Transcript Highlights:

• So it's really just making sure that wherever a business is located, it's following the rules of that
• location and in compliance with other state and fire codes and things of the like.
• location and in compliance with other state and fire codes and things of the like.
• </c> stewardship organization has contracted stewardship organization has contracted with<01:21:16.199
• </c><01:53:44.199><c> in</c> members who are oftentimes located in members who are oftentimes located

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• That is done at the county level by the public defender office or by the attorneys who are contracted
• Most rural counties provide public defense through private contract systems, meaning that while there
• A question for the immigration center: Where are you located?
• Our office is located in Oakland, but we provide services statewide.
• They'd rather do their own contracting.

Summary: The committee heard budget and workload presentations from the Office of the State Public Defender, legal aid organizations, and the Judicial Branch. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the work has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data requests. The State Public Defender also presented the AB 625 public defense workload report, which found statewide staffing shortages, caseloads above recommended standards, and major gaps in investigators and support staff. Senators asked about racial bias claims, the volume of data requests, and the impact of Prop. 36, and OSPD said it would provide additional written information. The legal aid panel asked for a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, while also supporting Access to Justice Commission requests for loan repayment assistance, immigrant family preparedness services, and innovation grants. Witnesses described legal aid as homelessness prevention and cited examples involving eviction defense, domestic violence survivors, and immigration detention cases. Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia discussed eviction data, low tenant representation, and court pilots in Compton and at Stanley Mosk that combine mediation, rental assistance, and legal help. Senators asked for service maps, outreach materials, and more detail on funding needs and federal funding losses. For the Judicial Branch overview, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including $70 million for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel, case processing, and courthouse construction. They said rising costs, staffing retention, and interpreter shortages continue to strain the courts, and described efforts to reallocate interpreter funds and recruit hard-to-find languages such as Mixteco. Senators pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities, noting that the long-term need is far larger than the current budget proposal; Finance said the branch’s facility needs were estimated at about $22.5 billion over 10 years to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. The committee requested follow-up information on facilities, judgeships, and interpreter needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is done at the county level by the public defender office or by the attorneys who are contracted
• Most rural counties provide public defense through private contract systems, meaning that while there
• A question for the immigration center: Where are you located?
• Our office is located in Oakland, but we provide services statewide.
• They'd rather do their own contracting.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard presentations on the Office of the State Public Defender, civil legal aid funding, and Judicial Branch operations. The State Public Defender requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the workload has grown substantially through retroactive capital-case briefing, habeas proceedings, data requests, and related statistical analysis. She also presented findings from a public defense workload and staffing report showing that California’s county-based public defense system is under-resourced, with too few attorneys, investigators, and support staff, especially in rural counties, and that statewide standards and funding are lacking. Committee members asked about the scope of racial bias claims, the impact of collaborative courts and Prop. 36, and the need for statewide cost estimates and phased funding options. The committee then heard from legal aid advocates and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge in support of increased civil legal aid funding. Witnesses described the Equal Access Fund, homelessness prevention services, health care access, and immigration detention defense as cost-effective ways to prevent evictions, stabilize families, and reduce downstream public costs. They requested a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, along with additional targeted investments from the California Access to Justice Commission. Testimony emphasized the severe shortage of legal aid attorneys, the high demand for immigration representation, and the role of legal aid in domestic violence, housing, and family law matters. Senators asked for more information on service locations, outreach, funding losses, and how the requested amounts were calculated. In the Judicial Branch overview, Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including a $70 million increase for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel and case processing. They said the money is needed to offset inflation, supply chain costs, and staffing pressures, and to preserve access to justice. Senators pressed the branch and Department of Finance on interpreter shortages, midyear funding flexibility, courthouse facilities needs, and judgeship needs in inland counties. Finance officials said they were aware of the broader facilities backlog, and the committee requested follow-up information on the full capital and maintenance needs, interpreter funding, and updated judgeship and workload data. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• comply with a number of state laws related to cemetery property, bailment care funds, and vacant contracts
• restricting any local authority to otherwise order that those interments be placed in a different location
• dealer is subject to implied warranties regarding the quality of materials and construction in a contract
• dealer is subject to implied warranties regarding the quality of materials and construction in a contract
• be provided for condominiums created on or after July 27, 2025, and the condominium unit must be located

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2239, which would allow family burial grounds on privately owned land and exempt them from private cemetery requirements, while imposing limits such as recording burials with the county auditor, setbacks, and a cap on the burial ground covering no more than 10% of the parcel. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help rural landowners and families, including Native communities, keep burials on land with family and cultural significance. Testimony from a farmer and the Washington Cattlemen’s Association strongly supported the bill as a way to honor family ties to land. A question was raised about what happens if a later property owner wants to disturb an existing burial ground; staff said the bill requires notice but is silent on that issue. No action was taken on HB 2239 in the transcript. The committee also heard House Bill 2304, a follow-up to last year’s condominium liability reform, expanding the option for declarants to use a 2-10 warranty for stacked-flat or mid-rise condominium buildings up to four stories. Supporters from housing, real estate, builders, AARP, Habitat for Humanity, the City of Seattle, and others said the bill would reduce liability barriers, increase condo production, and create more attainable and accessible homeownership options for first-time buyers, older adults, and people with mobility challenges. The Office of Insurance Commissioner supported the bill but suggested technical language changes to avoid referring to the warranty as insurance. Members asked about consumer protections and the distinction between warranties and insurance, and staff and testifiers noted existing layers of protection. No vote was taken on HB 2304 in the transcript. In executive session, staff summarized House Bill 2095 on vulnerable users of public ways and House Bill 2248 on Secretary of State filing processes. For HB 2095, staff described a proposed substitute and several amendments, including changes to education requirements, civil liability language, protected areas, punitive damages thresholds, and liability rules. For HB 2248, staff said the proposed substitute made cleanup and consistency changes to corporate filing provisions. The committee then moved the proposed substitute for HB 2248 out of committee with a due pass recommendation, and it passed 11-0 with two excused members. Action on HB 2095 was deferred to a later date.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, yes, we do contract... ...what is their function?
• Madam Chair, yes, we do contract out for third-party appraisals.
• If this bill were to pass, we ask that you consider additional FTEs and/or budget to contract with a
• All the way to Picacho Peak in Pinal County, where the famous Dairy Queen is located.
• They ended up finding a different location by a... This kind of reminds me of that.

Committee: House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2150, which continues the State Land Department until July 1, 2030. Members questioned the commissioner extensively about agency procedures, backlog, appraisals, auction practices, privilege claims in the Fontamonte audit, and the Coyotes land transaction. The committee also discussed the Griffin amendment, which required quarterly updates, a public hearing on the department’s strategic plan, changes to conceptual land use plans and five-year disposition plans, and legislative findings. After debate over oversight and accountability, the amendment was adopted and HB 2150 was returned with a do pass recommendation by a 6-4 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 2975, which would suspend the State Land Department’s solar scoring map and require new mining and housing resource maps, with the amendment changing the mapping deadline and requiring the maps to be posted online. Supporters said the bill would improve fairness and maximize trust revenue for schools by avoiding favoritism toward solar; opponents argued the solar map is only a guidance tool and that removing it could reduce transparency and revenue. The department said it was neutral but asked for additional staff or consultant support if the bill passed. The committee adopted the amendment and passed HB 2975 as amended on a 6-4 vote. House Bill 2781 followed, addressing solar plant decommissioning, restoration, financial assurance, insurance, and a remediation fund. The amendment narrowed the bill to decommissioning standards and limited its reach to projects receiving permits after the effective date. Testimony focused on the need to ensure solar sites are restored and that taxpayers are not left with cleanup costs; several speakers cited abandoned or aging energy infrastructure as a cautionary example. The committee adopted the amendment and passed HB 2781 as amended by a 6-4 vote. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2267, which would classify certain utility-scale wind or solar projects within four miles of residential property as a public nuisance, with exceptions and grandfathering for existing projects. The sponsor argued the bill responds to concerns about large renewable projects near homes and property value impacts, while the amendment narrowed the scope to utility-scale wind and solar and excluded rooftop solar and existing projects. The transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 2267.

Transcript Highlights:

• Advanced notice should be field-specific and exact location. Hello, my name is Noemi Chico.
• Also, people have been advocating for exact-location transparency.
• That's something the state can do in all their contracts everywhere you have authority.
• That's something the state can do in all their contracts everywhere you have authority.
• That's something the state can do in all their contracts everywhere you have authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're the smallest refinery in Washington State, located in Tacoma, and we are the primary supplier of
• So in an energy emergency, my understanding is that there are provisions within our contracts with the
• Utility tariff and contract policies can make or break a project as written.
• In terms of background, the school district may contract indebtedness and issue bonds without a vote
• The fiscal note indicates they would contract.

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearm background check fees. Staff explained that the bill would remove the $18 fee cap and allow Washington State Patrol to set fees based on actual program costs, which could be about $33 to $35 per check. Supporters said the change was needed to keep the background check system operating and avoid delays and layoffs; opponents argued it would burden lawful gun owners and amount to an unconstitutional tax or barrier to a constitutional right. No vote was taken in the hearing. Members then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would direct the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, address interpreter and translator shortages, and require agency implementation reporting. Testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent access for limited-English-proficient residents and the benefits for schools, families, and state services. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery fund to provide partial advance payments to low-wage workers with meritorious unpaid wage claims and adjust wage penalty provisions. Employers, labor advocates, and legal services representatives largely supported the bill as a bipartisan, worker-protection measure funded by penalties rather than the general fund. The committee next took up Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax incentives, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new state and local renewable energy excise tax structure and related grant programs for local governments and tribes. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the bill’s goal of stabilizing tax treatment for renewable projects, though several witnesses said they wanted amendments to address rates, timing, and late-stage project impacts. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the timing and duration of existing tax preferences; supporters said it would provide certainty for emerging sustainable aviation fuel projects, while one refinery sought clarification and a broader county threshold. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, directing the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and develop a statewide food security strategy. Agricultural groups, grocers, anti-hunger advocates, and farmers supported the bill as a coordination effort to improve food access, affordability, and supply chain resilience. The committee then heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903, which would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce; supporters said it would address growing unmet need and complement existing utility programs, while opponents said it did not address the root causes of rising energy costs. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities (data centers), both of which drew mixed testimony centered on balancing emissions, ratepayer impacts, reliability, and environmental or tribal concerns. No final votes were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have another 10 or 15 right now that are in the contract negotiation stage to locate within the center
• You happen to locate it, sometimes it's by happenstance, and drill it.
• If you look at where these power plants are located relative to where the geothermal resources are located
• The location to apply for those geothermal grants and loans is on the MNERD website.
• Lightning Dock (LD), that's the location of the power plant, NMSU, as Tom mentioned.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We do regular PBMs, but in the case with the IBAC entities, the PBMs have a direct contract with the
• bid for insurance coverage, usually through a third party. payment, and they also go out for the contract
• And honestly, the location is the bigger Barrier.
• And as long as you get swallowed before you get to the location, you're good to go.
• But again, this is up to the employer or the union that negotiates the contract or the governing body

Bills: SB20 , SB53 , SB86 , SB96 , SB129

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got our technology contract user list.
• contract user list you can<00:47:27.240><c> see</c><00:47:27.599><c> this</c><00:47:27.720><c> is</c
• , and then whoever wants to use the contract can tailor it as they see fit.
• ><c> can</c> um whoever wants to use the contract can um whoever wants to use the contract can tailor
• Biggest contracts used in Minnesota: Oracle, Xerox, Campus Guard, and others.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• We just recently closed up our contract, and while we're able to win 1.5 wage increases and contract
• </c> uh 1.5 wage increases and contract uh 1.5 wage increases and contract language<00:08:37.360><c>
• We aren't coming to the contract.
• </c> the McNamera O'Hara Service Contract the McNamera O'Hara Service Contract Act,<00:42:58.160><c>
• Also, Delta contract is captured.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• We also looked at differences in growth related to location and population.
• Particularly, this relates to shared locations, such as how many salons there are in one building or
• And so we located and counted businesses within Main Street boundaries using GIS, public data, and a
• We also looked at differences in growth related to location and population.
• For example, a business might shift from a private data center to contracting for space in a co-location

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> conditions associated with the contract conditions associated with the contract that<00:04:17.759
• So you had to this in other locations.
• </c> have a separate commercial contract have a separate commercial contract uh<00:16:02.000><c> with
• </c> awarded the contract appropriately. awarded the contract appropriately.
• </c><00:19:17.039><c> when</c> part of your just general contract when part of your just general contract

Summary: The Information Technology Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a presentation from Leadcore representatives Jimmy Bird, Mike Murray, and Rebecca Moss on the Kentucky Wired network. Leadcore described its role as the design-builder and service provider under the KCNA contract, saying the network was built with roughly 13,200 feet of fiber, mostly aerial, and that the use of non-armored cable was a Kentucky-side decision made to reduce cost. They also said aerial construction and non-armored cable increase maintenance challenges, including storm damage and squirrel-related damage, and reported FY25 service activity of 104 break-fix events, 30 maintenance replacements, 64 storm-damage events, and nearly 13,000 feet of fiber replaced to date. Committee members questioned whether the original project anticipated this level of replacement and whether any forecast existed for maintenance under non-armored cable. Leadcore said it did not do a formal forecast and could not say whether the replacement rate was above or below norms, though it acknowledged the decision not to use armored cable came from the Kentucky side of the contract. Members also asked about whether replacements caused network degradation; Leadcore said it tries to replace cable at existing splice points to avoid degradation and, where needed, uses armored cable for replacement sections going forward. The committee then explored Leadcore’s relationship with Excel and KCNA. Leadcore said it has a service-level agreement for KCNA-related fibers but not for dark fibers used by Excel, and that Kentucky Wired fibers get priority on service requests. It said outages are reported through a 1-800 number and that it was not aware of any access problems to the huts. On the tech refresh, Leadcore said its understanding is that maintaining the network is its responsibility, but the technology refresh is not; it said only a very limited amount of refresh has occurred and that this did not match the original contract intent. Leadcore also said it had not been asked to defer maintenance. The chair closed by saying the testimony would inform a committee report and that he intended to recommend clawing back or withholding some previously authorized Kentucky Wired and refresh funding until an audit is complete, with the committee to vote on a report later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please register at the kiosk located in the hallways behind the hearing.
• After we've acquired the contract and did walk-throughs on them.
• Many of our firms in Texas have located. nationwide.
• This is a storage facility that's operated in Austin, two locations for 23 years.
• Some of us are bound by rotation contracts and city contracts we're going to have to store that vehicle

