Bills: HB1544, HB2219, HB2253

Keywords: child welfare, risk assessment, investigation, child abuse, neglect, HB 2219, child care licensing, early learning, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, Washington child care, preschool licensing, family child care, child care centers, nature-based child care, outdoor preschool, mixed-age ratios, staff-to-child ratio, group size, zero tolerance

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1544, which would require DCYF to study and improve its child abuse and neglect risk assessment tool, including better identification of family strengths and needs, substance use-related risk, service needs, and ongoing reassessment, with certification every three years. Staff explained the bill had passed unanimously from committee last year as a substitute but did not advance on the House floor. Representative Ruhl, the prime sponsor, said the tool would reduce bias and help workers distinguish actual child safety risk from subjective concerns. Testimony from Partners for Our Children and DCYF supported the bill and said the current tool is not evidence-based, while members raised questions about data limitations, fiscal impact, and how the department would validate the tool and track outcomes. The hearing on the bill was then closed after a brief continuation for testimony from DCYF. The committee then held a work session on juvenile rehabilitation with DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redman and security classification administrator Jeff Indermark. They described an older JR population, longer lengths of stay, and growth driven largely by adult-sentence youth who remain in JR until age 25 before transferring to DOC. They said Green Hill School remains crowded, Harbor Heights has added some capacity but is intended as a short-term placement, and the Caseload Forecast Council projects the need for at least 50 additional JR beds over the next five years. They also reviewed classification and placement processes, the new behavior management system, and community transition services (CTS), which uses electronic home monitoring for eligible youth. DCYF reported 41 CTS referrals, 23 participants, and a 70% successful completion rate, while members asked about racial equity, community resources, escapes, staffing, after-hours support, and concerns about safety, abuse, and lawsuits. The committee next heard House Bill 2219, which would allow longer mixed-age group time at child care centers and waive repeat pre-service orientation for people who have already completed it. The prime sponsor and supporters from SEIU 925, a family child care provider, the Washington Child Care Centers Association, and the Children’s Campaign Fund Action said the bill would ease staffing pressures, help providers take meal and rest breaks, and reduce duplicative licensing burdens without compromising safety. One provider group supported the licensing flexibility but asked that the bill’s time limits on mixed-age grouping be removed or revised as too restrictive. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2253, a DCYF technical corrections bill covering licensing and monitoring changes. Staff said it would allow child-specific licenses for certain interstate placements, exempt kinship caregivers from blood-borne pathogen training, remove physician and lawyer exemptions from licensing, allow inactive licenses to be terminated, revise license content requirements, adjust staffing ratios for crisis residential centers, and remove state monitoring requirements for the Washington School for the Deaf residential program. The prime sponsor and DCYF said the bill is intended to streamline licensing and right-size workload after prior staffing cuts. Testimony from Community Youth Services supported the crisis residential center staffing fix as budget-neutral, and Partners for Our Children supported the kinship care provisions. Members pressed DCYF on how inactivity would be defined, how licenses would be protected from errors, and why the fiscal note was zero despite the staffing and monitoring changes.

Bills: HB1544, HB2099, HB2185, HB2219, HB2253, HB2317, HB2318, HB2319, HB2350

Keywords: child welfare, risk assessment, investigation, child abuse, neglect, military families, early childhood education, access, assistance program, education equity, homelessness, youth programs, advisory committee, prevention, protection, HB 2219, child care licensing, early learning, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families

Summary: The House Early Learning and Human Services Committee took up possible executive session on nine bills, first briefing amendments and proposed substitutes before voting. House Bill 2099, expanding eCAP access and prioritization for children of military families, was amended to include NOAA and Public Health Service commissioned corps members and broader deployment criteria, then passed unanimously. House Bill 2185, which strengthens the advisory committee for homeless youth services, also passed unanimously without amendments. House Bill 2219, addressing mixed-ratio time in child care centers and waiving repeat pre-service orientation in limited cases, adopted an amendment adding conditions for the waiver and then passed unanimously. House Bill 2253, a broad licensure and regulatory bill affecting child care and residential programs, saw several amendments considered; one report amendment was rejected, and an amendment restoring state monitoring and health/safety reviews at the Washington School for the Deaf was adopted. The committee then passed the amended bill unanimously. House Bills 2317 and 2318, both expanding flexibility for ECEAP and Head Start providers, passed without amendments and with unanimous support. House Bill 2319, renaming residential habilitation centers in statute, adopted a technical correction amendment and passed unanimously. House Bill 2350, requiring notice when a residential habilitation center is out of compliance with CMS requirements, was amended to emphasize posted notices, email options, preferred-language notices, and plain-language summaries, then passed unanimously. The committee then returned to House Bill 1544, which directs DCYF to study and improve its risk, strengths, and needs assessment tool and certify its validation. Four amendments were considered: one requiring domestic violence to be included in the study was adopted; amendments on defining “safe,” auditing missing data on near-fatalities and safety-plan failures, and prohibiting use of an unvalidated tool to screen out referrals were rejected. The amended second substitute bill passed on a 9-0 vote, with Representatives Burnett and Penner voting “no without recommendation.” The committee adjourned after reporting all nine bills out of committee, most with do pass recommendations and several with adopted amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, our statutes just say that students in a publicly funded program for preschool or kindergarten
• 00:12:47.680><c> make</c><00:12:47.960><c> friends</c><00:12:48.320><c> as</c><00:12:48.480><c> preschoolers
• </c> learn to make friends as preschoolers. learn to make friends as preschoolers.
• can</c><00:13:02.400><c> limit</c><00:13:02.720><c> growth</c><00:13:03.120><c> and</c> use in preschoolers
• can limit growth and use in preschoolers can limit growth and development<00:13:04.000><c> in</c><00

Bills: HF3776, HF3557, HF3585

Keywords: screen time, preschool, kindergarten, early childhood education, digital media, tablets, smartphones, educational technology, EdTech, classroom devices, publicly funded preschool, school policy, child development, special education, IEP, 504 plan, IFSP, Minnesota education law, climate literacy, education

Transcript Highlights:

• Head Start is a federally funded no-cost preschool program.
• She oversees the educational preschool services and DCYF licensing for 15 classrooms.
• These services and this bill will lower a huge barrier to getting our preschool into our community and
• And this bill will lower a huge barrier to getting our preschool into our community and to the children
• The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, eCAP, is a no-cost preschool and family support

Bills: HB2099, HB2317, HB2318, HB2350

Keywords: military families, early childhood education, access, assistance program, education equity, HB2317, early learning, child care licensing, day care, preschool, Head Start, DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Washington State, RCW 43.216, child care center, family home provider, family child care, outdoor nature-based child care, school-age child care

Summary: The Early Learning and Human Services Committee held public hearings on several bills focused on early learning access and disability services. House Bill 2317 would exempt certain ECEAP and Head Start programs located in public school buildings or on public school property from DCYF child care licensing when they operate part-day or school-day. Staff explained the current licensing requirements, and the prime sponsor and testifiers from Head Start, ECEAP, and private school groups said the bill would reduce duplicative oversight, delays, and costs while helping expand preschool access. House Bill 2099 would expand ECEAP eligibility for military families and add prioritization factors for deployed and single custodial military parents; the sponsor and multiple advocates, including military and early learning organizations, said military families face unique child care, housing, and readiness challenges and need better access to preschool slots. House Bill 2350 would require DSHS to notify residents, guardians, and family members when a residential habilitation center is found out of compliance with federal CMS requirements; the sponsor and disability advocates said the bill would improve transparency and help families respond to safety and care concerns. The committee also heard House Bill 2318, which would allow ECEAP and Head Start children to count toward the 5% participation threshold needed for Early Achievers quality improvement awards. The sponsor said the change would provide modest additional funding to providers serving high-need children and help support child care programs with thin margins. Testifiers from a remote nonprofit child care center and the Head Start/ECEAP association said the current rule can discourage providers from enrolling ECEAP children because it can jeopardize award eligibility, and that the bill would remove an unintended barrier without changing the program’s purpose. No votes were taken; each bill was heard and then the committee moved on or closed the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh I think on the outdoor heritage fund.
• Um, and you know, the outdoor though.
• </c> allocate appropriations to, uh, outdoor allocate appropriations to, uh, outdoor heritage<01:10:43.120
• </c><01:10:49.040><c> heritage</c> one as well, water, but outdoor heritage one as well, water, but outdoor
• </c><01:11:00.640><c> Heritage</c> appreciative of the Outdoor Heritage appreciative of the Outdoor Heritage

