Transcript Highlights:

• through a process where they've brought in technical assistance providers, typically like Self-Help Enterprises
• I'm the public first director for Self-Help Enterprises, the technical assistance provider that ... has
• We regularly reach out to people on the ag side — I'm talking about Self-Help Enterprises.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first handled several routine actions, including approving three governor’s appointments not required to appear: Anthony Surich as Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency, Craig Snelling J.D. to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and Nicholas Mueller to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. The committee also approved referral of bills to committees, all by 4-0 votes. It then took up appointments requiring testimony, beginning with Jereen DiAdamo to the State Water Resources Control Board. DiAdamo focused her remarks on safe drinking water, groundwater sustainability, conservation, and Bay-Delta restoration. She said the number of Californians without safe drinking water has fallen from 1.6 million to 800,000 since 2019, credited the SAFER program, technical assistance, and mandatory consolidation authority, and described ongoing work on failing and at-risk systems, domestic well mitigation, SGMA implementation, and the Bay-Delta Plan. Senators pressed her on audit follow-up, measurable goals for reducing the remaining unsafe systems, funding uncertainty, and concerns from environmental and tribal groups that the board has favored water users over ecosystem protections. Supporters from water, agriculture, business, and local agencies praised her collaborative style and consensus-building, while opponents argued she had not done enough to protect the Delta and called for new leadership. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to advance her appointment to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Sivagunda Gunda for reappointment to the California Energy Commission. He highlighted progress on grid reliability, zero-carbon generation, and planning for California’s energy transition, including transportation fuels, building electrification, and the eventual retirement of Diablo Canyon. Senators questioned him about the future of Kern Energy and small refineries, the state’s transportation fuels plan, fuel imports and costs, and whether California can retire Diablo Canyon by 2030 without harming reliability. Gunda said the state is planning as if Diablo Canyon retires in 2030, that current resource additions make reliability manageable, and that affordability and market coordination remain key issues. The committee then voted 4-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate, and the hearing recessed afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got um staff from<00:04:40.639><c> across</c><00:04:40.880><c> the</c><00:04:41.040><c> enterprise
• </c><00:04:41.520><c> helping</c><00:04:41.840><c> with</c> from across the enterprise helping with from
• across the enterprise helping with this. this. this.

Bills: HF729

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, provider enrollment, medical assistance, healthcare, housing stabilization, substance use disorder, vulnerable adults, fraud prevention, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• California is going to tax a portion share of the income of a multinational enterprise.
• California not to sacrifice our red of security to enriches even more to the enterprises.
• California not to sacrifice our red of security to enriches even more to the enterprises.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School zone cameras monitor vehicle speeds within school zones and issue violations to drivers more than
• School zone camera violations are $100.
• school zone programs.
• placed in a school zone that doesn't have a flashing amber light indicating that the school zone operating
• School zone programs. Okay.

Summary: The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how the programs work, including human review of recorded violations, issuance of civil notices to vehicle owners, and escalation to uniform traffic citations if unpaid or uncontested. Officials also outlined the fee structure and reported preliminary data showing 42 red light camera jurisdictions, 496 red light cameras, and more than 923,000 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025, along with growth in school zone and school bus programs. Senators asked about camera placement, signage, review procedures, and whether reviewers or vendors receive revenue from citations; several questions were left for follow-up because the witness did not have all statutory or operational details. The committee then heard an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, funded by a $4 billion general revenue investment leveraged into a $7 billion program for 20 major projects. He said the initiative is advancing high-priority congestion relief projects across the state, with 80% of the plan expected to be underway by the end of 2026 and the remaining projects in 2027. Perdue highlighted new delivery methods such as modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, along with workforce and supply-chain efforts, including regional hiring events and aggregate planning. He cited projects such as I-4 congestion relief lanes, Golden Glades, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, and I-275 improvements as examples of the program’s progress. Members questioned FDOT about traffic management during construction, subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, public transit planning, contractor safety and fatalities, bridge strikes, logistics access near ports and airports, aggregate supply, local government coordination, and federal funding uncertainty. Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic control plans, works with local governments and industry partners, uses small business participation targets, and requires contractors to be in good standing with OSHA and to implement corrective action plans after incidents. He also said Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, the state remains largely state-funded, and additional resources are the main need for future transportation delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project information.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> least 75% of their District zone least 75% of their District zone residential<00:40:39.480><c> should
• </c> their districts uh residentially Zone their districts uh residentially Zone districts<00:42:04.880
• commercial uses as the local zoning authority.
• </c> stream line the rules that govern zoning stream line the rules that govern zoning and<01:31:26.080
• </c><01:34:00.400><c> that</c><01:34:00.560><c> allow</c> Commercial zones that allow Commercial zones

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> residents to zone if they choose. residents to zone if they choose.
• </c> what was put in for our zoning locally. what was put in for our zoning locally.
• </c> not quietly zoned out of existence. not quietly zoned out of existence.
• It's not about snob zoning. It's not about trying to zone people out of municipalities.
• It's not about snob zoning. It's not about trying to zone people out of municipalities.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that “commercially zoned”?
• </c> development especially in zones development especially in zones previously<00:40:05.680><c> regul
• Nothing is stated in the bill about a residential zone, though it defines “commercially zoned land,”
• Is that “commercially zoned”?
• </c><00:42:33.880><c> zoned</c><00:42:34.200><c> land</c> it defines quote commercially zoned land it

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Zones one and two are the addition. Zone three is the existing current building.
• Zone four is the loading dock area. Zone one work is currently ongoing.
• Zones one and two are the zones.
• Zone three is the existing addition. Zone three is the existing current<00:15:22.320><c> building.
• Zone four is the current building.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Primarily, this will make the Children's Health Protection Zone more effective.
• Section Five is protection zone inventory, six.
• It's requested around wells that are in Children's Health Protection Zones.
• This is a vote to simply support children in a protection zone.
• It's this particular field called the children's environment zone, or children's zone, you know, that

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• They call it snob zoning.
• It's the same as zoning.
• Every town has a different type of zoning and zoning ordinances.
• > it's</c><01:25:34.520><c> like</c> zoning and zoning ordinances it's like zoning and zoning ordinances
• or town zoning as they see fit uh zoning or town zoning as they see fit uh for<01:31:28.719><c> any<

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it legalizes residential housing in commercial zones.
• These are zones, quite frankly, where houses. Residential housing in commercial zones.
• In mixed-use zones and in commercial zones, because in some cases that can be a barrier to building housing
• Yes, 20% of mixed-use and commercial zones.
• Many communities have updated zoning to allow for mixed uses in commercial zones, but with ground-floor

Bills: SB5820 , SB5995 , SB5467

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: freight rail, rail corridor, short-line railroad, rail-dependent uses, industrial land use, growth management act, GMA, comprehensive plan, transportation element, land use planning, local government, county planning, city planning, critical areas, agricultural lands, forest lands, mineral resource lands, urban growth area, development regulations, notice on permits

Transcript Highlights:

• Those have to be preserved for zone.
• </c> audience permitting residentially zoned audience permitting residentially zoned areas<00:32:38.720
• I several, you know, zoning districts.
• </c><00:36:03.599><c> to</c> areas and lots in district zone to areas and lots in district zone to permit
• :34.160><c> accordance</c><00:36:34.480><c> with</c> zoning ordinances in accordance with zoning ordinances

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , drug-free zone. 2,000-foot school zone, drug-free zone.
• , drug-free zone. 2,000-foot school zone, drug-free zone.
• “Only inside the school zone.
• So with a school zone, I was thinking a school zone would be marked by school-zone signs, but obviously
• Those are currently drug-free zones in law.

Bills: HR188 , HR189 , HR190 , HR191 , HR179 , HR180 , HR181 , HR182 , HR183 , HR185 , HR186 , HR187 , HCR75 , HCR76 , HCR77 , HCR78 , HCR79 , SCR24 , SCR36 , SCR39 , SB64 , SB107 , SB152 , SB185 , SB217 , SB232 , SB278 , SB290 , SB294 , SB320 , SB321 , SB419 , SB424 , SB436 , SB440 , SB468 , SB470 , SB476 , SB482 , SB489 , HCR32 , SCR11 , HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB267 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB478 , HB610 , HB617 , HB679 , HB745 , HB749 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB896 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1000 , HB1024 , HB1050 , HB1166 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1193 , HB1207 , HB1218 , HB1223 , SB256 , SB180 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HB59 , HB74 , HB159 , HB330 , HB364 , HB414 , HB458 , HB525 , HB568 , HB786 , HB1008 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1041 , HB1062 , HB1070 , HB1079 , HB1112 , HB1118 , HB1139 , HB1151 , HB1176 , HB1182 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB87 , HB115 , HB162 , HB368 , HB433 , HB441 , HB447 , HB466 , HB481 , HB741 , HB1242 , HB362 , HB893 , HB990 , HB1007 , HB1153 , HB1243 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , SB127 , SB244 , HB615 , HB864 , HB1103 , HB1175 , HB31 , HB225 , HB608 , HB664 , HB897 , HB977 , HB1003 , HB1160 , HB1180 , HB911 , HB306 , HB366 , HB1161 , HB1230 , HB181 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB284 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB772 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1058 , HB1082 , HB1113 , HB1189 , HB1234 , HB1240

Keywords: hunting dogs, field trials, working dogs, dog training, greyhound protection, Farm Bill, federal overreach, sportsmen, sportswomen, wildlife management, conservation, rural communities, Louisiana hunting, hunting tradition, animal welfare, dog breeders, dog owners, outdoor recreation, Kathy Taylor, musical achievements

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> zoning ordinances are pretty arbitrary. zoning ordinances are pretty arbitrary.
• </c> arbitrary zoning map. arbitrary zoning map. &gt;&gt; Representative<04:27:15.359><c> Paige.
• </c> zoning was in 1650. zoning was in 1650.
• </c> includes avid anti-zoning individuals. includes avid anti-zoning individuals.
• “Eliminating all zoning.” “Oh, okay. So, zoning will be eliminated.”

