Transcript Highlights:

• Small problems become costly emergencies.
• for pay, and I do my school work at my own pace.
• Homeschooling is working. It is successful.
• Is this one working? Is it better? Is this one working? Is it better? Okay, slightly better.
• And some of them came out of the work session in December.

Bills: SB6222, SB6263, SB6118, SB6261, SB6320

Keywords: public education, technology access, surplus hardware, digital divide, student resources, school district, public bidding, bid limits, procurement, public works, construction contracts, competitive bidding, lowest responsible bidder, small works roster, quotations, school purchasing, Washington-grown food, local food, inmate work programs, Department of Corrections

Summary: The committee began by waiving the five-day notice rule for Senate Bill 6320, then heard several education-related bills. Senate Bill 6222 would let school districts and educational service districts sell surplus technology hardware such as laptops and tablets to public school students at depreciated cost, or give them free to low-income students, with priority for low-income public school students. The sponsor and witnesses said the bill would help students keep access to devices for school, work, and college; one member asked whether tribal compact schools were included. Testimony was generally supportive. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6263, which raises school district public bid thresholds for purchases and repairs. The sponsor said the limits had not been updated in about 20 years and should be aligned with cities and ports to reduce costs and delays. School employees, finance officers, and coalition representatives supported the bill, saying current thresholds create unnecessary administrative burden and can slow maintenance and purchasing; the fiscal note showed no fiscal impact. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6261, which would require parents of six- and seven-year-olds not enrolled in school to file annual signed declarations of their education plans. The superintendent of public instruction supported the bill as a way to align Washington with other states and improve enrollment data, while homeschool parents, students, and advocacy groups strongly opposed it as burdensome, intrusive, and unnecessary. Senate Bill 6118 would require each school district to create cardiac emergency response plans for schools and athletic facilities, including AED placement, staff training, and coordination with emergency responders. The sponsor said the bill was personal because of her brother’s death from heart failure, and witnesses described sudden cardiac arrest incidents and argued that preparedness saves lives. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6320, which would restrict state-funded online and remote alternative learning experiences to public or nonprofit providers and reduce levy equalization for some remote ALE enrollment, with limited exceptions for medically fragile, severely ill, injured, or severely bullied students. Supporters said it would prevent privatization and better align funding with in-person schooling, while opponents said it would harm students who rely on online programs, especially those with special needs or other barriers to traditional school.

Transcript Highlights:

• for which the Small Works Roster process may be used.
• local governments can instead use the Small Works Roster process as an alternative to the competitive
• Works Roster or the Small Works Roster for the state agency or local government.
• Increasing the cap for our small works rosters.
• Small works rosters remain competitive and transparent.

Bills: HB2470, HB2353, HB2420, HB2338

Keywords: HB2470, school construction assistance, capital budget, school facilities, on-base schools, military base schools, military installations, public school construction, school plant projects, state funding assistance, superintendent of public instruction, OSPI, school capital funding, instructional space, school district construction, alternative learning experience, ALE, free and reduced-price meals, special housing burden, district growth

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three capital-related bills. HB 2353 would raise the pre-design threshold for state-funded capital projects from $10 million to $15 million and require annual inflation adjustments beginning in 2027. Staff and the prime sponsor said the change would reduce delays and costs for projects, with testimony from Steve DuPont supporting the bill as a way to avoid unnecessary pre-design work and construction escalation. The hearing on HB 2420 covered increases to the Small Works Roster threshold for public works contracts, with a proposed substitute delaying the first increase to January 1, 2027. Representative Zahn and several stakeholders, including universities, cities, ports, counties, and water districts, testified in support, saying the bill would reduce administrative burden, speed projects, and better reflect current construction costs. The committee also heard HB 2470, which would change School Construction Assistance Program rules for school facilities located on military bases. Staff explained that on-base instructional space would be excluded from district inventory calculations, increasing eligibility, and that state assistance would be based on project cost minus federal funding. Representative Leavitt said the bill would help districts like Clover Park and Medical Lake better serve military families. OSPI, Clover Park School District, and the Veterans Legislative Coalition testified in support, though OSPI noted it was working on an amendment to replace a federal-funding backfill with a 15% increase in the SCAP funding assistance percentage to comply with federal law. In executive session, the committee moved HB 2338, which would make community-scaled projects eligible under the Department of Commerce low-income weatherization program, out of committee with a due-pass recommendation by a 17-0 vote, with two members excused. The committee then held a work session with the Recreation and Conservation Office on its competitive grant programs, including the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, youth athletic facilities, community forests, aquatic lands, boating, firearms and archery ranges, and federal trail and conservation programs. Members asked about demand, ADA compliance, match requirements, geographic distribution, and outreach to underserved communities; RCO said it uses advisory committees, regional allocation methods in some programs, and technical assistance to broaden access and improve distribution.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we had that in the Curb fund instead of Public Works, it would maybe work better?
• Next up in your EBB is House Bill 2420, an increase in small works roster contract limits.
• contract can use the small works roster process.
• works rosters.
• work rosters encourage you yes vote all right the motion before the committee is the proposed substitute

Bills: HB2273, SB5188, HB2353, HB2420, HB2470

Keywords: embodied carbon, building materials, sustainability, construction, environment, broadband, infrastructure, loan assistance, economic development, technology access, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, capital budget, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee heard public testimony on Substitute House Bill 2236, which would update the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s statutes. Staff explained that the bill would authorize the commission to make direct mortgage loans for multifamily housing, clarify that it is not a retail mortgage lender, extend bond counsel terms, remove notice requirements before bond issuance, and repeal outdated provisions including the housing finance program and housing finance plan requirement. The sponsor and commission representatives said the changes would modernize the agency, improve efficiency, and give it more flexibility to provide gap financing for affordable housing without using state general funds. Testimony was generally supportive, with some questions focused on housing access for communities of color, the effect of higher interest rates, and the possible role of longer mortgage terms; the commission emphasized its down payment assistance programs and work with banks and developers. The hearing on SHB 2236 was then closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2273 on reducing embodied carbon emissions in buildings and building materials. Staff described requirements for the State Building Code Council to adopt embodied-carbon reduction standards for large projects, phased implementation, reporting, a public database and website through the Department of Commerce, and random audits. The prime sponsor said the bill responds to rising energy demand and would help lower emissions and potentially reduce costs by encouraging innovation and allowing embodied-carbon savings to count in future energy-code tradeoffs. Supporters from environmental justice and architecture groups said the bill would address pollution upstream, align Washington with other jurisdictions, and could be cost-neutral on many projects. Opponents, including the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, argued the bill could raise costs, create sourcing and timeline problems, and questioned the school construction exemption. The hearing on HB 2273 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5188, which would allow the Public Works Board to issue loans for broadband infrastructure repair and replacement under the broadband service expansion program, with priority for areas that would become unserved without the work. Staff noted operating and capital costs in the fiscal note and said an updated note had been requested. The Association of Washington Cities testified with concerns that expanding the program could signal further sweeps from the Public Works Assistance Account and undermine confidence in funding for other infrastructure needs, while a committee member raised whether the program should instead be handled through the Curb Board. The hearing was closed after no further testifiers appeared. In executive session, the committee reviewed House Bill 2353, House Bill 2420, and House Bill 2470. HB 2353, which raises the predesigned threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and indexes it to inflation, was passed out of committee by voice vote with an 18-0-1 result. The committee then adopted a proposed substitute for HB 2420, which increases the small works roster contract limit to $530,000 and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027; it also passed 18-0-1. Staff also briefed HB 2470, including a proposed substitute that would increase state funding assistance for on-base school construction projects by 15% and remove a federal-funding offset requirement, but no vote on that bill occurred in the transcript. The chair announced another hearing and executive session for Friday and asked members to submit amendments by 10 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we have worked to bring that station online over the ...accessible hydrogen fueling station.
• As we have worked to bring that station online over the last year, we've worked closely with the Department
• It allows electronic submission of bids under the public works procurement process for PUDs.
• It allows electronic submission of bids under the public works procurement process for PUDs.
• So I will, as a work in progress, vote this out. Thank you very much. Any other comments?

