Transcript Highlights:

• system, including throughout Washington through the Washington Electric Transmission Authority. ...to
• improve the reliability and capacity of the electric transmission system, including through the Washington
• Our transmission system is maxed out.
• Our transmission system is maxed out.
• Group A public water systems must submit water system plans, small water system management plans, or

Bills: HB1069, HB2091, SB6355, HB2104, SB6003, HB2441, HB2124, HB2610, HB2338

Keywords: collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, electric transmission, energy policies, infrastructure, regulatory framework, transmission systems, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on the capital budget and several policy bills. Staff briefed Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6003, including amendments that shifted funding among capital projects, added money for the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub and Rent and Resource Center, moved the African Diaspora Cultural Anchor Village project, corrected juvenile rehabilitation and irrigation appropriations, and made a technical change to water pollution control revolving funds. The committee also considered bills on survivor health premium reimbursements for line-of-duty deaths, a higher lump-sum retirement payment threshold, collective bargaining coverage for certain employees outside the NLRA, permanent property tax exemptions for senior centers and nonprofit low-income homeownership projects, weatherization capital funding, and a Climate Commitment Act restructuring bill. Amendments were adopted on SB 6003 and on the CCA bill, while several later CCA amendments were withdrawn. All of the executive-session bills received due-pass recommendations, with the CCA bill sent to the Transportation Committee as amended. The public hearing began with Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which would terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1 in 2029, transfer members to a new plan with identical benefits, and distribute surplus assets to the Climate Commitment Account and the pension funding stabilization account. Committee staff described the plan’s overfunded status and the need for IRS approval; senators asked about funding history, medical liabilities, and governance. Testimony was sharply divided: retirees and firefighter groups opposed the bill as a broken promise and urged benefit enhancements or COLAs instead, while counties and cities said they wanted clearer language about taking over local medical obligations and disability board issues. No action was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard Engrossed House Bill 2179 on PERS membership for port workers in other employer-funded plans, with port officials and the Washington Public Ports Association supporting it and asking for clarifying amendments, while one member of the public supported having only one pension system. House Bill 1069, allowing DOC employees to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits, drew support from Teamsters and opposition from a policy group concerned about the bill’s scope and fiscal effects. House Bill 2091, expanding employee-information disclosure to all public employers under the PSRA, drew union support and privacy objections from Washington Policy Center. The committee also heard Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 on targeted urban area tax preferences for clean energy transformation projects, where labor and local economic development groups supported it and contractor, environmental, and anti-nuclear witnesses opposed the project labor agreement and the nuclear-facility implications. Finally, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 on community preservation and development authority funding and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974 on land bank authorities for affordable housing both received supportive testimony, and Substitute House Bill 2650 on tax administration notices and effective dates was presented as a technical Department of Revenue request with no fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, phase two, uh we began to look at how a current transmission could be integrated into regional systems
• </c> regional transmission organizations. regional transmission organizations.
• when it comes to current system when it comes to transmission.<00:05:07.680><c> Uh</c><00:05:07.919>
• </c> a regional transmission organization. a regional transmission organization.
• </c> focusing on transmission. focusing on transmission.

Bills: SF0102, SF0113

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, hand count audit, ballots, election integrity, transparency, voting system, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this would be more... ...of the tie-downs and the leveling and the proper foundation blocking systems
• we also build utility-scale solar systems that provide energy directly to the grid.
• And so the first thing you look at for these systems is what is the value of the energy on the market
• We're not just doing it utility by utility, but we're also doing it system-wide and seeing if there's
• So on this style of system, and I think Louisiana right now, if I have a rooftop full of... ...solar

Bills: HB744, HR197, SB54, SB79, SB163, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB398, SB469, SCR5

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, advanced transmission technology.
• So basically making the current transmission system more efficient.
• Um, any potential gaps in the transmission needs based off those growth scenarios.
• organizations, independent system operators, real time or extended day ahead markets.
• So first of all, there has to be a delivery system that’s visible.

Bills: SF0102, SF0123, SF0021, SF0099

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, energy, funding, grants, loans, coal, natural gas, mineral processing, economic development, stable token, liquidity, trust account, Wyoming, fund distribution, financial regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• transport that hydrogen, we would mix ammonia with it and then we could transport it on our present system
• ><c> our</c><00:42:22.000><c> present</c> transport it on our present transport it on our present system
• . system. system.

Bills: SF0102, SF0123, SF0021, SF0099

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, energy, funding, grants, loans, coal, natural gas, mineral processing, economic development, stable token, liquidity, trust account, Wyoming, fund distribution, financial regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but there are ways that people find out to go around the system eventually.
• What we did, uh, we are very good on the money transmission side.
• And I want to say that we are very proficient when it comes to the money transmission side.
• A number of the companies go through a system called NMLS.
• It's just they aren't entering that into the system because they don't have to, is the point.