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• within those zones.
• about the designation of the zone.
• , posting information about the zone, as specifying the time limit for the zone, posting information
• of the zone.
• Within the establishment of the zones and how those emergency zones are set up, is there anything in

Summary: The committee first took executive action on House Bill 1170, which would require disclosures when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence and address provenance tools and enforcement. Staff described a proposed substitute and several amendments. The committee rejected amendments that would have applied the bill to public entities and tribal nations, added technical-and-commercial-feasibility language, and created a geo-blocking provision or a right to cure. It adopted amendments allowing comparable existing detection tools to satisfy the bill, protecting covered providers from liability when disclosures are unintentionally altered despite reasonable preservation measures, and setting a January 1, 2028 effective date. Members then debated whether the bill was ready for enactment, with supporters emphasizing transparency and consumer trust and opponents warning it was premature and could hinder innovation. The committee voted 7-4, with two excused, to report the bill out of committee with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 2186, which would expand state support for applicants seeking federal economic development funds, create a matching-funds account, and require a study of available federal grants. The prime sponsor said the bill would help Washington capture more federal dollars, especially for projects that require matching funds, and would expand the Fund Hub WA website beyond environmental grants. Testimony in support came from the Port of Seattle, the Washington Economic Development Association, the City of Pasco, a downtown Kennewick nonprofit, and the Department of Commerce, all saying the bill would improve competitiveness, help underserved communities, and leverage state dollars for larger federal returns. Commerce said it was still developing the fiscal note and technical edits. The hearing on HB 2186 was then closed. Finally, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 2351, which would protect emergency responders and emergency response operations. Staff explained that the bill would bar local governments and incident command systems from assisting enforcement actions targeting emergency responders based on protected status, create emergency operation zones with restrictions on law enforcement activity, and change the obstruction statute to cover obstruction of emergency responders. The prime sponsor and many local officials, firefighters, and advocates testified in support, citing incidents where federal enforcement actions disrupted wildfire response and other emergencies. Some witnesses raised concerns about administrative burden, ambiguity, and possible unintended consequences, including a proposed mental-health defense and clarification of responder identification. The Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and the Association of Washington Cities said they supported the goal but wanted changes to avoid conflicts and reduce burdens. The hearing concluded without a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before you is House Bill 2174, establishing accident risk zones.
• The bill before you is House Bill 2174, establishing accident risk zones.
• The bill does require that signs be posted in the crash prevention zone.
• I believe that the signs have to state that it's a crash prevention zone.
• are double within this zone.

Bills: HB1367 , HB2172 , HB2718 , HB2139 , HB2192 , HB2307 , HB2379 , HB2467 , HB2495 , HB2604

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: motorcycle safety, right shoulder, shoulder riding, limited access roadway, freeway, expressway, highway congestion, lane splitting, traffic safety, RCW, Washington traffic law, roadside assistance, emergency vehicles, tow truck, congested traffic, motorcyclist, route jurisdiction, abandonment, transportation, local governance

Transcript Highlights:

