Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3041 caps surcharge fees at 4%. With that, I yield for questions.
• Reading there on page 2, line 19, above that, you know, no surcharge shall exceed, stricken out 2 to 4%
• of the total transaction or the amount to be charged, so it's capped at 4%.
• So there's the 4%, and then you look at page 2, line 18, it talks about the 4% where you're talking about
• And so it could be 2%, 4%, or 30%.

Bills: HB2933 , HB3041 , HB3048 , HB3081 , HB3297 , HB3338 , HB3673 , HB3790 , HB3983 , HB4105 , HB4139 , HB4203 , HJR1023

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a long agenda of bills and executive nominations. Among the bills, it advanced measures to update fire extinguisher industry age restrictions and application rules (HB 381), create a five-day cancellation right for homeowners after severe storm-related contracts (HB 3790), require a biennial workers’ compensation medical fee schedule update (HJR 1023), create the Oklahoma Home Services Act to standardize home service contract disclosures (HB 4139, amended to correct a wording error), cap surcharge fees and add a career tech exemption (HB 3041), create the Oklahoma Tolling and Recovery Board (HB 3297), allow expired electrical contractor licenses to be reinstated without re-examination (HB 3673), clarify who is not a security guard for licensing purposes (HB 4105), create a licensing framework for in-ground pool contractors effective November 1, 2027 (HB 3338), and streamline surplus lines insurance procedures and premium tax enforcement (HB 3048). One bill on smokeless tobacco taxation (HB 3983) drew extended debate over whether a weight-based tax would be fairer and revenue-neutral; after questions about health impacts, reporting, fraud concerns, and inflation, the bill failed to receive a second and was left in committee. HB 3041 also drew significant debate over whether it would effectively allow higher credit card surcharges, but it ultimately passed 5-4. The committee also heard numerous executive nominations, all of which were approved and sent to the full Senate. Those included Michael Stop and Michael Bauer to the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, Michael Cantrell and Burrell Sears to the Oklahoma Abstractors Board, Richard Willoughby to the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, E. Keith Mitchell and Andrew Revelis to the ABLE Commission, Jackie Ward to the alarm, locksmith, and fire sprinkler industry board, Terence Shreve to the Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufacturer Board, and Adra Berry as Cabinet Secretary of Licensing and Regulation. Nominees generally described their professional backgrounds and commitment to public safety, regulation, or industry expertise, and several senators spoke in support of their service. Most nominations passed unanimously or near-unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the whole purpose of July 1?
• Okay, but this is not going to permit amendments after July 1st, 2024.
• </c> Was from the last statute which was July Was from the last statute which was July of<00:22:56.480
• So you would be within 60 days of July 1, 2024, is that right?
• And all I can report is that the vote was 9 to 4 to stay on the 2018 code.

Summary: The subcommittee first took up HB 428, with Philip Sherman of the Building Code Review Board presenting a detailed amendment intended to reorganize building-code statutes and limit local changes. He said the proposal would move code-related provisions into RSA 155-A, preserve municipalities’ ability to adopt and administer local enforcement mechanisms and additional non-state codes such as housing or property maintenance codes, but prohibit technical amendments to the State Building Code. He also explained that local administrative functions like permits, fees, certificates of occupancy, plan review, and staffing would remain local, while any local ordinance would still need BCRB confirmation. Members discussed the distinction between administrative and technical amendments, the need to keep fire-code provisions separate, and a date error in the draft’s submission deadline; Sherman suggested the effective-date language should be corrected to reference July 1, 2024. The committee did not vote on the amendment and instead agreed to circulate the draft and revisit it in a later subcommittee meeting before bringing it to the full committee. The discussion then shifted to fire-code issues, with State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi explaining that fire-code-related provisions should be cleaned up in the fire-code statutes and that the state should restrict technical local amendments while possibly allowing limited administrative local standards for transparency and operational consistency. He gave examples such as driveway access, sprinkler connections, key boxes, and other fire-system details that could benefit from local standardization if clearly disclosed. He noted that a separate Senate bill, SB 94, may be a more appropriate vehicle for some of the fire-code language. The chair again emphasized the need for further review and scheduled another subcommittee meeting before the matter would go to the full committee. The committee then began HB 244, and Sherman introduced it as a cleanup of the older municipal-building-code provisions scattered through the RSA 67X series. He said the bill would consolidate and update those references, continuing the effort to align municipal enforcement and appeals provisions with the statewide building-code structure. The transcript cuts off before any further action or vote on HB 244.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have Julie Walter online.
• I am Julie Walter.
• Julie Walter: Yes, I so appreciate that.
• The bill has an effective date of July.
• The bill calls for the commission to begin on July 1, 2009.

Bills: HB1295 , HB2007 , HB2262 , HB2636

Committee: House Education

Keywords: reading instruction, structured literacy, early literacy, dyslexia, phonics, phonological awareness, language comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, oral language, orthographic knowledge, multi-tiered system of supports, MTSS, screening assessments, intervention, reading intervention, elementary education, kindergarten, first grade, second grade

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The effective date remains July 1, 2026. The effective date remains July 1, 2026.
• Uh we wanted a backing July 1 of 27.
• </c> place by July 1 of 27. place by July 1 of 27.
• </c> in section 4, in section 4, we<01:35:42.719><c> have</c><01:35:43.040><c> under</c><01:35:43.679
• Rulemaking will begin in July of ’27, and then the program will go into effect in July of ’28 once the

Transcript Highlights:

• We're truly a 4-H family.
• We're truly a 4-H family.
• As a matter of fact, my seatmate right here was in the 4-H program with my daughter. 4-H encompasses
• Thank you. opportunities to thrive and succeed. 4 opportunities to thrive and succeed. 4 has<00:13:56.320
• </c> on or after July 1st, 2026. on or after July 1st, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that nominee number 54 of Senate Executive Message Number 4 be confirmed.
• Motion that nominee number 54 of Senate Executive Message Number 4 be confirmed.
• President, I move the bill be made effective July 1, 2026. Senator from Lewis.
• I declare the bill effective July 1, 2026.
• I move the bill be made effective July 1, 2026. All those in favor vote aye.

Summary: The Senate first considered confirmations from Senate Executive Message No. 4. On a 33-0 vote, it confirmed all nominees except number 54, then separately confirmed nominee 54 on a 30-3 vote. The special order of business was then closed. The chamber then took up a series of House-amended bills and generally concurred in the amendments before passing each bill. These included SB 723 on law enforcement cooperation with bordering states; SB 947 on birth certificate copies for homeless minors; SB 392 on personal income tax reduction; SB 54 on criminal penalties for abuse or neglect of incapacitated adults; SB 228 on technology in child abuse and neglect investigations, including a three-county caseworker aid pilot; SB 231 on value-based payment requirements; SB 402, the Workforce Readiness Opportunity Act, with House removal of tax credits and other provisions while retaining micro-credential programs; SB 553 on transfer of contractor licenses to qualifying immediate family members; SB 575 on refusal review hearings; SB 686, the Coal Tenancy Modernization and Miners' Protection Act; SB 906 on lawful prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin under FDA recommendations; and SB 1226 on penalties for disturbing religious worship. Most final passage votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, and several bills were made effective from passage or given a specific effective date. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments to SB 63, the Creating Sustaining Opportunities for Academics and Rural Schools Act, after discussion noting the House removed county charter school language and changed the effective date. The bill passed 32-2 and was made effective from passage. The Senate also concurred in amendments to SB 502, the Women's Collegiate Sports Protection Act, and SB 153, creating the Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund; SB 502 was set to take effect July 1, 2026, and SB 153 was also made effective July 1, 2026. Finally, the Senate reconsidered and again passed SB 392 by a 32-2 vote. The session ended with several introductions, announcements, and a recess until 5:30.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jerry Lake in Madison County in Cloverleaf in Highlands County. 4 H focuses on our 4 main areas.
• Someone and bite me 2, 4, 8, meeting it with a pill from their past 4 to 2025 and before you you have
• The kindness of an older 4 h are just asking this little girl.
• Thanks to 4 h I'm confident in saying agriculture is my passion and future.
• I have competed in those 4 shows bizarre.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, for the record, Julie Tran, staff to the committee.
• For the record, Julie Tran staffs the committee.
• For provider taxes that were enacted and imposed prior to the bill's enactment date of July 4, 2025,
• Beginning July 1, 2026, the annual quality assurance fee rate will be the rate in effect as of July 4
• Thank you, Julie. Seeing no questions, we can move on.

Bills: SB5845 , SB5916 , SB6102 , SB6071 , SB6103 , SB6159 , SB5877 , SB5967 , SB5904 , SB5915 , SB6025

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: health insurance, health carrier, insurance carrier, prompt pay, timely payment, claims processing, clean claim, remittance advice, provider reimbursement, hospital billing, medical billing, prior authorization, claims denial, interest on late claims, administrative penalty, Washington insurance commissioner, RCW 48, public employees benefits board, school employees benefits board, Medicaid managed care

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, for the record, Julie Tran, staff to the committee.
• For the record, Julie Tran staffs the committee.
• For provider taxes that were enacted and imposed prior to the bill's enactment date of July 4, 2025,
• Beginning July 1, 2026, the annual quality assurance fee rate will be the rate in effect as of July 4
• Thank you, Julie. Seeing no questions, we can move on.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 6159 would create a public hospital infrastructure account funded by a new annual coverage assessment on insurers and other businesses subject to the premium tax, and would allow public hospital districts and other public health entities to collaborate more freely and access capital financing for major construction or modernization projects. Senator Dhingra said the bill is intended to help public hospitals compete and modernize, especially amid federal Medicaid and ACA subsidy cuts. Supporters included UW Medicine, while hospital districts supported the general concept but said Section 2 could unintentionally narrow existing cooperative agreements with nonpublic entities. Health plans and insurers opposed the bill, arguing it would raise premiums, increase consolidation, and improperly sweep in property and casualty insurers and mutual companies; testimony also raised concerns about pass-through costs and retaliatory tax effects. The hearing on SB 6159 closed with 5 pro, 74 con, and 2 other sign-ins. The committee then heard SB 5845, which would modernize timely payment rules by requiring carriers and public employee plans to pay or deny all clean claims within 30 days, require prompt notice and a single request for additional information on incomplete claims, and impose interest or penalties for missed deadlines. Senator Slaughter said the bill would reduce uncertainty for providers and stabilize payments without increasing patient costs. Hospitals, physicians, and health systems strongly supported the measure, citing large volumes of late clean claims and examples of prolonged delays, including a Harborview claim that remained unpaid more than a year after billing. Health plans opposed the bill, saying the current 95% standard is workable, that they already meet high compliance rates, and that the bill could limit fraud, waste, and abuse review on high-dollar claims; they also sought more flexibility and additional time for responses. The hearing closed with 69 pro, 4 con, and 2 other sign-ins. The committee also heard SB 5916, which would prohibit health plans from disadvantaging non-opioid pain treatments relative to opioids in formularies and utilization management, and would require a Department of Health educational pamphlet on non-opioid alternatives. Senator Harris described the bill as a response to opioid deaths and a way to encourage safer pain treatment options. Patients, recovery advocates, and rare disease advocates testified in support, saying insurance barriers and step therapy often make non-opioid care harder to access and can push patients toward opioids. The Health Care Authority and an association of health plans opposed the bill, arguing it could reduce formulary flexibility, increase costs, and limit tools such as prior authorization and step therapy. The hearing closed with 8 pro, 1 con, and 2 other sign-ins. Finally, the committee heard SB 6102 and SB 6103, both sponsored by Senator Muzzall, and SB 6071. SB 6102 would align the ambulance transport quality assurance fee with federal rules after H.R. 1 barred new provider taxes, preserving the existing fee rate and adjusting the Medicaid add-on rate annually; the Washington Ambulance Association supported it, saying the program had improved wages and benefits for EMS workers. SB 6103 would make Medicaid payments for services provided by a rural emergency hospital subject to appropriation, creating a framework for East Adams Rural Health Care to convert to the new federal rural emergency hospital model; East Adams and the Washington State Hospital Association supported it as a way to preserve rural access. SB 6071 would shorten overpayment recovery timelines for all services to six months, or nine months for coordination-of-benefits cases, matching the shorter timelines already enacted for behavioral health services; providers and specialty associations supported the bill as a way to reduce destabilizing clawbacks, while the remaining testimony was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator De Sigley, 995-101, 995-142, 995-14-14-9-9-14-4-9-4-9-4-9-4. 9-14-9-14-9-195-102, 995-102, 995
• 9-9-0-3-4-9-9-9-0-3-4-9-9-9-1-1-2-1-2-2-9-4-9-9-9-9-0-9-0-1-1-1-4-1-9-1-1-9-1-1-1-9-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
• -1. 995-9-15-9-9-15-9-0-3-9-0-3-9-0-0-16-8, 995-168, 995-16-9-0-4-6-9-0-0-4-6, 995-0-0-0-4-6, 995-0-0
• 9-0-4-6-9-0-0-4-6, 995-0-0-0-4-6, 995-0-0-0-4-6, 995-0-0-0-1-9-9-0-1-3-9-9-9-0-0-4-8.
• 995-1-1-6, 995-1-9-9-9-15-9-1-5-9-1-5-9-9-0-9-0-5-0-0-0-5-5-5-4, 9-9-0-0-5-5-5-4, 9-9-9-0-5-5-5-4-9-9

Bills: S2500 , S2502 , S2504 , S7028 , S2506 , S2508 , S2510 , S2512 , S2514 , S2516 , S2518 , S0482 , S0678 , S0984 , S1016 , S1074 , S1706 , S7030

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2026-2027 budget, SPB 2500, with chairs outlining major spending in K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Highlights included a $115 billion overall budget, pay raises for state employees and public safety workers, major K-12 funding increases and enrollment supplements, higher education workforce and nursing investments, expanded Medicaid/KidCare and behavioral health funding, corrections and law enforcement operational funding, transportation and housing investments, and significant environmental and water quality spending. Members asked about civic education funding, declining enrollment, professor retention, APD waiver waitlists, cultural grant allocations, and other line items. Public testimony also addressed HIV/AIDS drug assistance funding and prison air conditioning. SPB 2500 was adopted as a committee bill after amendment consideration and a roll call vote. The committee then took up implementing and related budget bills, including SPB 2502 (implementing the General Appropriations Act), SPB 2504 (state employee bargaining placeholder), SB 7028 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and related retirement changes), SPB 2506 (fuel tax distributions), SPB 2508 (state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge), SPB 2510 (termination of an unused court trust fund), SPB 2512 (new judgeships), SPB 2514 (K-12 conforming changes), SPB 2516 (higher education conforming changes), and SPB 2518 (health conforming changes). Most were explained as technical or conforming measures tied to the budget, and all were reported favorably as committee bills, with SB 7028 amended to direct a portion of increased contributions to disability and line-of-duty death benefits in the FRS investment plan. The committee also heard and passed several member bills, including CS for SB 1074 on rounding rules for cash transactions in a world without pennies, CS for SB 678 restoring the alcohol loss deduction framework for distributors, and SB 964 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention. SB 964 drew the most discussion, with questions about the one-year death-benefit window, the separate $25,000 cancer diagnosis payment, and whether the bill could create gaps in coverage for firefighters diagnosed or dying just outside the new time limits. Firefighter representatives testified in support, saying the bill would provide clearer protections for members and families. All of these measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator DiCeglie, 995-101, 995-142, 995-14-14-9-9-14-4-9-4-9-4-9-4-9-4. 9-14-9-14-9-195-102, 995-102,
• 9-9-0-3-4-9-9-9-0-3-4-9-9-9-1-1-2-1-2-2-9-4-9-9-9-9-0-9-0-1-1-1-4-1-9-1-1-9-1-1-1-9-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
• 9-9-0-3-4-9-9-9-0-3-4-9-9-9-1-1-2-1-2-2-9-4-9-9-9-9-0-9-0-1-1-1-4-1-9-1-1-9-1-1-1-9-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
• -1. 995-9-15-9-9-15-9-0-3-9-0-3-9-0-0-16-8, 995-168, 995-16-9-0-4-6-9-0-0-4-6, 995-0-0-0-4-6, 995-0-0
• -0-4-6, 995-0-0-0-1-9-9-0-1-3-9-9-9-0-0-4-8.

Bills: S2500 , S2502 , S2504 , S7028 , S2506 , S2508 , S2510 , S2512 , S2514 , S2516 , S2518 , S0482 , S0678 , S0984 , S1016 , S1074 , S1706 , S7030

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: budget, appropriation, education funding, healthcare, environmental protection, infrastructure, local government, Appropriations Act, funding, education, rural development, economic assistance, collective bargaining, state employees, labor relations, impasse resolution, negotiations, retirement, elected officials, Deferred Retirement Option Program

Transcript Highlights:

• The increases are in effect on July 1, 2026.
• I move the bill be made effective July 1, 2026.
• I declare the bill effective July 1, 2026.
• July 1, 2026. Senator from Lewis moves the bill be effective from passage, July 1, 2026.
• I declare the bill effective from July 1, 2026.

