Transcript Highlights:

• agencies and how they rate us.
• The rating agencies use a wide range of factors.
• The credit rating agencies have been brought up multiple times by multiple members here.
• But we don't, it's fair to say we don't work for the credit rating agencies, right?
• Lowering, yeah, I made a few lower rates.

Bills: SJR4 , SJR 4

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to actually drive down your rates. And we want to.
• We want to actually drive down your rates, and we want to make sure that your rates are being transparently
• So you referenced bringing down rates.
• Have rates gone down?
• Have rates gone down?

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2275, which would create a Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund and a new council to oversee utility wildfire mitigation, claims payments, and related administration. Staff explained that investor-owned utilities would be required to participate, consumer-owned utilities could opt in, and utilities would pay annual contributions and maintain approved wildfire mitigation plans to qualify for claims coverage. The prime sponsor, Rep. Christine Reeves, said the bill was intended to address wildfire liability, support prevention, and create a more comprehensive statewide approach to wildfire risk. Members asked about retroactivity to July 1, 2021, utility contribution limits, and whether the bill would lower rates or improve mitigation funding. Public testimony was split. Supporters included the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Department of Natural Resources, wildfire survivors, and several wildfire and insurance advocates, who emphasized the need for compensation, stable funding, prevention, and better resilience planning. Opponents included several utilities, utility associations, business groups, and public utility district representatives, who argued the bill would shift uncapped costs to ratepayers, lacked clear liability reform and solvency protections, and could be vulnerable to future fund sweeps. Some witnesses cited California’s wildfire fund as a model, while others said Washington needed a broader, more holistic solution focused on prevention and liability reform. No vote was taken on HB 2275; the public hearing was closed after testimony. The committee then moved to executive session on House Bill 2238, which directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy and adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring to the department’s duties. Four amendments were adopted: L-061, requiring consideration of regulatory cost metrics and periodic competitiveness reporting; L-062, directing the strategy to recommend legislative actions to make food more affordable and reduce food assistance need; L-060, adding people with lived experience of food insecurity and BIPOC small farmers to consultation requirements and focusing on root causes of hunger; and L-063, adding fuel and labor cost tracking to agricultural viability metrics. Amendment L-064, which would have required a consultant study on proposed agricultural labor legislation, failed on a 5-6 roll call vote. The committee then adopted the amended substitute and reported Substitute House Bill 2238 out of committee with a due pass recommendation by an 11-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disability rating. disability rating.
• The standard tax rate that we tax rates.
• We have the town tax rate. We have the school tax rate.
• </c> you calculate two separate rates? you calculate two separate rates?
• In our two separate tax rates.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill aims to add health insurance rate reviews and an affordability focus.
• be able to ask: Are the rates too high, or should that money be going into care?
• Unfortunately, as drafted, SB 1037 introduces a new and subjective rate review process.
• It's looking at proposed rates, whereas... The rate regulation is looking forward.
• Yeah, I mean, that would be a part of the rate review process.

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rate of return, particularly, was, I think, not very good.
• So whatever the actuarial rate is, which I forget what the actuarial rate is—29%, something probably
• But I, you know, once the board certifies the rate, I think we're, and it's really, this... ...rate,
• Our fringe rate is 64 percent, I think is what he said, something like that.
• Of course, you don't want your rate to go up.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're paid a raise. rate that the state has established through our rate-setting process. fee-for-service
• for reimbursement rates today based off what the treatment is and yeah we include a number of rate tables
• we post online, with what the current rate is as well as what it would cost to do like a 1% rating.
• So we've had a rate structure that's existed for the past 40 years. and we're moving to this new rate
• I think with rate modernization, moving to that new rate structure is it does include a rate increase

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:00.960><c> be</c> bill uh can there can potentially be bill uh can there can potentially be rate
• </c> rate hikes for the citizens long term. rate hikes for the citizens long term.
• uh for the citizens u the actual rates uh for the citizens and<00:06:17.280><c> we</c><00:06:17.440>
• </c> well the model of regulated utility rate well the model of regulated utility rate making<00:09:52.240
• They still don't have their rates for the Public Service Commission.

