Transcript Highlights:

• <00:40:02.640> Davids<00:40:03.080> nay. Representative Davids. No. Davids nay.
• Representative Davids. No. Davids nay. Representative<00:40:04.360> Dotsith.
• Representative<00:47:18.640> Davids. Representative Davids. Representative Davids.
• [snorts] Representative<01:08:32.240> Davids. Representative Davids. Representative Davids.
• Chair<01:17:22.960> Davids. Chair Davids. Chair Davids.

Bills: HF3794, HF4472, HF4410, HF4347, HF4412, HF4398, HF4397, HF4201, HF4199, HF4203, HF3706, HF4071, HF4120, HF4175, HF4188

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Chair Davids asks almost of Revenue.
• Thank you, Chair Davids, uh, please.
• Chair Davids and members.
• <00:57:37.200> mentioned, Davids mentioned, Davids mentioned, um,<00:57:39.440> then<00
• Uh, Chair Davids and members. testify. Uh, Chair Davids and members.

Bills: HF2048, HF2360, HF2006, HF950, HF912, HF3140, HF2931

Keywords: individual income tax, retirement contributions, tax corrections, annuity contracts, tax year attribution, tax credit, economic development, community investment, data disclosure, Minnesota regulations, tax increment financing, municipal authority, job creation, transferred increment, public hearing, nonresident employees, income tax exemption, Minnesota taxation, employment duties, tax withholding

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm David Carter.
• David Carter: Absolutely.
• David Carter: May I have a follow-up?
• David Carter: And that's an outstanding question.
• David Carter: And that's an outstanding question.

Keywords: Meeting Start - 00:00 Roll Call – 00:34 KY Chamber of Commerce KY Business Perspectives – 01:50 COT Update on SB4 – 27:16 Adjournment – 48:18, 958, all

Summary: The 2025 Artificial Intelligence Task Force met for its first meeting of the year and heard updates on federal AI policy, state implementation of Senate Bill 4, and the business community’s perspective on AI regulation. Co-chairs noted that federal legislation could affect the task force’s work later in the year, but said Kentucky still has significant issues to study, including energy, land use, education, social media, and children’s engagement with AI. The task force had quorum and no votes were taken. Kate Shanks of the Kentucky Chamber said the business community supports continued discussion but favors a federal approach over a patchwork of state laws. She described the Trump administration’s new AI executive order as emphasizing innovation over regulation, noted the pending federal AI action plan, and discussed congressional action including the Take It Down Act and industry-specific changes to existing laws. She warned that state-by-state AI rules could increase costs and burden businesses, and said the Chamber would prefer incremental, flexible policy that avoids conflict with existing law and limits private rights of action. Members asked about uniform model legislation, education uses of AI, and civil liability; Shanks said a model approach could help avoid fragmentation and that liability should generally be handled through consumer-protection-style enforcement rather than broad litigation. The Commonwealth Office of Technology then reported on implementation of SB 4, saying it has worked with industry, agencies, other states, and vendors to build an AI policy framework now in final review. Officials said an AI Governance Committee has been established and will meet in July, and a draft RFP is being prepared to meet the bill’s tracking and documentation requirements. They said no major implementation challenges have been identified so far, but the impact of pending federal rules remains uncertain. Members also discussed the need to educate students and teachers about AI, with one member emphasizing that schools should teach both how to use AI and how to think critically about information online.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Davids, Co-Chair Gomez, and committee members.
• "Thank you, Chair Davids, Chair Gomez, members of the committee.
• Thank you, Chair Davids, and thank you, Superintendent.
• Uh, thank you, Chair Davids and thank you, Chair Gomez and members.
• Uh, thank you, Chair Davids and thank you, Chair Gomez and members.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Davids, welcome.
• questions for Representative Davids. questions for Representative Davids.
• >> Representative<00:46:37.200> Davids. >> Representative Davids.
• >> Representative Davids.
• Davids, uh, Chair Davids, was there.

Bills: HF2400, HF1724, HF3437, HF4333, HF2874, HF4052

Keywords: real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, direct primary care, healthcare agreements, medical services, patient care, health insurance, mortgage fees, residential loans, commercial loans, finance regulations, investment properties, insurance, supplemental health insurance, short-term care, home health care, nursing care

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Davids, and thank you, Chair Gomez, and members for having me here today.
• So, yeah, you know, and Chair Davids, I appreciate that as the youngest of five.
• uh thank represent Myers two- your bill uh thank you<00:03:43.680> chair<00:03:43.959> Davids
• and thank you chair you chair Davids and thank you chair Gomez<00:03:45.640> and<00:03:45.799
• <00:05:13.600> I so yeah you know and CH David I so yeah you know and CH David I appreciate

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative David Marshall Sr., Legislative District No. 7.
• Representative David Marshall Sr., Legislative District No. 7. Mr.
• Representative David Marshall Sr., please proceed. Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, I would suspend, please.
• Representative David Marshall Sr., please proceed. Mr.
• Joining us today is David Ketka. introduce some guests that we have in the gallery.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, heard the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and welcomed several guests and a Doctor of the Day. Members also adopted a proclamation honoring the people of Iran and heard a brief disturbance in the gallery that led to the sergeant-at-arms escorting a person out. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several Senate bills. In Committee of the Whole, SB 1166 received a do pass recommendation without debate. SB 1184, a bill concerning flags that homeowners and condominium associations may not prohibit, drew debate over a proposed floor amendment by Rep. Villegas to add the pride flag to the protected list; the amendment was defeated 21-32 after division, and the bill then received a do pass recommendation. SB 1252 also received a do pass recommendation. The House later adopted the Committee of the Whole report, placing SB 1166, SB 1184, and SB 1252 on third reading. An additional Committee of the Whole was then used to amend SB 1092, which was reported out as amended and deferred to engrossing. On third reading, SB 1020, a special license plate bill supporting the Arizona Space Commission and space-related education/workforce efforts, passed 35-21 with several members explaining votes in favor and against, including objections that a community college scholarship plate had not been heard. SB 1247, an emergency measure relating to health care institutions, passed 55-1 and met the two-thirds threshold. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to HB 2307, and later passed HB 2307 on final reading with the required emergency vote. The chamber also passed HB 2072 on final reading by a two-thirds margin after extensive debate over repealing Cesar Chavez Day in light of allegations of abuse and whether the day should instead be replaced with a farm worker recognition day. The House adjourned until Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, Chair Davids, and members of the Taxes Committee. My name is Ranna Lee.
• testimony thank you so much chair Davids testimony thank you so much chair Davids and<00:05:16.240
• Chair Davids and members, my name is Nan Madden. I'm director of the Minnesota Budget Project.
• Thank you, Chair Davids. Um, uh, thank you. Uh, Representative Johnson for bringing this bill.
• Thank you, Chair Davids. Um, uh, thank you. Uh, Representative Johnson for bringing this bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4, first adopting the H004A1 amendment without objection. The author described the bill as a constitutional amendment intended to create a tax relief account funded from projected budget surpluses, defined as revenues exceeding 105% of projected expenditures based on the November forecast. Supporters framed the proposal as a way to return excess taxpayer money to families, homeowners, and seniors rather than allowing the state to retain or redirect it. Testimony in support came from Ranna Lee of Americans for Prosperity, who praised the bill’s clarity and argued that taxpayers are overburdened and should receive surplus funds back; she also suggested broader tax and budget reforms, including rate reductions and tighter spending limits. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project testified in opposition, saying the legislature already has authority to use surpluses for rebates or tax cuts and warning that constitutionalizing tax policy would reduce flexibility, weaken accountability, and make it harder to respond to changing conditions, emergencies, or recessions. Members then briefly commented, with Republicans expressing support for returning money to taxpayers and citing cost-of-living pressures and fixed incomes. The committee did not hear a formal department position. At the end of the hearing, Representative Johnson renewed the motion that House File 4, as amended, be recommended to pass and sent to the Ways and Means Committee; the motion prevailed on a voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, David Shep, on behalf of the Florida Golf Course Superintendent Association, and I just want to
• Again, David Shep, on behalf of the Florida Golf Course Superintendent Association, and I just want to
• So, and the other thing that David Shep brought up about continuing education, And the other thing that
• So, and the other thing that David Shep brought up about continuing education, And the other thing that
• David Shep brought up about continuing education credits, F-DACs works on those for turf grass, and

Bills: S0544, S0636, S0848, S0546

Keywords: golf courses, best management practices, fertilizer regulation, Department of Agriculture, environmental protection, certification, beach management, beach erosion, beach nourishment, coastal resilience, shoreline protection, critical erosion, critically eroded beach, Florida DEP, Department of Environmental Protection, coastal flooding, compound flooding, storm surge, inlet management, coastal engineering

Summary: The Environment and Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. SB 636 on beach management, by Senator Leek, would create additional pathways for counties and municipalities to obtain critically eroded beach or area of critical state concern designations, shifting the process toward a more proactive approach. Senator Smith and Senator Harrell raised concerns about local capacity and funding, and the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association said the bill was an alternative pathway but emphasized the need for more recurring funding. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 544, which transfers the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification Program from DEP to FDACS and establishes certification and training standards there. Senator Smith and Senator Harrell asked about environmental oversight, taxation, and whether the change would affect state park restrictions; the sponsor said it would not change tax treatment or park rules and that DEP would still handle enforcement if BMPs are not followed. The Florida Springs Council opposed the bill, arguing golf courses are not agriculture and warning of weaker protections for springs, while the Florida Golf Course Superintendent's Association supported the move as a continuity and participation measure. After adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Smith voting no. SB 848 on stormwater treatment, also by Senator Trunow, was amended to clarify the role of water quality enhancement areas while stormwater rules are still being finalized and to make public-land project review forward-looking. Resource Environmental Solutions supported the amendment and bill as providing a clearer market for water quality credits, and the Florida Home Builders Association supported the measure. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 546 by Vice Chair Mayfield would require 30-day public notice before meetings reviewing the sale or exchange of state conservation lands, including at water management districts; after a technical amendment, it received support from conservation groups and was reported favorably. The committee also received a DEP presentation on the State Park Amenities Report, which said Florida’s 175 state parks drew over 28 million visitors and generated a $3.6 billion economic impact. DEP identified nearly $759 million in needed repairs and upgrades over 10 years and $1.39 billion in contemplated new construction and development in unit management plans. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is David Hackney.
• David, give me one moment. One moment.
• My name is David Hanky.
• David, give me one moment. authorities and on public health protections David give me one moment one
• I'm David Hankey. So we can see your face at some point. Okay, great. I'm David Hankey.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure focused on health care and human services, reviewed testimony logistics, and then heard a long series of witnesses on several bills. Much of the testimony centered on interstate licensure compacts for dentistry, social work, and occupational therapy, with supporters arguing these compacts would improve workforce mobility, continuity of care, and access while preserving state oversight and public protection. Dental witnesses were split on H.455/S.257, with supporters backing the AADB dental compact for its hands-on exam, background checks, and disciplinary safeguards, while opponents argued a competing compact would better promote portability and avoid conflicts tied to proprietary testing and outside commissions. Social work witnesses strongly supported H.380/S.252, emphasizing continuity of care for clients who move across state lines, reduced costs and delays for practitioners, and the compact’s public-protection features; occupational therapy witnesses similarly supported H.427/S.256, citing access, telehealth, military families, and maintained standards. The committee also heard testimony on S.242, which would expand licensure for lactation care providers. Supporters, including lactation counselors and health center staff, said adding certified lactation counselors and related credentials would expand access, improve breastfeeding support, and allow reimbursement for services now often provided without billing. They described the training required and said the bill would help families, especially in underserved communities. Representative James O’Day also testified in support of the social work compact, and a Council of State Governments witness provided background on compact mechanics and state participation. Another major topic was H.419/S.214 on medical debt. Physicians and researchers testified that cancer patients experience long-lasting medical debt and collections burdens, and they supported limits on the sale and collection of medical debt, bans on reporting it to credit bureaus, and related consumer protections. The hearing also included H.465 on a pathway to special licensure for certain long-term limited-registration dentists serving MassHealth patients, which Representative Senna supported as a way to allow immigrant dentists to practice independently. Finally, the committee heard sharply divided testimony on H.444/S.284, which would allow trained dental hygienists to administer Botox and dermal fillers: supporters framed it as a safe, preventive, and access-expanding tool for TMJ, bruxism, and pain management, while dermatologists opposed it as outside hygienists’ training and a patient-safety risk. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a son, David Alcon. Can you rise, David? Thank you.
• And this plaque, esteemed Speaker, is a signature of David Alcon.
• Son David and his wife Amanda.
• And thank you to Darlene, David, Amanda, and all of the family.
• David C. Boyd, Michael G. That's great to hear, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• David Sousa. I was also the direct supervisor for Mr.
• David Sousa, who worked underneath my purview up until his tragic loss a year ago.
• The situation for David that night was unlike no other.
• That night, David did what he had to do.
• And 20 minutes later after David was struck, I knew exactly what had happened that day.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of retirement classification and benefit bills affecting municipal and state employees. Much of the hearing focused on proposals to move various workers from Group 1 to Group 2 or Group 4, including municipal building officials (H. 2776), MassDOT highway workers (H. 2908/Sousa’s Law), DCF attorneys (H. 2771), probation officers, licensed electricians, drinking water operators (H. 3000/S. 1834), MWRA non-clerical workers (S. 1803), transitional parole officers (H. 2878), Plymouth BCI criminal investigator officers (H. 2975/S. 1863), Beverly fire alarm operators/public safety telecommunicators (S. 1876), Massport pipefitters and refrigeration technicians (H. 2788/S. 1829), and other public safety or hazardous-duty classifications. Witnesses generally argued that their work is physically dangerous, understaffed, or comparable to already higher-classified employees, and several said the changes would help recruitment and retention with little fiscal impact because the affected groups are small. The committee also heard testimony on H. 4508, a home rule petition to grant a disability pension to Boston principal Patricia Lampron. Supporters, including Representative Dan Hunt, Boston city councilors, and Lampron herself, described a severe 2021 assault at the Henderson Inclusion School that left her with lasting physical and psychological injuries and forced her into early retirement. They urged the committee to advance the bill quickly. One witness, Pamela McLaughlin, testified in opposition, arguing the bill would set the wrong precedent and describing alleged prior misconduct by Lampron, and asked that the bill be sent to study. Several witnesses and committee members asked brief questions, mainly about the scope of the bills, whether certain workers were already in higher groups, and the fiscal or precedent concerns. No votes were taken during the hearing. At the end, the chairs announced that testimony was complete, asked whether anyone else wished to speak, and then the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Davids.
• Smith, thank you, Chair Davids.
• sneaky Smith uh thank you uh Cher David sneaky Smith uh thank you uh Cher David So<00:15:52.040>
• Davids.
• And so that's what smart rich people do, right, Chair Davids? You buy, you borrow, and you die.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Leman, Honorable David H.
• Johnson, Honorable Mary A.<00:03:26.720> Leman,<00:03:27.440> Honorable<00:03:27.920> David
• Leman, Honorable David H. Moon, A. Leman, Honorable David H.
• She is a resident of District 20, represented by delegates Jheanelle Wilkins and David Moon.
• Wilkins, and delegate David Moon. Wilkins, and delegate David Moon.

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, January 22, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in session with 127 members initially present, opened with prayer and the journal reading, and then took up introductory business. House Bills 394 through 444 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, and Introductory House Bond Initiatives Number Two was referred to Appropriations. The Speaker also announced and the House adopted appointments to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics and the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. Most of the meeting consisted of committee and delegation announcements. Appropriations, Environment and Transportation, Health, Judiciary, and Ways and Means all announced briefings later that day, while several other committees said they would not meet. Delegations from Frederick, Anne Arundel, the Eastern Shore, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Charles, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Southern Maryland announced upcoming meetings, many by Zoom. A Montgomery County delegate also announced a Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee briefing on the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The floor included multiple guest and caucus recognitions. The Women’s Caucus promoted a service drive for hygiene, baby, and women’s products for the YMCA Druid Hill pantry, and the Legislative Black Caucus announced new leadership, with Chair N. Scott Phillips and Senate Vice Chair Shaneka Henson. The House welcomed visitors for Maryland Bankers Association Day, Transportation Association of Maryland advocacy day, the Maryland chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies, CPA Day, and sportsmen and sportswomen day, along with student visitors and a guest of a Prince George’s County delegate. No substantive debate or recorded votes occurred beyond the adoption of committee appointments, and the House adjourned until Friday, January 23 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gene Marie Almo shared the story of her husband David who battled gastroesophageal reflux disease.
• She reminded David that he wasn't just a patient. He was a person.
• She reminded David<00:05:24.800> that<00:05:25.120> he<00:05:25.280> wasn't<00:05
• <00:05:26.720> He David that he wasn't just a patient.
• He David that he wasn't just a patient. He was<00:05:27.039> a<00:05:27.639> person.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• David, do you want to introduce yourself? >> Good morning. My name is David Demora.
• <00:04:13.360> David, or may not be exactly telling us.
• David, or may not be exactly telling us.
• <00:33:35.600> to<00:33:35.760> highlight David, I also just want to highlight David
• <00:33:44.080> mentioned further on this, but David mentioned further on this, but David mentioned

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:01 Kentucky’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative – Domestic Violence: 00:02:00 Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act: 00:46:41, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary approved the minutes from its July 24, 2025 meeting and heard an announcement about a lunch sponsored by the Kentucky State Buildings and Trades Council on forming a blue-collar caucus. The main presentation came from the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center on the Kentucky Justice Reinvestment Initiative’s domestic violence work, which was described as a multi-year effort begun in 2023 to analyze data and interview stakeholders across the state. Presenters reported that domestic violence is widespread in Kentucky, with about half of adults experiencing some form of violence or stalking in their lifetimes, and that an average of about 22,000 IPV incidents occurred annually from 2018 to 2022. They said domestic violence is a major driver of violent crime, accounting for about 48% of person offenses over a six-year period, and is linked to significant shares of homicides, sex crimes, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and simple assault. They also said reported incidents and arrests have risen in recent years, that protective-order violations and convictions have increased, and that Kentucky ranks near the bottom among surrounding states in the share of victim compensation for domestic-violence-related claims. Law enforcement survey results showed strong adoption of model policies and guidance, but limited use of screening tools for serious injury risk. The presenters emphasized that domestic violence also places heavy demands on law enforcement, courts, and corrections, citing roughly 30,000 law-enforcement responses in 2022 and noting that more than a third of people entering DOC custody and nearly a third under supervision had DV-related histories. They said a small group of repeat offenders drives ongoing harm and that targeted interventions could reduce recidivism. They highlighted a North Carolina example in which focused intervention reduced IPV-related homicides and calls for service, and they referenced Kentucky’s 2020 assessment recommendations on training, language access, protective-order service, and coordination with victim services and batterer intervention providers. They estimated that a 25% reduction in reported DV incidents could prevent nearly 5,000 victimizations annually and reduce DOC commitments and costs substantially. Committee members asked about the relationship between civil domestic violence petitions and companion criminal cases, and the presenters said they would check whether the data could answer that question. Members also discussed recent Kentucky legislation, including Senate Bill 319 on crime victims compensation and House Bill 38, which made a third domestic violence offense a Class D felony. Several members thanked the presenters and advocates, and one member raised concerns about service of process and recent violent incidents involving domestic violence-related warrants, prompting discussion of dedicated service units in larger jurisdictions and the resource limits faced by smaller agencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you could be attacked on the street simply because you're wearing a Star of David or a yarmulke and
• David Schachter, who is a Holocaust survivor and President of the Holocaust Survivors Foundation U.S.
• It is a true honor to introduce you to you, David Schechter. You may begin your testimony.
• My name is David Schachter.
• Every student in America should hear what David Schachter shared with us today.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair calls David Hart. Chair: And Mr.
• Chairman: David Botsford. Mr.
• David Botsford: That is correct, Chairman. David Botsford, Austin, Texas.
• David Botsford. Chairman: Mr.
• David Botsford: Yes. Chairman: All right, please proceed. David Botsford: Thank you.

Bills: HB200

Keywords: HB 200, emergency communication, backup communications, satellite phone, portable satellite equipment, radio, floodplain, 100-year floodplain, FEMA, natural disaster, disaster preparedness, emergency preparedness, vulnerable populations, children, elderly, seniors, people with disabilities, care facilities, residential care, assisted living

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Davids, and committee. Happy to be here. Good morning, everybody.
• <00:02:01.280> and pleas thank you chair Davids and pleas thank you chair Davids and committee
• Hunter Peterson: Thank you, Chair Davids.
• Representative Smith: Thank you, Chair David.
• Thank you, Chair Davids.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So we will start today with Marissa Wright from Campaign Legal Center and David Montes from the ACLU.
• I'm happy to answer any questions, but for now I will turn it over to David Montes.
• My name is David Montes. I'm a staff attorney with the ACLU of Washington.
• I'm happy to defer to David about Washington-specific questions.
• David, I'm happy to let you weigh in on anything there.

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.