• This isn't just about zoning.
• </c> to neighboring town zoning restrictions. to neighboring town zoning restrictions.
• Zoning is really inside baseball. do. Zoning is really inside baseball.
• </c> articles and zoning ordinances locally. articles and zoning ordinances locally.
• </c> don't have that in our zoning ordinance. don't have that in our zoning ordinance.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 6066, establishing crash prevention zones.
• in the zone indicating these increased penalty amounts.
• It should be double fines like it is in construction zones.
• That infrastructure might not exist at that particular construction zone.
• We also appreciate that the bill is limited to specific zones.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on several bills. Substitute Senate Bill 6066 would authorize counties, cities, towns, and WSDOT to designate crash prevention zones on roads with repeated serious or fatal collisions, require public hearings and engineering/traffic studies, increase enforcement, add a $73 penalty for certain infractions in signed zones, and dedicate those funds to zone-related safety work. The prime sponsor and Pasco officials cited repeated crashes on U.S. 395 and U.S. 12; supporters said the bill would help address dangerous corridors, while one member of the public argued it was unnecessary and duplicative. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6253, which would make labor-recommended seats on public transportation benefit area boards voting members while limiting participation in executive sessions on labor and personnel matters. Labor representatives and transit workers supported the change as giving frontline employees a meaningful voice, while Washington Policy Center opposed it, warning of conflicts of interest and reduced accountability. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6311, which would require continuous, accessible pedestrian passage during certain construction projects near hospitals, parks, and school zones, authorize inspections and stop-work orders, and direct WSDOT to adopt rules for reroutes and detours. Cities and counties said they support the safety goal but want more flexibility and less risk of added cost or liability; disability and transit advocates strongly supported the bill. Senate Bill 6262 would raise the transportation benefit district vehicle-fee exemption from 6,000 pounds to 9,000 pounds for certain trucks, allowing local districts to charge heavier vehicles a flat fee; Spokane, Spokane Valley, Port Orchard, and AWC supported it as a fairness and pavement-preservation measure, while several members of the public opposed it as another tax increase. Finally, Senate Bill 6335 would narrow and revise the statutory responsibilities of the State Transportation Commission, removing some planning and outreach duties while retaining toll, ferry fare, and other functions. Local governments, ports, and commission members opposed the bill, arguing the commission provides independent statewide planning, public input, and coordination; the sponsor said the goal was to eliminate duplication and focus the commission’s role. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> involved in the Planning and Zoning involved in the Planning and Zoning discussion<00:09:09.320>
• </c> homes may be um the uh as far as zoning homes may be um the uh as far as zoning exemptions<00:39
• </c> multif family use in every um zoning multif family use in every um zoning ordinance<01:36:31.440
• If you follow the zoning map and the zoning ordinance where it's identified as congregate housing in
• <01:53:12.159><c> map</c><01:53:12.639><c> is</c><01:53:12.840><c> laid</c> zoning map is laid zoning

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before you is House Bill 2174, establishing accident risk zones.
• The bill before you is House Bill 2174, establishing accident risk zones.
• The bill does require that signs be posted in the crash prevention zone.
• double within this zone.
• I'm for anything I... are double within this zone.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Washington State Transportation Commission’s route jurisdiction transfer study. Commissioners and staff said the current state highway system is generally well connected and that wholesale realignment is not needed, but they recommended clarifying statutory criteria, improving the transfer process, increasing interagency coordination, and making data analysis more transparent. Members asked about why transfers occur, who pays for maintenance after a transfer, how often transfers happen, and how the Legislature’s role should be understood. Staff said there have been only 16 RJT transfers since 1991, with a net transfer of about 10 miles of state highway to cities, while DOT abandonments happen more often but are not tracked as consistently. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2172, which would fold longer abandonments and bridge-related abandonments into the RJT process, require pre-request conferences, expand legislative review of costs and risks, and update highway criteria. Tacoma officials, the Transportation Commission, counties, cities, and the Transportation Improvement Board testified in support, citing transparency, local input, and the need to address large bridge and corridor transfers; the bill sponsor said a substitute would allow agreed transfers to proceed without final legislative approval, but send disputed cases to the Legislature. The bill was also described as having an indeterminate fiscal impact, with WSDOT estimating possible added maintenance costs if transfers are delayed. The committee next heard House Bill 1367, which would allow motorcycles to use the right shoulder of limited-access highways under specific congestion conditions. The bill and a proposed substitute would limit shoulder use to wide shoulders, require hazard lights, cap speed at 10 mph over adjacent traffic, and bar passing other vehicles on the shoulder; the fiscal note projected costs for driver education and possible maintenance and signage impacts. The sponsor argued the bill would reduce rider fatigue, heat stress, and rear-end risk in stop-and-go traffic, while opponents from law enforcement and WSDOT said shoulders are intended for emergencies, debris and visibility create safety risks, and the proposal could increase maintenance and enforcement burdens. Several motorcyclists and advocates supported the bill as a safer alternative to lane splitting, while a student and some agencies said it would give riders a more predictable option; the committee then closed the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2174, which would create “crash prevention zones” in areas with repeated serious collisions or fatalities. The bill would allow cities, counties, towns, or WSDOT to designate zones after a public hearing, require engineering and traffic studies, increase enforcement, and impose a $73 penalty for certain infractions within signed zones, with revenue dedicated to safety work in the zone. The sponsor pointed to dangerous stretches of Highway 395 and Highway 12 in eastern Washington and said the bill is intended as a temporary safety tool until long-term fixes are completed. Counties and cities supported the concept and asked for liability protections and language from a Senate companion bill; the committee then moved to House Bill 2718, a transportation permitting and project-delivery bill. Staff said HB 2718 would impose timelines and deemed-approval rules for certain state and federal permits, require early outreach to affected governments and tribes, create a public contractor-rating website, and direct WSDOT to report on permit-streamlining options by December 1, 2027. The sponsor said the bill is meant to reduce delays and costs in transportation projects by improving accountability, coordination, and permitting efficiency.