Transcript Highlights:

• layoffs, or relocations.
• That was a two-month notice that they are required to do under the Warren Act. this this month notice
• And so this bill has a six-month notice.
• I did not get any notice. You suggested that Kroger gave notice...
• Final comment: I did not get any notice.

Bills: SB5379, SB6106, SB6147, SB6180, SB5927, SB6287

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the presumption that heart problems in covered firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of firefighters who died of heart disease testified in support, saying the current law creates delays and burdens for grieving families; counties, cities, and self-insurers opposed the bill, citing the large fiscal impact, lack of scientific support for removing the qualifiers, and concerns about expanding presumptions without further review. An L&I researcher explained the existing time limits and said the advisory committee’s prior review did not support the change, though he noted some states have broader presumptions. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement employees. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid below comparable agencies, making arbitration important for retention and fairness. The bill was heard and left for later action. Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery establishment closures in food deserts, would require six months’ notice before closure, good-faith meetings to explore alternatives, and enforcement authority for the Attorney General and others. Supporters, including Tacoma officials, grocery workers, and community advocates, said the Fred Meyer closure in South Tacoma showed the need for more notice and community planning; grocers and industry groups opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome, arguing closures are driven by broader business and safety issues. The hearing closed without a vote. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt Indian tribes from the state WARN-style layoff notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted to ESD confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification that protects personal data; the committee noted no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 5927 would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3 percent starting in 2026. The sponsor and business/self-insurer witnesses said the cap would help address volatility and long-term unfunded liabilities; labor and injured-worker advocates opposed it, saying it would erode wage replacement for injured workers and survivors. L&I explained that it had been studying possible COLA reforms, including a 3 percent cap and a rolling-average approach, but withdrew its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would ban harmful additives and synthetic alkaloids, require labeling, set a 21+ age limit, and allow local governments to adopt stricter rules. The sponsor and poison center testimony supported regulation of concentrated 7-OH products, while industry and advocacy witnesses supported age limits and labeling but raised concerns about private lawsuits, local patchwork regulation, and the need for a state licensing framework. The committee adjourned after completing testimony on the day’s bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• things in their coworkers, is a good first step. ...tools to ask for help, to notice things in their
• It removes the requirement to include a notice of federal and state law governing family and medical
• Senate Bill 6134 is an act relating to notice to striking workers applying for unemployment benefits
• That they impact communities, and giving larger notice would help these communities visit with these
• But I'm concerned that six months' notice—what's going to happen when that notice is given to the employees

Bills: SB6053, SB6134, SB6147, SB6106, SB6045, SB6135, SB6128, SB6282, SB6068, SB6303, SB6290

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6282, which would require building and construction apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training beginning in 2027. The sponsor and labor supporters said construction workers face elevated suicide and substance use risks and that the bill would help reduce stigma, improve peer support, and connect workers to resources. Testifiers from electrical workers, bricklayers, and building trades strongly supported the measure, describing it as an important first step and noting planned amendments to extend similar information through continuing education for journey-level workers. No vote was taken on this bill in the portion provided. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6135, which would require interest arbitration panels for most uniform personnel in cities, counties, and other local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. County and city associations supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and said it would align local arbitration with existing state law. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, arguing it would weaken collective bargaining rights and let employers use financial hardship to delay or reduce fair contracts. The public hearing closed with a reported tally of 5 in favor and 22 opposed, and the bill was not advanced in the excerpt. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 6053 on domestic workers and then voted the bill do pass to Rules. It also passed Senate Bill 6134, which requires notice to striking workers about possible unemployment overpayment if they later receive retroactive wages. Senate Bill 6147 on grocery store closures in food deserts was sent to Ways and Means after members discussed the definition of “food desert” and concerns about the six-month notice requirement; the sponsor said the bill was still being refined. Senate Bill 6106, excluding Indian tribes from the Stable Act employer definition and protecting employee contact information from disclosure, also passed to Rules. For Senate Bill 6045 on agricultural employees and PERC jurisdiction, the committee adopted a Schoesler amendment requiring multilingual signage, then passed the amended bill to Ways and Means. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 6128 about using an L&I-approved third-party app to record independent medical exams, with supporters citing security and consistency and opponents saying it would burden injured workers and was unnecessary; and on Senate Bill 6068, which would expand contractor liability for unpaid construction wages, with workers and labor groups supporting stronger enforcement and contractors opposing broader liability. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, where testimony was split between sustainability and industry supporters and public health opponents concerned about child poisonings and packaging changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires that rent-increase notices under the Manufactured Home Landlord-Tenant Act, or the
• unlawful detainer notices.
• and other notices served in the same manner.
• to the same manner as unlawful detainer notices.
• and other notices served in the same manner.

Bills: HB2664

Keywords: HB 2664, unlawful detainer, eviction notice, landlord-tenant, tenant rights, service of process, certified mail, notice by mail, notice posting, possession action, vacate notice, Washington RCW 59.12, housing law, rental housing, forcible entry and detainer, proof of service, property possession, occupants, lodging house, hotel guest

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2664 modifies the requirements for service of unlawful detainer notices and other notices
• Also, if the person entitled to the notice is not on the premises, the unlawful detainer notice must
• across all notices.
• The solution is to apply consistent notice delivery standards across all notices.
• it's a rental notice or behavior.

Bills: HB2664

Keywords: HB 2664, unlawful detainer, eviction notice, landlord-tenant, tenant rights, service of process, certified mail, notice by mail, notice posting, possession action, vacate notice, Washington RCW 59.12, housing law, rental housing, forcible entry and detainer, proof of service, property possession, occupants, lodging house, hotel guest

Summary: The housing committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2664, with Vice Chair Natasha Hill presiding in place of Chair Peterson. Staff explained that the bill would remove the certified mail requirement for unlawful detainer notices and related notices, instead allowing service by regular mail from within the state, and would change the mailing rules for notices when the tenant is not on the premises. Representative April Connors, the prime sponsor, said the bill is intended to clean up notice provisions affected by last session’s changes and ensure renters actually receive notices without having to pick up certified mail at the post office. One member asked whether lease renewals were included; Connors said they were not and indicated she would discuss that issue with other sponsors. Testimony was unanimously in support. Housing providers, property managers, landlord associations, and business groups said certified mail has created significant administrative burden, added costs, and often results in notices being returned undelivered. Several witnesses said regular mail would be more practical and more likely to reach tenants, while also reducing costs that can be passed on to owners and renters. Some also argued the current process can be inconvenient or intrusive for tenants, especially those who cannot easily get to a post office or who prefer not to have notices posted on their doors. No one testified in opposition. Committee members asked few questions, and no votes or amendments were taken during the hearing. The chair closed the public hearing after the final testimony and a brief congratulatory comment to Vice Chair Hill for chairing the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• as unlawful detainer notices.
• Other than rent increase notices, any notice required to be given to a tenant by a landlord under the
• for other notices under the MHLTA, and the requirement that MHLTA rent increase notices be served in
• Certain notices are required to be served in the same manner as unlawful detainer notices, including
• the following: rent increase notices under both the RLTA and the MHLTA; many notices for termination

Bills: HB2304, HB2664

Keywords: condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, HB 2664, unlawful detainer, eviction notice, landlord-tenant, tenant rights, service of process, certified mail, notice by mail, notice posting, possession action, vacate notice, Washington RCW 59.12, housing law, rental housing, forcible entry and detainer

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill would add a new requirement to the insurance code for life insurers to send written notice of
• life insurer would be required to obtain and, upon request, demonstrate proof of delivery for each notice
• applicant in writing at the time of the application of the right to designate a third party to receive notice
• And there will be one... ...minor tweak that the insurance companies noticed after we dropped it.
• very specific Washington State requirements around lapse notification, reinstatement, and proof of notice

Bills: HB2428, HB2399, HB2087

Keywords: life insurance, policy lapse, policy cancellation, nonpayment of premium, premium grace period, lapse notice, termination notice, third-party notice, third-party designee, beneficiary protection, consumer protection, insurance regulation, insurer notice requirements, policyholder, beneficiary, Washington RCW, insurance code, unintentional lapse, coverage continuation, premium delinquency

