Transcript Highlights:

• One of the issues we debated was the gender transition surgery language on the ballot initiative.
• One of the issues we debated was the gender transition surgery language on the ballot initiative.
• One of the issues we debated was the gender transition surgery language on the ballot initiative.

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• ><04:00:43.279><c> or</c> point out that it says principal or point out that it says principal or design
• 45.000><c> in</c><04:00:45.120><c> that</c><04:00:45.319><c> district</c><04:00:45.840><c> is</c> design
• so if someone in that district is design so if someone in that district is more<04:00:46.359><c> fit
• whoever those people are or their design whoever those people are that<04:24:08.479><c> are</c><04:24
• other school administrator that<04:24:13.880><c> is</c><04:24:14.080><c> by</c><04:24:14.319><c> Design

Summary: The committee first took up HB 662, which would require discussion of abortion procedures and the viewing of certain videos in public school health education. Members argued the bill went too far by naming specific videos and involving the Attorney General in enforcement, and they said curriculum decisions should be left to educators. The committee voted ITL on HB 662 by a unanimous 18-0. The committee then considered HCR 6, a resolution calling for the removal of the superintendent of District 67. Members said the resolution targeted an individual and that the underlying dispute was already in court, so the matter should be left to the legal process. The motion to ITL passed 18-0. Next, HR 9, urging the Department of Education to emphasize STEM education, received broad support as a nonpartisan statement of priorities, and it also passed 18-0. HB 440, concerning educator licensing and shortages in Career and Technical Education, was amended to clarify that the bill applies to initial licensure only. After discussion about whether the amendment was necessary, the committee adopted Amendment 0188 unanimously and then voted OTPA on the bill as amended, 18-0. HB 222, which repealed the requirement for an MOU between charter schools and districts on services for students with disabilities, drew testimony that districts already provide substantial oversight through IEP processes and that the MOU requirement was burdensome and largely unenforced; the committee voted OTP 18-0. The committee then took up HB 719, which would repeal the right of first refusal for charter schools to purchase or lease unused district facilities. Supporters said the existing law had not generated complaints and could impede charter expansion, while opponents said the issue had not proven to be a problem and local control should be preserved. The committee voted ITL 17-1, with one member opposed and no minority report. The chair then postponed HB 184, a study committee bill on school start times, because it was scheduled for the next day, and the committee moved into a work session on bullying-related bills, discussing HB 108, HB 384, and HB 673 without taking final action in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's, for those of you that know design-build, it's a bit of a quasi-design-build process.
• It's, for those of you that know design build, it's a bit of a quasi-design build process.
• And they'll own that design.
• We’re not taking the 144 and using that design; we’ve got a new vessel design.
• I hear the word design-build, but this is not a design-build.

Summary: The committee met to hear an update from Washington State Ferries on capital projects and workforce issues, beginning with a briefing on the agency’s long-term fleet and terminal needs. WSF officials described the history of underinvestment after the late 1990s, the current fleet reduction from 25 to 21 vessels, and the need to keep older boats in service while moving toward a 26-vessel long-range fleet and hybrid-electric operations. They said the agency is transitioning to a new vessel procurement strategy, with Eastern Shipbuilding selected to build up to three 160-car hybrid-electric ferries, and outlined a schedule that includes contract execution, about a year of design work, steel cutting in fall 2026, and several years of construction. Members raised concerns about the higher cost of electrified vessels, the length of the schedule, the adequacy of liquidated damages and incentives, the risks of building in Florida and transporting vessels to Washington, and whether the contract sufficiently protects the state from cost overruns and design problems. The committee also received an update on the Wenatchee conversion, which officials said is days away from entering service as the first large hybrid-electric ferry conversion. WSF explained that the conversion combined required midlife preservation work with propulsion upgrades and battery installation, and that the project took longer and cost more than originally expected because it was a prototype with significant lessons learned. Officials said the Tacoma and Puyallup conversions would follow later, but those decisions were being delayed until after the World Cup to avoid service disruptions. Members asked about the cost-effectiveness of the conversion, the expected fuel and emissions reductions, and what happens to engine crews during long conversion periods; WSF said crews were embedded in the project and that the conversions should reduce diesel use substantially once terminal charging is available. The meeting then shifted to workforce development, with Siegel consultants reviewing their 2021 and 2024 studies of ferry staffing, overtime, recruitment, and workplace culture. They said the earlier problems stemmed from seasonal staffing practices, low winter hours, limited career progression, a narrow maritime recruiting pipeline, and a culture that made retention difficult. Since then, they reported major improvements: staffing has increased from about 1,500 to 1,900, turnover has fallen, captain and engineer shortages have eased, and recruitment has broadened beyond the traditional maritime pool, including more women and other underrepresented workers. They credited new programs such as guaranteed hours, paid pilotage, AB-to-mate pathways, and the “Turning of the Tide” culture campaign, while noting remaining issues with communication, HR access, accountability, and quality of life. Members generally acknowledged the progress but asked whether staffing levels are now sufficient and how interchangeable crews are across vessels and routes. Finally, terminal engineering staff began a presentation on capital terminal work, starting with the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. They described the terminal’s age, low elevation, vulnerability to sea level rise and earthquakes, and the need for replacement piles, beams, and improved vehicle circulation. The agency said it has completed a planning and environmental linkage study, is moving into NEPA/state environmental review, and has been working with the community to balance the needs of Southworth and Vashon riders with neighborhood concerns in Fauntleroy. The preferred alternative is a larger offshore dock footprint that would improve capacity and reliability while reducing impacts to eelgrass habitat. The meeting ended before the terminal discussion was complete.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration pursuant to rules 1.21 and 3.33 designate
• ,</c><01:22:31.600><c> new</c> bright minds to develop new designs, new bright minds to develop new designs
• You have to work together on design projects.
• And non-competes do nothing to help our incredible gender gap in engineering.
• ,</c> mobility to make the best designs, mobility to make the best designs, solutions,<01:24:28.080><

Transcript Highlights:

• The design of SB 37 was, and I see Sherry Sylvester in the audience, and she knows this statement, that
• What about gender studies type of courses?
• We know in every major bill, especially bills that have more of an omnibus type of design to them, that
• And I am appreciative of the coordinating board and all the work that's going in to make sure we design
• We're seeing exponential growth in industry and computer design and data centers, et cetera.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Higher Education met with a quorum, adopted its interim rules on a 6-0 vote, and heard opening remarks from members and staff introductions. The chair emphasized higher education’s role in workforce development and noted a Legislative Budget Board survey issue that was resolved after a community college initially did not respond because the survey was marked optional. The committee then focused on monitoring implementation of Senate Bill 37, which governs public higher education boards, curriculum review, faculty senates/councils, training for regents, and the ombudsman office. Testimony from Chancellor Brandon Creighton of Texas Tech, Commissioner Wynn Rosser, UNT Chancellor Michael Williams, and Ombudsman Brandon Simmons described how SB 37 is being implemented. They said boards now have stronger authority, faculty senates are advisory, and institutions are reviewing general education curricula and other programs for rigor, relevance, and workforce value. Rosser said the statewide advisory committee is reviewing the core curriculum and board training requirements are being administered, while Simmons reported the ombudsman office has received 73 complaints, opened two investigations, and expects a third, with many complaints outside its jurisdiction or harassing in nature. Members questioned witnesses about transfer credits, board training content, auditing, conflicts of interest, curriculum decisions, and whether any institutions were missing deadlines. Rosser said non-transferable credits have declined since reporting began under earlier law, and that the most common reason is courses outside degree requirements. Witnesses said they were not aware of institutions missing the SB 37 review deadlines. Senators also raised concerns about an appearance of impropriety in a Texas Tech-related matter and about whether a Dred Scott case should be taught in law school, with Creighton saying the curriculum review process did not prohibit teaching Supreme Court cases and that he would follow up. Later testimony from University of Houston, Texas State, UT, and Texas A&M system officials said their systems had updated policies, abolished prior faculty senates, created compliant advisory councils, and completed or were completing core curriculum reviews and related governance changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• treatments come with high upfront costs and shatter the current reimbursement paradigms that are more designed
• treatments come with high upfront costs and shatter the current reimbursement paradigms that are more designed
• This is where parental involvement is critical, especially in sensitive matters like gender-affirming
• critical especially in sensitive<00:29:36.799><c> matters</c><00:29:37.120><c> like</c><00:29:37.279><c> gender
• </c><00:29:37.559><c> affirming</c> sensitive matters like gender affirming sensitive matters like gender

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The group played an important role in breaking racial and gender barriers during a difficult chapter
• They are designed to identify serious medical conditions before symptoms appear, before irreversible
• They are designed to identify serious medical conditions before symptoms appear, before irreversible
• Motor Vehicles to make free blue envelopes available to individuals with ASD or their guardians, designed
• jurisdictions, Reviewed best practices for various jurisdictions, and advocated for a thoughtful, inclusive design

Transcript Highlights:

• They didn't design a system that made judges national policymakers.
• Panuccio, the way that our founders designed our constitution. system. Mr.
• We're seeing it in other Orders other procedural forms that are deliberately designed to insulate the
• develop rules to govern that society not knowing their attributes, their race, their religion, their gender
• where the executive branch is openly threatening law firms in context in which those threats are designed

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: universal injunctions, legislative reforms, judicial authority, executive power, balance of power, judicial overreach

Summary: During this meeting, the committee focused on the implications of universal injunctions, which have become a significant concern in recent years. The discussion centered around various legislative proposals aimed at addressing the perceived overreach of district judges who issue nationwide injunctions that affect policies across the entire country. Several members expressed the belief that such injunctions undermine judicial authority and disrupt the balance of power between the judiciary and executive branches. Expert witnesses testified about the historical context of universal injunctions and the necessity for reforms that would limit the power of courts to grant remedies benefitting non-parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's, for those of you that know design-build, it's a bit of a quasi-design-build process.
• And they'll own that design. And they will own that design. And then build off those drawings.
• The 160 is a brand-new design. We're not taking the 144 and using that design.
• We've got a new vessel design.
• I hear the word design-build, but this is not a design-build.

Committee: House Transportation

Summary: The committee met to hear an update from Washington State Ferries on its capital program and workforce efforts. WSF leaders reviewed the long-term fleet and terminal strategy, explaining that the system has built relatively few new vessels over the past two decades, now operates a smaller fleet than planned, and must keep aging boats in service longer than typical marine operators. They said the agency is moving ahead with hybrid-electric conversions, new vessel construction, and terminal electrification to support a 26-vessel long-range fleet plan and reduce emissions and operating costs. On new vessel construction, WSF announced the award of a contract to Eastern Shipbuilding Group for up to three 160-car hybrid-electric ferries. Officials said the first vessel is a new design, with about a year of production design work before steel cutting, and that the first boat is expected to cost about $400 million overall, including shipyard work, owner-furnished equipment, engineering, and contingency. Members raised concerns about the decision to build in Florida, transport risk, cost escalation, tariffs, liquidated damages, and whether the contract adequately protects the state. WSF said it will maintain on-site oversight, that the shipyard bears transit risk until delivery at Eagle Harbor, and that the contract includes incentives for early delivery and liquidated damages for late delivery. The committee also discussed the Wenatchee conversion, which WSF said is nearing completion and will enter service soon as the prototype for converting the Jumbo Mark II class to hybrid-electric operation. Officials said the project took longer and cost more than originally planned because it was the first conversion of its kind, required preservation and propulsion upgrades that would have been needed anyway, and revealed unforeseen conditions during work. Members questioned the cost-effectiveness of the conversion and asked for more detailed emissions and savings data. WSF said the three Jumbo Mark II vessels account for roughly a quarter of system diesel use and emissions, and that lessons learned from Wenatchee should reduce costs on future conversions. Siegel consultants then presented a workforce update, saying earlier studies found overtime and staffing problems were driven by seasonal staffing patterns, limited recruiting sources, weak career progression, and a difficult workplace culture. They reported substantial improvement since 2021, including a larger workforce, better retention, more diverse hiring, improved respect from supervisors, and better access to career pathways such as paid pilotage and advancement from entry-level positions. They said challenges remain around communication, HR access, scheduling, accountability, and labor forecasting, and outlined ongoing initiatives including a culture campaign, quarterly pulse surveys, succession planning, and improved workforce data analysis. The meeting then moved to terminal projects, beginning with a presentation on Fauntleroy Terminal and its planning and environmental review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• movement in Iran, which reflects the aspirations of many Iranians for secular democracy, human rights, gender
• Iranians for secular democracy, human Iranians for secular democracy, human rights,<00:30:37.279><c> gender
• <00:30:37.679><c> equity,</c><00:30:38.240><c> and</c><00:30:38.480><c> environmental</c> rights, gender
• equity, and environmental rights, gender equity, and environmental stewardship<00:30:39.840><c> through
• and enforce and how they uh designate and enforce and how they want<00:51:26.319><c> to</c><00:51:26.480

Transcript Highlights:

• Modern car design works against us, and going 80 feels like it used to feel when you were going 35 miles
• In addition to that, the design of our roadways, and in particular here in New Hampshire, we have less
• Um in addition to that the design hour.
• But we also know there's a secondary group of people, and this isn't a gender-related comment, but we
• related comment, but we know a gender related comment, but we know they're<00:37:55.520><c> typically

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• OF FINANCIAL FEES AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS INSTEAD OF TARGETING SPECIFIC GENDER

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may know, a student's design is chosen for the Day Days ties and scarves each year.
• Brandon Villaneda is a 28-year-old Mexican graphic designer who has lived in Miami for 17 years.
• Now the design is more than an image. It is something tangible, something brought to life.
• Second, in areas with design criteria greater than 160 miles per hour, cranes must be designed for the
• in a single-gender team at another school.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery introductions before taking up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley explained that the bill is intended to divert clinically appropriate defendants with mental illness from jail to treatment, create pretrial mental health diversion programs, expand grant uses for mental health and substance abuse reinvestment, require evaluations and treatment follow-up in certain probation and prison settings, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, and establish a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, and the Murphy family’s role in the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then recorded 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then moved into presentations on SB 2500, the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act. Chair Hooper said the Senate budget totals $117.4 billion, reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, keeps employee health contributions level, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and nearly $1 billion in education capital outlay. Committee chairs outlined their portions of the budget, including increased funding for K-12 schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, Medicaid and health services, corrections and courts, transportation and housing, and environmental restoration such as Everglades and water quality projects. Members then asked extensive questions, especially about education funding, school choice, AP/IB and accelerated programs, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, and the FEFP calculations. Senator Burgess repeatedly explained that scholarship funding is being moved “below the line” to improve tracking and that the Senate position is to preserve funding while giving districts more flexibility. Senators also questioned the APD wait list for disability services, opioid settlement spending, arts funding, the My Safe Florida Home condo pilot, and proposed IT and agency restructuring. Several chairs said some issues would be resolved in conference, and no final vote on the budget was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• federal government by continuing funding for reproductive health providers and protecting existing gender-affirming
• the process for transgender and non-binary individuals to receive a court order recognizing their gender

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine procedural motions. Members then moved through a long agenda of Senate and Assembly bills, including several concurrence votes on budget trailer bills and policy measures. Early actions included defeating a motion to send AB 1207 to the inactive file, then passing SB 855 on armory property transfers, SB 57 on data centers and ratepayer impacts, and SB 614 on carbon capture pipeline transport, with SB 614 transmitted immediately to the Senate. The house also approved AB 144 and AB 149, the health and resources budget trailer bills, and later took up a large concurrence file with many mostly bipartisan measures. Among the major policy items, the Assembly concurred in AB 7 on consideration of descendants of enslaved people in higher education admissions, AB 1400 on community college nursing/bachelor’s degree pilots, AB 56 on social media warning labels for children, AB 253 on housing plan-check timelines, AB 265 on disaster recovery support for small businesses, AB 301 on housing reconstruction timelines after fires, AB 325 on antitrust and pricing algorithms, AB 478 on emergency planning for pets, AB 670 on renter stability, AB 841 on the State Fire Marshal, AB 979 on AI cybersecurity, AB 1007 on faster housing permitting, AB 1032 on mental health care for wildfire victims, AB 1181 on firefighter cancer protections, and AB 1264 on ultra-processed foods in school meals. Several bills drew brief opposition or questions, including AB 149, where Assembly Member Dixon criticized omnibus budget drafting and fee increases, and AB 1264, where members discussed agriculture concerns and school nutrition. Most measures passed with strong margins, many unanimously. Later in the day, the Assembly also considered a separate set of Senate bills, including SB 760 on behest reporting for charitable appeals, SB 271 on student parents’ access to child care and financial aid services, SB 613 on methane emissions from imported fossil fuels, SB 744 on postsecondary accreditation, SB 461 on a facility transfer for police services in Imperial, SB 487 on compensation for injured firefighters and peace officers, SB 635 on street vendor protections, SB 641 on licensing relief after disasters, SB 720 on red-light camera programs, SB 763 on Cartwright Act penalties, and SB 274 on limits for automated license plate reader data retention. SB 274 drew the most extended debate, with supporters emphasizing privacy, civil liberties, and misuse of data, and opponents arguing the bill would hamper law enforcement and crime-solving tools. The transcript ends during that debate, with no final vote shown for SB 274 in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide appropriate care in a designated program, the court may order continued treatment at the forensic
• days, and the court will vacate them and order the person committed to DAIL when it finds that a designated
• The plan needs to allow for the ability to separate residents by sex or gender and clinical need, the
• residents</c><01:17:50.120><c> by</c><01:17:50.320><c> sex</c><01:17:50.800><c> or</c><01:17:50.920><c> gender
• </c> to separate residents by sex or gender to separate residents by sex or gender and<01:17:51.960><