Bills: HF4148

Keywords: Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund, executive director, natural resources, conservation, wetlands, prairies, forests, wildlife habitat, fish and game, bipartisan hiring, interview panel, legislative branch, Minnesota Statutes 97A.056, administrative expenses, nonpartisan staff, council governance, environment and natural resources, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:09.080><c> Heritage</c> And that's all for the Outdoor Heritage And that's all for the Outdoor
• :06.640><c> Roseau</c><00:09:06.920><c> River</c> Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Roseau River Outdoor Heritage
• , the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
• </c><01:27:57.960><c> heritage</c> you know, usually the outdoor heritage you know, usually the outdoor
• </c><01:28:18.840><c> heritage</c> visited uh with the outdoor heritage visited uh with the outdoor heritage

Bills: HF3879

Keywords: outdoor heritage, conservation, habitat restoration, natural resources, wildlife management, 1183, house

Bills: HB149

Keywords: dog tethering, animal welfare, animal cruelty, outdoor shelter, dog confinement, leash laws, chaining dogs, trolley system, kennel standards, dog shelter requirements, Class B misdemeanor, veterinary practice, boarding kennel, animal shelter, hunting dogs, livestock herding, farm dogs, agricultural exemption, pet care, canine protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:40.880><c> Heritage</c> statute for the uh outdoor Heritage statute for the uh outdoor Heritage
• </c> funds coming through from outdoor funds coming through from outdoor Heritage<01:02:03.119><c> while
• Heritage</c> Heritage while the this outdoor Heritage Heritage while the this outdoor Heritage um<01
• </c> you do or the lard Sam's outdoor you do or the lard Sam's outdoor Heritage<01:20:42.960><c> Council
• </c><01:23:20.639><c> Heritage</c> with the lard Sam's outdoor Heritage with the lard Sam's outdoor Heritage

Bills: HF1250

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:58.960><c> education</c> how we can provide preschool education how we can provide preschool
• </c> Kentucky preschool program. Kentucky preschool program. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• This is preschool total enrollment.
• </c><00:43:00.079><c> programs</c> that took on these preschool programs that took on these preschool
• </c> bit about preschool quality. bit about preschool quality.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 0:00:04 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:57 United Way of Southern Kentucky –0:04:30 Preschool Education – 0:36:46 School Safety Updates – 1:01:41 Kentucky Association of School Superintendents – 1:41:47 Educational Cooperatives – 1:55:18 Adjournment – 2:07:37, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened its sixth meeting of the 2025 Interim Joint Committee on Education, confirmed a quorum, recorded attendance votes, and approved the minutes. Chair Lewis reminded presenters to keep remarks brief because of the full agenda and limited time. The first presentation was from United Way of Southern Kentucky, with Anne Puckett, Craig Browning, and Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton introducing a regional early childhood initiative. The presenters argued that kindergarten readiness and early childhood support are critical to later academic and life outcomes. They cited research and statistics about brain development in the first five years, the effects of unprepared kindergarten entry, and links between low literacy, school discipline, dropout rates, and incarceration. They said their region’s readiness scores fell during COVID and after a tornado, and that the most effective response was in-home parent education to help families support children from birth to age five. They described the model as voluntary, community-based, and not requiring new buildings, and said similar programs have been successful in Missouri. The group said it had already raised more than $1 million in private donations and committed three years of funding for four additional staff, expanding service in Allen, Logan, and Warren counties. They requested $600,000 per year for the next two-year budget cycle to add 12 more educators, serve about 360 families and 660 additional children, and build evidence for a possible statewide model. Members generally expressed support for the concept, with Representative Tipton and Representative Jackson discussing a prior home-based preschool pilot and the importance of starting early. Representative Calloway questioned whether increased family chaos and government involvement justified the approach; presenters responded that the program uses community educators, not a government-run organization, and is aimed at helping overwhelmed families. Representative Stalker asked about eligibility and early intervention, and presenters said the program serves children from birth to age five and can help identify needs early enough to connect families with services such as First Steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and preschool to 12th grade school superintendent license.
• </c><00:14:48.839><c> to</c><00:14:49.000><c> 12th</c> Community Education preschool to 12th Community
• Education preschool to 12th grade<00:14:49.519><c> school</c><00:14:49.839><c> principal</c><00:14:50.320
• But in 10.25 it says the maximum group size applies at all times except during meals, outdoor activities
• But in 10.25 it says the maximum group size applies at all times except during meals, outdoor activities

Bills: HF1247, HF628

Keywords: child care, aides, supervision, child care centers, staffing regulations, childcare, day care, licensed child care center, early childhood education, child care licensing, director qualifications, staff ratios, group size, staff-to-child ratio, substitutes, volunteers, assistant teacher, teacher qualifications, infant care, toddler age

Bills: SB2278, SB2908, SB2987

Keywords: light pollution, outdoor lighting, fully shielded, Hawaii Revised Statutes, environmental protection, night sky, lighting fixtures, local control, exemptions, athletic facilities, wildlife conservation, Hawaiian culture, 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Tourism and Economic Development and Technology heard several measures on February 12, 2026. HB 1950 would dedicate 15% of transit accommodations tax revenue to a new state-led marketing and branding special fund and require an annual tourism management plan. HTA and DBEDT supported the bill as providing predictable funding for marketing and tourism management, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the special fund structure as limiting legislative flexibility. Members discussed the size of the allocation and whether a tourism emergency fund would still be needed; the bill later advanced with amendments that removed some provisions and blanked out the 15% figure for further discussion, and it passed with amendments. HB 2268 would add film production marketing and promotion to HTA’s powers. The governor’s office, HTA, the Hawaii Film Alliance, and several industry groups supported the measure, arguing that film and TV exposure drives tourism and generates significant spending and tax revenue, while one individual testified in opposition. In questions, HTA said it would use existing staff and did not have a separate cost estimate. The committee amended the bill to specify that film productions are primarily filmed in Hawaii and deferred the date to continue discussion; it then passed with amendments. The committee also heard HB 2156, which would raise filing thresholds for general excise tax and transit accommodations tax filers. The Department of Taxation said the change could increase administrative burden if more filers shift from mandatory electronic filing to paper filing, while the Tax Foundation noted the filing threshold issue is separate from e-filing requirements. The bill was moved forward with a deferred date. HB 1946, concerning time-share registration renewals and amendments, drew support from ARDA and other industry testimony, with no opposition noted; DCCA was said to be in talks with the industry. It was also advanced with technical amendments and a deferred date.

