Transcript Highlights:

• It also poses new challenges to make sure we can safeguard the reliability of our grid, prevent rate
• These same principles guided Tacoma as we implemented our large load rate in 2024.
• We've seen rates increase over 12% on average across the state.
• Our coalition is Our most low-income rate payers across the state.
• And we're seeing that with rates going up, electricity rates going up around the country.

Bills: SB6171 , SB5965 , SB5982 , SB6004 , SB6010 , SB5941 , SB6050

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: energy facilities, large energy consumers, regulation, environment, sustainability, retail bags, pollution, customer impact, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, renewable energy, public entities, electric generation, contracting, SB 6010, Washington energy siting, EFSEC

Transcript Highlights:

• I think capital attracts competition, and competition will drive down rates.
• Every rate filing for residential property coverage from a property insurer must include, Senate Bill
• from a property insurer must include a rate transparency report.
• And And I think it's well intended, but some of it talks about rate factors.
• And I think it's well intended, but some of it talks about rate factors.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to actually drive down your rates.
• 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?
• Also, ...costs, which will have an impact on future rates.

Bills: HB2275 , HB2238

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: wildfire prevention, Washington wildfire council, fire safety, environmental protection, state regulations, HB 2238, HB2238, statewide food security, food security strategy, hunger, food insecurity, food access, food assistance, anti-hunger, nutrition education, food system literacy, agricultural viability, supply chain resilience, Washington Department of Agriculture, food policy forum

Transcript Highlights:

• The executive added in those additional GSD and DOIT rates.
• rate study, you know, we were trying to be very mindful and intentional about how we asked for the Rate
• increases: So the last time we had a rate study, we broke up the rate increase into two fiscal years
• So that's my rate increase A discussion on support decision making.
• You know, insurance rates go up, insurance premiums go up.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we're going to talk about a growth rate from 25 to 26 and then a growth rate from 26 to 27. fiscal
• from 25 to 26 and then a growth rate from 25 to 26 and then a growth<00:05:21.800><c> rate</c><00:05
• </c> interest rates at their current rates interest rates at their current rates they<00:55:15.079><c
• Just the rates themselves?
• Interest rates directly affect our housing situation, with mortgage rates around 7%.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee received a Department of Revenue Administration update from Commissioner Lindsay Stepp focused on revenue estimates for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. She explained the department’s forecasting method, which uses five scenarios based on the first seven months of actual collections and different assumptions for the remaining months, then selects a reasonable high and low range for FY 25 and applies projected growth rates for FY 26 and FY 27. Members asked several clarifying questions about how the scenarios are chosen and how the estimates relate to economic growth and taxpayer behavior. For business taxes, Stepp reported FY 25 year-to-date collections of $110.3 million, 18.2% below plan and 17.2% below prior year. She said the shortfall reflects both economic conditions and a resetting of estimated payments after unusually strong pandemic-era profits, and noted that the department cannot fully separate changes in taxpayer liability from changes in estimated payment behavior. She said approximately just under $72 million was refunded in FY 24 due to the CCO cap, and that FY 25 year-to-date refunds are at 41.7%. For business taxes, the department’s FY 25 range was based on either continued underperformance versus plan or a return to prior-year levels, with FY 26 and FY 27 growth projected at 3% to 8%. The committee also reviewed meals and rooms tax, tobacco tax, and related trends. Meals and rooms revenue was $6.9 million, or 3.3%, ahead of plan and prior year; the FY 25 gross estimate was $475.894 million, with a net range of about $331.82 million to $335.259 million after municipal transfers and school building aid. Stepp said recent monthly results suggest some fluctuation tied to disposable income, weather, and travel patterns, but no clear sustained decline. Tobacco tax was $18.1 million, 14% below plan and 4.8% below prior year; she said cigarette stamp sales are declining while e-cigarettes and other tobacco products are growing, with FY 25 tobacco revenue projected at $182.5 million to $185.3 million and FY 26-FY 27 growth ranging from -5% to flat. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we just heard, California's air rate has been historically low.
• , right, and we want to improve error rates, why?
• What is our burn rate? We released funds early. What is our burn rate?
• Is it exceeding our expectations in terms of utilization rates?
• , as well as the potential drivers of the denial rate.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The enhancements as it relates to the rates, which the rates vary, but we do, and of course that goes
• And the market rate, and I get there would be some qualifiers here, but if the market rate is working
• provider rates, potentially changing rate enhancements.
• And we currently have in our plan that we use the market rate survey as what we use to set our rates.
• a lower rate.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of the Governor’s FY 2027 budget request from Adam Gresham. He explained the office’s staffing and noted a $500,000 core reduction, along with a reallocation of three positions and about $168,000 from the governor’s office to the mansion operating fund to better reflect where those employees work. Members asked about the National Guard emergency line, which Gresham said had already spent about $63,457 in FY 2026 and could be used again for disaster activations, though he did not expect to use the full $4 million. He also said the agricultural resiliency transfer fund had not been used and had no current transfer plans. Several members commented on the size of the governor’s cut and whether the judiciary and other offices were also being asked to reduce budgets. No votes were taken. The committee then moved to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood and early childhood-related budget items. DESE staff described funding for the Office of Childhood, MoQPK child care provider grants, LEA pre-K grants, early childhood special education, Parents as Teachers, First Steps, preschool coordination, after-school programs, and child care subsidy. Members asked extensively about the MoQPK grants, including why Head Start providers were eligible, how curriculum approval works, and what safeguards exist against fraud or improper payments. DESE said it conducts physical inspections, desk reviews, payment-system checks, and investigations as needed, and that it had not had findings in this area. Some members questioned whether DESE or DSS was the right home for early childhood programs, while others defended the partnership and the role of early educators in identifying child needs. A major portion of the discussion focused on early childhood special education and the child care subsidy program. DESE explained that First Steps serves children birth to age three, while early childhood special education covers ages three to five and is driven by IEP eligibility; members asked for more data on diagnoses, trends, and how many children come off IEPs. The committee also discussed the child care subsidy budget and the governor’s proposed shift to paying providers based on authorization and at the beginning of the month. DESE said the change is being piloted, that a wait list is expected to begin around March 1, and that a May rollout is being considered, but only if software testing and fiscal projections show the system is sustainable. Members expressed frustration that promised changes had been delayed and that providers had been told different timelines, while DESE said the delay was driven by software issues, fiscal caution, and the need to avoid repeating prior payment problems. The hearing ended with the committee in recess before later resuming discussion of the subsidy program; no final votes or actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• capitation rate."
• </c> get get buried into a capitation rate. get get buried into a capitation rate.
• </c> into the capitation rates. into the capitation rates.
• And I I believe eligibility rates.
• A 43% error rate. directly presented. A 43% error rate.

Keywords: During the committee meeting live stream, portion of the video was lost due to network issues. There were also some technical difficulties with content and the incorrect background image being used. The lost footage was recovered from backup, and the other issues corrected in post production editing. 1. 00:00:41 Call to Order 2. 00:01:02 Roll Call 3. 00:02:54 Approval of Minutes 4. 00:05:06 Statutory Reports and Data Requests 5. 00:35:14 2025 and 2026 Session Update 6. 01:03:10 Board Structure Updates and Subcommittees 7. 01:05:20 Public Comment 8. 02:23:14 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Board meeting opened with quorum, approval of the March 9 and March 16, 2026 minutes, and a welcome to new member Representative Willner. The board then heard a presentation from the Department of Medicaid Services on several statutory reports: the quarterly budget analysis (LRC) report, the quarterly MCO report, the provider tax and assessment report, the enrollee demographic report, the annual behavioral health/substance use disorder utilization report, and the Medicaid pharmaceutical rebate fund. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Bechal explained the reports and answered questions. On spending, DMS said the quarterly budget analysis report should be read using the summary tabs because the first tab reflects only traditional Medicaid and does not include all populations. Lee said the first three quarters of fiscal year 2026 showed about $191 million more in waiver spending than the same period last year, about $250 million more in other categories such as nursing facilities, CCBHCs, and FQHCs, and roughly $450 million more in total fee-for-service spending. She also noted that Medicare Part D premiums are 100% state funds and estimated the state-fund increase at about $140 million. For managed care, DMS said pharmacy, inpatient hospital, and outpatient hospital spending made up about 66% of MCO payments so far this fiscal year. Members asked about administrative costs, provider tax impacts, citizenship-status categories, medical loss ratio, and whether the reports could be expanded to show recoupments and citizenship-based spending. DMS clarified that the spending figures discussed were benefit costs only, not administrative costs, and said administrative match rates vary. On the provider tax and directed payments report, Lee said the new CMS proposed rule would allow separate payment terms to continue through the grandfathering period, but that the impact would be substantial for providers even if the administrative effect was minimal. She also said DMS was still reviewing unusual citizenship categories such as “other” and “unspecified,” and would provide more information on medical loss ratio and recoupments if available. Auditor Ball raised concerns about alleged waste, duplicate Social Security numbers, ineligible enrollees, and high error rates in other programs. Lee responded that Medicaid focuses on fraud, waste, and abuse, but said the cited $800 million figure was not factual because it did not account for people enrolled in more than one Medicaid program at the same time. She said DMS is reviewing eligibility systems, including changes tied to community engagement requirements, and is working with the cabinet’s eligibility staff and ombudsman division on error rates. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are many specialized B&O tax rates and preferential rates that apply to specific business activities
• These include tax exclusions, deductions, exemptions, preferential tax rates, deferrals, and credits.
• ...rate, how does JLARC assess whether or not?
• rate as what we passed as the incentive originally?
• There are many specialized B&O tax rates and preferential rates that apply to specific business activities

Bills: HB2730 , HB2713

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, state revenue, private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the average rate of the previous three years.
• Chairman, I want to look at the graduation rate of 65 or higher.
• Chair about the graduation rates, the current ones.
• Chair, of 65 or higher graduation rate? Do we know, Mr. Chair, Representative? currently no.
• per year over three or average, that's a very low graduation rate.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The fact is the average residential electric rate in our Commonwealth has surged by 41% since 2020.
• “The Electric Rates Task Force, which is supposed to tell us why our bills are so high, doesn't even
• For example, this amendment would end the low-income discount rate funding source during peak hours,
• electric rates and to provide... ...for the newly established electric rates task force to scrutinize
• Not one was defined. $342 million in construction sat in the base rate, unitemized.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motor fuel rate, the gasoline rate, was a six-cent increase, and the special fuel increase was nine
• There were increases to both the motor fuel tax. rate.
• That went into effect last July, the motor fuel rate, the gasoline rate, was six cent increase, and the
• An additional special fuel rate increase of three cents begins on July 1st, 2027. rate increase of three
• special fuel tax rates.

Bills: HB2306 , HB2711

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation budget, capital budget, operating budget, appropriations, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferry funding, state ferries, highway maintenance, road preservation, bridge replacement, tolling, express toll lanes, traffic safety, speed cameras, ignition interlock, transit grants, public transit

Transcript Highlights:

• I think what we could be seeing in rates and where we could be seeing higher costs is when the providers
• rate.
• And number two, we've got a concern that it would open up contracted network rates also to the dispute
• And number two, we've got a concern that it would open up contracted network rates also to the dispute
• Do you have enough money to pay claims based on the way these rates are set up?

Bills: S0158 , S0314 , S0618 , S0684 , S0838 , S0990 , S1000 , S1082 , S1452 , S1494 , S1500 , S1568 , S1706

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: pet insurance, consumer protection, insurance regulation, policy disclosure, agent training, payment stablecoin, financial regulation, anti-money laundering, state oversight, digital currency, financial services, workers compensation, Florida statute, commercial insurance, insurance board, electronic signatures, vehicle titles, insurance regulations, auditing, total loss vehicles

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard and advanced a wide range of insurance, financial services, and probate bills. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program for emergency out-of-network claims. After extensive discussion about the relationship between the state and federal No Surprises Act processes, an amendment was withdrawn due to concerns about clarity and scope, but the bill itself was supported by providers and insurers and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels, CS/SB 158 on pet insurance consumer disclosures and agent education, SB 1494 expanding breast cancer screening coverage, CS/SB 314 on digital assets and stablecoin issuers, and CS/SB 1500 on uncontested probate procedures and small-estate administration. SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance was amended to raise the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ compensation policies from 10% to 20% and then reported favorably, with supporters saying it would help keep higher-risk employers in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 creating a Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for a Florida coin and limit the program to existing stablecoins, then passed. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 838 on electronic payment convenience fees for retail installment contracts, with the sponsor emphasizing that a fee-free payment option must still be offered. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it covered My Safe Florida Home administration, insurance and licensing changes, unclaimed property updates, and other DFS-related provisions. The committee also passed SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting owner-occupied condominiums at or below 80% of area median income, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which supporters said would modernize Florida’s captive insurance laws and encourage more competition. The meeting ended with all listed bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, over the last few years, the department has increased the base rate of pay for by CPI, an
• I would say that those all contribute to retention rate surgery. >> Thank you.
• I just had a question you gave us this CPI vacancy rates in the API vacancy rate in terms of percentages
• I know how difficult it has been and you're talking about increase base rate.
• The daily board rate of the bq Itp is 3.95.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of it's to do with the free and reduced rates.
• So, I don't know if I missed this earlier, but E-rate is a federal program. >> Yes.
• E-rate allocates $201.57 per student over 5 years.
• The school nutrition program, the CEP, affects eligibility or reimbursement rate for E-rate. >> Correct
• The one thing I would argue is I don't know that the custodian rate is the right rate for our food workers

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Director Rivera, so earlier you mentioned the tight turnover rate.
• be required to pay the highest match rate of 15%.
• So, as a result, reducing the department's payment... ...the highest match rate of 15%.
• Our sunset review... the highest match rate of 15%.
• in the per-member rate, but the actual per-member rate AHCCCS set for fiscal year 2025 increased by

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rate reform remains critical.
• First, TK enrollment and uptake rates.
• Please continue to work on the single rate structure so that reimbursement rates reflect the true cost
• I ask that you please continue your work on the single rate structure so that the reimbursement rate
• And our birth rate is declining rapidly.

Summary: The hearing was a joint budget discussion focused first on California preschool and child care, then on universal transitional kindergarten (TK), with later movement toward a reading-difficulties screener item. Members emphasized the need for a coordinated early childhood system that better serves families’ real schedules and needs, rather than forcing families to fit existing program structures. The preschool panel reviewed access, quality, workforce, facilities, and information systems, with repeated concern about whether current funding and program design are sufficient for infants, toddlers, three-year-olds, and full-day/full-year care. Witnesses from the Learning Policy Institute, CDSS, CDE, and community providers described major growth in preschool and child care enrollment, especially for two- and three-year-olds, but also noted persistent gaps, waitlists, workforce shortages, low reimbursement rates, and the need for more stable funding. Several witnesses urged expansion or permanence of two-year-old eligibility in CSPP, more support for mixed-delivery systems, facility conversion and renovation grants, better statewide enrollment and referral systems, and continued funding for one-time grants such as UPK coordinators and planning/implementation supports. Provider and parent testimony stressed that rate reform, enrollment-based reimbursement, and continued hold-harmless protections are needed to keep programs open and accessible. The TK panel reviewed the Governor’s budget proposal for full implementation of universal TK, including Proposition 98 funding for expansion and lower adult-to-child ratios, plus a multilingual learner screening implementation budget change proposal. LPI and CDE reported that TK enrollment has grown rapidly but uptake is now a little over half of eligible four-year-olds, with families citing lack of awareness, preference for other care, and logistical barriers such as location and hours. CDE and providers said the UPK planning and implementation grant, mixed-delivery planning grants, and UPK coordinators have been critical, but these one-time funds are set to sunset. Members pressed for more information on eligible population projections, full-day/full-year demand, teacher credential data, and how administrative credential programs are preparing leaders for early childhood settings. The committee held the issues open and requested follow-up data from the departments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rates anywhere from 20 to 40% higher.
• So no rating is perfect, but it's a very strong one.
• them with less predictive rating variables.
• We've taken patients that have CMS star ratings that the practices have 2 to 3 star ratings on the quality
• More competition is better for customers, lowers prices, and since rate and freedom, rate and form freedom

Committee: House Insurance

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
• It's not part of the rate people pay for their water.
• Our rental rates are down 10% from last year.

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1730, a Live Local Act bill on affordable housing. The sponsor described it as a set of technical and policy adjustments to strengthen implementation, including changes to zoning, height, parking, moratoriums, attorney fees, and related land-use rules. An amendment by Senator Claudio was adopted, adding provisions such as a 10-story height limit near single-family neighborhoods, exclusions for certain protected areas, and changes to fee and use definitions. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 1674 on unrated bonds for Israel bonds, with a clarifying amendment adopted to make clear the bill applied only to Israel bonds. CS/SB 140 on charter schools was also approved after debate over parent-led conversion of public schools, municipal job-engine charter schools, and surplus school property; opponents warned about local control and impacts on teachers and communities, while the sponsor said the bill preserved district authority and created new school-choice and economic-development options. The committee also passed SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and CS/SB 954 on recovery residences, after strike-all amendments that addressed zoning, ADA concerns, bed caps, staffing ratios, and limits on operation in certain multifamily settings. Senators expressed support for expanding treatment housing but also raised neighborhood and staffing concerns. The committee then approved CS/SB 1714 on local housing assistance plans, which would allow SHIP funds for limited lot-rental assistance for mobile-home owners and require local plans to address mobile-home park closures. SB 658 on standardized construction lien release forms was reported favorably despite testimony from contractors and lawyers warning about possible effects on lien rights and the separate House proposal. The committee also reconsidered and then approved CS/SB 482 after a late-filed amendment addressing local government art fees and a key issue over defining “extraordinary circumstances,” with counties and cities saying more work remained. Finally, the committee passed SB 24 and CS/SB 4, both local claims bills, CS/SB 712 on synthetic turf and related construction rules, SB 952 repealing the emergency firearms/ammunition restriction, CS/SB 1164 allowing email notice delivery in landlord-tenant matters with opt-in safeguards, and SB 202 on municipal water and sewer rates, which drew extensive opposition from North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens officials over utility surcharges and revenue impacts. The meeting ended with SB 202 still under heavy questioning and testimony about the fairness and financial consequences of the surcharge structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• of not higher than 6% error rate, fraud rate, waste, overpayments and underpayments?
• of not higher than 6% error rate, fraud rate, waste, overpayments and underpayments?
• of not higher than 6% error rate, fraud rate, waste, overpayments and underpayments?
• of not higher than 6% error rate, fraud rate, waste, overpayments and underpayments?
• of not higher than 6% error rate, fraud rate, waste, overpayments and underpayments?

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house