Bills: SB6269, SB6223, SB5982, SB6050, SB5965, SB5975, SB6010, SB5984, SB6076, SB5652

Keywords: motor fuel, fuel quality act, RCW 19.112, alternative fuel, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol blend, alcohol fuel, diesel fuel, nonhazardous motor fuel, biofuels, clean fuels, transportation fuels, Washington fuel standards, fuel labeling, fuel blending, petroleum products, natural gas vehicles, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on SB 6269, which would update Washington’s Motor Fuel Quality Act by broadening the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous fuels and electricity used to propel vehicles, and by removing the separate definition of alternative fuel. Staff and testifiers from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and Douglas County PUD said the change would give WSDA authority to inspect and test hydrogen fueling stations and other newer fuel types, with no fiscal impact expected. The bill was well supported in testimony, and the hearing closed without questions. The committee then heard SB 6223, which would authorize community-scale weatherization projects under the low-income weatherization program. The bill would let Commerce fund projects serving multiple dwelling units in the same area, prioritize low-income households, and adopt rules to implement the program. Supporters from community action, clean energy, Commerce, and environmental groups said the bill would help scale weatherization, improve health and safety, reduce energy costs, and better reach rural, mobile home, and disadvantaged communities; Commerce noted a fiscal impact tied to rulemaking and administration. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It adopted proposed substitutes and gave due pass recommendations to SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 5965, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652, sending most to Rules and SB 5652 to Ways and Means. On SB 5965, amendment C2 was adopted while C1 and C3 failed. On SB 6010, amendments E1 and E2 failed. On SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652, the committee approved the proposed substitutes and reported the bills out subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not require a lot of work. And a lot of that.
• So we'll do three of you, and then three of you, if that works, okay?
• So we'll do three of you, and then three of you, if that works, okay?
• Students did not do the work in this class, and photography in general was not a required class.
• Good work. We now have... Okay. Sign the boards, please. Okay. And I think we can proceed.

Bills: SB5849, SB6278, SB6130, SB6222, SB6206, SB6260, SB5346, SB6263, SB6268, SB6247

Keywords: financial education, graduation requirement, student curriculum, financial literacy, education reform, teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12

Summary: The committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 5849, which would require school districts, charter schools, and state tribal education compact schools to provide financial education instruction and make meeting state financial education learning standards a high school graduation requirement beginning with the class of 2033, with instruction starting in the 2029-30 school year. Staff explained the bill’s relationship to existing graduation requirements, the State Board of Education’s role in recommending implementation details, and a fiscal note showing about $201,000 in state costs over four years, with additional indeterminate district costs. Members asked about how the requirement would fit different school schedules, whether teacher preparation and clock-hour training would be addressed, and whether the content would be standalone or could be embedded in other courses. The bill’s sponsor and supporters said it should be flexible, aligned with Future Ready work, and responsive to modern financial needs; opponents from school directors’ groups argued districts are already overburdened and warned against adding another unfunded mandate. Testimony on SB 5849 was overwhelmingly supportive from students, educators, nonprofits, bankers, and business representatives. Supporters said many students graduate without basic knowledge of budgeting, credit, loans, taxes, investing, or W-2 forms, and described personal experiences showing the need for required instruction. Several speakers emphasized that the bill should allow multiple pathways to meet the standard rather than requiring a standalone class, so districts would not have to cut electives. Opponents acknowledged the value of financial literacy but said schools lack time and funding to add requirements. The committee then moved into executive session on several other bills. In executive action, the committee advanced Senate Bill 6278, which sets requirements for the Professional Educator Standards Board’s review of teacher preparation programs; Senate Bill 613, directing high schools to observe National Voter Registration Day and hold a registration event; Senate Bill 6222, allowing surplus school technology to be sold or given to students, with priority for low-income students; and Senate Bill 6206, creating a child care pilot for first responders. It also considered a second packet of bills and adopted substitutes before moving forward: SB 6260 on school bus depreciation and Running Start/MSOC adjustments was referred to Ways and Means; SB 5346 on digital citizenship and student mobile device use was given a due pass recommendation; SB 6263 on school district bid thresholds was sent to Rules; SB 6268 on public access to special education complaint decisions was sent to Rules; and SB 6247 on financial oversight and distress support for school districts was amended and sent to Ways and Means. The committee approved the relevant proposed substitutes and bills by voice vote, with no recorded opposition noted in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have from the city of Fremont, police chief Richard Garcia, a small community on the northern part
• On behalf of Senator Adam Hinojosa and myself, welcome to the Senate, and thank you for the great work
• We appreciate your presence and the work you do for us.
• Its member roster is long, very long, and I could go on forever and ever all day.
• I'd like to recognize today, January 29th, 2025, as Texas Public Works Day in the state capitol.

Bills: SJR36, SB2, SR9, SR10, SR16

Keywords: American Public Works Association, public works, infrastructure, Texas, recognition day, local government, municipalities, APWA, Texas Chapter, community development, engineering, professional recognition, community impact, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Lubbock leadership, recognition, professional achievement, Alpha Kappa Alpha, sorority, social service

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the work that you've done over the years.
• We're proud to work with you and do a small part to make people aware of what you all do and how we can
• I'm proud of the work that our safe house does.
• I appreciate it, glad to have a small partner. We have a truck here. Yes.
• So great work.

Bills: SJR36, SB2, SR9, SR10, SR16

Keywords: American Public Works Association, public works, infrastructure, Texas, recognition day, local government, municipalities, APWA, Texas Chapter, community development, engineering, professional recognition, community impact, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Lubbock leadership, recognition, professional achievement, Alpha Kappa Alpha, sorority, social service

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to order.
• In order to best serve our members as we work through Process.
• We should have most everything worked out ahead of time.
• when we work together.
• all small businesses, not just a select few.

Bills: SB298, SB300, SB371

Keywords: employee relocation, headquarters, Small Business Administration, Washington metropolitan area, telework, cost reduction, rural markets, geographic diversity, disaster loans, accountability, reporting, loan forgiveness, federal funding, SBA reforms, small business, disaster assistance, transparency, report publication, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't want small farms to compete, even at the community level.
• So you have small producers that.
• And I'm not against the small producers at all; that's not what this is about.
• Because of the work that's done by USDA, TDA, and the association.
• Oh, there's a small one in here, here's a large one in here.

Bills: SB1864

Keywords: eggs, ungraded eggs, egg grading, poultry, farm products, local food, small farmers, direct-to-consumer sales, wholesale food sales, food safety, refrigeration requirements, sanitation standards, occupational license, dealer-wholesaler license, Texas Department of Agriculture, restaurants, small grocery stores, cooperatives, farmers cooperative, agricultural regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• work, very important groundwork.
• So if you're a small business, we're a small business.
• , they can work at a competitor, as long as they're not working in a role very limited.
• For many small businesses, it’s...
• “We are already doing the work.

Bills: H5386

Keywords: economic development, innovation, investment, housing, small business, global trade, infrastructure, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Small Business Administration is intended to support small businesses by providing capital, contracts
• Two of my sisters currently run a small business today, and I have owned and operated two small businesses
• My uncle also worked most of his career at that business. My mother and I worked there at times.
• Mulligan, letters from the National Small Business Association, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council
• Start a small business ecosystem.

Keywords: SBA, small business, nominations, Bill Briggs, Casey Mulligan, regulations, capital access, public support

Summary: The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship convened to consider the nominations of Bill Briggs for Deputy Administrator of the SBA and Dr. Casey Mulligan for Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The discussions highlighted the critical role of the SBA in promoting small businesses, with emphasis on overcoming challenges posed by excessive regulations and the need for improved access to capital. Several committee members expressed their concerns over recent layoffs within the SBA and the closure of district offices, which they believe undermine support for small businesses across the nation. The committee meeting saw extensive dialogue about the implications of regulations on small business operations and how the nominees plan to address these issues if confirmed. Public support for the nominees was acknowledged through letters from various stakeholders who advocate for small business interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we are working to do is work with CMS to determine what some Virginia add-ons might look like.
• Working with Virginia Works on… …the rural health care workforce pipeline.
• We’re working really closely.
• And the work and the success that you had initially on improving transportation… And the work and the
• So we'll keep working on that.

