Transcript Highlights:

• accommodations.
• Today I'm presenting Senate Bill 6014 concerning pregnancy-related accommodations.
• For background, in 2025 the legislature enacted updates to Washington's pregnancy-related accommodations
• accommodations.
• and postpartum accommodation laws.

Bills: SB6014, SB5972, SB5869, SB5874

Keywords: pregnancy accommodations, pregnant workers, workplace accommodations, reasonable accommodation, undue hardship, lactation, breastfeeding, express milk, maternity leave, childbirth, pregnancy discrimination, employment law, labor and industries, L&I, confidential records, public records exemption, health care certification, workplace standards, employee rights, employer obligations

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee opened its first meeting of the 2026 session with member introductions and a brief overview of committee procedures, including the schedule for future meetings and the expectation that members attend in person when possible. The committee then received an informational presentation from the Employment Security Department on its structure and major programs, including paid family and medical leave, WA Cares, unemployment insurance, workforce services, and agricultural workforce services. Members asked about program eligibility, fraud prevention, call-center capacity, and the solvency of the unemployment trust fund; ESD said WA Cares is in a limited pilot phase, the UI trust fund currently covers about seven months of benefits, and the department would follow up with more detailed information on several issues. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5292, which would replace the current paid family and medical leave rate-setting formula with a forward-looking actuarial model and a four-month reserve target beginning in 2030. Supporters, including labor and employer representatives, said the bill would improve stability and align rates with projected costs, while opponents argued it would lead to higher payroll taxes and questioned the program’s growth and affordability. The sponsor said the bill was intended to stabilize funding and keep the measure narrow, and the hearing closed without a vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6014 on pregnancy-related accommodations, which would clarify that employers may not require a doctor’s note for certain basic accommodations and would create a public records exemption for sensitive complaint and investigation records; the sponsor and a public-interest witness said the bill restores the intended privacy protections and removes unnecessary barriers for pregnant and postpartum workers. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 5972, which would extend interest arbitration rights to all correctional officers in jails, regardless of county population. The sponsor and labor witnesses said the current population threshold creates inequities between similarly situated workers and weakens bargaining over safety and staffing, while the bill was framed as a consistency and public safety measure. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5869, which would make permanent and expand a notice requirement for hazards identified at construction sites from residential construction to all building construction sites; construction industry witnesses and L&I supported the change, saying timely notice helps correct hazards quickly, and L&I said it already notifies workers on site and has been able to contact employers within 10 days in most cases. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5874, which would allow ESD to waive penalties for minor errors in quarterly unemployment reports, especially errors tied to new occupational classification reporting requirements; the sponsor said the current penalty structure is overly harsh for small administrative mistakes, and ESD said penalties had risen sharply and the agency was still evaluating the issue. The committee waived the five-day notice rule for two bills, took no final votes on the bills heard, and adjourned after completing public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Repeals existing law imposing the transient accommodations tax on cruise ships, effective retroactive

Bills: HB1590

Keywords: vacation rentals, transient accommodations, tax collection, hosting platforms, destination management, County Transient Accommodations Tax, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll move on now to testimony for H. 5244, an act to repeal archaic laws criminalizing pregnancy
• I've spent nearly two decades defending people charged with a crime for ending or losing a pregnancy
• It's not a crime to lose or end a pregnancy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• So this law exists precisely to let the Commonwealth punish someone for a pregnancy outcome, even when
• What H. 5244 eliminates is a tool that punishes pregnancy loss and robs people of the dignity of grief

Bills: H4783, H4826, H4876, H5111, H5116, H5244, S2975, S2976

Keywords: homelessness, homeless, unsheltered, unhoused, shelter rights, anti-camping, anti-loitering, public space, public land, encampment, sleeping in public, life-sustaining activities, right to rest, right to sleep, vehicle dwelling, RV living, tiny home, civil rights, municipal liability, affirmative defense

Transcript Highlights:

• women are getting care through state programs, birth control access dropped by 41 percent, and teen pregnancy
• Since 2007, teen pregnancy rates have steadily declined thanks to in large part to increased access to
• birth control and emergency contraception, but In 2022, Texas saw a 1% increase in teen pregnancies.
• As has been mentioned, Texas has the highest rate of teen pregnancies.
• And importantly the highest rate of repeat teen pregnancies with more than one in six teenagers who gave

Keywords: Texas, healthcare, reproductive health, Care No Matter What Act, Planned Parenthood, maternal mortality, teen pregnancy, funding cuts, community health

Summary: The meeting addressed critical health care concerns in Texas, highlighting the consequences of funding cuts on access to reproductive health services. Key speakers emphasized the urgent need for the Care No Matter What Act, which aims to restore funding to healthcare providers like Planned Parenthood. They underscored the alarming statistics of maternal mortality and the rising rates of teen pregnancies, particularly in Black and Latina communities. Testimonies shared during the meeting illustrated the real-life impacts of healthcare access issues on individuals and families across the state, illustrating the necessity for legislative action to ensure comprehensive reproductive health services.