Bills: HB297

Keywords: cash transactions, money transmission, regulatory compliance, criminal penalties, Alabama Securities Commission, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, according to the FBI National Incident-based Reporting System.

Bills: HB318, HB198

Keywords: ERCOT, interconnection, electric utilities, power grid, transmission, election administration, school board elections, trustee terms, general election, Education Code

Transcript Highlights:

• > blocking</c><00:13:02.160><c> constituents</c> school system were blocking constituents school system
• </c> VVSG 2.1, that's voluntary voting system VVSG 2.1, that's voluntary voting system guidelines,<00
• </c><01:16:38.640><c> We</c> used uh the heart voting systems. We used uh the heart voting systems.
• 10 operating system.
• So what that does is that system.

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to approve the October 21 minutes and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and public resources. The sponsors said the bill is intended to strengthen existing law by adding civil and criminal penalties for taxpayer-funded advocacy on ballot questions, especially in light of controversies during the 2024 election over school officials and districts using public resources to oppose a constitutional amendment. They also described related concerns about school districts hiring third-party lobbyists and public relations firms, particularly in Fayette County, and said the proposal was meant to keep tax dollars focused on public services rather than political persuasion. Committee members raised several concerns about scope and drafting. Some asked whether the bill should specifically mention schools, school boards, and school employees, and the sponsors said they would add that language. Others questioned whether the measure would also affect local government lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, and the sponsors said they intended to focus narrowly on schools while exempting certain advocacy organizations and internal government lobbyists. Members also asked whether public employees could still speak as private individuals, and the sponsors said yes. Several members suggested splitting the lobbying and ballot-advocacy issues into separate bills, and the sponsors said they would consider that. Members also pressed for clarification on how the bill would apply in practice, including whether it would cover legal challenges to petition drives or only advocacy after a question is on the ballot. Counsel for the sponsors said the bill would not cover some petition-related litigation as drafted, though they believed it should. The sponsors and supporters argued the proposal was needed to give the existing prohibition real enforcement, while some members warned that the language could unintentionally limit legitimate public representation or be too broad if not carefully drafted. No final vote was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• > blocking</c><00:13:06.160><c> constituents</c> school system were blocking constituents school system
• </c><00:29:29.200><c> are</c> just a city versus a county system are just a city versus a county system
• </c> facilities and the entire voting system facilities and the entire voting system is<00:57:49.839>
• </c><01:16:42.640><c> We</c> used uh the heart voting systems. We used uh the heart voting systems.
• . system. system.

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• things you see in here about retaining this documentation and stuff, these locations already have a system

Bills: HB297, HB587

Keywords: cash transactions, money transmission, regulatory compliance, criminal penalties, Alabama Securities Commission, information technology, auditors, financial institutions, cybersecurity, certifications, state regulations, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:31.639><c> creates</c> and failing septic system creates and failing septic system creates
• Thank you. of expanding the sewer system by adding of expanding the sewer system by adding 23<00:07:42.400
• </c> this creates an inequitable system this creates an inequitable system because<00:26:54.840><c> not
• The pump system is older than that.
• The pump system is older than that.

Bills: HF343, HF446, HF448, HF674, HF811, HF832, HF1661, HF1528, HF1536, HF1541, HF1670, HF1438, HF1714, HF1748, HF1835, HF1904, HF1929, HF1942

Keywords: HF343, Chisago County, Shorewood Park Sanitary Sewer District, Rush Lake, sewer extension, wastewater infrastructure, sanitary sewer, treatment pond, sewage treatment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, local infrastructure, municipal utilities, water quality, sanitation, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota bonding, HF446

Bills: SF0114, SF0102, SF0117

Keywords: elections, Wyoming House of Representatives, state representatives, multi-member districts, county-based districts, party list voting, list voting, proportional representation, Jefferson method, greatest divisors method, ranked choice voting, RCV, primary elections, party conventions, minor parties, major parties, ballot design, apportionment, redistricting, nomination procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• they'll be prepping to send out UAVA ballots, and so to ensure sort of a seamless implementation from a system
• they'll be prepping to send out UAVA ballots, and so to ensure sort of a seamless implementation from a system
• they'll be prepping to send out UAVA ballots, and so to ensure sort of a seamless implementation from a system
• And so to ensure sort of a seamless implementation from a system side and our end on the county clerk's