Keywords: House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill today represents really hard work on the part of the members of this council to hash out
• update to their workers' compensation insurance verification website, um, and may also result in a small
• So there are no new costs associated with that work.
• on the part of the members of this work on the part of the members of this council<00:01:36.560><c>
• Um but there is a required filing work.

Bills: SF1832

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to enable them to work with you all?
• We're beginning work on that.
• , work in connection.
• I look forward to working with you.
• Things like small business innovative research, where we work with the R&E component of the department

Keywords: defense industrial base, small business, workforce development, acquisition processes, national security, cybersecurity, critical minerals

Summary: The meeting of the committee revolved around critical discussions on enhancing the defense industrial base, focusing on small business engagement and the importance of streamlined processes in defense contracting. There was a significant emphasis on the need for more investment in the defense manufacturing sector, particularly in the face of competition from countries like China. Some members expressed frustration over the treatment of small businesses, citing barriers that prevent these innovative companies from effectively participating in defense contracts. The need for a workforce capable of meeting the common challenges posed by evolving technologies and geopolitical threats was also highlighted throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am proud to work for an organization that is vital to the success of so many small businesses.
• And I do want to add here that small businesses like ours who have developed a rare expertise in working
• Thank you for your amazing work in support of small business.
• Additionally, I do find it hard to believe that a company, a small business, can work on a myriad of
• As we think about ways to support small businesses that are working on innovative technologies, it seems

Keywords: SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer

Summary: The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of cutting taxes for small firms and working families, they are proposing to cut vital resources
• And it's clear who this administration serves, and it's not small businesses or working people.
• businesses and working families we've already heard from small businesses across the country concerned
• Zimmerman how will tariffs hurt small businesses including ones that you work with.
• You know I work with small business for America's future and we support all small businesses.

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program makes small-dollar loans with a focus on reaching undisturbed small business owners.
• His team works with borrowers in a holistic manner to ensure the success of these small businesses.
• In my 26th year of making loans to small businesses, I'm very proud of the work we do at First Security
• with small businesses and for your work really in the mental. health space.
• closely with small businesses to help them get the capital they need, which is often small.

Keywords: SBA, 7A loan program, underwriting standards, loan defaults, Community Advantage Program, small business funding, testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on discussions regarding the SBA's 7A loan program and its implementation challenges. Members raised significant concerns about recent changes to the underwriting standards, which have been criticized for leading to an increase in loan defaults. Ranking members expressed a desire for a return to stronger guidelines to protect taxpayers and ensure the program remains a viable source for small businesses struggling to secure funding. Testimonies from community lenders highlighted their efforts to support underserved communities and stressed the importance of the Community Advantage Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• And also want to thank the stakeholders, community leaders, and small business owners who have worked
• familiar with working with small businesses and... ...working with small businesses and providing technical
• </c> come to work. come to work.
• Even though everyone that works in our office and the folks that are our small business owners are legal
• </c> all that work. all that work.

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• couple small issues that we had some trouble getting over and ended up working with leadership on those
• </c><00:03:02.640><c> issues</c> there were just a couple small issues there were just a couple small
• </c> Frasier for working with her on that. Frasier for working with her on that.
• We're so work to be done on that.
• </c> nonprofits that are doing excellent work nonprofits that are doing excellent work out<00:05:07.680

Bills: SF1832, HF2440

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, labor market, employment, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They tend to be more photo ops and less work.
• But ultimately, this is a small business engagement tour.
• I have a, Monica, I have some questions about small businesses.
• We know that small businesses are really good at what they do. Our organization works nationally.
• If they have an idea, they should work with this committee, they should work with the legislature, and

Bills: HB2754

Keywords: Arizona Commerce Authority, business development, economic growth, small business support, job creation, Board of Directors, e-verify, grant administration, 1182, all