Committee: House Madison County Legislation

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is working-class Californians trying to stabilize their energy rates.
• That's a lot of money for somebody that's supposed to be on a low income rate.
• The reason that the subsidy got so large is because it is tied to retail electricity rates.
• As retail electricity rates go up, that NEM subsidy they also get to avoid paying that retail rate for
• No, it brings down the total cost of the whole system for all rate payers.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In November, our future interest rate assumption for 2025 was just over 4%.
• In November, our future interest rate assumption for 2025 was just over 4%.
• </c> what what were those interest rate what what were those interest rate increases?
• </c> nation with the submitt rate that high. nation with the submitt rate that high.
• </c> would um require a lower interest rate would um require a lower interest rate than<00:38:53.760>

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it defines rated bed capacity and designates placements at DOC facilities when rated bed capacity
• And it defines rated bed capacity and designates placements at DOC facilities when rated bed capacity
• It also specifies that the transfer rated bed capacity.
• It requires a fee to be at the rate of at least the daily bed rate established by interlocal agreement
• It requires a fee to be at the rate of at least the daily bed rate established by interlocal agreement

Bills: SB6062 , SB6080 , SB6184 , SB6224 , SB6255 , SB6286 , SB6308 , SB6319 , SB5977 , SB5979 , SB6249 , SGA9299

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: juvenile justice, criminal offense, minors, rehabilitation, legal provisions, contracts, jails, federal custody, municipal agreements, incarceration, law enforcement, homeless youth, youth services, mental health, support programs, state law, behavioral health, children, support services, poverty reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Comparing the average billing rate of several external firms to our billing rate in the light blue, you
• This is the highest hourly billing rate, or this is our highest hourly billing rate. $111.
• I mean What dictates that billing rate?
• I raised rates $10 an hour, which really helped a lot.
• Certainly, the credit rating helps our bond rating for the state of Oklahoma and that gets us cheaper

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> different changes we've had to our rate different changes we've had to our rate of<03:53:24.359>
• </c> benefit um they look at mortality rates benefit um they look at mortality rates they<04:02:52.159
• </c> recommended keeping our our annual rate recommended keeping our our annual rate of<04:03:14.920>
• This rate is used to calculate the unfunded liability and affects the employer contribution rate, and
• </c> effects the employer contribution rate effects the employer contribution rate and<04:29:38.640><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held an orientation for new and returning members of the House committee on agencies and administration, with introductions from members and staff. Chair Carol Maguire outlined her expectations for hearings: keep questions focused on the bill, be respectful to witnesses, and use the committee’s orientation opportunities to learn about the jail staff, retirement system, and Office of Professional Licensure. Members also discussed related assignments on other bodies, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Employee Classification, and noted that some members already serve on those panels. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the State Building Code and the committee’s upcoming workload. Members explained how the state code is intended to provide a common baseline while allowing limited local options, and why municipalities must formally adopt and publish any local amendments. They reviewed several anticipated bills: a consolidation bill to gather building-code enforcement materials in one place, a bill to update the state energy code, a bill to restrict municipal adoption of building-code changes, and a bill to update the electrical code. Members also discussed how building codes apply to older homes and commercial buildings, and why code updates are important for safety and clarity. The chair said the committee had 36 bills currently scheduled, including many early bills that must move by March 6 because they will be heard by two committees. She said the committee would use subcommittees for harder bills, with three subcommittees this year: pensions, licensing, and likely state building code. She also outlined the hearing schedule, including lighter bills on February 12 and the expectation of executive sessions later in the month. No votes were taken during the orientation, but members were told that public hearings do not require a quorum and that hard copies of bills would be distributed by committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• DCYF sets these base rates.
• rates in regions and age ranges for infants, toddlers, preschool, and school-age child care.
• Currently, the rates are differentiated into six different regions and Spokane County.
• But we're seeing the rates right across the river in Benton County with a full infant day rate of $77
• County more because of the reimbursement rate.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2073, which would require nonprofit health carriers with surplus above 600% of risk-based capital to pay 3% of the excess to support the Cascade Care Savings premium assistance program. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $80 million in FY 2027 based on 2024 surplus data, while carriers and business groups argued their reserves are needed to pay claims, manage risk, and avoid premium increases. Supporters said the bill would redirect consumer-funded surplus to help Washingtonians afford coverage, especially as federal subsidies expire. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2132, which limits disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information in WASFA applications. Staff explained the bill would exempt WASFA records from public disclosure, restrict sharing to narrow purposes, and shorten retention periods, with significant fiscal impacts tied to purging records and updating data-sharing practices. Student and advocacy testimony strongly supported the bill as a privacy and safety measure for immigrant and mixed-status students. The committee also heard House Bill 2403, which lowers the penalty for failure to register as a sex offender and adds community custody and DOC supervision; public defense supported it as a cost-saving, consensus reform, and staff projected DOC savings. House Bill 2587 was also heard, creating a Commerce pilot to provide limited advance grant funding to eligible nonprofits; supporters said it would help smaller nonprofits manage reimbursement-based contracts, while staff estimated indeterminate but potentially significant administrative costs. The committee heard House Bill 2607, which would require DCYF to periodically rebase child care subsidy rate regions to better reflect local cost differences. Supporters from Benton and Franklin counties said current regional rates are outdated and unfairly low in fast-growing areas; staff said the fiscal impact was indeterminate. The committee then moved into possible executive session on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 1170, dealing with generative AI disclosures and provenance tools, was amended and ultimately passed out of committee on an 18-9 vote after all proposed amendments were rejected. Substitute House Bill 1570 was amended to narrow its scope to Western Washington University and then passed out of committee on a 17-9 vote. The committee also began action on proposed Third Substitute House Bill 1710, which would create a state pre-clearance requirement under the Washington Voting Rights Act, but the transcript cuts off during consideration of amendments to that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> screen um was uh the managed care rate screen um was uh the managed care rate adjustments.<00:16
• Interim rate adjustments that we did last year to ensure that the rates were actuarially sound, and on
• This is a denial rate going forward.
• rate is also included.
• </c><01:08:17.359><c> rate.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this rate on a specific facility.
• </c> include the night supervision sleep rate include the night supervision sleep rate uh<00:16:30.639
• </c><00:18:26.000><c> Uh</c> county share for rate exceptions. Uh county share for rate exceptions.
• So, residential services rate increase.
• </c><00:36:04.000><c> for</c> So, this would modify payment rates for So, this would modify payment rates

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You adjust the rates. Yeah, you would adjust the rate. Somebody could be in charge.
• You're saying, well, there's your base rate.
• You're going to have to pay more because when you talk about the rate rates going up, and I'm off my
• Our rental rates are down 10% from last year.
• Our rental rates are down 10% from last year.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the only way you would get that lower rate or that $1.13 rate that you see on the actual sign that
• The Medicaid rate paid The Medicaid rate paid in an ambulatory surgery center is a loss for those centers
• It increases the rates, so the impact should be an increase in the cost.
• , and after that, repriced the same claims at the proposed rate, the increased rate, and they compare
• Because if you were to compare, if you were to raise the rates for ASCs up to those hospital rates, the

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Finance Committee met on May 27, 2026, with six members present and took up a series of House bills, most of them dealing with education funding, criminal justice staffing, transportation, health care access, and economic development. HB 325 was reported favorably after testimony that it would expand TOPS eligibility by allowing dual-enrollment credits to satisfy eligibility criteria and by making part-time students eligible for TOPS Tech, with supporters saying the program has been underused and the change would help working students. HB 719 was amended and reported favorably to increase assistant district attorney positions in various judicial districts; the Louisiana District Attorneys Association said the changes were based on workload data and local input, and members discussed the need to coordinate any expansion with public defender funding. The committee also reported HB 749 favorably, which would move Louisiana’s 529 savings accounts to a more secure online platform after a cyber incident, and HB 1028 favorably, which concerns transportation reimbursement for providers and was described as already subject to appropriation. Several bills focused on food access and local economic development. HB 1222, the Grocery Initiative Act, was reported favorably to let LED use existing grant resources to map food deserts and develop a program, with members noting it could return for funding later if needed. HB 1194 was amended and reported favorably to define food deserts and direct the LSU AgCenter and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to identify and map them, with authors emphasizing it was a study and not a government-run grocery program. HB 755, which would create IDIQ contracting for architects and engineers on smaller state projects, was reported favorably with no fiscal impact. HB 823, a local diversion pilot for Orleans Parish, was also reported favorably after the fiscal note was revised to remove state impact and reflect only local costs. The committee spent substantial time on HB 488, a proposal from Plaquemines Parish to use severance-tax revenue to help buy out a private toll concession on the parish’s bridge. The author and local officials described severe toll burdens, economic harm to local businesses, and what they called an unfair contract, but members noted the bill was not funded and ultimately deferred it without a motion. HB 797, the Bayou Gold/Louisiana Sound Money Act, was amended to make implementation subject to appropriation and then reported favorably. The committee also took up HB 198, which would raise Medicaid reimbursement for ambulatory surgery centers for certain outpatient procedures; after extensive discussion about fiscal notes, access to care, and potential long-term savings, the bill was amended to narrow its scope and make implementation subject to appropriation, then reported favorably as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it would be the committee’s last meeting and asking members to spread the word.