Bills: SF0114, SF0102, SF0117

Keywords: elections, Wyoming House of Representatives, state representatives, multi-member districts, county-based districts, party list voting, list voting, proportional representation, Jefferson method, greatest divisors method, ranked choice voting, RCV, primary elections, party conventions, minor parties, major parties, ballot design, apportionment, redistricting, nomination procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• before continuing to support the VA health care system as a civilian.
• I was building systems to have to support against this quickly evolving threat.
• As you just kind of mentioned, those systems are pretty expensive.
• They fly the MQ-9 Reapers, the unmanned aerial system.
• With respect to specific acceleration of the different unmanned systems, CCAs, and other follow-on systems

Keywords: Air Force modernization, fighter aircraft, autonomous systems, air superiority, national security, recapitalization

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on military procurement and modernization, with significant discussions surrounding the Air Force's capabilities and strategic needs. Key topics included the urgent need for recapitalization of the Air Force's fighter squadrons, as well as the importance of integrating new technologies like autonomous systems to bolster military effectiveness. Several senators raised concerns about the current resources available to the Air National Guard and the potential loss of skilled service members if recapitalization plans are not swiftly developed. There were also discussions on the importance of maintaining air superiority in light of evolving threats, particularly from adversaries like China.

Bills: HB1541

Keywords: septic systems, environmental quality, public health, wastewater management, licensing and permitting, 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened on April 4 to consider two bills. House Bill 1280, Representative Brandenberg’s bill on election approval of projects, was briefly discussed after the chair said legislative council had raised constitutional concerns and the bill could invite lawsuits. Despite that caution, a member moved a do pass recommendation, it was seconded, and the committee approved HB 1280 by roll call vote. The committee then turned to House Bill 1318. The chair explained that after consulting attorneys, the phrase “notwithstanding any other provision of law” in line 7 was considered problematic and would be removed through a crafted amendment. He also said the proposed sunset clause was not a good idea and indicated the bill would be held until the following Thursday morning to allow further review. A member asked about other lines, and the chair said those provisions remained as previously amended. The committee discussed procedural handling of the bill, including whether reconsideration of a prior motion was needed, and confirmed the bill would remain in committee. No further action was taken before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This applies to licensed money transmission license holders, such as companies like PayPal, Venmo, Cash
• So the key provisions of this bill prohibit the money transmission license holder from including in their
• Second, a money transmission license holder may terminate a relationship with a customer over a violation
• for a civil penalty set at three times the amount of any fine or penalty imposed by the money transmission
• This serves as a disincentive for money transmission businesses from imposing these fines.

Bills: SB512, SB1024

Keywords: SB 512, Texas Finance Code, money transmission, money services business, money transmitter, money transmission licensee, terms of service, consumer protection, civil penalty, attorney general enforcement, account closure, refund of balance, financial services regulation, payments industry, fintech, prepaid accounts, remittance, licensee compliance, local government debt, municipal finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax applies to battery electric storage systems as well.
• One is solar on the canals, and the other is an advanced real energy storage system.
• Data centers rely on shared public resources, our power system, and our rivers.
• And this information can also be used to make sure that we're keeping an effective system.
• action if the political subdivision does not remedy that system within 90 days of a notice.

Bills: HB2521, HB2249, HB1796

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearms background checks. Staff said the bill would remove the $18 cap on Washington State Patrol background-check fees and allow fees to be adjusted to actual program costs, which were estimated at roughly $33 to $35 per check. Supporters from the State Patrol said the current fee no longer covers costs and that without flexibility the program could face layoffs and longer delays; opponents argued the bill would create an unconstitutional tax or barrier to firearm ownership and disproportionately burden low-income residents. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, work on solutions to the interpreter and translator shortage, and require agency implementation reports. Testimony was generally supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent language access for limited-English-proficient residents and families. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery account and allow advance partial payments to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship while increasing some wage-violation penalties. Labor, business, and worker advocates largely supported the bill as a bipartisan response to wage theft, and staff noted the bill’s fiscal impacts would be funded through penalties rather than the general fund. Members next heard Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax treatment, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new renewable energy excise tax, local grant program, and tribal climate capacity grants. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the concept but asked for amendments and clarification on rates, eligibility, and treatment of existing projects. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the start date and duration of existing tax incentives; supporters said it would provide needed certainty for investment, while one refinery asked for a broader county threshold. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, which would direct Agriculture to coordinate food-security planning and report on regulatory costs; food, farm, and anti-hunger groups supported the bill as a way to improve coordination and affordability. The hearing also included Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903 on a statewide low-income energy assistance program, with supporters calling it a needed supplement to existing utility aid and opponents warning it did not address underlying rate increases, and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act, which drew support from Spokane officials, labor, and environmental groups as a negotiated compromise to reduce ratepayer impacts while funding decarbonization planning. The final bill heard was Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities, especially data centers, which would require utility tariffs, sustainability reporting, renewable-energy sourcing targets, labor standards, and a sales tax exemption for certain eastern Washington data centers; tribal witnesses supported consumer and salmon protections, while utility representatives said the bill would help prevent cost shifts and provide clearer rules for growth.

