Transcript Highlights:

• Jordan Arnold is the Department of Commerce's brand-new state broadband director.
• That's about 5% of the locations in the state.
• So this might mean permits to cross state or trust easements, private lands, state or federal highway
• State or federal highway rights-of-way, access to utility poles or towers.
• And that would be the place to remedy this, not at the state level.

Bills: HB2684, HJM4012

Keywords: social disadvantage, business certification, state guidelines, economic equity, minority-owned businesses, combat veterans, support, military service, injury compensation, veteran affairs, 904, all

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Department of Commerce’s new state broadband director on Washington’s BEAD broadband program and permitting plans. He said Washington’s final BEAD proposal, submitted to NTIA in September and resubmitted in January after roughly 25 rounds of federal revisions, is still awaiting approval. He explained that the federal program now prioritizes lower-cost technologies more than fiber, and that Washington’s preliminary awards would connect about 166,000 homes and small businesses with roughly 35% fiber, 38% fixed wireless, and 27% low-earth-orbit satellite. He also described the state’s permitting strategy, including a goal of issuing broadband permits within 90 days, use of permitting roundtables, and hiring NEPA expertise to speed environmental and historic review while coordinating with state, local, federal, and tribal partners. Members asked about the relationship between NEPA and SEPA, how the federal funding total changed from earlier expectations, the long-term costs and durability of fiber versus fixed wireless and satellite, and whether broadband permitting lessons could inform other infrastructure work such as transmission. The witness said NEPA can function as an umbrella for other environmental reviews, that the federal allocation has not been rescinded but only a portion is currently available for deployment, and that fiber is the most durable long-term investment even though it is more expensive up front. Members also discussed how density affects the feasibility of fiber deployment, with the witness noting that remote areas become exponentially more expensive to serve. The committee then considered House Bill 2684, which would add Middle Eastern and North African groups to the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises’ socially disadvantaged certification framework. Five proposed amendments were debated, but none were adopted. The amendments would have narrowed the rebuttable presumption by requiring findings of current discrimination, required disaggregated subgroup data analysis, tied the rules to the state constitution, and required consistency with federal law and Attorney General review. After debate, the bill passed the committee on a 7-4 vote with two excused, and was reported out with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee unanimously approved House Joint Memorial 4012, which urges Congress to address the 20-year rule affecting certain combat-injured veterans and create parity in recognition and benefits. The memorial was reported out with a do pass recommendation on an 11-0 vote, with two members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• It overlaps with the state broadband office and also the Office of Equity.
• Bidding on state jobs, on... ...path. Let me give you some examples.
• State-sponsored discrimination is also wrong. Discrimination is wrong.
• State-sponsored discrimination is also wrong.
• Washington State is still a predominantly white state.

Bills: HB2523, HB2606, HB2684, HJM4012

Keywords: community reinvestment, housing, local funding, urban development, economic revitalization, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy, social disadvantage, business certification, state guidelines, economic equity, minority-owned businesses, combat veterans, support, military service, injury compensation, veteran affairs

Summary: The House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee met on February 3 to take executive action on House Bill 2523, concerning the Community Reinvestment Program, and House Bill 2606, concerning performance measures and reporting for the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, and then held public hearings on House Bill 2684 and House Joint Memorial 4012. Staff briefed a proposed substitute for HB 2523 that would change how Community Reinvestment Account funds are distributed, expand Commerce’s reporting and tribal consultation duties, add Office of Equity and WSIPP responsibilities, and require more detailed plan updates and oversight. During executive session, the committee adopted Amendment 285 to require the community reinvestment plan to be updated every five years instead of every 10, but rejected amendments that would have barred recipients from other state down payment programs, restricted grants to officers and family members, required an independent third-party audit, or expanded the WSIPP study. The proposed substitute HB 2523 then passed out of committee on an 8-5 vote. HB 2606, which responds to a JLARC audit by streamlining overlapping duties among the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, the state broadband office, and the Office of Equity, was moved out of committee with a unanimous do pass recommendation. Members described it as a modest but useful efficiency measure, and the vote was 13-0. The committee then heard HB 2684, which would create rebuttable presumptions that people in 10 specified groups are socially disadvantaged for purposes of OMWBE certification. Supporters, including Middle Eastern and North African business owners, argued the bill would correct exclusion of MENA-owned firms from certification and contracting opportunities; opponents argued it would entrench identity-based classifications and raise constitutional concerns. OMWBE testified that the bill would be workable and that social disadvantage is only one factor in certification. The committee also heard HJM 4012, which asks Congress to bring the Major Richard Starr Act to a floor vote to allow combat-injured service members who retire before 20 years of service to receive both retirement pay and disability compensation. Veterans advocates strongly supported the memorial, and the committee closed the hearing without taking final action on either public-hearing item, noting both would be considered again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thirteen states, including Louisiana, have their own state-specific treatment guidelines.
• state guidelines and ODG.
• I use it as a supplementary guideline for areas where our state guideline is silent or not sufficiently
• By statute and administrative rule, I am bound to use our state guideline as our primary guideline.
• If a guideline exists on a particular injury in our state guideline, that is the one I use.

Bills: HB282, HB293, HB390, HB456, HB460, HB561, HB819, HB1023, HB1047, HB1101

Keywords: employment discrimination, criminal history, rehabilitation, hiring process, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, workplace equality, labor rights, domestic abuse, unpaid leave, employee rights, workplace protection, mental health, survivor support, workers' compensation, employment benefits, claims process, fraud prevention, legal petition

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1437 is directing the State Department of Education to establish certain guidelines, administer
• obesity plan. ...or information from these results to work on the state obesity plan.
• talk to us a little bit about the benefits and the wonderful things that have been happening in our state
• Department of Education and the State Board of Education to select those programs and those specific
• While I wasn't there, there wasn't a lot to glean from the audit... ...by the State Auditor.

Bills: SB1432, SB1338, SB1437, SB1812

Keywords: teacher certification, pilot program, education, state board, alternative pathways, education grants, competitive grants, revolving fund, State Department of Education, State Board of Education, Strong Readers Act, literacy instruction, reading intervention, dyslexia, science of reading, structured literacy, multisensory instruction, school districts, public education funding, education innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to follow the State Board of Education health education and sex education guidelines.
• The SPI must create a state seal of computer science proficiency and requires the State Board of Education
• That's why we go to every county in the state.
• We've seen this in other states.
• State of Arizona, where a judge ruled that the state system for funding school facilities is unconstitutional

Bills: HB2040, HB2142, HB2255, HB2379, HB2482, HB2575, HB2600, HB2764, HB4033, HCR2015

Keywords: public education, adoption, sex education, parental rights, student health information, school safety, resource officers, mental health, training, infrastructure improvements, Arizona Teachers Academy, teacher preparation, education funding, public schools, scholarships, teacher certification, community colleges, school district, governing board, training requirements

Bills: HB25, HB38, HB997, HB 1119, HB25, HB38

Keywords: HB 25, Texas nutrition, nutrition education, healthy living, public health, school physical activity, recess, physical education, nutrition and wellness course, health curriculum, State Board of Education, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, food additives, chronic disease, metabolic health, culinary medicine, functional medicine, dietary guidelines

Bills: HB25, HB38, HB997, HB 1119, HB25, HB38

Keywords: HB 25, Texas nutrition, nutrition education, healthy living, public health, school physical activity, recess, physical education, nutrition and wellness course, health curriculum, State Board of Education, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, food additives, chronic disease, metabolic health, culinary medicine, functional medicine, dietary guidelines

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, obviously, every state is connected, and so people travel.
• because, you know, the... ...multiple states because, you know, each state doesn't have a physical wall
• , so people travel from state to state.
• Throughout the state, we wanted to expand those.
• Um, my bill kind of copies what some other states have done.

Bills: SB210, SB176, SB167, SB244, SB218, SB9, SB153, SB9

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, aggravated theft, employee benefits, retirement funds, criminal penalty, state law, overdose, failure to render aid, public health, Alabama Athletic Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• If you would state your name for the record and you may begin testimony.
• If you would state your name for the record and who you're with.
• As I stated, I'm the CEO of Homestyle Direct.
• Thank you for your testimony and uh well stated.
• If you would state your name and who you're with. I'm Dr.

Bills: SB 25, SB 314

Keywords: nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s the main thing that the state is supposed to do.
• </c> it's the main thing that the State it's the main thing that the State supposed<00:56:56.839><c>
• </c> some some dark State some some dark State manipulation<01:06:55.119><c> but</c><01:06:55.279><c>
• </c> the reporting to sentencing guidelines the reporting to sentencing guidelines that<01:14:46.600>
• </c><01:15:15.120><c> uh</c> information to sentencing guidelines uh information to sentencing guidelines

Bills: HF7

Keywords: public safety, criminal justice, sentencing guidelines, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, public sentencing database, felony dismissals, prosecutor reporting, bail notice, bond posting, law enforcement data, arrest data, public records, sex trafficking, human trafficking, mandatory minimum sentence, peace officer assault, police assault, fleeing police, vehicular flight, stolen motor vehicle

Transcript Highlights:

• in any state.
• that state.
• states.
• It varies from state to state. Some states, naturopathic doctors are under the state medical board.
• Other states do it.

Bills: HB946, HB1093, SB26, SB29, SB30, SB195, SB219, SB222, SB255, SB314, SCR2, SCR22

Keywords: healthcare transparency, hospital pricing, consumer protection, collection actions, fines, naturopathic medicine, Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine, licensing, healthcare, prescriptive authority, natural therapies, opioid treatment, regulation, addiction recovery, state law, SB 29, Act 732, coroner, autopsy, child death

Transcript Highlights:

• State law is going to prohibit...
• Right now, a couple of blue states have acted on this.
• Texas will be one of the largest states and the largest red state to lead on this issue, and we do believe
• Texas is the eighth most obese state in the country.
• As I said, it's a 450-page set of guidelines. guidelines with the threat of pulling funding if they don't

Bills: SB 25, SB25, SB314

Keywords: attorney ad litem, indigent parents, parent-child relationship, legal representation, Texas Family Code, court procedures, nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you would, state your name for the record and you may begin testimony.
• As I stated, I'm the CEO of Homestyle Direct.
• Would you state your name? If you'll make sure she gets one, please.
• So, what you see in front of you is the state of Texas ice.
• If you would state your name, who you're with. I'm Dr. Dijon.

Bills: SB 25, SB25, SB314

Keywords: attorney ad litem, indigent parents, parent-child relationship, legal representation, Texas Family Code, court procedures, nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Mark O'Leos, the state senator from the 21st District.
• This is part of our continuing work to end AIDS and HIV in Washington State.
• I am an audiologist in the state of Washington.
• I myself am licensed in 43 different states, echoing what John has said.
• And that is clearly stated in that letter, and I will be glad to send you that letter.

Bills: SB5915, SB6025, SJM8002

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Transcript Highlights:

• I saw it in the state of Texas.

Bills: SB210, SB176, SB167, SB244, SB218, SB9, SB153, SB9

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, DUI, driving under the influence, drunk driving, fatal crash, vehicular homicide, child support, survivor benefits, orphaned child, guardian death

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:17:04.079><c> state</c><00:17:04.520><c> routinely</c> and the state routinely and the state routinely
• . 20 states have believe in regulations. 20 states have done<00:48:16.520><c> so.
• </c> other states? other states?
• </c> any other state? Representative Finke. any other state? Representative Finke.
• ><c> state</c><01:18:41.800><c> powers</c> quintessentially state uh state powers quintessentially state