Bills: HB679 , HB1764 , HB1788 , HB2186 , HB2204 , HB2418 , HB2885 , HB2983 , HB2996 , HB3250 , HB3352 , HB3756 , HB3816 , HB3913 , HB3928 , HB4077

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: environment, regulation, land use, public health, community development, alcohol, Sunday sales, local option election, Texas, business hours, alcohol sales, liquor, off-premise consumption, alcoholic beverages, CPA, Certified Public Accountant, licensing, accountancy, state regulation, continuing education

Transcript Highlights:

• Look at your own communities and see where the needs and gaps are located.
• We identified a location a couple of sessions ago.
• We have a picture of the location, and I think that's on the next slide.
• There will also need to be some infrastructure done at that new location.
• Chair, but I mean, sometimes you do a plan, design, construction contract.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We will note that physical location is not defined in this law.
• at home or at some off-site location.
• or at at home or at some location or at at home or at some off-site off-site off-site location<00:19
• that they had non-compete contracts.
• that um they they had contracts that um they they had non-compete<01:42:32.639><c> contracts</c><01:

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• . locations. locations.
• Contract Services: 222,239,213.
• </c> Program Fee for Service Contracts. Program Fee for Service Contracts.
• contracts. 13. 1415.
• contracts. 5 H.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> contract sales and g and grain storage. contract sales and g and grain storage.
• </c> agreement prior to writing a contract. agreement prior to writing a contract.
• </c> All of those are contracted. All of those are contracted.
• </c> designated location. designated location.
• </c><06:07:53.760><c> And</c> located in Delta is number two. And located in Delta is number two.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we would have to have at least a contract in order to be able to do this.
• Uh, as the courts have ruled, they are under contract.
• .<00:45:39.760><c> So,</c> contract.
• So, contract.
• But as we're seeing in that located.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Was that a staff member so I can locate it in my email? You recognize? Yeah, thank you, Mr.
• These are all individual projects; they have to be designed and engineered for the specific location.
• So we've actually gone and done contract services.
• And so, being an international airport and being a location where we receive, much like Miami, a lot
• Just by your sheer demographic-sized location, are you not already more than competitive?

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee met to consider two bills and then held a lengthy discussion on Florida airport infrastructure. SB 246, presented by Senator Rodriguez on behalf of Senator Gruters, would authorize a UFC specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting the UFC Foundation’s charitable work. A UFC Foundation representative described community beneficiaries and said the plate would help raise funds for local charities. With no questions or debate, the committee voted SB 246 favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7012, a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles public-records exemption bill that would remove the October 1, 2026 repeal date for certain active investigatory records. Senator Avila moved to submit it as a committee bill, there was no objection, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill. The remainder of the meeting focused on the Comprehensive Airport Infrastructure Program. FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue outlined Florida’s aviation system, the department’s airport funding programs, and the state’s role as a financial partner in safety, capacity, preservation, and economic development projects. He said Florida has 128 public-use airports, 21 commercial-service airports, and four large-hub airports, and noted that airport funding is largely supported by gas-tax-related revenues, with additional support from documentary stamp revenue and other fees. He also discussed the new airport infrastructure planning requirements created last session and said all required airports had submitted plans. Committee members asked about the loss of aviation fuel tax revenue, workforce development, project timelines, and how FDOT prioritizes funding, with Perdue emphasizing safety, preservation, capacity, economic return, and matching funds. A panel from Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa international airports then described major capital programs, passenger growth, and funding needs. The airports highlighted terminal expansions, parking, baggage systems, airfield rehabilitation, people movers, and other modernization projects, along with the importance of maintaining aging facilities while accommodating growth. They said FDOT and FAA grants are helpful but increasingly insufficient for runway and taxiway costs, and several panelists said passenger facility charges and other revenue tools are important to future self-sufficiency. Members also asked about workforce shortages, small-business participation, landing-fee negotiations, and non-aeronautical revenue. The panel said workforce challenges are most acute in trades and maintenance, small-business programs are active at each airport, and landing fees are negotiated with airlines to keep airports competitive while funding needed improvements.