Transcript Highlights:

• ...where we're not building a new system, but working off the existing system.
• the system?
• That's what we have: flood warning system, early warning system.
• And so this is not a critique of the system; this is a system that makes sense.
• Hoffman, how does the... ...system differ from the USGS system?

Keywords: flooding, emergency response, communication systems, first responders, disaster management, Texas Water Development Board, regional planning, public safety

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on discussions around the recent floods in Texas, specifically addressing emergency preparedness, response coordination, and recovery efforts. Officials from various agencies provided testimonies on the challenges faced during the emergency, including issues with communication systems among first responders. Notably, the need for improved inter-agency communication and technology integration was emphasized, with recommendations for establishing regional communications units for better coordination during disasters. The audience included local government representatives and emergency management partners, who shared insights and experiences from the recent flooding events.

Transcript Highlights:

• to do because we will not have merged the LEOFF system into a new system.
• I mean, yes, we could, because under the bill, LEOFF system will be put inside a new LEOFF system.
• systems, a.k.a. the transmission bill, establishes the Washington Electric Transmission Authority to
• support the expansion and upgrades of the transmission system and creates a 10-member board of directors
• Senate Bill 6355, concerning the electric transmission system.

Bills: HB2675, HB2249, HB2120, HB1069, HB1983, HB2431, SB6006, SB6297, SB6351, SB6353, HB2521, HB2091, HB2104, SB6355, HB2254, HB2385, SB5808, HB1796, HB1376, SB6260, HB2353

Keywords: accounts, finance, business regulation, transparency, audits, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on March 2, 2026, and took up two large groups of bills. In the first group, members heard briefings on measures dealing with state accounts, immigrant worker protections, Washington Voting Rights Act compliance, AI content provenance notices, an AI grant program, public official security, civil service coverage for WOTEC officers, JLARC work plans, LEOFF Plan 1 termination and restatement, supplemental retirement bargaining, PERS membership for certain port workers, local government tax flexibility, wildfire mitigation financing, timberland tax treatment, and related fiscal notes and amendments. In the second group, the committee heard bills on affordable housing tax remittance, alternative jet fuel incentives, renewable energy tax incentives and grants, nonprofit property tax exemptions, food bank and school sales tax exemptions, behavioral health staffing tax relief, children and youth behavioral health, Working Connections Child Care, language access guidelines, unpaid wage recovery, firearms background check fees, public employer information-sharing, and Office of Independent Investigations jurisdiction. The committee then voted on the bills and several amendments. It adopted amendments to HB 2675, HB 2105, HB 1710, HB 1170, HB 233, HB 2034, HB 1069, HB 2179, HB 2442, HB 1960, HB 6351, HB 6353, HB 2091, and HB 2508, while rejecting several other proposed amendments, including multiple changes to the immigrant worker, voting rights, and LEOFF bills. Members debated issues such as employer notice timing and private rights of action in the immigrant worker bill, the scope and enforcement of the voting rights preclearance bill, AI content regulation and exemptions for governments and video games, and the structure and fiscal effects of the LEOFF Plan 1 restatement, including a proposed transfer to the Climate Commitment Act and local government medical cost responsibilities. In the first group, the committee gave due pass recommendations to HB 2675, HB 2105, HB 1710, HB 1170, HB 233, HB 2249, HB 2120, HB 2034, HB 1069, HB 2179, HB 2442, HB 2089, and HB 1983, all subject to signatures. In the second group, it advanced HB 1717, HB 1960, HB 2431, SB 606, HB 2451, SB 6297, SB 6351, HB 2429, SB 6353, HB 2475, HB 2479, HB 2521, HB 2091, and HB 2508, also subject to signatures. The committee also received briefings on additional Group 3 bills, including low-income energy assistance, cap-and-invest fuel compliance, food security, aviation insurance for wildland fire response, waste-to-energy allowances, and other climate- and agriculture-related measures, but the transcript ends before final action on that group.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about making sure the system reflects reality.
• Something about how the system operates, I guess.
• The fact that they are in the system, whatever that is that led them there, has to be a traumatic experience

Bills: HB184, HB235, HB546, HB557, HB584, HB747, HB902, HB930

Keywords: charitable pharmacy, healthcare fees, outpatient prescription, exemption, Louisiana Department of Health, sewerage systems, individual systems, community systems, local governance, legislation, installation regulations, protective custody, peace officers, mental health, emergency medical services, involuntary admission, long-term care, healthcare, pharmacy, residents