Bills: HF3771, HF3658, HF3453, HF3358, HF1775

Keywords: disaster assistance, contingency account, Minnesota emergency management, public safety, state disaster aid, FEMA, federal cost-share, emergency relief, natural disaster, budget report, appropriations report, management and budget, local governments, utility cooperatives, public works, infrastructure repair, chapter 12B, chapter 12A, emergency management, disaster recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• State Senator June Robinson representing the 38th Legislative District.
• In addition, regarding out-of-state patients, Washington has already decided to be a haven state for
• This creates disparities for citizens in our state.
• That represents approximately 320,000 claims across the state.
• I'm president of the Washington State Senior Citizens Lobby for the state of Washington, and we're here

Bills: SB5915, SB5988, SB6025, SJM8002

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Transcript Highlights:

• The council has long encouraged the state to support a holistic approach through various state agencies
• </c> that people in all areas of the state that people in all areas of the state have<00:27:33.720><c
• the state?
• Geographic diversity in the state how Geographic diversity in the state how much<00:42:42.760><c> of<
• </c> different part of the state different part of the state gets<00:47:01.520><c> I</c><00:47:01.640

Bills: HF1082, HF1042, HF1295, HF1686, HF1998, HF1775, HF1163

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers, law enforcement oversight, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. armed forces, military installation, armory, air base

Transcript Highlights:

• State employees are also parents. State employees are juggling child care.
• So it affects 40,000 people in the state. I don't think this amendment is fair.
• State employees are already asked to do so much with less.
• I heard a stat that the state runs 97% lean.
• That's a 70% increase in a state agency of state dollars.

Bills: HF2436, HF2929

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, HF2929, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food assistance, nutrition assistance, public benefits, eligibility determination, income eligibility, federal poverty guidelines, poverty level, county agency, Tribal agency, human services, children and families, benefits administration

Transcript Highlights:

• distribution of digital firearm manufacturing code and would establish that certain violations of state
• of Washington or the United States, or any branch of the armed services.
• The proposed substitute would make every person acting with under color of state law who subjects any
• So it could be a state official, a local official, a federal official.
• Our country and the state of Washington are fundamental, and we need to make sure we do that.

Bills: HB2255, HB2354, HB2595, HB2320, HB2597

Keywords: litigation finance, legal funding, lawsuit, financial services, access to justice, common interest communities, homeowners association, property management, housing regulations, community governance, criminal justice, judgment, collateral attack, legal proceedings, sentencing reform, firearm regulation, manufacturing, safety standards, background checks, license requirements

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee met on February 4 and took executive action on five bills. House Bill 2255 on litigation finance would require disclosures and prohibit certain acts by third-party litigation funders; members described it as a transparency measure rather than a ban, and it was reported out 12-1. House Bill 2354 on WUCIOA and small common interest communities would exempt smaller communities from many WUCIOA requirements, adjust reserve study and audit rules, and was reported out unanimously 13-0. The committee also advanced House Bill 2595, which extends the deadline for post-conviction collateral attacks from one year to three years and allows the Office of Public Defense to represent eligible indigent offenders in those proceedings. Supporters framed it as an access-to-justice measure, while opponents warned of added strain on the courts; it passed 8-5. Before voting, the committee heard staff summaries of House Bill 2320 on restricting manufacture and distribution of certain firearms made with 3D printers or CNC machines, and House Bill 2597 on civil remedies for constitutional violations during immigration enforcement. For House Bill 2320, the committee adopted Representative Walsh’s amendment removing a rebuttable presumption about intent tied to digital firearm manufacturing code, then reported the substitute bill out 8-5. Supporters said the substitute was narrowed after stakeholder input to target untraceable firearms without unduly affecting hobbyists or industry, while opponents argued it remained too broad and could chill lawful 3D printing. House Bill 2597, as amended by substitute, would create a civil cause of action for constitutional violations during civil immigration enforcement, align some defenses with Section 1983 practice, and shorten the limitations period to two years; it was also reported out 8-5 after supporters emphasized remedies for rights violations and opponents questioned its necessity and scope.