Transcript Highlights:

• And under the bill, fire-hardened building materials include materials that meet criteria for ignition-resistant
• To harden their homes against fire and use wildfire-resistant materials.
• I'm just curious with the fire-hardened building material, and when you have those covenants as far as
• Our concern is not with allowing fire-hardened materials.
• People were really ready to be thinking about the most fire-hardened materials.”

Bills: SB6001, SB6015, SB6054, SB5470, SB5884, SB6018, SB6027, SB6028

Keywords: building code, scissor stairs, safety regulations, construction standards, statebuilding regulations, residential building, construction permits, housing development, planning efficiency, state regulations, wildfire, home hardening, fire-resistant materials, fire-hardened building materials, common interest communities, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, condo association, wildland urban interface

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several housing-related bills. On SB 6054, Senator Hunt’s wildfire home-hardening bill, staff explained it would bar CIC governing documents from prohibiting fire-hardened materials that meet safety standards, while still allowing reasonable aesthetic rules. Hunt said the bill would help homeowners in wildfire-prone areas avoid requirements like shake roofs or bans on metal roofs. Testifiers generally supported the goal but two community association representatives objected to the bill’s 10% cost cap, saying it could limit community-specific design standards and that associations should be able to offer approved material options instead. The committee then heard SB 601 on scissor stairs in the building code. Staff said it would require the State Building Code Council to convene a technical advisory group to recommend code amendments allowing scissor stairs in buildings with more than two dwelling units. The chair described the bill as a housing-supply and design-efficiency measure. Testimony from housing advocates, architects, and industry representatives supported the bill, saying scissor stairs can improve floor plan efficiency, allow more units and better light and ventilation, and support taller or smaller-footprint buildings. No vote was taken. The committee also heard SB 6015 on permit-ready residential plans. Staff said the bill would direct L&I to create a process for soliciting and publishing approved plans for factory-built housing and require local governments to accept them on qualifying lots, with Commerce developing model ordinances. Supporters said the bill would reduce duplication, speed permitting, and help modular and factory-built housing scale; some asked that site-built plans also be included. L&I and counties said they support the concept but raised concerns about clarity, local design standards, and a statewide mandate to adopt model ordinances. The committee also heard SB 5470 on detached ADUs outside UGAs, with supporters saying it would expand rural housing options and opponents from Futurewise urging tighter density, lot-size, and metering safeguards. Finally, SB 5729 on permit streamlining drew support from builders and business groups but opposition from counties and Futurewise, who argued the bill’s completeness and review-cycle limits could create more denials, reduce communication, and conflict with recent permitting reforms. The meeting ended with staff beginning executive-session briefings on additional bills, starting with SB 5884 and a proposed substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• appearance of fire-hardened building materials.
• building materials so long as the Mitch. the installation use or maintenance of fire-hardened building
• The rules cannot prohibit the installation or use of the materials. hardened building materials.
• and do not significantly increase the cost of fire hardened building materials.
• We heard it in testimony about the 10% cap on the fire-hardening materials.

Bills: SB6069, SB6167, SB6201, SB6205, SB6001, SB6026, SB6054, SGA9278, SGA9279

Keywords: affordable housing, homelessness, homeless shelter, emergency shelter, emergency housing, supportive housing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, low-income housing, very low-income, extremely low-income, housing crisis, land use, zoning, local preemption, urban growth area, UGA, planning, development regulations, permitting

