Transcript Highlights:

• To try to preserve our farms and preserve our farmers.
• Our high school has three pop-up-style classrooms in our hallways and in our open...
• Our high school has three pop-up-style classrooms in our hallways and in our open-space library.
• Our high school has three pop-up style classrooms in our hallways and in our open.
• I appreciate this bill would provide a technical fix, allowing our district to use a site we own to address

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several local government bills, with most of the discussion focused on HB 2480, which would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones and limit local requirements for ground-floor retail or mixed-use conditions. The bill sponsor and supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, Governor’s Office, Commerce, builders, business groups, and housing advocates, argued it would unlock underused commercial land, reduce housing costs, and help address Washington’s housing shortage. Opponents and some cities said the bill could undermine local planning, walkable mixed-use centers, tax base, and neighborhood retail, and asked for more exemptions or narrower application. Several speakers supported the proposed substitute as a compromise, while others urged not to weaken the bill further. No vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 2223, which would create an exception to the conflict-of-interest rules for irrigation district directors whose spouses work for a district contract, modeled on an existing exception for public hospital district commissioners. The sponsor and the Washington State Water Resources Association said the change would help irrigation districts recruit and retain volunteer board members in rural areas while preserving disclosure and recusal requirements. The hearing was brief and no action was taken. HB 2530 would extend the deadline for forming a public facilities district for regional aquatics and sports facilities from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028. Supporters from Olympia and Tumwater said the extension would give local governments more time to collaborate and pursue an aquatic center that has long been a community priority; one testifier said removing the deadline entirely would also be acceptable. The committee then heard HB 2459, which would expand authority to site certain schools outside urban growth areas and extend utilities to serve them. Supporters, especially representatives of the Tahoma School District and related groups, said the bill would let districts use land they already own to relieve overcrowding. Opponents, including Futurewise, argued it would weaken Growth Management Act planning and local multicounty policies and should remain a local process. Finally, HB 2129 on agritourism was briefly heard, with the sponsor describing it as a way to help farms stay viable and preserve rural character; the committee heard supportive comments about farm preservation and openness to a work group or amendments. No votes or final actions were taken on these bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:20.159><c> Our</c> uh that are needed by our state. Our uh that are needed by our state.
• on managing, conserving, and using our forests, wildlife, fisheries, and water resources while protecting
• </c><00:25:06.480><c> forest</c><00:25:06.880><c> land</c> practices that make our forest land practices
• that make our forest land owners<00:25:07.840><c> and</c><00:25:08.080><c> industries</c><00:25:08.720
• Um, recently, about four years ago, they hired one of our foresters to work in MDA because he could talk

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's our ask. Section. 47. That's our ask. That's our ask. Thank you very much.
• We lose our safeguard to our water, our wildlife, and our way of life.
• We lose our safeguard to our water, our wildlife, and our way of life. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
• As we talk about the Constitution, we talk about the Constitution, our freedoms, our freedoms, our freedoms
• They watch our water. They protect our fish and exceed the realities.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, like when we have firefighter planes come in that are here to extinguish fires on our forest
• forests.
• company and our communities.
• We use our planes for business, but it's been a dream of ours, my wife and I, to work our entire life
• That one group represents 20% of our fuel sales and 17% of our lease revenue at the airport.

Bills: HB2347 , HB2410

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: luxury aircraft tax, tax reduction, economic impact, business aviation, state revenue, HB2410, commercial truck safety, commercial vehicle safety, trucking industry, truck driver training, driver education, highway safety, traffic safety commission, Washington State, commercial motor vehicles, vehicle registration fee, IRP fee, state patrol highway account, safety enforcement fee, public-private partnership

Transcript Highlights:

• our seal, and our institutions, but not on our landscape.
• And to have that element in our lives, as opposed to just sterilizing our landscapes and our nature so
• Do we want to be integrated in with our wildlife, our wild lands and our wildlife?
• over our North State, which is our largest mountain ranges.
• I'll have our Vice Chair.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Summary: The committee heard SB 872, which would direct $300 million annually for 20 years to repair Central Valley subsidence damage and Delta levees to protect State Water Project deliveries. The author and supporters said the bill is needed to safeguard water for 27 million Californians, prevent threats to life and billions in infrastructure, and address long-standing levee and canal vulnerabilities. Testimony in support came from Restore the Delta, the Central Coast Water Authority, and a broad coalition of water agencies, environmental groups, local governments, and business interests; one organization, the California Chamber of Commerce, supported if amended to include federal conveyance infrastructure. No opposition witnesses appeared. Members from both parties praised the bipartisan coalition and discussed funding, beneficiary-pays concerns, and the need to prioritize water infrastructure. The committee voted 5-0 to pass SB 872 as amended to Appropriations, with the bill placed on call. The committee then heard SB 1305, a study bill on the feasibility of reintroducing the California grizzly bear. The author and tribal co-sponsors framed the measure as a science-based, consultation-driven roadmap that would not authorize reintroduction but would evaluate habitat, impacts, and implementation. Supporters, including tribal representatives, conservation groups, and animal welfare organizations, emphasized the grizzly’s cultural significance, ecological role, and the value of planning for coexistence. Opposition came from retired and current law enforcement, county officials, ranching and hunting groups, and rural representatives, who raised public safety, staffing, livestock, and wildlife-management concerns, arguing the Department of Fish and Wildlife lacks resources for another apex predator. Committee members debated whether risk, public safety, local control, and potential reintroduction areas should be addressed earlier in the process. The author agreed to consider amendments on those points and on funding and local authority. The committee voted 4-1 to pass SB 1305 as amended to Appropriations, with the bill held on call. The committee also heard SB 1079, which would create a Cal Fire Fire Innovation Unit to identify firefighter needs, test new technologies, and speed deployment of successful wildfire tools. The author said the bill would formalize a pipeline from pilot projects to statewide use and build on existing Cal Fire technology efforts. Support came from Megafire Action, Fireworks, Aurora Tech, and the Orange County Fire Authority; the California Association of Realtors supported if amended to allow nonprofits to administer grants directly to homeowners. With no opposition testimony, the bill was moved on a 2-0 vote and held on call pending additional members. The committee later took up SB 997, a district bill for the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency that would grant lien authority so it can enforce groundwater fees and sustainability plan requirements without relying on civil litigation. Support came from water contractors, rural counties, and county associations; members discussed whether similar authority should be extended to other GSAs. The bill was moved on a 2-0 vote to Judiciary and held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have any of our transportation members. It changes the distribution.
• Children's School Safety Program and the Save Our Children's Safe Establishes the Save Our Children's
• God bless our Lara members and our N-room members. That's all I have to say.
• way to say that and you'll notice our vocal I don't know. six way to say that and you'll notice our
• I pray that we keep lifting our voices and encouraging our neighbors, families, and communities to do

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long calendar of House bills across education, health, water, land, housing, labor, public safety, and taxation. Several measures dealt with artificial intelligence, including bills on AI disclosures for minors, AI-assisted divorce arbitration, an Arizona AI education program, AI privilege protections, and a required AI course in schools. Other topics included ESA administration funding, a prohibition on public money for certain foreign-controlled genetic sequencing devices, towing regulations, DUI and ignition interlock changes, health facility and nursing facility complaint timelines, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, pharmacy penalties, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction repeal, superintendent performance pay, adoption disclosures in student health settings, anti-Semitism in schools, and a range of water, land, and housing bills. Members frequently raised concerns about local control, unfunded mandates, constitutional issues, and the scope of state intervention. Several bills drew criticism for affecting school curriculum, public education, reproductive rights, protest activity, or tribal communities. Others were supported as technical fixes, consumer protections, or funding measures. The caucus also discussed a series of bills related to the Mexican gray wolf, state land management, solar and wind siting, groundwater transport, and rural development, with some members objecting that the proposals would undermine federal protections or tribal interests. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2957, HCR 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2906, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2830, HB 2076, HB 2411, HB 2136, HB 2665, and HB 2904. The meeting ended with an announcement of the Latino Caucus guest presentation and an emotional tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, followed by presentation of an Affordability Award to Representatives Lorena Austin and Stephanie Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our estimation and our analysis is about a four-to-one benefit to the state of Missouri.
• It promoted our communities. It promoted our universities.
• And ours is very competitive.
• We're always happy to support our cultural partners and our creative industry in Missouri.
• So some of our areas in the state of Missouri, and I'm thinking Mark Twain National Forest, the Arkansas

Committee: House Economic Development

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act and my Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act will ensure
• My Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act and my Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act will ensure
• Finally, my Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act and my Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act
• Eighteen months ago, we sent the hugely bipartisan Fix Our Forest Act to the Senate.
• It strengthens our highest risk forest.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, July 16, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for hearing our earlier bill.
• I'm here to answer any technical questions that you may have about our TOD program or our employee need
• Yeah, our current legislative authority allows us to develop our properties via our TOD program or joint
• Fortunately, we have an easy fix. AB 2134 will establish... ...we have an easy fix.
• However, our current contracting authority, set at $50,000 in 2015, has not kept pace with our growing

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have five items on our agenda today.
• Our record speaks for itself.
• As you know, the Eaton Fire devastated our community.
• Now, our frustration with that and our questions around that have been that these were bills, as we've
• What we've heard from our housing provider partners, particularly our nonprofit partners, is that they

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills. SB 996 by Senator Padilla would let manufactured homeowners opt to title their homes as real property, with supporters saying this would improve access to conventional mortgages, consumer protections, and lower-cost financing. SB 866 by Senator Blakespear would require cities and counties to include homelessness-related information in their annual housing element reports, with supporters saying the bill would improve transparency, regional coordination, and accountability around homelessness funding and services. The committee also heard SB 1090 by Senator Perez, which would impose a temporary moratorium in Altadena on certain state housing density laws after the Eaton Fire. Supporters, including Supervisor Catherine Barger and many Altadena residents, argued the bill would protect fire survivors from speculative investors and give families time to rebuild and return home. Opponents argued the bill could limit tools that homeowners need to finance rebuilding and could reduce future housing production. After extensive testimony, the committee passed SB 1090 to the Assembly Local Government Committee on a 10-0 vote. SB 1388 by Senator Durazo would create an Affordable Housing Risk Reduction Program to help affordable housing providers reduce insurance costs through technical assistance and risk-mitigation support. Supporters said rising insurance premiums are threatening the viability of affordable housing developments and existing units. The committee also reconsidered and then voted on SB 1092, which was taken up only for reconsideration and final vote; after a split vote, the bill ultimately passed the committee. Final recorded votes showed SB 866 and SB 996 passing unanimously, SB 1388 passing with one no vote and one not voting, and SB 1092 passing 7-5 after reconsideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have five items on our agenda today.
• So what our bill is doing is rather than just applying this to the high-fire severity zone, So what our
• Our record speaks for itself.
• It destroyed our community.
• Now, our frustration with that and our questions around that have been that these were bills, as we've

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Land, wetlands, beaches, spring sheds, and forests, because they are the foundations of our water, our
• Our state parks and our state forests, our public lands, are second to none.
• state parks, that become our state forests, that become our local and urban green areas.
• Many of these lands become our award-winning state parks, state forests, and wildlife management areas
• Fee-simple acquisitions are our state parks, our state forests, and our wildlife management areas.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture convened with a quorum and heard presentations focused on land conservation and agricultural preservation in Florida. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services briefed the committee on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, explaining that it protects active agricultural lands through permanent conservation easements while keeping land in private ownership and on the tax rolls. The presentation emphasized eligibility for greenbelted active agricultural operations, required best management practices, and the program’s role in protecting food supply, water resources, habitat, and military buffering. Officials said the program’s 2025 ranked list includes 428 projects, with about 75 projects expected to start this year, and noted strong partnership funding from federal, local, and conservation partners. Committee members asked about eligibility, annual re-ranking, local government involvement, and the number of projects likely to receive funding. Tracy Dean of Conservation Florida testified in support of continued and increased funding for land conservation, arguing that Florida is losing agricultural and natural lands and that conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions are complementary tools. She said land trusts work with willing landowners to protect ranches, wetlands, forests, and wildlife corridors, and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum so projects do not stall as land values rise. In discussion with senators, she said public access to conserved lands depends on the specific deal and the landowner’s goals, and that access is more commonly provided through lands acquired for parks, forests, and other public green space. The Department of Environmental Protection then updated the committee on the Florida Forever program. DEP said the program uses both conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions, with about half of acquisitions done through easements, and that it provides benefits including water quality, habitat protection, recreation, and military readiness. Officials reported 60 projects on the 2025-26 work plan, most in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and said the state has invested more than $1.4 billion since 2019, acquiring over 374,000 acres. They highlighted recent acquisitions for Sandy Creek State Forest, Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, and a new state park in Walton County, as well as the program’s 200th conservation easement. The committee also discussed funding levels, payment in lieu of taxes impacts on small counties, and broader priorities such as citrus, roads, and support for agriculture; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, member from Pownal on our notice calendar is Senate Bill 64, which is an act relating to amendments
• </c> our regulatory system. our regulatory system.
• </c> of our regions. of our regions.
• On our notice calendar is the Senate proposal of amendment on House Bill 942, which is an act relating
• On our notice calendar is the Senate proposal of amendment on House Bill 942, which is an act relating

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The act was modeled after the Texas Act.
• We don't own our view. We didn't buy enough land to protect our view, a.k.a. our backyard.
• It's our desk, our phone, and our pencil.
• It's our desk, our phone, and our pencil.
• It's our desk, our phone, and our pencil.

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• based on our our rule set and decisions based on our our rule set and what's<01:20:41.840><c> defined
• </c> I I think our our support of this I I think our our support of this legislation<01:27:49.560><c>
• When left untreated, it can be affecting our drinking water supplies, our rivers, our estuaries, our
• bridges, our roadways, our culverts, and our neighbors.
• bridges, our roadways, our culverts, and our neighbors.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's our number one project on our ICIP list.
• add about 75% capacity to our water storage in our area.
• I really encourage the state to get on board with us again, as that can fix a lot of our economic problems
• our programs.
• We couldn't do it without our friends groups, our volunteers, our campground hosts, and our ambassadors

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Our legislative...
• For our relationship with, like, I've been following some of the meetings and whatnot, for our relationship
• And I don't know how to fix it.
• You know, our beach state parks are the shining star for our state, and they are really what leads a
• And I also want to thank Char, our Secretary of State, and Greg Patterson, our Secretary of DNREC, who

Committee: Joint Capital Improvement

Summary: The committee met to finalize the FY27 bond bill, beginning with a roll call and a detailed review of updated appropriation amounts. The Comptroller General walked through major changes across agencies, including additions for OMB, the Department of State, DNREC, Agriculture, Education, and Transportation, and explained the funding sources that would cover the total $1.256 billion package. Members then debated several large items, especially the $110 million appropriation for the Diamond State Port Corporation, the $35 million Legislative Hall addition, the $20 million Community Reinvestment Fund, and the $30 million land and building acquisition line. Questions focused on the port project’s costs, expected jobs, return on investment, and whether the state would face future commitments; Secretary of State Charney Patitofunded Chances and other officials testified that the port expansion would create construction and permanent jobs and support long-term economic growth, while some members remained skeptical and objected to the process and spending priorities. The committee also discussed school construction funding, with officials explaining that additional money would forward-fund projects already in the pipeline and help districts that had been turned down for certificates of necessity. Other items reviewed included funding for park improvements, marina acquisition, the Plummer Center demolition and transfer, the Pyle Center sewer project, the Site Readiness Fund, affordable housing, the Arts Endowment Fund, an unclaimed property task force, and various transportation and community transportation projects. Several members raised concerns about county distribution, minority-party involvement in negotiations, and the scale of certain appropriations, but the majority defended the package as statewide investment and economic development. The committee then voted on the Section 1 addendum and a series of new and replacement epilogue sections, including provisions for the port project, Legislative Hall minor capital improvements, land acquisition, affordable housing, the Community Reinvestment Fund, downtown development districts, the Rite Aid demolition, the Site Readiness Fund, school construction formula review, and enhanced school capital funding. Most motions carried, with a few recorded no votes or abstentions on the main addendum. The meeting concluded with a motion authorizing technical corrections by the Comptroller General’s office, followed by closing remarks thanking staff and members for their work and noting that this was likely the final bond committee meeting for some participants before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in many cases, we put some of our ...support to our local impacted communities.
• I'm also DNR's deputy who oversees our forest, community resilience, and wildfire response programs.
• We have our own plan.
• They occur every 300 to 400 years, and it is something that our forests have seen in the past.
• our firefighters.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2579, which would create a Public Media Broadcaster Program and a Digital Equity Program funded by a 20-cent-per-line monthly tax on wireless, prepaid wireless, VoIP, and landline service. Staff explained that 80% of the revenue would support public media grants, 20% would support digital equity grants, and a small share could be used for administration. The prime sponsor, Rep. Chris Stearns, and many public media, community media, and digital equity supporters testified that public radio and television provide emergency alerts, local news, education, training, and community connection, especially in rural and underserved areas, and that federal funding cuts have made state support more urgent. Several witnesses described how public media helped with emergency communications, youth training, Indigenous programming, and access to local information. Opposition came from CTIA and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes. CTIA argued the tax would add to already high wireless taxes in Washington and would be regressive because low-income residents rely heavily on wireless service. Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes objected to the bill as another tax increase and said it would worsen affordability. One supporter said an amendment would be offered to address a misunderstanding in the fiscal note. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then received a cybersecurity and critical infrastructure briefing from state emergency management and cybersecurity officials. They described Washington’s layered cybersecurity model, the role of state agencies, the Fusion Center, WOTEC, the National Guard, and the Emergency Management Division, and the growing threat from ransomware, supply-chain attacks, and AI-enabled attacks. Members asked about volunteer cyber response capacity, the most vulnerable sectors, and whether the legislature should fund more real-time threat monitoring and intelligence sharing. Officials said the state is working to establish a volunteer cyber incident response team and that the main gap is real-time monitoring across participating local and private networks. The committee also heard updates on the December 2025 flooding response and wildfire resilience. Emergency management officials reported widespread flooding, landslides, power outages, evacuations, rescues, and infrastructure damage, but said mitigation investments helped prevent worse outcomes. They identified gaps in statewide alerting, search and rescue coordination, and local emergency management capacity, and said a statewide alert system like Oregon’s would require ongoing funding. In the wildfire update, DNR and partner agencies described increasing wildfire risk, the use of aircraft, AI-enabled detection cameras, and common operating pictures, and ongoing work on hazard and risk mapping, community wildfire preparedness, and home hardening. Members asked about predictive technology, sediment removal, and other mitigation tools, and officials said they are working with universities and federal partners to improve prevention and response.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> our county clerks. our county clerks.
• </c><01:28:55.360><c> our</c> program account, uh, which is our our program account, uh, which is our
• </c> of that in our future. of that in our future.
• > state</c> where our engineers and our state where our engineers and our state construction<01:34:49.440
• It's part of our commitment to our schools across the state.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our constituents are asking us to act with urgency to address the cost-of-living crisis.
• We need to put our children first.
• AB 1454 is a powerful step forward in supporting our educators and especially our students.
• I want to thank our colleague.
• When we're talking about our incarcerated communities, our firefighters and our incarcerated hand crews

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor file of bills. Early measures passed with little or no debate, including AB 698 on local transfer taxes and affordable housing analysis, AB 456 on mobile home sales, AB 1129 on reportable infant health conditions, AB 69 on Fair Plan insurance notices and voluntary market searches, AB 357 on expedited student and faculty housing permits, AB 383 on firearms code cleanups, AB 426 on drones interfering with emergency response, AB 825 on energy affordability and transmission financing, and AB 699 on ballot transparency for local tax and bond measures. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan margins, while AB 825 drew the most extended debate over whether it would lower costs or expand state control of energy infrastructure; it ultimately passed 45-5. The most contentious item was AB 84, which would strengthen oversight of non-classroom-based charter schools and tighten accountability for charter spending and operations. Supporters argued it was needed to stop fraud and misuse of public education dollars, citing major scandals and audit findings, while opponents warned it would harm legitimate charter schools, reduce educational options, and disproportionately affect rural and special-needs students. Several members said they supported the bill only to keep negotiations going, and others urged more targeted or delayed action. After extensive debate and multiple amendments, the Assembly passed AB 84 on a 41-22 vote. The chamber also took up AB 610, a housing bill that would require cities and counties to disclose planned housing restrictions and limit new constraints for three years after housing element approval. The author framed it as a certainty and transparency measure to help address the state’s housing shortage, while noting continued discussions with local governments and housing advocates. The transcript ends with the bill’s presentation and request for an aye vote, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.