976, HB1006, HB1044

Keywords: HB37, expropriation, eminent domain, property rights, foreign entity, foreign corporation, limited liability company, LLC, reciprocal expropriation agreement, Louisiana property law, land acquisition, utility infrastructure, public utilities, railroad, waterworks, sewerage, natural gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, carbon dioxide pipeline

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, there's someone in our corrections facility that is protecting us from somebody getting out
• So that's already in statute as a protection from biased or other perceived concerns of homeowners.
• And so this is a bill that I've put forward for some consumer protection.
• The intent is to protect kids at the end of the day while upholding parental rights.
• We share the goal of protecting minors online, and that is a priority for our member companies.

Bills: SB1206, SB1254, SB1290, SB1421, SB1432, SB1515, SB1563, SB1641, SB1649, SB1670, SB1671, SB1747

Keywords: storm damage, catastrophic storm, hail damage, wind damage, roof repair, roof replacement, post-storm repairs, insurance claim, property and casualty insurance, adjuster, public adjuster, contractor licensing, homeowner protections, deductible waiver, insurance fraud prevention, storm chaser, residential construction contract, workers' compensation, joint check, claim solicitation

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a good protective amendment. Please vote yes. Further remarks.
• It protects health care safety net in our state. Mr.
• It protects health care safety net in our state. Mr.
• It also protects annuities.
• But second, it would protect insurers that we don't.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB6044, SB6132, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258, HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up and passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5292, which modifies the paid family and medical leave program. Supporters said the bill uses an actuarial model to set rates and establishes a four-month reserve to improve program stability. The bill advanced to third reading without amendments and passed 95-1. The House then considered Substitute Senate Bill 5841, related to completion of course and financial aid information. The House adopted Amendment 2140, which adds a financial aid calculator and requires follow-up when students indicate they have completed a financial aid form in their high school and beyond plan. After that amendment and the Education Committee amendment were adopted, the bill passed 92-4. Members supporting it said it would help students understand and access financial aid, while one opponent argued schools should not be inserted into family FAFSA decisions. The most extensive debate was on Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5981, concerning the 340B drug pricing program and contract pharmacies. Numerous amendments were offered to limit the program’s expansion, direct more revenue to patient care or low-income patients, restrict contract pharmacies, add reporting, delay implementation pending court cases, or narrow participation by hospitals and PBMs; most were rejected, and one amendment was ruled beyond the scope of the bill. Supporters of the bill argued it would help safety-net providers, rural hospitals, and FQHCs, while opponents warned it would mainly benefit large hospital systems, create administrative burdens, and likely face litigation. The House adopted the Health Care and Wellness Committee amendment and then passed the bill 67-30. After those actions, the House received messages from the Senate, including passage of Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 and the Governor’s signing of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 252. The chamber then moved to House Bill 2487, a tax bill, where several amendments were withdrawn and additional amendments were debated, including one clarifying the definition of taxpayers and another creating a three-year repayment schedule and changes to the advanced computing surcharge.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, the workers' comp system is really designed to minimize the long-term impacts of workplace injuries
• We’re adding critical protections against prop bets, and we’re adding critical protections against sports
• This bill only provides the flimsiest protections for these athletes, and it makes harassment a gross
• The flimsy protections, there’s little education for responsible betting, there is no additional money
• The flimsy protections, there's little education for responsible betting, there is no additional money

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB6044, SB6132, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258, HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House received messages that the Senate had passed House Bills 2104 and 19883, and that the President had signed Substitute House Bill 1570. It also referred committee reports without objection. A motion to relieve the Rules Committee of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6346 and Engrossed Senate Bill 6347 failed on a 48-38 vote after debate over the bills’ fiscal impact and constitutionality. The House then took up Engrossed Senate Bill 6246, dealing with emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries and the Climate Commitment Act. Several amendments were offered, including proposals to permanently exempt these industries or to limit Ecology’s authority over closed facilities, but those amendments were rejected. A striking amendment that reflected stakeholder negotiations and added reporting and other changes was adopted 56-31, and the bill then passed 57-38. The House also passed Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, narrowing the bill to certain corrections officers and deputy prosecutors and aligning state hiring rules with federal work authorization; it passed 62-33. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5847, concerning access to medical care and workers’ compensation, drew extensive amendment debate. The House adopted amendments creating a 25-mile provider-access standard, adding quarterly reporting to the Workers’ Comp Advisory Committee, and other changes, while rejecting a pilot-project amendment and a self-insurance amendment; a point of order was sustained against an amendment on legislative privilege as outside the bill’s scope. The bill then passed 67-28. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6194, which allows higher reimbursement for Astria Toppenish Hospital, and Senate Bill 6132, which supports rail funding for the Port of Moses Lake; both passed unanimously. Later, the House passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6113, a technical tax-law correction bill, by 92-4; Substitute Senate Bill 5520, creating a compensation process for the wrongly convicted, by 72-23 after rejecting a stricter “actual innocence” amendment; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6162, reforming property tax exemptions for seniors, disabled persons, veterans, and some small businesses, by 93-2; and Senate Bill 6137, allowing in-state collegiate sports wagering with added athlete-protection provisions, by the required three-fifths margin of 70-26. The House then began consideration of additional bills, including Second Substitute Senate Bill 5880 on toxicology testing, with debate starting on an amendment to address discovery and subpoena requests.