Transcript Highlights:

• discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations
• discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations
• discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations

Bills: SCR11, SR9

Keywords: Civil Rights Act, discrimination, employment, housing, public accommodations, LGBTQ+ rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, Equality Act, civil rights, federally funded programs, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, Transportation, and later Judiciary heard two sets of resolutions. The first, SCR 132 and SR 124, urged the City and County of Honolulu to take steps to finalize the Makakilo Drive Extension Project. Testimony from a Makakilo resident emphasized the lack of a second access route and raised safety concerns about being trapped in the area in an emergency. Both committees voted to pass the resolutions unamended. The second set, SCR 11 and SR 9, requested that the U.S. Congress amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service. Supporters from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, IMUA Alliance, and Pride at Work in Hawaii argued that stronger anti-discrimination protections are needed to reduce vulnerability to violence, housing insecurity, and exploitation, and to provide federal protections that mirror state law. One senator asked whether state protections already exist and was told the resolutions seek federal-level protections because federal law can supersede state law. Both committees adopted recommendations to pass SCR 11 and SR 9 unamended, with votes in favor and some members excused.

Bills: HB0003, HB0004

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, medical assistance, birthing centers, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> specifically against pregnancy centers. specifically against pregnancy centers.
• </c><01:08:52.080><c> Um</c> of a pregnancy center. Um of a pregnancy center.
• </c> pre pregnancy centers. pre pregnancy centers.
• </c> Pregnancy Centers Autonomy and Rights. Pregnancy Centers Autonomy and Rights.
• </c> pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

Bills: HB0003, HB0004

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, medical assistance, birthing centers, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• so I guess what I'm asking is how, what, when we look at the actuarial analysis here, how do we accommodate
• Senate Bill 6014 relates to pregnancy-related accommodations.
• reveal the identity of or contain personal information about an employee or applicant involved in a pregnancy
• accommodation complaint, requests for assistance, or investigation.
• This is Senate Bill 6014, pregnancy accommodations. Seeing then, all in favor say aye. Aye.

Bills: SB5847, SB6067, SB6136, SB6014, SB5972, SB5869, SB5874, SB6058, SB6039, SB5944, SB6188

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, injured workers, medical provider network, occupational health, occupational medicine, medical care access, L&I, Department of Labor and Industries, self-insured employers, state fund claims, utilization review, provider credentialing, provider network, treatment guidelines, evidence-based medicine, claims management, claims managers, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 6136, which would require L&I to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates for each risk class and disclose when rate increases are capped below those indicated levels. The sponsor and business groups said the bill would improve transparency about how reserves and investment earnings are used to hold down rates, while L&I said the information is already developed internally and the bill would mainly require publication. The bill drew broad pro testimony from hospitality, retail, business, and construction groups; no one testified in opposition. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills, adopting substitutes and passing multiple measures, including SB 5292, 6014, 5972, 5869, 5874, 6058, 6039, 5944, and 6180, with most sent to Rules and SB 5292 sent to Ways and Means. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical care by allowing treatment outside the medical provider network in certain circumstances, limiting employer steering, requiring faster utilization review, and allowing providers to deviate from L&I treatment guidelines when medically appropriate. Supporters, including labor representatives, injured-worker attorneys, and construction workers, argued the bill would reduce delays, restore individualized medical decision-making, and better reflect the Murray decision. L&I said it supports reducing delays but warned the bill would make major, untested changes to the medical provider network and treatment-guideline system. Business and self-insured employer groups opposed the bill, saying the current guidelines preserve balance, and raising concerns about vague language, penalties, and the 15-mile provider rule. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve access and medical independence, and public testimony was then closed. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6067, which would change workers’ compensation time-loss benefits so the employer-paid health insurance portion is covered at 100% rather than the current 60% to 75% level. The sponsor and labor witnesses said injured workers should not lose health coverage because of a workplace injury and argued the bill would help families maintain care and encourage kept-on-salary or light-duty options. Opponents from self-insured employers, NFIB, and retail groups said the bill does not guarantee the added benefit will actually be used for health insurance, could be diverted to attorney fees, and would significantly increase costs and rate pressure. L&I said the bill would require IT changes and estimated substantial ongoing benefit costs, while the sponsor and supporters said the policy would better protect injured workers’ health and financial stability. The chair closed public testimony after the final panel and ended the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• centers and had those pregnancy centers and had those pregnancy<00:20:38.880><c> centers</c><00:20:39.440
• I also think it's interesting that there's no mention of forced pregnancy and coerced pregnancy in harmful
• </c> an unwanted pregnancy are glad they did. an unwanted pregnancy are glad they did. and<01:08:36.960
• ><c> and</c><01:09:38.319><c> deeply</c> Pregnancy is deeply complex and deeply Pregnancy is deeply complex
• </c><01:09:54.880><c> We</c> pregnancy. We understand the risks. We pregnancy.

