Transcript Highlights:

• And Representative Lee was talking about a small percentage of the mortgage and registration deed tax
• The mortgage registry deed tax is the sole source of funding for our Environmental Response Fund.
• We urge you to support the extension of the mortgage registry and deed tax to allow the Environmental
• registry deed tax is the Uh the mortgage registry deed tax is the sole<00:44:43.120><c> source</c><00
• </c><00:45:43.080><c> to</c> the mortgage registry and deed tax to the mortgage registry and deed tax

Bills: HF2715, HF2499, HF3420, HF3657, HF2303

Keywords: HF2715, homestead credit refund, property tax refund, property tax relief, homeowner tax relief, homestead credit, co-pay reduction, Minnesota property taxes, tax rebate, state refund, income thresholds, inflation adjustment, property tax circuit breaker, housing affordability, elderly homeowners, fixed income, taxation, Minnesota Statutes 290A.04, renters credit, income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> repayment of certain taxes are required. repayment of certain taxes are required.
• </c> a general excise tax number. a general excise tax number.
• </c> also um allows for greater tax also um allows for greater tax reductions,<00:18:57.840><c> which
• This disallows the home mortgage interest deduction for second homes under state income tax law.
• </c> of worth to eliminate the mortgage of worth to eliminate the mortgage interest<00:22:48.520><c>

Bills: HB1743, HB2122, HB1756, HB1837, HB1729, HB2559

Keywords: owner-builder, exemption, housing crisis, contractor, leasing restrictions, affordable housing, construction, regulations, teacher housing, housing vouchers, teacher retention, Hawaii Department of Education, hard-to-staff schools, housing, first-time home buyers, savings account, tax deductions, homeownership, savings accounts, tax deduction

Summary: The House Housing Committee heard testimony on several housing-related bills. HB 1743 would expand the owner-builder exemption by repealing a leasing restriction and requiring notice when a leased residential structure was built by an unlicensed contractor. Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and the Contractors Licensing Board opposed the bill, warning it could encourage unlicensed contracting and weaken consumer protections, while Hawaii Realtors, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, BIA Hawaii, and others supported it as a way to increase housing flexibility. After questions about whether licensed electrical and plumbing work would still be required, the committee voted to pass HB 1743 with amendments and a defective date. The committee also heard and advanced HB 2122 HD1 on teacher housing, which would create a teacher housing assistance program using vouchers from the teachers housing revolving fund. Testimony included support from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Housing Hawaii’s Future, the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, and individuals, with the Office of Collective Bargaining in opposition and the Department of Education offering comments. The bill was voted out as is. The committee then considered HB 1756 and HB 1837, both updating the individual housing account program to reflect current housing prices; supporters including Housing Hawaii’s Future and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said the limits were outdated and needed inflation adjustments, and HB 1756 was passed with amendments while HB 1837 was deferred as nearly identical. HB 1729 would disallow the state home mortgage interest deduction for second homes. Hawaii Realtors opposed it, while Housing Hawaii’s Future supported it as a way to prioritize first-time homebuyers and reduce competition from second-home buyers. The chair noted a possible revenue savings estimate and the committee passed the bill with amendments, with several reservations. Finally, HB 2559 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential property to limited exclusive groups of buyers, which the Office of Consumer Protection said needed an enforcement clarification and the Realtors said could affect some legitimate private-listing situations. The chair proposed replacing the outright ban with a disclosure requirement for private listings, and the committee passed HB 2559 with amendments. The hearing then adjourned after the chair thanked members, staff, and the public.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over time, we’re really concerned about tax-based stability and growth.
• Over time, we’re really concerned about tax-based stability and growth.
• to residential property taxes, which are capped and much smaller.
• One such tax allows a jurisdiction to impose a 0.1% sales and use tax to fund housing and related services
• Another such tax is a local state-shared sales and use tax to fund affordable and supportive housing.

Bills: SB6018, SB6026, SB6027, SB6028, SB5937, SB5938

Keywords: housing, finance, commission, state funding, affordable housing, residential development, zoning reform, mixed-use zoning, commercial zones, Growth Management Act, GMA, state preemption, local land use, development regulations, ground-floor retail, ground-floor commercial, permit waiver, waiver process, density, urban growth area

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 6026, which would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act with populations of 30,000 or more to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones and prohibit mandatory ground-floor commercial or mixed-use requirements in most such areas, with exemptions for certain sensitive or constrained locations. The prime sponsor, Senator Alvarado, and supporters from the Governor’s Office, Commerce, housing advocates, developers, and major employers said the bill would unlock underused land, reduce housing costs, and add flexibility where infrastructure already exists. Local government and business representatives raised concerns about impacts on small business corridors, tax base stability, planning assumptions, and the loss of ground-floor retail in main street and transit-oriented areas, while several asked for narrower carve-outs or technical amendments. The committee also took public hearing testimony on Senate Bill 6018, which would update the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority to allow more flexible financing tools, including direct mortgage lending to borrowers, while clarifying that the bill is not intended to authorize first-mortgage lending for homebuyers. The commission, the sponsor, and banking stakeholders said the changes would modernize outdated statutes and help finance affordable housing, and bankers said they were working with the sponsor on clarifying language. No vote was taken on SB 6018 during the hearing. Senate Bill 6027 was heard next and would expand how local housing-related sales tax revenues and state affordable housing funds can be used, including for operations, maintenance, preservation, and rehabilitation of existing affordable housing and supportive housing. Supporters from counties, cities, housing providers, and advocacy groups said the bill would help preserve existing units and respond to federal funding uncertainty, especially around permanent supportive housing and Continuum of Care dollars. Testifiers also asked for additional flexibility for rental assistance and for certain local uses, but no committee action was taken during the public hearing. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6028, which would create a revolving loan fund administered by the Housing Finance Commission to support mixed-income affordable homeownership projects. The sponsor and supporters said the fund would help stalled for-sale projects move forward, recycle dollars through repayment, and create permanently affordable homes; one supporter suggested increasing the project cap and clarifying eligible capital sources. The committee did take executive action on SB 5937 and SB 5938 earlier in the meeting, adopting amendments and advancing both bills with due-pass recommendations to the Rules Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• A tax preference performance statement does not apply to this new tax exemption.
• The deferred sales tax and/or use tax... ...for a qualifying purpose for 10 years, the deferred sales
• tax or use tax need not be repaid.
• the sales and use tax deferral certificate was issued.
• It will not be charged to vulnerable seniors seeking reverse mortgages.

Bills: SB5884, SB5885, SB5937, SB5938

Keywords: sales tax, redevelopment, economic incentive, underutilized property, infrastructure, affordable housing, religious organizations, zoning laws, land use, community development, smart access system, smart lock, residential landlord-tenant act, tenant privacy, biometric data, fingerprint, face scan, iris scan, key fob, key card

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard public testimony on several bills focused on housing supply, tenant protections, and foreclosure prevention. SB 5885 would expand incentives for affordable housing on property owned by religious organizations by lowering the affordability threshold from 100% to 50% of units and adding a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying projects. The sponsor and supporters from cities, faith groups, and housing nonprofits said the bill would help churches and other religious organizations use underutilized land for housing, while a county planning representative asked for funding to cover local code updates. SB 5884 would broaden an existing sales tax deferral program for redevelopment of underutilized property by expanding eligible land beyond surface parking lots to vacant, partially used, or underutilized parcels and by adjusting affordability thresholds; cities including Spokane, Vancouver, and Kent supported it, while contractor groups opposed a provision they said could favor project labor or apprenticeship requirements and burden nonunion and small contractors. A county association also asked that counties be included in the program. The committee also heard SB 5937, which would require landlords using smart access systems to offer tenants a non-biometric, non-app-based alternative key upon request and to provide privacy and data-retention information, while limiting data collection to what is necessary for access. The sponsor and tenant advocates said the bill would protect renters from being forced to use phone apps or biometric systems and from excessive data collection; landlord groups supported the concept but argued the bill was too broad and could impose burdens on small housing providers, especially if it covered simple keypad systems or required lengthy privacy disclosures. Testifiers asked for narrower definitions and clearer implementation language. Finally, SB 5938 would make technical changes to the foreclosure prevention fee created last year, including lowering the reverse mortgage exemption age, exempting certain chattel loans, limiting duplicate fee collection on some state-supported transactions, and requiring Commerce to study a possible homeowner assistance fund. Supporters from the Washington Homeownership Resource Center, legal aid, HOA advocates, and community organizations said the bill would clarify administration, reduce unfair charges, and strengthen foreclosure prevention and homeowner stability. The committee took no votes and adjourned after closing public testimony on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tax Foundation of Hawaii with &gt;&gt; Thank you. Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments.
• LITC or low-inccome housing uh tax LITC or low-inccome housing uh tax approach<01:00:18.261><c> [snorts
• That is a mortgage product where it is structured to originate mortgages and, um, guess service mortgages
• c><01:04:43.680><c> whole</c> service mortgages and that's a whole service mortgages and that's a whole
• </c> derf to fund uh mortgages. derf to fund uh mortgages.

Bills: HB1604, HB1713, HB1722, HB2270, HB2401, HB2515, HB1979, HB1593, HB1743, HB2122, HB1756, HB1837, HB1729

Keywords: agriculture, housing, workforce, land use, zoning, public-private partnerships, tax credit, school impact fees, impact fee exemption, school facilities authority, residential development, housing shortage, affordable housing, infill housing, land dedication, fee in lieu, school construction, developer exactions, fair share contributions, education contribution agreement

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1604, which would create an agricultural workforce housing group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address shortages of farmworker housing. The department said it supported the bill’s intent but emphasized that the group’s early work should focus on gathering data and surveying farm operators to assess actual demand, to avoid “mission creep.” Testimony from the City and County of Honolulu Office of Economic Revitalization, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce was in support, with one witness suggesting a housing advocacy nonprofit be added to the working group for balance. The committee then discussed HB 1713 on school impact fees, which would clarify exemptions for certain affordable housing projects and exempt new residential developments of fewer than 100 units. The Attorney General’s office said the bill should define “low to moderate income households” because that term is not defined in chapter 302A. HHFDC, the School Facilities Authority, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and others supported the measure, arguing it would reduce administrative burden and remove barriers to housing. Members questioned whether the bill should instead repeal the school impact fee entirely; supporters said they also favored full repeal but viewed this bill as a more feasible step. The School Facilities Authority also explained that about $28 million in school impact fees had been collected across four districts and none had yet been spent, and discussed how recent nexus requirements limit how the funds can be used. HB 1722, relating to residential condominiums, drew extensive testimony and questioning. HCDA supported the bill and explained that it amends the 99-year leasehold pilot program created by Act 97 of 2023 by reducing owner-occupancy restrictions from 100% of units to 60%, allowing some rental or subleasing flexibility for the owner-occupied units, and permitting up to 40% of units to be sold to qualified residents after being on the market for more than 60 days. HCDA said the original restrictions, combined with rising construction costs, higher interest rates, and competition from nearby projects, made the pilot project difficult to market and finance; it said the changes are needed to make the project feasible and competitive. Supporters including AP Hawaii, Kila LLC, and project representatives said the amendments would help make the demonstration project in Kakaʻako viable. Some members raised concerns that the changes could weaken long-term affordability and questioned why certain ownership language was being deleted if rentals would still be restricted. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> again per dollar invested in new tax again per dollar invested in new tax collections. collections
• </c> federal tax exemption. federal tax exemption.
• Um, I don't think it's a tax issue. I'm on taxes, but we could go there.
• year, and we say tax year partly because you have to provide us your tax forms to validate that.
• </c> compared to um what's on their taxes. compared to um what's on their taxes.

Bills: HF3217, HF2252

Keywords: bioindustrial facilities, economic development, renewable energy, advanced biofuels, state funding, HF2252, Minnesota bonding, volume cap, private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, public facility bonds, public facilities pool, unified pool, bond allocation, municipal finance, bond cap, housing bonds, residential rental projects, manufacturing bonds, enterprise zone bonds

Bills: HB 505, HB 1080, HB 1585, HB 1593, HB 1816, HB 1950, HB 1985, HB 2421, HB 2615, HB 2713

Keywords: notice publication, alternative media, government transparency, civic engagement, local government, housing finance, residential development, tax exemption, mortgage, suicide prevention, peer support, fire departments, mental health, advisory committee, e-cigarettes, public health, schools, retail regulation, fire department, age limit

Bills: HB 505, HB 1080, HB 1585, HB 1593, HB 1816, HB 1950, HB 1985, HB 2421, HB 2615, HB 2713

Keywords: notice publication, alternative media, government transparency, civic engagement, local government, housing finance, residential development, tax exemption, mortgage, suicide prevention, peer support, fire departments, mental health, advisory committee, e-cigarettes, public health, schools, retail regulation, fire department, age limit

Transcript Highlights:

• sales taxes.
• tobacco products tax and the alcohol excise tax.
• tax bill.
• The state has a tax, the county has a tax, and now the city has a tax.
• That tax base erosion is causing tax increases.

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center

Transcript Highlights:

• . taxes. taxes.
• The state has a tax, the county has a tax, now the city has a tax.
• We have our property tax property taxes.
• ,</c> state has a tax, the county has a tax, state has a tax, the county has a tax, now<01:05:15.280>
• ><c> credit,</c><01:36:23.440><c> the</c> the tax the housing tax credit, the the tax the housing tax

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center

Transcript Highlights:

• banking</c><00:52:15.760><c> uh</c> mortgage lending and mortgage banking uh mortgage lending and mortgage
• </c><01:32:05.520><c> So</c> postpone mortgage sale clarified. So postpone mortgage sale clarified.
• and mortgage servicers.
• </c> release that mortgage. Thank you. release that mortgage. Thank you.
• <01:47:25.360><c> banking,</c><01:47:26.080><c> all</c> mortgage lending, mortgage banking, all mortgage

Bills: SF1750, HF704, HF3479

Keywords: common interest community, CIC, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, planned community, cooperative, unit owner, association board, declarant, declarant control, special declarant rights, assessment lien, foreclosure, late fees, fines, attorney fees, resale disclosure, annual report, maintenance plan

Transcript Highlights:

• When we have this tax incentive, that tax incentive means we can buy equipment and we have more of those
• If this tax incentive goes away, the jobs go away.
• this tax incentive takeaway.
• This is a huge tax incentive. This is a huge job creator.
• But Now that we've been able to pass a millionaire's tax.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• Where do you stand on taxes? He goes, well, no, he's against all the gun laws.
• He goes, well, no, he's anti-tax.
• Well, it's no secret that I'm not a big fan of the capital gains income tax.
• That gives them some breaks on their federal income tax. There was a minor change.
• That gives them some breaks on their federal income tax.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you combine this policy in the budget with the policy of an unconstitutional income tax, we

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• for a fuel tax increase, an excise tax, and registration fee increase.
• I think the estate tax is a fair tax.
• I recognize that a lot of people think the estate tax is an unfair tax.
• I do think that the death tax is an unfair tax. You work your whole life.
• I do think it's an unfair tax overall, but certainly a 20% tax rate is much better than a 35% tax rate

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this will lead to a tax increase.
• It's a tax increase. It's giving them authority to increase taxes.
• It becomes a tax increase. It is a tax increase on homeowners, on small businesses.
• It's a tax increase. It's giving them authority to increase taxes.
• It becomes a tax increase. It is a tax increase on homeowners, on small businesses.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House began by signing several bills and receiving messages from the Senate that multiple House bills had passed there or that Senate bills had been signed. It then took up third reading and concurrence on a series of bills, often with sponsors explaining that Senate amendments were technical, clarifying, or improved the bills, while opponents argued some amendments broadened exemptions, weakened election protections, or created tax increases and other unintended consequences. Among the most debated measures were bills related to election administration and voting rights, utility and energy programs, local government finance, tourism promotion, and public safety. House Bill 2215 failed to concur in Senate amendments after concerns that an exemption was too broad. House Bill 1710, dealing with voting rights/election procedures, passed 57-39 after a roll call vote despite objections that it could complicate elections and reduce local control. House Bill 1750 and House Bill 1916 also passed after roll calls, with supporters describing them as technical or protective of election integrity and opponents warning about voter dilution, local authority, and access issues. Other bills passed with varying levels of support: House Bill 1903 on utility assistance passed 70-26 after supporters said it would help small counties and make the program voluntary and state-funded; House Bill 2532 on nitrous oxide sales passed unanimously as a public health and youth safety measure; House Bill 1974 on housing/conservation-related policy passed 59-37 amid debate over nonprofit advantages and county revenue impacts; House Bill 2296 passed 95-1 after supporters said it would help renters and utilities with energy efficiency; House Bill 2325 passed 91-5 with added transparency for tourism oversight; House Bill 2442 passed 51-45 despite sharp disagreement over property tax and levy implications; and House Bill 2594 passed 95-1 as the state version of McKinney-Vento protections for unhoused students. The House also transmitted or received several bills and ended the session briefly at ease.

Transcript Highlights:

• that, as we can plainly see, the conference budget, or we may discuss later, those Working Families Tax
• So now we're sending more to the operating budget with no tax relief as a result of it.
• excise tax for those systems.
• And slowly over time, the tax burden on that shifts to those communities.
• When you deal with property taxes, it is very complicated.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, offered the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, approved the prior day’s minutes, and then recessed briefly for caucus. The chamber received several Senate messages, including concurrence on amendments and the signing of Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, before moving into third reading and final passage of multiple bills. Most of the floor debate centered on concurrence with Senate amendments and the policy effects of those changes. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1170 passed 55-38 and was described as reorganizing and clarifying how Climate Commitment Act auction revenues are distributed among state accounts; supporters said it would create a clearer budget process, while opponents objected to shifting funds away from transportation and capital uses and reducing tax relief. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 passed 54-40 after debate over Climate Commitment Act account structure and operating-account allocations. Engrossed House Bill 2445 passed 66-29 on probate-related changes, with supporters citing clarifications and opponents saying it did not go far enough to limit outside involvement in probate matters. The House also passed Substitute House Bill 2334 80-15, with little debate after Senate “perfecting” changes. Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 passed 86-9; supporters said it would replace an inconsistent property tax on wind, solar, and battery storage facilities with a stable excise tax to benefit rural communities, counties, and labor, while opponents focused on tax impacts and local burdens. Additional bills passed included Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1500 on HOA resale certificates (61-34), Second Substitute House Bill 1909 creating a Court Unification Task Force (57-38), Engrossed House Bill 2156 expanding Attorney General investigative authority over economic and financial crimes (54-41 on reconsideration), Substitute House Bill 2539 on inmate funds and related deductions (57-38), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548 on health care facility mergers and market oversight (55-41), Engrossed House Bill 2588 on local control for the Lummi ferry system (56-40), and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320 on gun violence prevention and 3D-printed firearms (58-38). The House also agreed not to concur in Senate amendments to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 and retransmitted it to the Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• relief, as you might have noticed before. ...going into tax relief, as you might have noticed before
• So now we're sending more to the operating budget with no tax relief as a result of it.
• excise tax for those systems.
• And slowly over time, the tax burden on that shifts to those communities.
• When you deal with property taxes, it is very complicated.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the previous day’s minutes, heard Senate messages on several bills, and then took up a series of third-reading and concurrence votes. The chamber also received notice that the Senate had concurred in House amendments to several other bills and that the Senate President had signed Engrossed Senate Bill 5068. Members then considered a slate of bills dealing with climate commitment account revenue, court administration, attorney general investigative authority, inmate funds, health care facility transactions, ferry governance, gun violence prevention and 3D-printed firearms, and renewable energy tax treatment. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1170, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, Engrossed House Bill 2445, Substitute House Bill 2334, Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1500, Second Substitute House Bill 1909, Engrossed House Bill 2156, Substitute House Bill 2539, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548, Engrossed House Bill 2588, and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320 all received final passage after Senate amendments, with several members speaking in support or opposition. Supporters generally described the measures as clarifying revenue accounts, improving court access, protecting consumers, updating inmate account limits, addressing hospital consolidation, enabling local ferry management, and strengthening gun-violence prevention or renewable-energy tax policy. Opponents raised concerns about reduced transparency, expanded bureaucracy, shifting costs, attorney general overreach, limits on local control, and First Amendment or property-rights issues. Recorded votes showed passage on each of those bills, with margins ranging from narrow to broad: 55-38 on HB 1170, 54-40 on HB 2251, 66-29 on HB 2445, 80-15 on SHB 2334, 86-9 on ESHB 1960, 61-34 on ESHB 1500, 57-38 on SSB 1909, 54-41 on EHB 2156 after reconsideration, 57-38 on SHB 2539, 55-41 on ESHB 2548, 56-40 on EHB 2588, and 58-38 on ESHB 2320. The House also agreed to retransmit Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 to the Senate after deciding not to concur in the Senate’s fourth amendment. The meeting ended with both caucuses called and the House at ease.

Transcript Highlights:

• and other taxes that have very tax... ...the head tax, because of the capital gains tax and other taxes
• , property taxes, rent. ...continue to afford their mortgage, property taxes, rent.
• in sales tax, in B&O tax, and now an income tax.
• Capital gains tax. B&O tax. Sales tax. Death tax.
• Capital gains tax. B&O tax. Sales tax. Death tax.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• Consumption taxes. That sounds a lot like a sales tax to me. Consumption taxes.
• Never have lowered a tax, just always risen taxes, always created more taxes.
• Never have lowered a tax, just always risen taxes, always created more taxes.
• This tax is essentially a tax on creativity.
• And so if we tax the libraries, we are taxing the tax. It makes no sense to me.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification