SB5720 — The committee opens its public hearing on Senate Bill 5720, a proposed substitute relating to the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act. Staff briefs the committee on the bill and notes that it applies to consumer debt default judgments commenced on or after January 1, 2027. The sponsor then recommends the bill and invites questions. Public testimony follows, including support from Mindy Chumbly. The committee then closes the public hearing on SB 5720.
Sam Leonard — Introduces himself as a private consumer attorney and board member at Northwest Consumer Law Center.
Keith Wagoner — Said he intends to amend the law enforcement liability language.
Keith Wagoner — Reiterated support for the bill and said he will bring an amendment in executive session.
Keith Wagoner — Witness acknowledged the sponsor's willingness to amend the liability language.
Keith Wagoner — Asked about possible changes to Section 2 and was noted for good communication with the Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Keith Wagoner — Was asked whether removing changes to Section 2 would make the bill acceptable.
Keith Wagoner — Was credited with good communication on the bill.
Keith Wagoner — Responded appreciatively to the testimony, said he would take the comments as constructive criticism, and joked about fixing the Toyota's heat issue.
Keith Wagoner — The chair thanked the senator for patience before staff briefing; the name appears to be a transcription error and is uncertain.
Keith Wagoner — Asked whether the disgorgement of profits and million-dollar fine provisions are connected and whether there is a limit on disgorgement.
Keith Wagoner — The chair welcomed the senator to present the bill; the name appears to be a transcription error and is uncertain.
Keith Wagoner — Senator Keith Wagoner asks for clarification on the meaning of 'knowingly engages' in the bill and raises concerns about its legal definition and practical effect. The exchange remains focused on interpreting the language, and he is then prompted for any follow-up questions, indicating the discussion is still part of the same line of inquiry.
Keith Wagoner — Asks whether there is a middle ground between a 9% cap and zero interest on medical debt.
Sarah Hawke — Sarah Hawke, Executive Director of Joint Animal Services and president of the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies, introduced herself and explained that she was testifying to express concerns with Senate Bill 5833.
James McMahon — Policy Director with the Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; said the organization signed an other on the bill and supports crime prevention efforts, while noting concerns about auto theft and vehicle prowls.
James McMahon — Policy Director with the Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; supports accountability and victim privacy, but has concerns about Section 4.
SB5936 — The committee transitions to Senate Bill 5936, and staff begins briefing the bill, which concerns prevention of and remedies for human trafficking.
SB5936 — Public testimony on Senate Bill 5936 centers on support for the bill’s anti-trafficking goals, alongside requests for clarification and suggested amendments. Witnesses urge passage but ask the committee to refine liability language by adding terms like "direct" and "willfully," clarify confidentiality provisions, and address confusion in Section 4, which is described as duplicative or misaligned with current law. The discussion also notes that an amendment is expected to adjust Section 4, and public testimony concludes without con testimony.
Ryan Gianni — Staff counsel to the committee; began the staff briefing on SB 5936 and described the bill's background on human trafficking.
Noel Gomez — Noel Gomez, speaking remotely as the first public witness, identifies herself as a survivor of human sex trafficking and a representative of Waste Forward/Washington Against Sexual Exploitation. She describes a trafficking pattern involving victims being made to rent motel rooms in their own names, emphasizes the lack of accountability and the lasting trauma of trafficking, and states her support for the bill because survivors deserve justice and the ability to stay and rebuild their lives.
Paula Reed — Paula Reed is introduced as the next witness and then gives testimony as the executive director of the state chapter for Children's Advocacy Centers. She speaks in strong support of SB 5936, framing trafficking as child abuse and emphasizing the importance of confidentiality protections for victims as well as business liability provisions in the bill.
Robin Miller — Robin Miller is introduced and then gives testimony in support of the bill. She describes her experiences with trafficking in the Seattle, Tacoma, SeaTac, and Portland areas, including trafficking connected to hotels and other establishments. She emphasizes the need for victim anonymity and confidentiality protections, as well as early support for T or U visa assistance and law enforcement advocacy for survivors. She concludes by noting that prevention efforts alone may not stop trafficking, but accountability can reduce harm, and offers to answer questions.
Manka Dhingra — Multiple speakers address Chair Manka Dhingra by name during the opening portion of the meeting, with the transcript showing minor spelling variations of her name but consistently indicating that the chair is being acknowledged and greeted.
Manka Dhingra — Addressed as Chair.
Manka Dhingra — Multiple speakers greeted Chair/Senator Manka Dhingra and the committee at the start of testimony, addressing her respectfully in opening remarks without any substantive topic shift.
Manka Dhingra — Addressed as Chair Dhingra at the start of testimony.
Manka Dhingra — Addressed as Chairman Dhingra at the start of testimony.
Manka Dhingra — The chair is addressed as Chair Dhingra when testimony begins.
Andrea Ray — Testified on behalf of the Washington Hospitality Association and said the industry seeks clarity and feedback on Senate Bill 5936.
Jeff Holy — Begins a follow-up question after the prior exchange.