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 6201, which would create property tax and real estate excise tax exemptions for property used as affordable housing by social housing agencies, with a 50% occupancy threshold for households at or below 80% of area median income and a 15-year covenant requirement. Staff outlined the bill’s tax and fiscal impacts, and the prime sponsor, Senator Slatter, described it as a tool to expand permanently affordable workforce housing. Testimony from social housing advocates supported the measure, saying the exemptions would lower project costs and rents, while a committee member raised questions about how the occupancy requirement would be verified at the time of purchase. The public hearing on SB 6201 was later closed after testimony from Seattle Social Housing representatives. The committee also heard gubernatorial appointments to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission from Pedro Espinoza and Diana H. Perez, both of whom described their construction, public service, and housing-related backgrounds and their interest in expanding homeownership and housing access statewide. Members asked about their experience and local housing needs, and both nominees emphasized the importance of housing affordability and collaboration with local governments. Senate Bill 6205 was briefed and heard, proposing accountability changes for the Community Reinvestment Account, the Affordable Housing Program, and the Covenant Homeownership Program. The bill would bar officers and family members from benefiting from grants, require Commerce to prioritize grants based on need, broaden priority for organizations serving people disproportionately impacted by homelessness, and require biannual evaluations of grants and loans. Senator Braun said the bill was intended to address reported misuse and improve transparency and trust in state-funded housing programs. The committee then heard and later acted on several bills in executive session: it adopted a technical substitute and passed SB 6001 on scissor stairs; rejected Goehner amendments but passed SB 6026 on limiting commercial-ground-floor requirements in housing zones; adopted a substitute and passed SB 6054 on fire-hardened building materials in common interest communities; and later heard SB 6069 on step housing, where supporters said it would reduce local barriers to shelters and supportive housing while cities and counties argued for more flexibility and operational agreements. The committee also heard SB 6167, which would prohibit homebuyers from stacking multiple state-funded down payment assistance awards, with the sponsor saying it would spread limited funds to more households and opponents/testifiers raising concerns about access and fairness.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2605 relates to asbestos-containing building materials.
• As background, the use of asbestos-containing building materials in new construction or renovations in
• Asbestos-containing building materials means any building material that contains 0.1% asbestos by weight
• House Bill 2605 would change asbestos-containing building material to mean any building material that
• contains 0.25... ...asbestos-containing building material to mean any building material that contains

Bills: HB2496, HB2575, HB2605

Keywords: tribal consultation, energy facilities, site evaluation, environmental impact, policy regulation, environmental regulation, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, HB 2605, Washington asbestos law, naturally occurring fibrous silicate, asbestos-containing building materials, fibrous silicate materials, asbestos labeling, construction materials, renovation, repair and maintenance, EPA method

Summary: The committee heard three bills. House Bill 2496 would expand tribal consultation in EFSEC siting reviews by requiring the full council, rather than only the chair, to conduct government-to-government consultations with federally recognized tribes, allow tribes to review and correct the consultation summary before it goes to the governor, and exempt those consultation meetings from the Open Public Meetings Act so long as no deliberation or commitments occur. The prime sponsor, Yakama Nation representatives, Washington Conservation Action, and IBEW Local 77 testified in support, emphasizing tribal sovereignty, protection of sacred and cultural resources, and the need for early consultation. The Association of Washington Business opposed the bill, raising ex parte and due process concerns for project applicants, while EFSEC said it supported the intent but had some wording concerns. House Bill 2575 would reduce or eliminate several reporting requirements for utilities and the Department of Commerce, including shifting some annual reports to biennial or less frequent reporting, removing reporting on heat-related utility disconnections, and eliminating certain Commerce reports on utility resource adequacy and combined heat and power facilities. Representative Hall said the bill is intended to streamline duplicative or low-value reporting and save time and money. Commerce testified that the changes would simplify reporting while leaving key protections and other CETA-related reporting in place. Todd Myers supported reducing burdens but cautioned against losing information needed for resource adequacy, and a committee member asked about potential savings and whether any savings could be redirected to help customers with electric bills. House Bill 2605 would raise the threshold for asbestos-containing building materials and create exemptions for commercial aggregates, asphalt, and concrete containing low levels of naturally occurring fibrous silicate material, removing those materials from certain labeling, use, and inspection requirements. Representative Lee said the bill would help lower construction and transportation costs by allowing local aggregate use while maintaining protections against deliberately added asbestos. The Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association supported the bill, saying it corrects an unintended overreach in prior law and that dust risks are limited and addressed by workplace safety rules. Committee members asked about road-building costs and worker exposure during crushing, and the sponsor and testifier said existing safety standards should address those concerns. No votes were taken; the chair closed each hearing and announced caucuses afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill up is House Bill 2273, reducing embodied carbon emissions of buildings and building materials
• residential buildings.
• allowing demonstrated reductions in embodied carbon associated with building material allowing demonstrated
• reductions in embodied carbon associated with building materials to offset or substitute for modeled
• We had issues with our fire chiefs, with fire commissioners, with our library districts.

Bills: HB2228, HB2273, HB2381, HB2418, HB2388, HB2183, HB2224, HB2267, HB2174, HB1529

Keywords: building code, safety regulations, construction, scissor stairs, state standards, embodied carbon, building materials, sustainability, environment, performance-based codes, building regulations, residential construction, energy efficiency, sustainable design, permit review, project permits, land use, zoning, development regulations, residential development

Summary: The Local Government Committee met in executive session to consider several bills, with HB 2267 and HB 2388 removed from consideration and HB 1529 also removed later due to a technical issue. Staff briefed measures on scissor-stair regulations (HB 2228), embodied carbon in buildings (HB 2273), performance-based building code pathways (HB 2381), permit review processes (HB 2418), county heat response plans (HB 2183), fire protection districts (HB 2224), crash prevention zones (HB 2174), and city use of county road resources (HB 1529). Members discussed amendments on several bills, including changes to heat plan language, permit waiver timing, and building code provisions. HB 2228, as a proposed substitute, was advanced 7-0 after members said the scissor-stair concept could improve housing design while maintaining fire safety. HB 2273, which would require embodied-carbon rules and reporting for buildings, passed 4-3 after supporters emphasized reducing construction emissions and opponents said the industry was not ready. HB 2381 passed 4-3 after adopting Amendment REN 056 and rejecting REN 057; supporters said the bill would create a performance-based compliance option, while opponents objected to making the appendix mandatory for local adoption. HB 2418 passed 7-0 after adopting Amendment 420 and a proposed substitute that removed vesting language, clarified completeness review, and allowed permit-timeline waivers. HB 2183 passed 4-3 after adopting four amendments that updated terminology, addressed grid reliability during heat events, removed subsidy language, and shifted plan development authority to county legislative authorities working with local agencies. HB 2224 passed 6-1 after a substitute revised levy and taxing-limit language for fire protection districts, with the sponsor saying stakeholder concerns had been addressed. HB 2174 passed 6-1 after a substitute renamed the concept crash prevention zones, set a $73 traffic infraction penalty, and created a dedicated account for the funds; members supported the safety goal but raised liability concerns for local governments. The committee adjourned after completing its work for the day and week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fire suppression systems and also amends some of the provisions about the fire marshal providing written
• Brian Adams, the State Fire Marshal.
• From the pre-planning to the materials to the actual process, each fortified roof that I build takes
• The building code, and I think Rep.
• What happened to us in Ida, the houses and the building code and the building inspectors did their job

Bills: HB461, HB467, HB522, HB565, HB673, HB799, HB917, HB937, HB956, HB977

Keywords: building codes, construction standards, state uniform construction code, local option, municipal ordinance, parish ordinance, resilient construction, FORTIFIED Home, IBHS, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, hurricane resistance, storm resilience, roof replacement, residential construction, certificate of occupancy, code enforcement, building resilience, home hardening, wind mitigation, residential roof

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2605 relates to naturally occurring fibrous silicate materials.
• or distributing building materials without labeling them.
• or distributing building materials without labeling them.
• It would exempt them from the prohibitions on the use in building materials in new construction or renovations
• on the manufacture or distribution of asbestos-containing materials.

Bills: HB2296, HB2301, HB2212, HB2515, HB2436, HB2496, HB2605

Keywords: distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, sustainability, energy policy, extended producer responsibility, paint waste management, environmental regulations, recycling, microplastics, pollution, environmental protection, washing machines, water quality, energy facilities, large energy use, regulation, state oversight, infrastructure, oil tanker

Summary: The committee met to executive a series of bills related to transportation, environmental regulation, energy, and utility policy. Staff briefed House Bill 2436 on escort tug horsepower requirements for oil tankers, House Bill 2605 on exemptions for low-asbestos commercial aggregates, asphalt, and concrete, House Bill 2301 on expanding the paint stewardship program to additional paint products, House Bill 2496 on tribal government-to-government consultation during energy facility siting reviews, House Bill 2296 on meter-mounted devices and portable solar generation devices, House Bill 2212 on microfiber filtration requirements for washing machines, and House Bill 2515 on rules and fees for emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers and cryptocurrency facilities. Several proposed substitutes were also explained, including changes to paint collection convenience standards, tribal consultation procedures, meter-device utility authority, delayed microfiber enforcement, and revisions to data-center reporting, fees, and utility tariff provisions. The committee took public discussion on the measures before voting. Supporters of the tug, paint stewardship, tribal consultation, and aggregate bills emphasized safety, recycling, affordability, and improved government-to-government relations. The meter-mounted device bill drew debate over utility cost recovery and local government authority; amendments to require customer-paid costs and restore local prohibitions were offered but both failed. The microfiber bill was not acted on at this meeting. The large energy use facility bill prompted substantial debate over fees, grid reliability, water use, labor protections, and the impact on data center development; members split between concerns about taxation and infrastructure impacts versus the need for safeguards and transparency. Final actions were taken on the remaining bills. Proposed Substitute House Bill 2296 passed out of committee on a 14-7 vote. Substitute House Bill 2301 passed 19-1. Substitute House Bill 2515 passed 11-10. House Bill 2436 passed unanimously, 21-0. Substitute House Bill 2496 passed 15-6. House Bill 2605 also passed unanimously, 21-0. The committee adjourned after reporting those bills out with due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• my counties and what we're doing is uh I was approached about 8 months ago by some of our volunteer fire
• my counties, and what we're doing is I was approached about 8 months ago by some of our volunteer fire
• There are 11 fire departments that are covered under that would receive funds from these, um, and none
• There are 11 fire<00:11:25.360><c> departments</c><00:11:25.839><c> that</c><00:11:26.000><c> are</c>
• <00:11:26.240><c> covered</c><00:11:26.560><c> under</c> fire departments that are covered under fire

Bills: HB465, HB307, SB338, HB465, HB307, SB338, SB359

Keywords: emergency management, public funds, educational materials, promotional materials, state agency, speedy trial, visiting judge, court administration, public interest, criminal justice, New Hope, Madison County, municipal boundary, corporate limits, deannexation, boundary adjustment, local act, city limits, municipal jurisdiction, annexation rollback

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3081 changes age restrictions to apply for a job in the fire extinguisher industry plus changes
• Therefore, I represented regulated industries here in this building.
• He spent 17 years at the firefighter, including 16 years as Midwest City Fire Chief.
• Mike retired from the fire service in 2004.
• the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs.

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

Keywords: insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, Oklahoma, fire extinguisher, licensing, public safety, age qualification, State Fire Marshal, towing services

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 381 changes the age restriction to apply for a job in the fire extinguisher industry, plus
• Members, when I first got elected to this building in 2016, the pro tem asked if I wanted to work on
• He spent 31 years as a firefighter, including 16 years as Midwest City Fire Chief.
• Mike retired from the fire service in 2004, at which time...
• the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs.

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

Keywords: insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, Oklahoma, fire extinguisher, licensing, public safety, age qualification, State Fire Marshal, towing services

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:

• buildings. ...enforce the fire code adopted by the city or town for county-owned buildings if the enforcement
• record of certificates of occupancy, applicable fire code reports, and updated building inventory.
• Whose fire code should be enforced with respect to county buildings inside a city's limits?
• The other allows the appropriate city to inspect new county buildings under the state's fire code.
• Marshal that permits cities to enforce their fire code on county buildings within their limits.

