HB2157 — House Bill 2157 is introduced as a bill regulating high-risk AI. The discussion then explains the proposed substitute, including changes to definitions and exemptions, and further details a modification to the exemption relating to insurers.
Cindy Ryu — A proposed substitute is attributed to Representative Ryu.
Cindy Ryu — Votes aye.
Cindy Ryu — The chair is addressed by name as the next witness is invited to speak.
HB2225 — The committee takes up House Bill 2225, which regulates artificial intelligence companion chatbots, and reviews proposed substitutes and amendments. Members describe changes to the bill’s definitions, disclosure requirements, protections for minors, crisis-resource and self-harm safeguards, and enforcement provisions. The committee then moves to executive session and final action on the proposed substitute, with speakers offering both support and concerns about the bill’s readiness and remaining issues. After discussion, the chair calls for the vote, roll call begins, and the substitute House Bill 2225 is reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation.
Stephanie Barnard — Representative Stephanie Barnard is referenced in connection with multiple amendments during the meeting, including as the sponsor of Pool 159 and amendment H-3146.1, within the broader legislative discussion.
Stephanie Barnard — Representative Barnard is called on during the floor proceedings, is recorded as voting aye, and then speaks in support of House Bill 2186 and the committee process, noting the bill’s long history.
Stephanie Barnard — Representative Barnard is cited as noting that no one signed in against the bill and as volunteering to introduce amendments.
Stephanie Barnard — Identified as having a question for the witnesses.
Paul Harris — Representative Paul asks whether the proposed substitute affects the fiscal cost of the bill.
Shelley Kloba — Representative Kloba is identified as having a question about the two proposed substitutes.
Shelley Kloba — Representative Kloba comments that the two proposed substitutes take different approaches but share common end goals.
Shelley Kloba — Vice Chair Kloba moves to report proposed substitute House Bill 2225 out of committee with a due pass recommendation.
Shelley Kloba — Vice Chair Kloba is addressed while moving to amendment Pool 159.
Shelley Kloba — Votes aye.
Shelley Kloba — Vice Chair is addressed in moving to the next bill.
Shelley Kloba — Addressed as Vice Chair Kloba regarding the list of testifiers.
Shelley Kloba — Representative Shelley Kloba is introduced as having a question and then thanks the witnesses for their service, praises their teamwork, and notes the bill’s dignity-and-respect language.
HB2351 — The committee transitions to House Bill 2351, concerning protection of emergency responders and emergency response operations.
HB2186 — The committee transitions to House Bill 2186, a bill supporting the acquisition of federal funds to promote economic development, and later identifies it as one of the bills to be taken up in executive session.
HB2186 — The committee takes up House Bill 2186, moves to report the proposed substitute version (H 3097.2) out of committee with a due pass recommendation, hears brief remarks noting the bill or a version of it has been before the committee for the past three years, and then votes to send the substitute bill out of committee. The bill is ultimately reported out with a due pass unanimous recommendation.
HB2225 — The committee considers a motion to report the proposed substitute for House Bill 2225 out of committee with a due pass recommendation, and the motion is seconded and clarified.
HB2225 — The motion is clarified to specify version H 314.1 for House Bill 2225.
Julia Reed — Representative Julia Thomas is called on to speak, is later referenced as someone to work with on amendments, and then votes aye on the matter.
Emily Poole — Staff member thanked by the speaker for work on the substitute.
Amy Walen — Representative Callan is referenced as part of the ongoing work on the bill, including appropriations involvement and collaboration on proposed amendments.
Julio Cortes — Votes aye.
Brandy Donaghy — Representative Brandy Donaghy is noted as excused from the vote, and later appears again in a broader list of members excused from the vote alongside Representatives Simmons and Volz.
Michael Keaton — Votes nay, do not pass.
Michael Keaton — Representative Michael Keaton, the prime sponsor of House Bill 2417, introduced himself and testified in support of the bill. He explained that it closes a victim-protection gap and emphasized its importance for unit cohesion, readiness, morale, trust, and leadership, drawing on his experience as a former squadron commander. During the discussion, the chair and other members referred to him as the prime sponsor and thanked him for his service. Keaton then deferred some technical questions to the panel regarding Title 10 and Title 32 issues and later asked the panel whether consistency across those titles is important for trust and leadership. The exchange concluded with closing remarks praising the bill.
Dave Paul — Votes aye.
Joshua Penner — Votes nay without recommendation.
Clyde Shavers — Votes aye.
Tarra Simmons — Representative Tarra Simmons is repeatedly listed as excused from the vote during the roll call.
Mike Volz — Representative Mike Volz was excused from the vote, with the excusal reiterated in subsequent roll-call style mentions.
Kevin Waters — Votes nay, do not pass.
HB2397 — House Bill 2397 is introduced and explained as legislation requiring timely reimbursement for state agencies and local jurisdictions mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services mobilization plan, including a 60-day reimbursement timeline after mobilization ends. Multiple witnesses testify in support, saying the bill is a meaningful improvement that strengthens trust and clarifies expectations for reimbursement, while also noting implementation concerns and suggesting technical refinements, such as clarifying when the reimbursement clock starts. The testimony remains generally supportive, with discussion focused on keeping the bill centered on the fire mobilization plan and improving its language. No opposition is heard, and the hearing on House Bill 2397 is ultimately closed with the bill scheduled for executive session the following week.
Nicholas Gullickson — Identified as one of the in-person testifiers.
Leonard Johnson — Leonard Johnson is identified as one of the in-person testifiers, then introduces himself as the fire chief of the McLean Black Lake Fire Department and chair of the Washington Fire Defense Committee, testifying in support of the legislation.
Kelsey Barrett — Identified as the remote testifier to be elevated to speak third.
Kelsey Barrett — Kelsey Barrett, the final online testifier, speaks in support of House Bill 2397 and explains that South King Fire has experienced delays in reimbursement for wildland deployments over the past couple of years. She says these delays force the department to keep enough excess cash on hand to cover expenditures from October through March without major incoming funding, which strains reserves and cash flow. Barrett concludes that timely reimbursements would help replenish funding and allow the department to continue providing the highest level of service.
Nick Gullickson — Testifies in support of House Bill 2397 on behalf of the Washington State Council of Firefighters.
HB2417 — House Bill 2417 is introduced and heard as a measure to amend the Washington Code of Military Justice to add victim protections similar to those in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The staff and sponsors explain that it closes a gap in current law, provides clear guidance to commanders, and ensures dignity, respect, and equal statutory protections for victims of offenses arising under the WCMJ. Witnesses testify in support, describing it as a fairness measure and a needed modernization of military justice, and the Veterans Legislative Coalition reports unanimous support. The hearing on the bill is then closed.
Laurie Jinkins — The chair is directing the hearing and calling on Representative Keaton.
Lieutenant Colonel Amy Murray — Lieutenant Colonel Amy Murray testified in support of House Bill 2417, introducing herself as a Washington National Guard attorney and noting that she was present with Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Beck. She explained that she and Beck had served together as special victims’ counsel representing victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Beck — Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Beck, a member of the Washington Air National Guard, testified in support of the bill. She explained that it closes a gap by aligning the Washington Code of Military Justice with the federal Uniform Code of Military Justice, extending victim protections and providing clear guidance to unit leadership. She then clarified the different duty statuses for guardsmen—such as state active duty, Title 10, and Title 32—and explained when federal UCMJ authority applies versus when state military justice governs, helping illustrate why the bill is needed.
Lieutenant Colonel Beck — Beck's earlier point about resources and protections was endorsed.
Maria Duce-Peri — A final online testifier was announced, though the name appears slightly uncertain.
Maria Ducé Perry — A retired Army Judge Advocate testified on behalf of the Washington State Veterans Legislative Coalition.
HB2417 — HB 2417 is presented as a bill ensuring that victims or service members serving in a state capacity receive the same fundamental protections, regardless of mission details or paperwork, and the witness concludes by urging support for the bill.