Jeff Holy — Asks whether the concern is the lack of a protocol, the resulting liability, or both, regarding Section 4.
Jeff Holy — Addressed as Ranking Member.
Jeff Holy — Asked whether the six-year collection period is aligned with a statute or is unique.
Jeff Holy — Senator Jeff Holy was addressed during the exchange, first being asked whether his question had been answered and invited to ask Julia a follow-up, then being referenced again for the record.
Jeff Holy — Senator Holy questions whether unpaid medical bills are effectively shifted to other payers through institutional fixed and variable costs, then follows up with concerns about critical access hospitals in eastern Washington and asks for a breakdown of unpaid medical debt, particularly how much is tied to unreimbursed emergency room care. The exchange stays focused on how uncompensated care affects hospitals and other payers.
Jeff Holy — Senator Jeff Holy questions whether the bill is meaningfully different from existing federal law, whether it is necessary, and whether it simply restates current law or addresses a national manufacturing issue that the state bill would only indirectly affect. He is later referenced as Ranking Member Holy.
SB5993 — The committee transitions to Senate Bill 5993 and receives a staff briefing on the bill, which relates to prohibiting interest charges on new and unpaid medical debt.
SB5993 — Senate Bill 5993 is discussed as a proposal to prohibit interest on new and unpaid medical debt and impose a six-year limitation. AARP strongly supports the bill, saying it would prevent medical bills from growing and protect older adults from compounding financial harm. Later testimony from the Washington State Hospital Association and WSMA expresses respectful opposition, acknowledging the issue the bill is trying to address but arguing that eliminating interest on medical debt is unfair to providers who delivered care. The overall discussion centers on the bill’s medical-debt protections and the competing support and opposition from stakeholders.
SB5993 — SB 5993 was summarized as a bill that would prohibit charging or collecting interest on new or unpaid medical debt and limit the enforcement or collection period for judgments or debts involving medical debt to six years.
SB5993 — During the public hearing on SB 5993, multiple witnesses testified largely in opposition to the bill. They urged the committee not to advance it, arguing that it could apply retroactively, extend beyond medical debt to other debts, create uncertainty around enforcement, increase lawsuits and strain courts, and negatively affect health care delivery, provider capacity, patient choice, and the doctor-patient relationship. Several speakers asked for additional stakeholder work or amendments, including changes to allow an additional renewal period before the bill moves forward. The hearing concluded after this testimony.
Phil Fortunato — Senator Phil Fortunato is called on to ask questions and then raises concerns about the bill’s approach to medical debt. He notes that medical debt was recently removed from credit reporting and asks whether eliminating interest and related consequences would reduce incentives for people to pay. He also questions the impact on small, especially rural, hospitals, expressing concern that zero-interest debt could be devastating for hospitals and asking how the bill would address that problem.
Phil Fortunato — The discussion centers on Senator Fortunato’s concerns about medical debt and its impact on rural hospitals. The speaker references Fortunato’s earlier comments from the prior year and acknowledges his point about the issue. The exchange then returns to Fortunato, who questions what incentive anyone would have to pay medical debt if it expires after six years and is not reported to credit agencies.
Phil Fortunato — Senator Phil Fortunato asks follow-up questions about the bill’s definition of covered devices, specifically whether pellet guns are included as BB devices and whether a laser pistol that does not fire a projectile but resembles a firearm would be covered.
Phil Fortunato — Jane directly addresses Senator Phil Fortunato while explaining that the CERT laser pistol would be included under the bill.
Emily Alvarado — Emily Alvarado introduced the bill as an affordability and health care cost measure aimed at addressing medical debt. She explained that families often incur debt from emergencies, accidents, deductibles, and co-pays, and that many Washingtonians delay or forgo care because of cost. She argued that interest charges and long renewal periods can cause medical debt to spiral, noted that Washington’s debt interest limits have not been updated since 2019, and responded to a question by saying her research found no evidence that high interest rates increase repayment likelihood. She concluded by deferring a narrower six-year question to staff or later panelists.
Catherine McCall — Scheduled to testify in public testimony.
Julia Callison — Scheduled to testify in public testimony.
Kathy McCall — Kathy McCall, speaking for AARP in Washington, testified in strong support of Senate Bill 5993. She said AARP represents nearly 870,000 Washingtonians age 50 and older and explained that the bill is important because medical debt is a major financial burden for older adults, especially those on fixed incomes. She cited data showing that people ages 50 to 64 have the highest prevalence of medical debt and that many Washingtonians ages 45 to 64 have postponed or skipped medical care. She concluded that older adults are responsible about paying their debts, and AARP supports the bill as a consumer protection measure.
Julia Kellison — Julia Kellison, a consumer attorney with Northwest Justice Project, testified that low-income clients are harmed by medical debt through wage garnishment and accumulating judgment interest, which can trap them in long-term financial crises they will never be able to escape. She supported the bill’s six-year judgment limit and no-interest approach for future medical debt, saying it is reasonable and still gives creditors up to 12 years total to collect while reducing the burden of perpetual debt.