Transcript Highlights:

• SAVA serves the community through senior programs, youth supports, gender-based violence interventions
• </c><00:51:39.520><c> violence</c> youth supports, gender-based violence youth supports, gender-based
• hub where kids are being targeted by predators, drug dealers, and big tech dangerous algorithms designed
• hub where kids are being targeted by predators, drug dealers, and big tech dangerous algorithms designed
• Safe Harbor services are trauma responsive and designed to meet the unique needs of youth by walking

Bills: HF2779 , HF1645 , HF1885 , HF1289 , HF1534 , HF2707 , HF1675 , HF3046

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• assimilation, efforts that specifically targeted and erased longstanding stories, ceremonies, and gender
• I was part of the team where they started to work on the land use plan and their zoning designations
• The amendments taken in the Senate correct the postmile marker for the memorial highway designation and
• I rise today to present ACR 213, which designates September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• And as we designate October as California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with a Native American prayer/song and a moment of silence for former staff member Eric Washington, then proceeded through a series of procedural motions, guest introductions, and floor ceremonies. Members also recognized Assemblymember Ward’s birthday and welcomed several guests, including family members, business and community leaders, firefighters, and students. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to the Native American Day ceremony and adoption of ACR 208 by Assemblymember Ramos, which recognized California Native American Day and the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference. Multiple caucus leaders spoke in support, emphasizing Native history, sovereignty, cultural preservation, missing and murdered Indigenous people, and the need to tell California’s history honestly. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 61 coauthors were added, followed by a ceremonial honoring of tribal elders and leaders. The Assembly also adopted several other resolutions and concurred in Senate amendments on multiple bills. These included ACR 126 designating the Captain Vida Anderson Memorial Highway, AB 1651 requiring disclosure of AI use in bar exam development, AB 2789 on mediation, AJR 27 urging federal disaster aid for Eaton and Palisades fire victims, and AB 2134 protecting local officials taking parental leave. Later, ACR 213 designated September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, HR 102 recognized Filipino American History Month, and ACR 230 proclaimed California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day; all were adopted with broad support and many coauthors. The Senate file also began with SCR 136 on coastal protection and SJR 12 opposing offshore drilling, with debate reflecting strong environmental opposition and a dissenting view that the resolution was too absolute and could raise energy costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• assimilation, efforts that specifically targeted and erased long-standing stories, ceremonies, and gender
• What I was part of the team where they started to work on the land use plan and their zoning designations
• The amendments taken in the Senate correct the post-mile marker for the memorial highway designation
• I rise today to present ACR 213, which designates September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• And as we designate October as California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the district is still wide open spaces, and losing the designation would take away opportunities
• To lose that designation, of course, takes away from the opportunity for funding necessities for rural
• Consumers will benefit from more competition, choice of product, and new benefit designs if Washington
• It clarifies that the WTMA must give substantial weight to the design developed by the ratepayer oversight
• gubernatorial appointments to the WTMA board to reflect diversity and geography, size of business, gender

Bills: SB6149 , SB6175 , SB6230 , SB6248 , SB6312 , SB6061 , SB6137

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: rural county, frontier county, public facilities funding, economic development, local option sales tax, sales and use tax, workforce housing, affordable housing, county tax authority, RCW, Washington state, community economic revitalization board, CED, infrastructure funding, public works, job creation, job retention, job expansion, county planning, state auditor reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no provisions in the bill outlining certain ethnicities or races or genders.
• Many cities around the state have adopted policies or ordinances to designate properties.
• These designations can either happen as an individual property through the designation of a historic
• potentially an anti-growth citizen group, will petition to have one or more of these properties designated
• The Historical Designation Impact Statement creates a process to ensure that property owners are justly

Bills: HB22 , SB250 , SB375 , SB536 , SB845 , SB1633 , SB1944 , SB1957 , SB2081 , SB2137 , SB2262 , SB2299 , SB2419 , SB2452 , SB2522 , SB2549 , SB2594 , SB2605 , SB2631 , SB2639 , SB2675 , SB3029 , SJR60 , HB22 , HB1392 , HB2525

Committee: Senate Local Government