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• a certain Chapter 4 designation, like 4-1D2 or 4-1D3?
• So if the committee could make... within 4 within 4 d12d<00:31:32.200><c> um</c><00:31:32.440><c> I'm
• 1</c> chapter 4 say for instance um uh 4-1 chapter 4 say for instance um uh 4-1 subsection<00:38:56.880
• It's beginning July 1, 2027.
• It begins July 1, 2027.

Summary: The committees first heard SB 443, which would require agricultural-district lands with solar energy facilities to also be certified as being used for a farming operation. DLNR, the State Energy Office, and the Agri-Business Development Corporation all supported the bill but recommended changes, including shifting the certifying authority from DLNR/BLNR to the Department of Agriculture. The Attorney General also recommended replacing the certification requirement with a condition that the land be used for a farming operation, citing the lack of a clear statutory framework for certification. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the measure but suggested using existing county agricultural dedication processes and raised concerns about conversion of agricultural land. The committees adopted amendments reflecting the Department of Agriculture as the certifying body and the Attorney General’s proposed language, then passed SB 443 with amendments. The committees then took up SB 79, relating to historic preservation reviews for state affordable housing projects. DLNR State Historic Preservation and DHHL supported the bill with amendments, including striking a redundant section and conforming the language to existing law. The committees agreed to those changes, and after a brief recess and decision-making, Water and Land, Housing, and Hawaiian Affairs each voted to pass SB 79 with amendments. The record notes that some members were excused and that the committees adopted the chair’s recommendations. Later, the joint Housing and Water and Land hearing considered SB 26, SB 867, and SB 1170. SB 26 would create an affordable housing land inventory task force within HCDA; HHFDC supported it, while HCDA suggested an alternative approach involving county coordination. The committees amended the bill to incorporate OPSD’s proposed language, add legislative and county representatives to the task force, and include an appropriation for the Mayor Wright project, then passed it with amendments. SB 867, which creates a working group to inventory water resources and streamline well permit approvals for affordable housing, drew broad support and was amended to specify the Department of Health director rather than the Clean Water Branch chief; it also passed with amendments. SB 1170, which would exempt certain Maui affordable rental housing projects from chapter 205A, drew support from housing interests but concern from the Attorney General that it could be unconstitutional; the AG suggested narrowing the bill to disaster recovery and limiting its scope. Testifiers also discussed the Weinberg Court Apartments project and other redevelopment concerns, but the transcript ends before final action on SB 1170 is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Julie Ann Rolf for Department of Finance.
• Julie Ann Rolf for Department of Finance.
• We will begin hiring the staff in July and beyond.
• So we'll begin that process in July.
• And for Prop 4, those needs will be program.

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss several California Conservation Corps (CCC) and Cal Fire budget proposals, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The CCC overview highlighted the program’s 50th anniversary, its statewide conservation, disaster response, education, and workforce development work, and its funding mix of General Fund and fee-for-service reimbursements. Members praised the program’s impact on young adults and communities, and asked about revenue sources, partnerships, recruitment, and outcomes for Corps members after service. A major CCC item was reopening and staffing the Greenwood Residential Center in El Dorado County. The department said the center is needed to restore local wildfire and fuel-break capacity, especially when winter road closures limit access to other facilities. The LAO said the proposal has merit but suggested the Legislature consider lower-cost alternatives, such as using fewer new Corps members or delaying opening, given the budget condition. The committee also discussed a proposal to move CCC hand crews to a seven-day wildfire readiness schedule; the department argued this is needed to match Cal Fire’s year-round operations and reduce chronic staffing gaps, while the LAO recommended considering partial funding or other cost-saving options. Cal Fire’s department overview focused on year-round wildfire response, vegetation management, community preparedness, and the 66-hour workweek rollout. Members asked about contract counties, federal partnerships, reforestation capacity, and the use of cap-and-invest and General Fund dollars amid structural deficits. Cal Fire said its nursery capacity is far below reforestation needs and relies on public-private partnerships, and it described reimbursements for work on federal lands. The committee also discussed defensible space inspections, with Cal Fire seeking permanent staffing to replace temporary positions and maintain its goal of 250,000 inspections annually; the LAO suggested alternatives such as different funding mixes, a reinstated SRA fee, or one-time funding. Finally, the committee heard a request to increase Cal Fire’s fixed-wing pilot and mechanic contract. Cal Fire said the larger, more complex aircraft fleet and year-round fire season require more pilots and maintainers, and that contracting provides flexibility and avoids some benefit costs. The LAO said the proposal addresses significant health and safety concerns and merits consideration, while members questioned whether in-house staffing or longer contract terms might be more cost-effective. Throughout the hearing, members emphasized wildfire risk, budget pressures, and the need to balance public safety with fiscal discipline.

Transcript Highlights:

• JULY ONE OF THIS YEAR WAS STARTED.
• THESE ARE JUST THE STATISTICS FROM AUGUST 4 OF THIS YEAR.
• THAT EXEMPTION WAS REMOVED JULY 2025.
• 4 REP. ANTONE. >> Rep. Antone: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
• WE OPENED AUGUST 4, IT IS NOW DECEMBER 2 AND WE STILL HAVE MONEY.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a provision that took place from and after July 1st of last year.
• That's from and after passage of this bill simply because obviously July 1 has come and gone.
• </c> from and after July 1st of last year. from and after July 1st of last year.
• because obviously July 1 has come<00:14:55.199><c> and</c><00:14:55.360><c> gone.
• Should be around 4:30, I believe, in the same room there in Room 409. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, since July 1st of 2023.
• So that would be July 1st of 2024.
• “Yeah, Wednesday, July 24th at 3:57 a.m.”
• Monday, then I would assume it was July 22nd.
• It's now 4:02.

Summary: The hearing opened in a Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings matter involving Legislative Ethics Board complaint 2025-5 against Representative Tara Simmons. The ALJ outlined the process, the issues on appeal, and the burden of proof, which centered on whether Simmons violated the Ethics Act by using her legislative position for others’ benefit and by holding outside employment that conflicted with her duties, and what sanction would be appropriate. Several exhibits were admitted by stipulation or without objection, while Exhibit 2 was initially held for later ruling but was ultimately admitted after testimony from the witness who prepared it. The board also granted a motion to sequester witnesses and took under advisement a motion to exclude three defense witnesses until after the staff case-in-chief. In opening statements, board staff alleged Simmons violated RCW 42.52.020 and RCW 42.52.070 by sponsoring a proviso that benefited her outside employer, Equity and Education Coalition (EEC), by using campaign surplus funds to help hire a friend, by intervening in a dispute over the proviso-funded work, and by sending text messages to influence others. Staff said it would seek penalties of up to $5,000 per violation plus costs. Defense counsel argued the allegations were technical ethics issues, denied Simmons profited personally, and contended the proviso funding her employer was permitted under prior board guidance; counsel also argued the campaign donation and later contract dispute were lawful and context-dependent. The first witness, Kimberly Gordon of American Equity and Justice Group (AEJG), testified that AEJG received state proviso funding and donations from Simmons, including $10,000 and later $40,000, which Gordon said were intended to fund the hiring of Antoine Coleman, Simmons’s romantic partner. Gordon said AEJG returned the donations and terminated Coleman after learning of the relationship and potential conflict of interest. She also testified about a later 2024 proviso involving EEC, a subcontract between AEJG and EEC, and a dispute over EEC’s performance under that subcontract. Gordon said AEJG raised concerns with the Administrative Office of the Courts, met with contract manager Chris Stanley, and ultimately rewrote the subcontract after Stanley, allegedly after speaking with Simmons, directed them to do so. The hearing then recessed for lunch, and cross-examination of Gordon was set to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 4 months of what we call post. I'm sorry.
• The goal I had been July one of 26 July and is now January one to 27 six-month change.
• Because I was in July. Well, there's a lot of this year. >> I'll just to different way.
• And so we we then came for with the need to move into July of 2026. And we so we did that.
• So the time on the first time we really presented was the July timeline.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, moving on, uh, page 4, we have Senate Bill 8. we had quite a few in the past couple of interims,
• Mainly because of that big event that happens on July 4th in Las Vegas.
• We actually were going to run up right to July 3rd, and we convinced them to go back to 1 and 2.
• So kind of 4 different stages of the process, but I'd be happy to share with you.
• Um, on your page 4. 1.2 million for hotshot crew operations costs. How is that being implemented?

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We think to cover that need about 4% growth per year in tax collections.
• But we've got May, June, part of July, yet to come into the total.
• And we heard it when he said 4% growth could make up for it.
• Motion carries 12 to 4.
• Motion fails 4 to 12. Roys. Motion fails 4 to 12.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Finance