Bills: HB2051, HB2324, HB2439, HB2457, HB2686, HB2837, HB2875, HB2953

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, HB2324, fire code, fire marshal, state fire marshal, municipalities, cities and towns, county-owned buildings, county buildings, intergovernmental agreement, IGA, fire inspection, occupancy certificate, building inventory, local government, county government

Transcript Highlights:

• buildings.
• when you build for lowering embodied carbon, a lot of times you're bringing down the amount of material
• and building materials.
• Embodied carbon is the climate impact of the materials used to build a building—emissions from the manufacturing
• The emissions tied to building materials, from extraction to manufacturing to construction, contribute

Bills: HB2228, HB2273, HB2418, HB2381

Keywords: building code, safety regulations, construction, scissor stairs, state standards, embodied carbon, building materials, sustainability, environment, permit review, project permits, land use, zoning, development regulations, residential development, housing permits, affordable housing, local government, county planning, city planning

Summary: The committee heard three housing- and building-code bills. HB 2228 would direct the State Building Code Council to convene a technical advisory group to recommend code amendments allowing scissor stairs in buildings with more than two dwelling units. The sponsor and several architects, developers, and housing advocates said scissor stairs can improve safety-compliant design efficiency, reduce corridor and stair footprint, and support more housing units on smaller sites. No opposition testimony was heard before the public hearing closed. HB 2381 would create a performance-based code pathway for low-rise residential buildings and allow recognition of third-party certifications. The sponsor described it as a shift from prescriptive rules to performance outcomes, with potential benefits for innovation and affordability. The Building Industry Association of Washington opposed the bill as written, saying the real need is a usable performance pathway in the energy code and suggesting an energy rating index instead. FutureWise supported the concept but urged caution about the complexity and timeline of converting code to a performance-based system. HB 2418 would change permit review processes for housing projects in urban growth areas, including vesting rules, review timelines for local governments and other fee-charging entities, and a requirement for a single permit responsible official and point of contact by 2027. Housing and development groups largely supported the bill’s coordination and timeline provisions, though some asked for clearer definitions of completeness and procedural details. FutureWise and county representatives raised concerns about the vesting changes and possible litigation, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to improve certainty and reduce permitting delays. The committee also heard HB 2273, which would require embodied-carbon reduction standards for large building projects through reuse, product-based reductions, or whole-building life-cycle assessment. Supporters from architects, Commerce, and environmental justice advocates said it would help meet climate goals and could be implemented with limited cost impacts, while concrete and aggregate industry representatives and a taxpayer group opposed it, citing supply-chain concerns, conflicts with other legislation, and affordability impacts. No votes or final actions were taken; the public hearings were closed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> fire departments. fire departments.
• ><c> Area</c><01:09:36.240><c> Fire</c> Fire districts like Cloquet Area Fire Fire districts like Cloquet
• Jesse Buse, the Fire District of the Cloquet Area Fire District. And Mr.
• Jesse Buse, the Fire District of the Cloquet Area Fire District. And Mr.
• </c> us to fight structural fires. us to fight structural fires.

Bills: HF1016, HF2800, HF156, HF3051, HF526, HF2658, HF2062, HF2801

Keywords: local government aid, Baldwin, taxation, base year formula, municipal funding, population aid, aid penalty forgiveness, Minnesota, city funding, appropriations, HF156, lawful gambling, veterans organizations, licensed veterans organization, Minnesota gambling law, gross profits, lawful purpose, real property repair, facility maintenance, capital assets

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason for that is you're not required to connect to natural gas for purposes of getting a building
• Into building safety plans, safety drills, and training programs for a specified purpose.
• The turnover inspection reports apply to all buildings regardless of height.
• to the current SIRS requirement that applies to buildings with three habitable stories or higher.
• They're reflected in their own posted materials and records.

Bills: S0936, S1724, S1014, S1498

Keywords: temporary door locking device, emergency safety, building code, training programs, fire exit security, utility services, municipal agreements, public meetings, rates and fees, public service commission, municipal utility, water service, wastewater service, property owners, annexation, civil action, community associations, condominium, homeowners associations, structural integrity

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and took up four bills. First, it considered SB 1724 on municipal utility services. Senator Martin offered a late-filed delete-everything amendment that would require annual customer meetings for extraterritorial utility customers, cap use of gross utility revenues for general government at 10%, eliminate a 25% surcharge on customers outside city limits, reduce the rate differential cap from 50% to 25%, remove municipal natural gas utilities from the bill, and preserve certain existing bond-related surcharges until debt is retired or refinanced. The League of Cities raised implementation concerns about the July 1, 2026 effective date and the need for rate studies and budget adjustments. The amendment was adopted and the committee reported CS/SB 1724 favorably. The committee then heard SB 936 on temporary door locking devices from Senator McLean. The bill would define temporary door locking devices, allow them to be installed at any height, require the Florida Building Commission to add standards to the Florida Building Code, and require their use to be incorporated into safety plans, drills, and training. With no opposition or amendments, SB 936 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 1014 by Senator Mayfield, which would prohibit municipalities from refusing water or wastewater service solely because a property owner will not annex, and would require service expansion when a property is near a municipal main line, not served by another utility, and the utility has capacity. A committee amendment narrowed the bill to properties near a main line and reduced the distance threshold from 2,000 meters to one-half mile. The Florida League of Cities opposed the bill as amended, citing concerns about property size, annexation conflicts, enclave creation, and possible revenue impacts, but the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1498 on community associations from Chair Bradley. A strike-all amendment revised technical provisions on video conference recordings, turnover inspection reports, SIRS references, and electronic voting, and added two major policy changes: requiring associations to provide records to law enforcement and prosecutors and creating a second-degree misdemeanor for willful refusal, and prohibiting mandatory club or amenity fee schemes controlled by developers or third parties that generate profit beyond proportional expenses. Testimony in support described homeowner disputes involving concentrated board control, lack of transparency, and mandatory fees in communities such as Rosedale. The amendment was adopted and CS/SB 1498 was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Bracey Davis asked to be recorded voting in the affirmative on tabs 1, 2, and 3, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason for that is you're not required to connect to natural gas for purposes of getting a building
• Code, and require the use of temporary door locking devices be integrated into building safety plans
• Into building safety plans, safety drills, and training programs for a specified purpose.
• to the current SIRS requirement that applies to buildings with three habitable stories or higher.
• They're reflected in their own posted materials and records.

Bills: S0936, S1724, S1014, S1498

Keywords: temporary door locking device, emergency safety, building code, training programs, fire exit security, utility services, municipal agreements, public meetings, rates and fees, public service commission, municipal utility, water service, wastewater service, property owners, annexation, civil action, community associations, condominium, homeowners associations, structural integrity

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard and advanced four bills. First, members took up SB 1724 on utility services, adopting a late-filed delete-everything amendment by Senator Martin. The amended bill would require annual customer meetings for certain municipal utility customers outside city limits, cap use of gross utility revenues for general government purposes, require excess funds to be reinvested or returned, reduce the outside-city surcharge and rate differential caps, and phase out certain surcharges tied to existing bond covenants. The Florida League of Cities raised implementation concerns about the July 1, 2026 effective date and the need for time to complete rate studies and budget adjustments. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members also heard SB 936 on temporary door locking devices, which would define and authorize such devices, direct the Florida Building Commission to add standards to the building code, and require their use to be incorporated into safety plans, drills, and training. With no opposition or debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee next considered SB 1014, which would prohibit municipalities from refusing water and wastewater service solely because a property owner will not annex, if the property is near a municipal main line, not already served by another utility, and the utility has capacity. An amendment narrowed the distance trigger to one-half mile and clarified the main-line requirement. The Florida League of Cities opposed the bill as amended, citing concerns about impacts on annexation policy, potential duplication of services, and possible subsidy of outside customers, but the committee still reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1498 on community associations. A strike-all amendment made technical changes to turnover inspection and electronic voting provisions and added two major policy changes: requiring associations to provide records to law enforcement and prosecutors, with a misdemeanor penalty for willful noncompliance, and prohibiting certain developer-controlled mandatory club fee arrangements that generate perpetual profit beyond proportional expenses. Testimony in support came from homeowners describing alleged governance abuses and mandatory fee schemes in their communities, while the Community Associations Institute supported the amendment. The committee reported CS for SB 1498 favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senators Bracey Davis and Calatayud asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also empowers local fire code officials to request proof of fire sprinkler certification.
• well as building and fire officials across the U.S.
• Fire protection sprinkler system. Yes, Allison, is that correct? Fire protection sprinkler systems.
• Our association represents over 400 fire prevention bureaus from cities, counties, and fire districts
• ensuring that new fire sprinkler systems, building fire sprinkler systems, are designed and installed

Bills: HB2355, HB2151, HB2372, HB2472, HB2409

Keywords: labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, factory built housing, commercial structures, national standards, construction regulation, building safety, workers' compensation, benefits, employment, injury claims, insurance, liability, fire protection, sprinkler systems, licensed contractors, certified fitters

Summary: The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2151 would update factory-built housing and commercial structure rules by directing L&I to consider newer national off-site construction standards and by allowing inspections to be performed by qualified third-party agencies without a direct contract requirement. The sponsor said it would reduce costs and speed inspections for manufactured housing; L&I supported the bill as a way to simplify third-party inspection relationships and keep up with workload. HB 2372 would change workers’ compensation time-loss calculations so injured workers receive 100% of the employer’s monthly health care contribution unless the employer keeps paying it directly. Supporters, including building trades representatives and an injured worker, said the current formula leaves families unable to afford coverage; NFIB opposed the bill, arguing the money should go directly to insurers or employers and raising concerns about whether workers would use the funds for premiums. L&I said the bill would require administrative time and funding and noted attorney fees can take up to 30% of additional benefits in some cases. The committee also heard HB 2355, a domestic workers bill of rights. The bill would create standalone protections for domestic workers covering wages, written agreements, notice or severance before termination, anti-harassment and anti-retaliation rules, and protections against discrimination, while also removing certain domestic-worker exemptions from the Minimum Wage Act and extending some discrimination protections. The sponsor and multiple workers, advocates, Seattle labor officials, and an employer testified in support, describing wage theft, lack of notice, and vulnerability in private homes; L&I said it had technical questions and would need time and funding to implement the measure. The committee then heard HB 2409, which would create a collective bargaining framework for agricultural workers under PERC, including union representation procedures, mediation, and interest arbitration. Supporters said it would correct a historic exclusion of farmworkers from collective bargaining rights and improve dignity and safety; opponents from farm groups argued agriculture’s time-sensitive nature means strikes could devastate crops and farms, and they warned the bill could harm the agricultural economy. Finally, the committee heard HB 2472 on fire sprinkler system contracting and fitting. The bill would require contractors and fitters to show licenses or certificates to local fire code officials, authorize stop-work orders for violations, and allow requests for payroll records during investigations. Supporters from labor, fire sprinkler industry groups, and fire marshals said it would improve public safety and enforcement against unqualified work; the Building Industry Association of Washington opposed the bill as drafted, asking for narrower language to avoid unintended reach into residential or other sprinkler systems. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The, for many of them, this is their first time being in the building and they testified on a measure
• </c><00:21:59.919><c> and</c><00:22:00.240><c> they</c> time being in the building and they time being
• </c> have many dragon riders in the building. have many dragon riders in the building.
• </c> team who has visited us in this building team who has visited us in this building because<00:22:
• And at times it felt like he was the only voice in the building that was truly committed to the cause

Bills: HB2198, HB2021, HB1881, HB1964, HB1990, HB2151, HB2599, HB2414

Keywords: gambling, prediction markets, Hawaii gambling laws, financial contracts, ethical concerns, electric bicycles, micro-mobility devices, safety regulations, traffic laws, insurance exemption, high-speed electric devices, land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, building code, permitting process, training, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• my staff who is accompanying the students today and giving them a wonderful tour of the Capitol building
• LNG infrastructure, or I should say methane infrastructure, would be much better spent on simply building

Bills: HB2198, HB2021, HB1881, HB1964, HB1990, HB2151, HB2599, HB2414

Keywords: gambling, prediction markets, Hawaii gambling laws, financial contracts, ethical concerns, electric bicycles, micro-mobility devices, safety regulations, traffic laws, insurance exemption, high-speed electric devices, land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, building code, permitting process, training, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's see, HB2450 changes how often elevators are inspected. in smaller buildings with four stories or
• This change keeps people safe but it helps reduce unnecessary costs for owners of small buildings like
• Additionally, delays in demolition following fires or natural disasters are prolonged due to mold assessment
• issues by removing mycotoxins from the definition of mole, exempting demolition activities after a fire

Bills: HB2450, SB378, SB764, SB917, SB1254, SB1255

Keywords: elevator inspection, building safety, construction standards, health and safety code, regulatory requirements, SB 378, Texas Occupations Code, barbering, cosmetology, barber, cosmetologist, licensing, professional licensing, unauthorized practice, medical procedures, skin incision, dermis, injections, devices, consumer safety

Transcript Highlights:

• And how do you actually harden it to the standard?
• So we know China is hardening their grid. I provided a report.
• Brian Adams, State Fire Marshal.
• We have a lot of volunteer fire departments in my parish.
• We have a lot of volunteer fire departments in my parish.

Bills: HB241, HB267, HB467, HB673, HB744, HB798, HB1026, HB1027, HB1091, HB1096, HB1103, HB1212, HB1230

Keywords: financial records, consumer protection, banking law, disclosure, service of process, home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board, residential roof, coastal zone, fortified roof, building standards, construction code, insurance, hurricane resilience, safety, security cameras, abandoned property

Transcript Highlights:

• building inspections within the fire protection district's or authority's jurisdiction.
• of the International Fire Code and other relevant building codes.
• the fire code with regard to the building permit process.
• We also believe we can accommodate the fire code portion of the building permit purpose, sorry, the fire
• It's not a large-ticket fire fee, like a building code.

Bills: SB5820, SB6064, SB6077, SB6101, SB6013, SB6066

Keywords: freight rail, rail corridor, short-line railroad, rail-dependent uses, industrial land use, growth management act, GMA, comprehensive plan, transportation element, land use planning, local government, county planning, city planning, critical areas, agricultural lands, forest lands, mineral resource lands, urban growth area, development regulations, notice on permits

Summary: The committee heard several bill briefings and public hearings. SB 6064 would let certain large fire protection districts or regional fire authorities assume administration and enforcement of the International Fire Code within their boundaries, with notice to the county and displaced county workers offered equivalent jobs. Supporters said it would improve consistency, safety, and local control; opponents from counties, fire marshals, and builders argued it was unnecessary because interlocal agreements already exist and could add permitting complexity and delays. SB 6101 would require county coroners to be appointed rather than elected, while preserving existing medical examiner systems in larger counties. The sponsor and supporters said the change would address problems like the Yakima County coroner case, improve professionalism, and reduce partisan elections; opponents said it would reduce voter accountability, raise costs, and create conflicts of interest concerns. SB 6077 would extend the deadline for assessors and taxpayers to exchange valuation evidence in property tax appeals from 21 to 28 business days before a hearing, starting with petitions filed on or after July 1, 2026. Supporters said the extra time would improve due process and fairness; county assessors and some tax appeal practitioners said they were open to the timing change but wanted broader reforms to address long hearing backlogs. The committee also heard SB 5820, which would repeal Clark County-specific authority enacted in 2017 allowing freight rail-dependent uses on certain resource lands adjacent to a short-line railroad. The sponsor and supporters from FutureWise, local residents, and the City of Battleground said the prior law undermined Growth Management Act protections for agricultural and resource lands and had led to conflict and litigation. Opponents, including the railroad operator, Association of Washington Business, and former sponsor Linda Wilson, said the rail overlay supports economic development, jobs, and rail-served industrial land, and warned the repeal would harm local planning and investments. Members asked about how county and city comprehensive plans interact under the Growth Management Act, and staff said they would provide a summary of the appeals process. Finally, SB 6013 would update ski lift terminology to include aerial tramways, tows, and conveyors in the state safety and insurance requirements; State Parks supported it as agency-request legislation, and the bill was presented as a technical update with no opposition noted in the excerpt.