Bills: HB0117, HB0126

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or dangerous pregnancies or pregnancies in which the fetus is found to have fatal abnormalities or any
• Pregnancy does not happen in isolation.
• :12:20.480><c> pregnancy</c><00:12:21.120><c> pregnancy</c><00:12:21.600><c> shall</c><00:12:21.920><
• c> be</c><00:12:22.480><c> in</c> of the pregnancy pregnancy shall be in of the pregnancy pregnancy shall
• pregnancy pregnancy and<00:14:45.519><c> everything</c><00:14:45.920><c> else.

Bills: HB0117, HB0126

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Bills: HB0117, HB0126

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pregnancy resource centers make this possible every day through free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, low-cost
• Fund and support pregnancy resource centers that help promote and grow ...fund and support pregnancy
• I do work for a pregnancy center here in Arizona.
• I think it is very obvious that each pregnancy is unique.
• Each pregnancy is felt uniquely personal to the Each pregnancy is felt uniquely personal to the pregnant

Bills: HB2211, HB2229, HB2389, HB2403, HB2445, HB2502, HB2620, HB2813, HB2872, HB2889, HB2960, HB4028, HCR2007

Keywords: contractors, subcontractors, resident preference, public contracts, materials supply, Arizona Revised Statutes, local businesses, pregnancy resource center, pregnancy center, crisis pregnancy center, DHS, Arizona Department of Health Services, state appropriation, general fund, nonprofit grant, women's health, maternal health, reproductive health, abortion funding, pro-life

Bills: SB166, HB365, HB272, HB232, HB234, SB278, SB277

Keywords: Ten Commandments, public education, displays, funding, Alabama law, sex education, abstinence, public schools, parental consent, human reproductive process, teen pregnancy, educational policy, sexual risk avoidance, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many public spaces lack proper facilities to accommodate individuals who cannot safely or comfortably
• That's my mind going around and around to accommodate this need. I'm aware of one, but again...
• Disabilities Act through HHS, I know we've done some things with matching funds for these kinds of accommodations
• Whether or not there may be some federal funds to match making those accommodations, it's just a...
• Making those accommodations, it's just a... okay, yeah, thank you, Senator Smithman.

Bills: SB1, SB83, SB159, SB160, SB1

Keywords: workers' compensation, public education, employee injury, insurance trust fund, on-the-job injury, administrative procedures, adult-size changing table, changing station, accessible restroom, public bathroom, public building, public entity, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility, restroom renovation, new construction, grant program, state grant, local government facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to ensure that I could do my job, I had to request ADA accommodations to allow for me to telework
• to ensure that I could do my job, I had to request<00:57:53.280><c> ADA</c><00:57:53.760><c> accommodations
• </c><00:57:54.480><c> to</c><00:57:54.720><c> allow</c><00:57:55.040><c> for</c> request ADA accommodations
• to allow for request ADA accommodations to allow for me<00:57:55.359><c> to</c><00:57:55.599><c> teleawwork

Bills: HB0003, HB0117, HB0041

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, informed consent, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, law enforcement, death benefits, retirement, survivor support, public safety, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> it supports women in making pregnancy it supports women in making pregnancy decisions<00:29:36.000
• </c> Life Choice Pregnancy Care Center. Life Choice Pregnancy Care Center.
• This bill also protects a pregnancy center's right to counsel women about all pregnancy-related care,
• Even the label crisis pregnancy center reflects that framing. Pregnancy is not the crisis.
• </c> pregnancy center reflects that framing. pregnancy center reflects that framing.

Bills: HB0003, HB0117, HB0041

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, informed consent, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, law enforcement, death benefits, retirement, survivor support, public safety, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With regard to pregnancy testing, some pregnancy tests are what's called CLIA-waived under the Clinical
• In the event of trying to reverse a pregnancy, it could cause irreversible damage to the pregnancy itself
• The patient could lose the pregnancy.
• —pregnancy can go wrong.
• We'll tell you if it's a viable pregnancy. We'll tell you if it's an intrauterine pregnancy.

Bills: HB611, HB897, HB902, HB931, HB1030, HB1092, HB1100, HB1118, HB1138, HB1143, HB1160, HB1185, HB1216

Keywords: pregnancy help centers, healthcare services, licensure, Department of Health, medical services, counseling, regulatory compliance, public health, healthcare data, privacy, pregnancy services, confidentiality, client rights, Louisiana Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative, trauma-informed, child education, mental health, training program, adverse childhood events, religious instruction

Bills: SB2936, SB2850, SB2851, SB2521

Keywords: accessible parking, disability, kupuna, public accommodations, small business exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, parking permit, blind, deaf, accessibility, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, emergency services, commercial driver's license, first responders, public safety, authorized emergency vehicle

Summary: The joint hearing covered House Bill 251, which would require hospitals to report costs associated with Medicare and uninsured patients, and House Bill 1875, which would expand protections for gender-affirming health care services. On HB 251, the Department of Health said it supported the intent but described the bill as complicated and potentially impractical as drafted because the department lacks the expertise to produce the required analyses without outside help. Hawaii Health Systems Corporation echoed those concerns, while the Queen’s Health System said it was willing to work with the department to provide the information. In committee discussion, officials explained that hospital support in Hawaii includes public hospital appropriations and the provider tax program, which uses hospital and nursing home contributions to draw federal matching funds; a department witness estimated the net benefit at about $150 million for hospitals and $20 million for nursing facilities, though exact figures would be provided later. On HB 1875, the Insurance Division testified with concerns that the bill’s language on prohibited actions by malpractice insurers was broad and vague, and that a rate-increase prohibition could conflict with actuarially based insurance pricing. The division also noted it was not the primary enforcement agency for the statute. In contrast, many testifiers strongly supported the bill, including the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, PFLAG Oahu, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Democratic Party, and others. Supporters argued that gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and protected by privacy and bodily autonomy principles, and that the bill would protect patients and providers from outside political interference. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other states are already leveraging similar pregnancy apps to better connect their Medicaid families
• Other states are already leveraging similar pregnancy apps to better connect their Medicaid families
• </c><00:18:57.520><c> So</c><00:18:57.679><c> for</c> the pregnancy and postpartum.
• So for the pregnancy and postpartum.
• So, I deal with a lot of the complicated pregnancies here at the hospital.

Bills: SB2936, SB2850, SB2851, SB2521

Keywords: accessible parking, disability, kupuna, public accommodations, small business exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, parking permit, blind, deaf, accessibility, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, emergency services, commercial driver's license, first responders, public safety, authorized emergency vehicle

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 1871, establishing a maternal health monitoring pilot program, drew support from the Department of Health, the Hawaii State Commission on Status of Women, and the Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives, with testimony urging provider-neutral language so midwives and other qualified providers would not be excluded. HB 1977, requiring a maternal and infant health information mobile app, received support from ACNM and Philips, which said similar apps in other states improved awareness of services and helped families navigate care; a member asked the Department of Health about implementation time. HB 1858, relating to certificates of fetal deaths, was supported by the Department of Health and clinicians, who said the current statute is outdated and inconsistent with CDC guidance; the department and a physician testified that the bill should shift documentation responsibilities to physicians and APRNs, and members discussed optional versus mandatory issuance language and whether the bill would improve data on home births and transfers. The committee also heard HB 1591, expanding definitions for preceptor and volunteer-based clinical training to improve income tax credits. The Department of Health supported the measure but preferred a similar, broader bill; Taxation suggested clarifying terms; the University of Hawaii and the State Center for Nursing supported it. ACNM asked that midwifery preceptors and Hawaii-based students enrolled in mainland programs be included, while the Hawaii Public Health Institute supported expansion of the program as a workforce solution. HB 1574, on the health care education loan repayment program, also drew broad support, including from the governor, SHPDA, OHA, and health organizations, but ACNM raised concerns that the bill’s 30% Medicaid-client threshold could exclude many providers and limit participation. For HB 1575, creating a feasibility committee on Parkinson’s patient air transport, the Department of Health supported the intent but said transportation is more likely an insurance or benefit issue and suggested redirecting funds to Parkinson’s research; the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Hawaii Parkinson Association supported the bill, citing inter-island travel barriers and high costs for patients and caregivers. HB 1854, establishing certification of community behavioral health clinics, was supported by the Department of Health and DHS, which said certification would help clinics qualify for enhanced Medicaid reimbursement and expand access; the Attorney General’s office raised a legal concern about the special fund language and recommended a purpose section, and the committee discussed whether the fund would be self-sustaining and noted a possible amendment to change membership language and reduce the board size if the amendment moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• accommodation accommodation and<00:58:39.280><c> education.
• </c> reasonable accommodations. reasonable accommodations.
• </c><01:15:01.199><c> Accommodations</c> what accommodations mean.
• Accommodations what accommodations mean.
• </c> have the dialogue about accommodations. have the dialogue about accommodations.

Bills: HF3661, HF2380, HF3468, HF3483

Keywords: facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement