Transcript Highlights:

• repeals the provisions that prohibited the Transportation Commission from exempting transit buses from tolls
• on toll bridges.
• And then Haji 483 by Representative Fey directs that the I-5 bridge replacement project toll facility

Bills: HB2306, HB2711

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:

• And we really appreciate your continued support of the reducing rural lane departures program as well
• on toll bridges.
• on toll bridges.
• So does that mean that last year we took away the ability for transit buses to not pay tolls?
• That repeal means that we would reinstate their ability to be exempt from paying tolls?

Bills: HB2306, HB2711

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

Summary: The House Transportation Committee held public hearings on a proposed substitute supplemental transportation budget and on a transportation resources bill. Staff described the supplemental budget as increasing transportation spending by about $1.1 billion to $16.5 billion, largely through reappropriations and preservation/maintenance funding, while avoiding any new bond authority. The chair and ranking member emphasized caution because of declining revenue forecasts, uncertainty around major projects and future fish-passage costs, and the need to preserve flexibility for ferries, roads, and maintenance. Testimony on the budget was generally supportive of investments in rail, transit access, dredging, safety programs, local roads, flood response, and preservation, though several witnesses urged more long-term funding stability and some requested specific changes, such as shifting King County Metro electrification funds and restoring funding for a Kent freight corridor project. The committee then heard House Bill 2711, a follow-up to last year’s transportation resources law. Staff explained that the bill makes technical and administrative changes to fuel tax distribution, luxury vehicle/aircraft/recreational vessel taxes, the indigent tow reimbursement program, tire-fee language, and related reporting provisions. The proposed substitute would repeal the luxury aircraft tax, clarify peer-to-peer rental car tax administration, restore transit bus toll-exemption authority, waive certain penalties and interest for dealers complying with the luxury vehicle tax, allow installment payment of the luxury vehicle tax on leases, exempt certain sales to tribal members and nonresidents, change transfer timing between accounts, and create a Preserve Washington Account for highway preservation and maintenance. Questions from members focused on public availability of the substitute and on the transit-bus toll exemption. Public testimony on the resources bill was mixed. An RV dealer and an RV industry representative asked for a delay or repeal of the luxury vehicle tax, arguing it would worsen an already weak market and drive sales out of state. Other witnesses supported the dedicated preservation account and asked the committee to adopt Senate language increasing bid limits for highway maintenance work. The committee closed the public hearings and announced that executive action on the two bills, plus a wildlife safe passages bill, would occur Wednesday, with amendment requests due the next day.

Bills: SB6005, SB6225

Keywords: transportation budget, transportation appropriations, capital budget, supplemental budget, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferries, Puget Sound ferries, tolling, express toll lanes, highway safety, traffic safety, impaired driving, ignition interlock, speed cameras, transit funding, public transit, multimodal transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• These are backed by tolls on the 520.
• These programs leverage local dollars to efficiently build out safer sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes
• they employ, we respectfully request that you support Senate Bill 6354, based on the preference expressed
• they employ, we respectfully request that you support Senate Bill 6354, based on the preference expressed
• I appreciate the opportunity to express Honda's strong opposition to Senate Bill 6354, which would allow

Bills: SB6225, SB6005, SB6354

Keywords: transportation bonds, general obligation bonds, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, highway funding, road construction, infrastructure financing, motor fuel tax, gas tax, vehicle fees, bond authorization, state finance committee, highway bond retirement fund, corridor projects, interstate improvements, right-of-way acquisition, public-private partnerships, transportation capital projects, local matching funds, emergency clause

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on three bills. For SB 6225, the proposed substitute bond bill, staff explained it would authorize $1.1 billion in general obligation bonds for transportation funding, an additional $400 million for completion of selected Move Ahead Washington highway projects, a $500 million increase in SR 520 bond authority, and the sunset of some unused older bond authorizations. For SB 6005, the supplemental transportation budget, staff described a $17.5 billion six-year plan that adds $1.5 billion, including reappropriations, preservation and maintenance funding, adjustments tied to lower revenues and Climate Commitment Account forecasts, and assumptions about future ferry financing. For SB 6354, staff outlined a bill allowing limited direct sales by qualifying EV-only manufacturers, increasing the documentary service fee, and directing part of the new revenue to EV rebates and multimodal transportation funding. Testimony on SB 6005 and SB 6225 was broadly supportive from transit, biking, climate, labor, ports, cities, counties, and business groups, with repeated emphasis on preservation, safety, ferry reliability, freight mobility, and maintaining or expanding climate-related transportation investments. Several witnesses asked for specific project or program changes, including more funding for EV charging, rail electrification and rail capital projects, ferry investments, local bridge and road projects, Spokane TMC operations, county flood response, and freight corridor work in Kent and Lynnwood. Some witnesses also urged the committee to avoid House-proposed reductions to local programs and to preserve long-term bonding and six-year funding stability. Testimony on SB 6354 was split. Supporters, including Climate Solutions, the Washington State Auto Dealers Association, Rivian, Lucid, and some franchise dealers, called it a compromise that would expand EV access while preserving consumer protections and dealer licensing requirements. Opponents, including the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and Honda, argued the bill creates unequal rules by exempting certain manufacturers from the franchise model and said they had not been part of any real compromise. The committee took no votes during the hearing and announced that SB 6225 and SB 6005 would be in executive session Thursday at 8 a.m., with amendments due by noon the prior day; SB 6354 would be acted on later.

Transcript Highlights:

• When those four months of tolling went on, the school board had thousands of dollars in tolls, something
• that toll tag beforehand, and you’d have to go get that toll tag in Golden Meadow, which is a two-hour
• tag, but you’d have to know to go get that toll tag beforehand, and you’d have to go get that toll tag
• And what we’re trying to do here is, one, require that you actually have a toll facility near a toll
• So that’s what this bill does, and it also tries to—” have a toll facility near a toll customer service

Bills: HB345, HB503, HB511, HB590, HB655, HB685, HB692, HB707, HB715, HB748, HB776, HB856, HB860, HB868, HB887, HB888, HB896, HB999, HB1000, HB1086, HB1233

Keywords: rail infrastructure, ports, Class II railroads, Class III railroads, transportation, HB 503, Act 554, Golden Meadow, utility terrain vehicle, UTV, recreational off-highway vehicle, ROV, golf cart, low-speed vehicle, road shoulder travel, local ordinance, municipal traffic regulation, vehicle registration decal, municipal general fund, insurance requirement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation and Public Works met with five members present and approved the April 29, 2026 minutes. The committee then heard and favorably reported several bills, including HB 1233, which lowers the contract threshold for hospital service districts to use the Seymours program for certain hospital construction projects, and HB 715, which requires aerial applicators operating from public airports to have a transponder and radio; an amendment removing language about airport use of ADS-B data for fees was adopted after sponsors said the issue would be handled in another bill. HB 999 was reported favorably to allow impoundment of out-of-state vehicles operated in Louisiana without liability insurance, and HB 692 was amended to let parishes and municipalities use group purchasing organizations, with a narrowing amendment limiting one-source procurements and assurances that local bidders would not be disadvantaged. The committee also advanced HB 511, creating a grant program for pursuit intervention technology in response to officer safety concerns, and HB 590, which would let OMV issue specialized envelopes or notices for drivers with autism or other disabilities so officers are alerted during traffic stops. HB 503 was reported favorably after a local cleanup change to a golf cart bill for Golden Meadow, and HB 655 was approved to let DOTD use cost-plus contracts for operation and maintenance of state-owned ferries. HB 748 clarified that school board-owned or leased vehicles are exempt from tolls, and HB 860 would allow fillable electronic bids for local government procurement. Later, the committee approved HB 896, a major tolling-related cleanup bill for Plaquemines Parish that addresses customer service center access, administrative fees, and exemptions, with members and local officials criticizing the toll structure and its impact on the parish. HB 1000 was reported favorably as a cleanup measure tied to highway priority program reporting and local district contract limits. HB 887 established a more consistent scoring and ranking process for Seymour projects, with an amendment to avoid conflict with changing FAA grant rules. HB 888, a cleanup bill on temporary tags, was amended with added security features and then reported favorably. HB 1086, a broad electronic title and registration modernization bill, received a lengthy amendment set but was voluntarily held over for a week so members could review the new language. The committee also advanced HB 776 to expand the Port Priority Program to larger projects, with amendments clarifying flexibility and removing private projects from the bill. HB 707 was reported favorably to let the Department of Agriculture and Forestry handle promotional activities for the liquefied petroleum gas commission through a cooperative endeavor agreement. HB 868, a farm safety bill requiring safety chains or other manufacturer-specified equipment on trailers, was reported favorably after testimony about a fatal accident and assurances it would not change engineering standards beyond existing manufacturer requirements. Finally, HB 856 was amended to authorize indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting for DOTD maintenance and construction work, then reported favorably, and the committee later corrected the record on HB 856 by reconsidering and withdrawing one technical amendment set so further floor cleanup could be made. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• that toll tag beforehand, and you’d have to go get that toll tag in Golden Meadow, which is a two-hour
• tag, but you’d have to know to go get that toll tag beforehand, and you’d have to go get that toll tag
• And what we’re trying to do here is, one, require that you actually have a toll facility near a toll
• “Have a toll facility near a toll customer service center near the toll facility so you don’t have to
• With tolls. Exactly. Over a canal. Exactly. Exactly. Border crossing. With tolls. Exactly.

Bills: HB345, HB503, HB511, HB590, HB655, HB685, HB692, HB707, HB715, HB748, HB776, HB856, HB860, HB868, HB887, HB888, HB896, HB999, HB1000, HB1086, HB1233

Keywords: rail infrastructure, ports, Class II railroads, Class III railroads, transportation, HB 503, Act 554, Golden Meadow, utility terrain vehicle, UTV, recreational off-highway vehicle, ROV, golf cart, low-speed vehicle, road shoulder travel, local ordinance, municipal traffic regulation, vehicle registration decal, municipal general fund, insurance requirement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation and Public Works met with five members present and approved the April 29, 2026 minutes. The committee then heard and reported a series of bills, including HB 1233, which lowers the contract threshold for hospital service districts using the Seymours program; HB 715, requiring aerial applicators operating from public airports to have transponders and radios and removing proposed ADS-B fee restrictions in favor of separate legislation; and HB 999, allowing impoundment of uninsured out-of-state vehicles. It also advanced HB 692 to let parishes and municipalities use group purchasing organizations, with an added sole-source procurement amendment for certain repairs and parts, and HB 511 to create a pursuit-intervention technology grant program, using a technical amendment to establish the fund structure. The committee also reported HB 590, creating a program to help law enforcement identify drivers with autism or other mental/physical disabilities through special envelopes and related notice technology; HB 503, a local bill cleaning up golf cart and utility terrain vehicle definitions in Golden Meadow; HB 655, authorizing DOTD cost-plus contracts for state-owned ferries; HB 748, clarifying that school board-owned or leased vehicles are exempt from tolls; HB 860, allowing fillable electronic bids; HB 896, addressing tolling rules and fees in Plaquemines Parish and requiring a nearby customer service center; and HB 1000, a cleanup bill on highway priority program reporting and local district contract limits. Later, the committee reported HB 887, which establishes a more consistent scoring and ranking framework for certain procurement processes, and HB 888, a cleanup bill on temporary tags and temporary license plates with added anti-counterfeiting and safety features. HB 1086, a major overhaul moving Louisiana toward a fully electronic vehicle title and lien system, was amended but voluntarily held for a week so members could review the extensive new language. The committee also reported HB 776, expanding port priority funding to larger projects and allowing flexibility in annual amounts, HB 707, shifting LPG commission promotional work to Agriculture and Forestry, HB 868, requiring safety chains or other manufacturer-specified safety equipment on farm trailers, HB 856, authorizing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting for DOTD maintenance and construction work, HB 345, adding rail infrastructure at ports to the rail improvement program, and HB 685, allowing transit agencies to use FAST Act cooperative procurement for buses and other rolling stock. At the end, the committee corrected its action on HB 856 by reconsidering and withdrawing the technical amendment set 2332 for later floor work, while leaving the bill reported with the department’s substantive amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, House Bill 896 by Representative Bro requires toll signage, toll dispute procedures
• , and toll customer service centers at all toll facilities within a certain radius, and we do have a
• One, it would require that tolling facility...
• of a toll collection facility.'
• From collecting any other tolls, fees, or other monetary impositions at toll facilities and prohibits

Bills: HCR32, HB493, HB679, HB745, HB896, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1159, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1208, HB1218

Keywords: Saint Claude Avenue Bridge, Port of New Orleans, backup motors, infrastructure, traffic management, expropriation, property rights, Amite River Basin, drainage, East Feliciana Parish, St. Helena Parish, government authority, traumatic brain injury, identification card, law enforcement training, medical verification, disability rights, special permits, transportation, tandem loads

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on April 21 and considered a series of transportation, licensing, tolling, and public safety measures. It reported favorably House Bill 745, extending special permits for tandem loads hauling containers to and from port facilities; House Bill 1000, a DOTD cleanup bill that clarifies Highway Priority Program reporting and raises the letter-bid contract threshold from $1 million to $3 million; and House Bill 1050, which clarifies commercial driver’s license rules, including age and intrastate/interstate driving limits. The committee also approved House Bill 1172 naming a portion of U.S. Highway 165 in Oberlin the Coulin Brooks Manuel Memorial Highway, House Bill 1218 naming a portion of Louisiana Highway 1090 the Lewis Pat Miramon Memorial Highway, House Concurrent Resolution 32 urging backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge, and House Bill 1207 on public contracting standards and competition in public bidding. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 896, which responds to tolling issues at the Belle Chasse bridge project. The bill would require toll signage, local toll customer service centers, dispute procedures, and limits on administrative fees, with amendments addressing effective dates, in-person assistance, appeal deadlines, law-enforcement exemptions, and limits on certain charges. The author and witnesses described high administrative fees, long travel distances to customer service locations, and problems with toll bills, while committee members noted the issue was complex and ongoing. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also heard House Bill 1159, allowing Jefferson Parish municipalities to use automated speed enforcement devices again under local control. Supporters from Gretna, Westwego, Harahan, and Kenner said photo enforcement reduced crashes, improved safety, and helped limited police resources, while opponents were not emphasized in the transcript. After discussion about whether the measure should be voluntarily or involuntarily deferred, the committee ultimately deferred the bill. House Bill 493, which would prohibit expropriation by the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District in East Feliciana and St. Helena Parishes, drew extensive testimony about reservoir fears and local opposition; the committee voluntarily deferred it. House Bill 679, as substituted, created a driver’s license designation for people with brain injuries and required related law-enforcement training; witnesses described personal experiences with brain injury and the need for officers to recognize communication and behavioral effects, and the committee reported the substitute favorably. House Bill 1173, which waives late fees for certain reinstatement-relief payment plans for driver’s licenses, was also reported favorably, and House Bill 1024 creating a Louisiana Democratic Party prestige plate was approved as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• the toll once the debt is paid off, there should be no deal on a public toll without a public vote on
• tolls.
• TxDOT is a non-toll environment, but CTMRA and NTTA... ...and the other tolling entities are not, so
• toll is met. ...evacuation order is in effect, ensuring the waiving of the tolls would only be used
• waiving toll collections.

Bills: HB1589, HB2208, HB2297, HB2560, HB2725, HB3080, HB4417, HB4473, HB4520, HB4662, HB4888, HB4905, HB4906

Keywords: HB 1589, toll road, toll project, toll project entity, voter approval, local control, county election, commissioners court, Transportation Code, Chapter 372, road construction, highway funding, infrastructure, public referendum, ballot measure, transportation policy, Texas toll roads, regional mobility, toll collection, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• specialized medical care Like other segments of SH-130, segments 5 and 6 require veterans to pay the full toll
• Tolls on this route impose a financial burden particularly on disabled low-income veterans who need to
• TxDOT currently provides discounted tolls for disabled veterans on Segment of SH 130 but not for segments
• By correcting this disparity between These segments HB 3821 ensures toll revenue generated from segments

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, TxDOT is required to have an equal number of... ...non-toll highway lanes as toll lanes whenever
• they seek to reconfigure a highway to add toll lanes.
• HB5347 allows the freeway lanes to be connected into tolls as long as they construct at least one non-toll
• But I'm only allowed to travel on the frontage lane if I don't want to pay the toll.
• Those toll lanes were operated and maintained by North Tarrant Express Mobility.

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> Lights</c> appropriation uh for the Northern Lights appropriation uh for the Northern Lights Express
• Train</c><00:09:43.120><c> between</c><00:09:43.440><c> Minneapolis</c><00:09:44.160><c> and</c> Express
• Train between Minneapolis and Express Train between Minneapolis and Duth.<00:09:45.519><c> That's</c
• He said the bill takes money from something that was killed last year, the Northern Lights Express, and
• He said the bill takes money from something that was killed last year, the Northern Lights Express, and

Bills: HF3492, HF3493, HF3494, HF3495, HF3602

Keywords: school safety, grants, education funding, Northern Lights Express, security improvements, rural schools, safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, safe schools aid, school security, mental health support, Tribal schools, cybersecurity, funding, mental health, evidence-based plans, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• move to our public hearing on House Bill 2111, allowing the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Project toll
• As the chair said, this bill allows the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project toll facility bond retirement
• It's not the big account the tolling proceeds will go into. That's all I got.
• As the chair said, this bill allows the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project toll facility bond retirement
• Currently, any kind of toll revenue that garners interest would go to the operating budget.

Bills: HB2111, HB2495

Keywords: Interstate 5 bridge, toll facility, bond retirement, transportation, state funding, vehicles, streetcar operation, public safety, urban regulation, 904, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee began with a work session on electric vehicles, where staff from WSDOT and the Department of Commerce described the Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council, the state’s Transportation Electrification Strategy, and current market trends. Testimony said EV adoption is still growing but at a slower rate than in prior years, and Washington is now below its earlier trajectory toward state greenhouse gas targets. Officials said charging infrastructure remains behind need, especially fast charging, but highlighted recent awards and openings, including NEVI and ZEV infrastructure grants, tribal projects, and a new medium- and heavy-duty incentive program. Members asked about fast-charger power levels, and staff said programs now require at least 150 kW for DC fast charging, while higher-capacity options are encouraged where feasible. The committee then heard updates on alternative and renewable fuels. Commerce described the Office of Renewable Fuels’ work on hydrogen, renewable fuels, alternative jet fuel, and the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator. Testimony emphasized that hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels are expected to play a major role in transportation, that the state is developing technical assistance and planning tools, and that the Cascadia SAF effort has secured significant philanthropic support and convened major industry and institutional partners. WSDOT also outlined hydrogen investments in transit buses, fueling, corridor planning, and demonstrations, while noting uncertainty around federal funding and the need to be strategic as the hydrogen market develops. Ecology presented the alternative jet fuel programmatic environmental impact statement, explaining that it will provide broad environmental review and guidance for future projects; the draft is expected in early 2027 and the final document in June 2027. A senator asked about emissions criteria and feedstocks, and Ecology said the review will consider life-cycle greenhouse gas reductions and near-term commercial feasibility. In public hearing, the committee heard Substitute House Bill 2114 on defective license plates. The bill would require the Department of Licensing to replace defective plates at no charge within two years of issuance and allow discretionary fee waivers for later replacements up to five years. The sponsor and county auditors said peeling or unreadable plates are a widespread customer-service problem, especially in eastern Washington, and argued the state should stand behind the product it sells. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 1823, a Transportation Improvement Board cleanup bill that replaces outdated “non-motorized” references with “active transportation” and removes obsolete statutory provisions; TIB said the bill modernizes the statute and reduces audit problems. House Bill 2111, which would let the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project toll facility bond retirement account keep its interest earnings instead of sending them to the general fund, drew no testimony and was described as a technical fix. Finally, House Bill 2495 would give the City of Seattle authority similar to Sound Transit’s to direct immediate impoundment of vehicles blocking streetcar operations; Seattle testified that the change would reduce delays caused by illegally parked vehicles and improve service reliability. The committee took no votes in the transcript and adjourned after the public hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you all know, in Texas, dynamic toll pricing is used on managed toll lanes to manage traffic flow
• the tolled lane; and the current travel time in the adjacent non-tolled lane.
• lane because the non-toll lane...
• The non-toll lanes were moving just as quickly that evening.
• I took the managed toll lane; it was over $9 to take it.

Bills: HJR58, HJR63, HB263, HB542, HB905, HB 1288, HB1402, HB2003, HB2262, HB2323, HB2429, HB2876, HB3019, HB263

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access

Transcript Highlights:

• is projected to have four Lights Express is projected to have four round<00:55:15.520><c> trips</c><
• </c> 2011 so as the Northern Lights Express 2011 so as the Northern Lights Express uh<00:56:58.119><c
• uh committee I forget their full Express uh committee I forget their full name<01:04:28.680><c> I'm<
• Express will provide a fast reliable Express will provide a fast reliable rail<01:10:39.520><c> connection
• Chair, and thank you, committee members. ...with the Northern Lights Express.

Bills: HF1167, HF1242

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude for their dedication and to raise awareness of the
• I'm here today to express strong support for HB1295, which will help improve health literacy across Texas
• in the Children's Health Program and utilizing verified information from the SNAP application, the Express
• Lane option will help. to identify eligible children who may needlessly be going without health coverage

Bills: HB321, HB 1027, HB 1295, HB1782, HB2295, HCR29, HCR56

Keywords: Medicaid, child health, express lane option, income verification, supplemental nutrition assistance, telepharmacy, healthcare access, remote dispensing, rural clinics, pharmacy regulations, health literacy, state health plan, health care, patient outcomes, public health, economic impact, healthcare, breast cancer, cervical cancer, insurance eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• They're part of a six-lane tolled corridor carrying more than 70,000 vehicles, supporting economic regional
• This proviso, I believe, appropriately aligns the funding source into the 520 toll account and aligns

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6170, SB6176, SB6182, SB6335, SB5647, SB6047, HB2367, HB2606, SB5998, SB6005, SB6003, SB6129, SB6225, SB6228, SB6231

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, contracting rules, state highway construction, procurement limits, state regulations, infrastructure funding, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law

Summary: The Senate met on February 23, 2026, opened with the usual roll call, pledge, prayer, and approval of the previous journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 8698 recognizing piano teachers, with several senators sharing personal remarks about their own teachers and the role of music education in families and communities. Guests from the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then moved into budget debate, considering a series of amendments to the operating budget. Several proposals focused on housing costs, local planning, utility rates, and state spending restraint. Amendment 0772, which would have created a housing-related task force and increased funding, was rejected after debate over housing affordability and regulatory costs. Amendment 0785, restoring growth management planning funding for local governments, was also rejected. Amendment 0791, directing the Department of Commerce to study the effects of climate and clean energy laws on utility costs, and Amendment 0769, related to grid capacity and clean energy investments, were both adopted. Other amendments drew sharper partisan debate. Amendment 0798, which would have reduced the Supreme Court from nine justices to five and redirected savings to public defense, failed. Amendments 0794 and 0795, seeking funding for ballot measure costs tied to initiatives, also failed. Amendment 0799, intended to redirect Pacific Tower lease savings to developmental disability services, was rejected after discussion of the building’s current public uses. Amendment 0773, capping state spending growth and tying it to median wage growth, failed on a roll call vote, while Amendment 0777, addressing concurrent use of paid family and medical leave and sick leave by state employees, also failed after extended debate. Later, Amendment 0776 on tort liability reporting was adopted, as were Amendment 0758 creating a DSHS work group on community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Amendment 0786 was introduced to reduce cash and food assistance work-related funding, with debate beginning before the transcript ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're part of a six-lane tolled corridor carrying more than 70,000 vehicles, supporting economic regional
• This proviso, I believe, appropriately aligns the funding source into the 520 toll account and aligns

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6170, SB6176, SB6182, SB6335, SB5647, SB6047, HB2367, HB2606, SB5998, SB6005, SB6003, SB6129, SB6225, SB6228, SB6231

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, contracting rules, state highway construction, procurement limits, state regulations, infrastructure funding, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law

Summary: The Senate convened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the previous day’s journal, then moved to a resolution honoring piano teachers. Senate Resolution 8698 was adopted after remarks from Senator Conway and others describing the role of piano teachers in music education, family life, and community service. Members of the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then took up the operating budget and considered a long series of amendments. Several amendments focused on housing costs and local planning, utility and energy policy, ballot measure costs, state spending growth, tort liability, and paid family and medical leave. Some amendments were adopted, including a study of utility cost impacts from climate laws, a grid-related funding amendment, a tort liability oversight/reporting amendment, and a workgroup on services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Others were rejected, including proposals to create a housing task force, cap state spending growth, fund ballot initiative costs, restore local planning grants, and change paid family and medical leave usage rules. Debate on the budget amendments was often partisan and detailed, with supporters arguing for fiscal restraint, cost transparency, and relief for taxpayers and local governments, while opponents emphasized existing work, program solvency, and the need to preserve services. The Senate also heard amendments on zero-based budgeting, federal education tax credit opt-in language, reproductive health funding, food assistance work requirements, and support for the Pediatric Interim Care Center; some were defeated and some were adopted. Roll-call votes were taken on certain amendments, and the transcript ends during consideration of Amendment 0787, which would restore funding for the Pediatric Interim Care Center.

Bills: HB606, HB606

Keywords: HB606, Alabama, Department of Transportation, DOT, public highways, utility relocation, right-of-way, state right-of-way, road construction, bridge, tunnel, toll road, interstate highway, defense highway, utility facilities, broadband, telecommunications, cable, electricity, gas

Transcript Highlights:

• have been taking that money, and as required by federal law, they've been putting it aside for the express
• President, we want to ensure that these funds are used for the express purpose as stated in federal law

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6170, SB6176, SB6182, SB6335, SB5647, SB6047, HB2367, HB2606, SB5998, SB6005, SB6003, SB6129, SB6225, SB6228, SB6231, SB6061, SB6234, SB6170, SB6176, SB6182, SB6335, SB5647, SB6047, HB2367, HB2606, SB6129, SB6228, SB6231, HB2235, HB2272, HB2340, HB2543, HB2554, HB2632, HB2464, HB2619

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, contracting rules, state highway construction, procurement limits, state regulations, infrastructure funding, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law

Transcript Highlights:

• And will it be like a two-lane asphalt type road? That's what we're...
• Asking for anything out of the ordinary, four lanes and a huge interstate, we're aware.
• Maybe a little bit of shoulder space, but one lane. All right. Thank you. Easy peasy. All right.

Bills: HB 1026, SCR37

Keywords: transportation, Farm-to-Market Road, highway designation, Texas Transportation Commission, state highway system, SCR 37, Senate Concurrent Resolution, Panama Canal, Texas ports, port infrastructure, maritime trade, shipping lanes, supply chain resilience, global commerce, exports, LNG, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, refined petroleum, agriculture