Transcript Highlights:

• Five times the rate of everybody else.
• There's no success rates.
• nearly an 80% college-going rate.
• They have higher retention rates, higher graduation rates. They're faster to graduate.
• We know that prisons don't have a success rate.

Summary: The Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color held its second hearing, focused on cradle-to-college-and-career pipelines and education. Members opened with remarks emphasizing bipartisan support, the need to address opportunity gaps, and the committee’s prior hearing in Los Angeles, which helped generate legislation. The chair framed the day around school safety and discipline, community schools, and college/career pathways, and noted that public comment would be included at the end. In the first panel, witnesses described persistent disparities in school discipline and policing, even as suspension rates have declined statewide. Dr. David Turner cited reductions in suspensions tied to reforms such as bans on willful defiance suspensions, but warned that Black and Native boys remain disproportionately suspended and that “ghost suspensions” and police referrals still push students out of class. Other advocates called for stronger accountability, more restorative and culturally rooted practices, and greater investment in community-based supports. Members asked about the role of state and local policy, rural versus urban differences, and how to measure which interventions work best. The second panel centered on community schools. Advocates from Californians for Justice, Reclaim Our Schools LA, MILE, and the Sierra Health Foundation argued for the governor’s proposed $1 billion ongoing investment in the California Community Schools Partnership Act. They said community schools improve attendance, reduce suspensions, strengthen belonging, and create shared decision-making with families and students. Panelists described the role of community school coordinators, the importance of authentic partnerships, and the need to track informal discipline practices. Committee members pressed for a plain explanation of community schools and heard that the model is intended to be a high-return equity strategy that can save the state money over time. The final panel addressed college and career pathways. Speakers from the California Faculty Association, UC Student Association, Brotherhood Crusade, A Men, and Improve Your Tomorrow highlighted barriers facing Black, Latino, Native, and other boys and men of color in higher education, including financial aid gaps, weak transfer pathways, underinvestment in student support, and low campus belonging. They urged continued funding for community schools, expanded dual enrollment and ELOP access, and support for mentorship and culturally responsive programs. Public commenters echoed support for community schools and youth investment, including calls to redirect prison spending toward education and prevention. The chair closed by thanking the panelists, reflecting on his own school struggles and the role of mentorship, and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• You raised the tax rate from 1.22% to 7.5%.
• If you uncap it, the rate will be 7.5%.
• If you uncap it, the rate will be 7.5%.
• My sense is that they raised the rate so that everyone in that category would pay $75 million.
• I would say this: the 7.5% rate on advanced computing businesses would be by far the highest tax rate

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and heard four bills. HB 2286 would create an alternative route to social worker licensure by removing the exam requirement for advanced social workers and allowing enhanced supervision with supervisor attestation in place of the exam for independent clinical social workers. The sponsor and several social workers testified that the exam is a poor measure of clinical competence and can be a barrier to licensure, while opponents warned that removing the exam could affect public protection and Washington’s participation in the social work compact. Members asked follow-up questions about the compact, the exam format, and accreditation requirements, but no action was taken. HB 2363 would allow music therapy license applicants to practice under supervision for up to six months while waiting for exam verification. The sponsor described it as a technical fix to the new licensure system, and testimony from music therapists, educators, and a patient supported the bill as a way to avoid delays in hiring newly trained therapists while maintaining supervision and patient safety. The bill drew strong support in written testimony and no opposition in the hearing. HB 2324 would change tuition waiver rules for children of eligible veterans and National Guard members by giving eligible children eight years from the date of a parent’s disability determination to use the waiver when that determination occurs after the child turns 18. The sponsor said the bill is meant to align state law with federal dependency education benefits and prevent families from losing access because disability determinations can take years. The committee asked for clarification on how the new timing would work, and the hearing closed without a vote. HB 2098 would eliminate the cap on the advanced computing surcharge, expand Washington College Grant eligibility up to 100% of state median family income, and reduce resident undergraduate tuition by 10% for three years starting in 2027-28. Supporters, including students, labor, and advocacy groups, said the bill would improve affordability and access to higher education by asking large tech companies to pay more. Opponents from business and university groups argued the surcharge would be economically harmful, that the state already has substantial WEA funding, and that the bill would reduce tuition revenue without adequately backfilling institutional budgets. The committee heard extensive testimony and members raised questions about the surcharge cap, WEA spending, and the compacted funding structure, but no final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Residential rates heat your house.
• That drives up rates.
• And then on to rate cases.
• </c><01:15:33.840><c> Rate</c><01:15:34.239><c> cases</c> And then on to rate cases.
• Rate cases And then on to rate cases.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house