Suzanne Schmidt — Her second amendment, RAIL 025, is described as authorizing more claims managers.
Suzanne Schmidt — Her amendment remains under consideration along with the proposed substitute.
Suzanne Schmidt — Her office is used as the Republicans' caucus location.
Suzanne Schmidt — Requested to speak on final passage.
Suzanne Schmidt — Supported the bill and described it as a transparency measure for experience ratings and workers' compensation rates.
Suzanne Schmidt — Moved amendment RAIL 025 and was asked to discuss it.
Suzanne Schmidt — Explained the amendment as a staffing increase for L&I claims managers based on JLARC findings.
Suzanne Schmidt — Continued explaining the staffing amendment and its purpose.
Suzanne Schmidt — Continued advocating for the amendment and its staffing rationale.
Suzanne Schmidt — Praised for identifying the overloaded case manager problem.
Suzanne Schmidt — Called on to respond after Ortiz-Self's remarks.
Suzanne Schmidt — Representative Schmidt votes nay, do not pass.
Sharlett Mena — Representative Ortiz-Self is discussed in connection with her amendments to House Bill 2218, including questions about whether she needs to be present to withdraw them and references to the specific amendment language. The chair then notes that she is present and asks her to withdraw the amendments, and Ortiz-Self responds that she would like to withdraw both amendments.
HB2188 — House Bill 2188 is introduced and described as a bill requiring L&I to publish certain data on workers' compensation premium rates. The second mention continues the same explanation without adding a new topic or amendment, reinforcing that the bill concerns publication of premium-rate data in the workers' compensation system.
HB2188 — The committee considered House Bill 2188, and Vice Chair Foss moved to report it out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. The motion carried, and HB 2188 was officially reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.
HB2524 — House Bill 2524 is introduced as the bill creating the State Security Guards Industry Standards Board and establishing related standards for security guards. The discussion then turns to Amendment 237, which would remove the private right of action from the underlying bill while leaving other enforcement provisions in place.
HB2524 — Vice Chair Foss moved that House Bill 2524 be reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation. The committee then noted that the motion had been made and seconded, and that amendments were also pending.
HB2524 — The speaker discusses House Bill 2524 as a harmful measure for non-union security guards at local data centers and, continuing that argument, urges the committee to vote on the bill immediately.
HB2563 — House Bill 2563, which concerns notices sent by the Office of Administrative Hearings in unemployment cases, is later removed from consideration after the caucus break.
HB2218 — House Bill 2218 is introduced as a bill concerning access to medical care in the workers’ compensation system. The chair outlines the amendment structure, noting a proposed substitute along with amendments to both the substitute and the original bill. The discussion then turns to the proposed substitute’s substantive changes, including an intent section, changes to treatment-guideline determinations, and expanded access to non-network care in certain rural counties, while also incorporating an earlier amendment. By the end of the discussion, the committee narrows consideration to the proposed substitute and one remaining amendment after some withdrawals.
HB2218 — The committee considered Proposed Substitute House Bill 2218, with Vice Chair Foss moving the bill and the committee then moving and seconding it to be reported out with a due pass recommendation.
HB2218 — The committee considered Substitute House Bill 2218, adopted amendments were incorporated, and the bill was then reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation.
Alicia Rule — Representative Ortiz-Self spoke on final passage in support of the bill, saying the issue has been raised for years and that the current system has not worked well for people who struggle to advocate for themselves, lack legal knowledge, or live in rural areas. She noted the bill was carefully crafted with stakeholder input, thanked everyone involved, and urged a yes vote.
Roger Goodman — Spoke in support of the proposed substitute while raising concerns about inducement language and the fiscal note.
Roger Goodman — Votes no without recommendation.
Roger Goodman — Moves Amendment Leon 237.
Laurie Jinkins — Chair Berry is referenced during roll call as voting aye, and then is directly addressed during the motion with a brief acknowledgment.
April Connors — Vice Chair Foss votes aye on the substitute bill, then moves House Bill 2524, and later moves the amended substitute bill out of committee.
Sharon Shewmake — Excused from the vote.
Alex Ybarra — Representative Alex Ybarra/Ibarra votes aye on the substitute bill and then states support for Amendment Leon 236, describing it as a set of small technical changes that make sense and indicating a yes vote.
Peter Abbarno — Votes aye.
Peter Abbarno — Representative Abbarno is recorded as voting nay, do not pass; the transcript also appears to conflate Ibarra and Abbarno in the same vote record.
Jim Walsh — Name is unclear in transcript; likely a member vote recorded as aye.
Matt Marshall — Name is unclear in transcript; vote recorded as aye.
Matt Marshall — Begins remarks opposing the bill on fiscal grounds.
Edwin Obras — Representative Edwin Obras votes aye, then explains Amendment Leon 236 as a technical fix requested with L&I input. He is later recognized on final passage and speaks in support of the bill, describing it as one of the worker protection bills and affirming its purpose.
HB2524 — The committee considers Substitute House Bill 2524, beginning with a motion to incorporate the adopted amendment and report the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation, followed by a second and the bill being reported out. Members then speak in support of the measure, describing it as a worker protection bill that would create a Standards Board for security guards to improve training, stability, workplace protection, and the ability of workers to protect the public and clients. The discussion concludes with an urging of support and the formal report of the bill out of committee with a due pass recommendation.
Andrew Barkis — Raises concerns about the bill, including collective bargaining language and unionized workers.
Liz Berry — Representative Berry votes aye.
Mike Chapman — Representative Foss votes aye.
Sharon Santos — Representative Scott is excused.
Stephanie McClintock — The transcript appears to garble the member name; the vote is recorded as aye.
Dan Bronoske — Representative McIntyre votes nay, do not pass.
Timm Ormsby — Representative Obras votes aye.
Suzanne Schmidt — Identified as the sponsor of Amendment 237 to House Bill 2524.
Suzanne Schmidt — Asked to withdraw her amendments on House Bill 2218.
Suzanne Schmidt — Her amendments are being withdrawn; the transcript contains several garbled amendment numbers.
Suzanne Schmidt — Has two amendments to the proposed substitute; one was withdrawn and the other is discussed next.