Bills: HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, nuisance birds, local governance, regulation, outdoor activities, public safety, Rio Grande, vegetation management, border security, environmental regulation, Carrizo cane

Bills: HB1119

Keywords: child care, childcare, day care, daycare, early childhood education, child care licensing, provider licensing, child care regulations, administrative rules, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, licensing advisory committee, child care providers, group child care, preschool programs, child to provider ratios, square footage requirements, staff training, certification requirements, child care funding

Summary: The Workforce Development Committee reconvened to consider House Bill 1119 with amendment version 02005. Senator Hogan explained that the amendment removed a section requiring the Department of Human Services to respond to legislative management, in order to make the bill feel more like a program evaluation than an audit and to avoid placing an unreasonable burden on the executive branch. The amendment also clarified that the Child Care Advisory Committee would provide an update and that the committee would dissolve after the rewrite of licensing standards, making it a time-limited body. Committee members discussed the bill as a novel approach to forming a group to study an issue and then disbanding after reporting back. Senator Larson noted the concept was similar to broader performance-review ideas, and Senator Hogan said the Legislative Council program evaluation effort was parallel to, but separate from, other performance-review proposals. The committee then voted 4-0-1 to adopt the amendment. Afterward, the committee moved to give House Bill 1119, as amended, a do pass recommendation. That motion also passed on a roll call vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first three pages are the Outdoor Heritage Council recommendations, and these are the Outdoor Heritage
• Council revised recommendations that were presented from the Outdoor Heritage Council earlier online
• The legacy funds granted through the Commission will connect more people to the outdoors.
• Wilderness Inquiry believes that everyone belongs in the outdoors.
• We make sure every kid, regardless of background or ability, can enjoy the outdoors. can participate

Bills: HF2563

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Transcript Highlights:

• The first three pages are the Outdoor Heritage Council recommendations, and these are the Outdoor Heritage
• That's all I have on the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
• Wilderness Inquiry believes that everyone belongs in the outdoors.
• </c> lives through our progression of outdoor lives through our progression of outdoor educational<00
• c> extended</c><00:25:50.880><c> overnight</c> outdoor programs to extended overnight outdoor programs

Bills: HF2563

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Summary: The Senate began by outlining the day’s agenda, then received several House messages, including the House’s request for concurrence on Senate Bill 151 and notice that the House had concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 2, 3, and 70. The Senate also received enrolled bills SB 64 and SB 101, and later adopted committee reports on House Bill 120 and SB 64. The chamber then took up concurrence on SB 151, a tax package that the House amended to remove the gross receipts tax provision for medical supplies, add a 1% salary increase for state employees, higher education, and public schools, extend a high-wage job tax credit, and add sunsets. Senator Hamblen supported concurrence as a friendly amendment, while Senator Cervantes argued the House changes transformed the bill into an unconstitutional appropriations measure and urged a conference committee. The Senate nevertheless concurred, 22-14. On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 61, which increases the penalty for aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony to align with other sentencing provisions. Supporters, including Senator Cervantes, cited consistency in the criminal code and noted the Sentencing Commission’s endorsement; the bill passed 37-0. The Senate also passed House Joint Memorial 3, directing the Environment Department to convene stakeholders and report on implementation of the PFAS Protection Act, despite a brief exchange over whether the memorial could be read as expanding authority under the existing PFAS law; it passed 22-13. The chamber then passed several memorials: Senate Memorial 20, amended to include youth and family voices and legislative appointees in a statewide youth violence summit, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 21, calling for a study of a statewide overdose prevention program, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 22, which asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group on domestic violence funding and CYFD-related funding flows, passed; and Senate Memorial 27, urging expansion of the Radiation Exposure Act to compensate New Mexicans affected by atomic testing and uranium mining, passed 34-0. At the end of the session, the Senate received a governor’s message authorizing consideration of SB 74 on cockfighting penalties, followed by a playful Senate response message. The body also agreed to move House Joint Memorial 2 from Rules to the President’s table and then recessed until 8:30 a.m. the next day.

Bills: SB361

Keywords: dogs, dog tethering, dog confinement, animal welfare, animal cruelty, animal neglect, outdoor shelter, kennel standards, leash laws, trolley system, animal control officer, law enforcement enforcement, service animals, working dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs, USDA breeder, commercial breeder, pet care, veterinary care