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three insurance bills. House Bill 2428 would require life insurers to send advance written notice before terminating an individual life insurance policy for nonpayment, including notice of the three-year reinstatement right, and would allow policyholders to designate a third party to receive lapse notices. The prime sponsor and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner said the bill is intended to prevent unintentional lapses, especially for older adults or people with cognitive decline. The life insurance industry supported the consumer goal but asked for a delayed implementation date and noted a need for a small technical amendment. House Bill 2399 would prohibit post-loss assignments of benefits in property insurance, making such agreements void and subject to enforcement by the Insurance Commissioner. The prime sponsor, the OIC, the Washington State Association for Justice, PEMCO, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau all testified in support, saying the practice can let contractors take over claim rights, create leverage for inflated claims, and leave homeowners without control over their own insurance claims after a loss. Members asked about steering by adjusters, whether homeowners could still authorize contractors or direct payment, and the size of the proposed $50,000 fine; witnesses said the bill does not bar direct payment to contractors or other lawful representation and that the penalty would go to the general fund. House Bill 2087 would enact the Washington Travel Insurance Act, largely based on the NAIC model, to regulate travel insurance sales, licensing, disclosures, and unfair trade practices. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would expand consumer choices and standardize rules, while the OIC supported much of the framework but raised concerns about claim adjustment by unlicensed adjusters. The Attorney General’s Office asked for language clarifying that existing discrimination and consumer protection laws still apply. The committee then moved into work sessions on flood insurance, wildfire mitigation recommendations from a prior work group, and a feasibility study on a joint underwriting association for certain child care services, with staff and agency presentations outlining current market conditions and policy options.

Transcript Highlights:

• So House Bill 2452 is the bill that modifies requirements for service of rent increase notices.
• manner as unlawful detainer notices.
• But the MHLTA ones would be served in the same manner as required for other notices under the MHLTA,
• notices and other notices required to be served in the same manner, such as rent increase notices, and
• So this takes it to being able to send the notice.

Bills: HB1542, HB2452, HB2664

Keywords: senior housing, independent living, 55 and older, older adults, elderly, retirement housing, retirement community, resident rights, tenant protections, consumer protection act, unfair or deceptive practices, housing discrimination, assisted living distinction, Department of Commerce, Washington RCW, housing provider, community living, security cameras, resident meetings, anonymous complaints

Summary: The Housing Committee met on January 29 and reviewed three bills. House Bill 1542 would establish minimum rights for senior independent housing residents and allow enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act. Staff described three proposed amendments: one to narrow the definition of senior independent housing, one to replace Consumer Protection Act enforcement with Attorney General enforcement and civil penalties, and one to remove a Commerce Department reporting requirement. The committee rejected the first two amendments, adopted the reporting-repeal amendment, and then passed a second substitute version of the bill out of committee on a 10-7 vote with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2664 would remove the certified mail requirement for unlawful detainer notices and other related notices, allowing first-class mail and other existing service methods instead. The bill sponsor said the prior certified-mail requirement had caused many notices to be returned undeliverable and created practical problems for housing providers and tenants. The committee passed the bill out of committee by voice vote with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2452 would change how rent increase notices are served. The committee adopted an amendment that removed the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act portion of the bill, leaving only changes under the Manufactured Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act. Members said this would restore the prior notice process for manufactured housing and align with stakeholder preferences. The committee then passed the substitute bill out of committee unanimously, with 17 ayes and a due pass recommendation.

Bills: HB454, HB429, HB454, HB429

Keywords: HB454, Alabama, local law, local legislation, legal notice, public notice, legislative notice, publication requirements, Section 106, constitutional notice, tampering with legislative record, criminal offense, Class A misdemeanor, House Judiciary, bill advertising, sponsoring legislator, unauthorized alteration, legislative process, new crime, publisher liability

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the bill that requires insurers to send written notice of termination of coverage and the existing
• It also revises the first-class mail option for an insurer's proof of delivery of a notice sent under
• Notices required.
• the bill's requirements to allow records sufficient to show that notices are sent.
• Anyway, it's about giving 30 days' notice before a policy will lapse.

Bills: HB2428, HB2399, HB2087, HB2629, HB2483, HB2477

Keywords: life insurance, policy lapse, policy cancellation, nonpayment of premium, premium grace period, lapse notice, termination notice, third-party notice, third-party designee, beneficiary protection, consumer protection, insurance regulation, insurer notice requirements, policyholder, beneficiary, Washington RCW, insurance code, unintentional lapse, coverage continuation, premium delinquency

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee met on February 4, 2026, and did not hold public hearings. House Bill 2629 was removed from consideration and not advanced. The committee was briefed on House Bill 2428, which would require insurers to give 30 days’ written notice before an individual life insurance policy lapses for nonpayment and to notify applicants of the right to designate a third party for lapse notices; the committee adopted Representative Ryu’s amendment clarifying the notice applies to nonpayment lapses, adjusting proof-of-delivery language, and adding a January 1, 2027 effective date. The committee also considered House Bill 2399, which would prohibit assignment of post-loss property insurance benefits. Supporters described it as a way to curb predatory assignments that transfer policyholder rights to contractors, while opponents argued it can help homeowners get repairs completed and return home, especially after flooding or other losses. The bill was reported out on a narrow 8-7 vote, with members noting the issue may need further work. House Bill 2087, creating the Washington Travel Insurance Act, was also advanced after a proposed substitute made changes to conflict-of-law language, attorney exclusions, child support-related license suspension, supervision liability, and rate-setting provisions; it passed 12-3. The committee then took up House Bill 2483 on data brokers and a public registry. Members adopted three amendments: one narrowing exemptions for entities with customer or business relationships, one delaying penalties until notice of noncompliance and making the registry public, and one exempting publicly available or already published information. Supporters said the bill would make hidden data practices visible and improve transparency, while opponents warned it was still too broad and could sweep in retailers, public entities, or other unintended actors. The amended bill passed 8-7. Finally, House Bill 2477, with an amendment limiting appraiser liability to clients and named intended users and clarifying appraisal reports, was unanimously reported out of committee. The committee then adjourned after thanking staff on cutoff day.

Transcript Highlights:

• amends the Securing Timely Notification and Benefits for Laid-Off Employees Act, which relates to notices
• prior to mass layoffs and business closures.

Bills: SB6134

Keywords: unemployment insurance, UI benefits, striking workers, strike, labor dispute, retroactive wages, overpayment assessment, overpayment recovery, Employment Security Department, ESD, claimant notice, benefit recoupment, Washington unemployment law, worker notice, federal unemployment tax credit, state unemployment fund, 904, all

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony and took action on several land use, housing, municipal utility district, and cemetery-related bills. House Bill 447, dealing with transportation impact analysis requirements tied to MUD bond issuance, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the sponsor’s closing remarks, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1202, on third-party review of home backup power installations, was substituted and reported favorably to the full House by a unanimous roll call. House Bill 2494, on disannexation for failure to provide municipal services, and House Bill 1835, removing barriers to HUD-code manufactured homes, were also substituted and reported favorably; HB 1835 passed on a 5-1 vote. Senate Bill 15, limiting lot size and density requirements in certain large municipalities, was substituted and reported favorably unanimously. The committee also heard House Bill 897, which would authorize the sale or long-term lease of two state-owned Austin properties used by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and HHSC. The sponsor said the properties are in poor condition and that proceeds would benefit the state; after questions, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Several template MUD bills were then laid out, including HB 5652, HB 5654, HB 5661, and HB 5656, each creating or authorizing municipal utility districts in Montgomery or Fort Bend counties for water, wastewater, drainage, road, and recreational improvements. These bills drew limited testimony in support and were left pending without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would repeal last session’s change allowing new cemeteries within certain distances of municipalities and restore the prior rule limiting cemetery placement near growing urban areas. The sponsor and supporters argued the 2023 change created unintended consequences, removed valuable taxable land from future use, and complicated city planning; opponents, including a funeral service industry representative, argued the current law gives communities local control and helps address cemetery land shortages. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4753, a bill allowing a property owner to use a municipal record showing a certificate of occupancy was issued when the original document is lost; it was left pending. Finally, HB 3680, a Cameron County-specific bill modifying subdivision/model rule procedures to reduce replatting burdens while preserving colonia protections, and HB 4812, clarifying that condominiums follow Chapter 82 of the Property Code rather than full subdivision platting, both received supportive testimony and were left pending.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of land use, housing, and local government bills. House Bill 447, relating to TIA requirements for certain MUD bond issuances, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work already done, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the author’s closing, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out Senate Bill 1202 (third-party review of home backup power installations), House Bill 2494 (disannexation for failure to provide services), House Bill 1835 (removing barriers to HUD co-manufactured homes), and Senate Bill 15 (lot size and density limits in certain municipalities), with House Bill 1835 receiving one no vote and the others passing unanimously. House Bill 897, authorizing sale or lease of two state-owned Austin properties, was laid out and left pending after brief questions and no public testimony. The committee also heard and left pending several MUD creation bills for Montgomery and Fort Bend counties, including House Bills 5652, 5654, 5661, and 5656, each presented as template district bills with local support and no opposition recorded at the table. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would restore prior restrictions on new cemeteries near growing urban areas by repealing changes made last session. Representative Lujan and supporters argued the current law created unintended consequences, including loss of developable land, tax-exempt property in urban cores, and conflicts with infrastructure planning; they said cities already have authority to establish their own cemeteries if needed. Opponents, including a funeral services industry representative, argued the 2023 change was intended to let communities decide and that the bill would take local decision-making backward. After extensive testimony from both sides, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 3680, which would create a Cameron County-specific process allowing local discretion under the model subdivision rules. Supporters said the bill would preserve colonia protections while reducing costly platting and replatting burdens on families trying to sell or pass down land; county officials and realtors testified in favor. The bill was left pending after closing. House Bill 4812, a clarification to the Texas Uniform Condominium Act to prevent counties from imposing subdivision platting requirements on condominiums, received support from builders and a condominium attorney who said current county practices create duplicative hurdles and higher costs; it too was left pending. Finally, House Bill 5148, which would allow certain single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories, generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including housing advocates and architects, said the bill would lower costs, improve unit design, and expand affordable, family-friendly housing while maintaining safety through sprinklers and other safeguards. Fire officials from Corpus Christi opposed the bill, warning that a single stairwell could hinder firefighting and occupant evacuation, especially if sprinklers fail or smoke spreads. The author said the bill was aimed at new construction only and was part of a broader effort to reduce outdated housing regulations; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending at adjournment.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• When the ESD receives that notice, the ESD is required to disanticipate. acts of territory and cease
• Municipal notice, this bill requires the ESD board to evaluate within a 30-day period whether or not
• electronically and manage their preferences for receiving this notice either by text or email.
• Notice of intent to introduce the legislation was given on February 4th, 2025, and it became eligible
• If the municipality is not active within the time frame, it must be provided written notice that the

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• bill increases the value of personal property that may be sold by a water sewer district without notice

Bills: SB5820, SB5995, SB5467

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

Transcript Highlights:

• The board has to give notice of intention to sell unless the sale is for personal property valued less
• Turning to the bill, the value of personal property that may be sold by a water sewer district without notice
• But what you didn't notice was that the ship itself leaned to the left into the dock and became immediately

Bills: SB5820, SB5467, SB5995

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

Bills: HB17, HB23, SB10

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice

Bills: SB1265, SB1198, SB2046

Keywords: municipal ordinances, local government, ordinance publication, posting requirement, public notice, municipal law, city ordinances, town ordinances, county government, newspaper publication, effective date, Oklahoma statutes, 11 O.S. 14-106, ordinance notice, government oversight, healthcare authority, property lien, county treasury, Oklahoma, municipalities

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee met and first announced that Senate Bill 1619 would be laid over to a later date. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1265, which would extend the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances from 15 days to 30 days, with supporters citing the decline of daily newspapers and the need to help cities meet publication requirements. The bill received a due pass recommendation and advanced on an 8-0 vote. The committee next considered Senate Bill 1198, which would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to release liens on property owned by a city or county when requested by the local treasurer. Senator Mann explained that the measure is intended to help local governments reuse tax-delinquent or code-violation properties for affordable housing, since liens can exceed the value of the property. The bill advanced on a 7-1 vote. After a brief recess, the committee took up Senate Bill 2046, as amended by committee substitute, which would allow the Department of Environmental Quality to determine the legality of campsites and evaluate whether sanitary and environmental standards are met. Members questioned the bill’s definitions, reporting thresholds, timelines, fiscal impact, and the role of DEQ and the Department of Public Safety in notifying counties and ordering removal of camps. Following debate, the bill advanced on a 6-2 vote.

Bills: SB1265, SB1198, SB2046

Keywords: municipal ordinances, local government, ordinance publication, posting requirement, public notice, municipal law, city ordinances, town ordinances, county government, newspaper publication, effective date, Oklahoma statutes, 11 O.S. 14-106, ordinance notice, government oversight, healthcare authority, property lien, county treasury, Oklahoma, municipalities

Bills: HB443

Keywords: HB443, Underground Damage Prevention Program, One-Call Notification System, 811, utility locate, dig law, excavation safety, damage prevention, underground utilities, pipeline safety, public utilities, buried facilities, excavation notice, demolition notice, Alabama Public Service Commission, sunset extension, utility protection, locate request, call before you dig, gas pipeline