[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6331359,"mediaKeyId","2311236-264379d160d9da221b0496baebdcc006","parentId",2311236,"title","Committee adopts substitutes and issues due‑pass recommendations for multiple bills in executive session","audioSeconds",4474,"startMs",5107000,"endMs",632400,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311236-264379d160d9da221b0496baebdcc006&start=5107&end=632","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311236-264379d160d9da221b0496baebdcc006/thumbnail_5107000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6331359/Washington/Committee-adopts-substitutes-and-issues-duepass-recommendations-for-multiple-bills-in-executive-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331359-35e558f2db9727c123048cb2ed10e794/orig.mp4?Expires=1775978637&Signature=YGQ0yGqrtlxauHsXfxHw3IBWt2sdfPQ4BG1u3Yry8Io8SgVdAWqwsCLkv02Stuv0mNrlIP-kE3RMxJg15uzyNL4AmkPPb5rp6ASbFh2-eicTGwJecxtTOav9eJ8eqdn-MMX6V-1Vvzou07HNimUiBdK7RLX4jhLqoh8ixWVOkNhccqPdVYj~-FwSa3wSHmf1zyzghBDXhud~VJ5lsmFA2NhJEW2T0H8gDoTjdr9gyTtIi6pdnYV-X7BXy3s-H2FzUWMPYF3wn9NzFHql6zych5R3RlVt2eBC0k75ypYlWHGdqMGT701ER8puxZvvjWXH950zXmXGO2h99EZGgFkpNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","During an executive session at the close of the Feb. 13 meeting, the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee took formal action on several bills. Committee staff briefed members on the bills before votes and the committee adopted substitutes or amendments and sent bills on to the next committees or to the Rules Committee with \"due pass\" recommendations.

Key outcomes recorded in the session:

- Senate Bill 5610 (equine industry funding): Committee adopted the proposed substitute and the committee moved a due‑pass recommendation sending the measure to the Ways & Means Committee. Staff described the substitute as removing a proposed tax credit and narrowing funding sources; the substitute also capped a state transfer to a new federal regulatory account at no more than $1,500,000 beginning in a later biennium.

- Senate Bill 5207 (electronic media subscriptions and refunds): The committee adopted amendment B1, rolled it into a proposed substitute, voted a due‑pass recommendation and sent the bill to the Ways & Means Committee. Staff briefed members that the amendment narrowed the bill’s scope to annual subscriptions and adjusted timing and pro rata refund calculations; the fiscal note available to the committee showed an estimated cost to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division for oversight activities.

- Senate Bill 5262 (Office of the Insurance Commissioner statutes): The committee adopted amendment C1, rolled it into a proposed substitute and voted to send the bill to the Rules Committee with a due‑pass recommendation. The amendment removed certain repeals and preserved existing coverage and rate provisions, per the chair’s amendment.

- Senate Bill 5419 (fire‑loss reporting by insurers): The committee adopted proposed substitute D and voted to send the bill to the Rules Committee. The substitute extended the reporting window for insurers from 30 days to 90 days for non‑de minimis claims, specified report fields, and added local fire marshals as eligible recipients of fire‑loss information.

- Senate Bill 5563 (horse racing): The committee considered amendment E1 and, after debate, the amendment failed on a recorded voice vote. The committee then voted to roll amendments into the bill and moved SB 5563 to the Rules Committee with a due‑pass recommendation. In committee briefing, staff described the bill as amending requirements for horse‑racing licensees and the commission and noted that striking certain sections would restore current law limits on commission spending (for example, returning a $500,000 proposed cap to the current $300,000 cap for specified commission expenditures).

Committee announcements recorded the votes as voice votes without roll call tallies in the hearing transcript. Staff indicated fiscal notes had been requested for several of the bills; the transcript records that some fiscal notes were pending and others had preliminary figures (for example, staff provided a fiscal estimate tied to the Attorney General’s office for SB 5207). The committee’s actions were recorded as \"due pass\" recommendations and, where specified in committee procedure, the bills will proceed to Ways & Means or Rules for further consideration.

These motions and recommendations were taken by voice votes during executive session and the transcript records the committee chair calling for \"ayes\" and \"nays\" as the method of decision. No roll‑call vote totals were included in the public transcript excerpts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade - 2/13/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","In executive session Feb. 13 the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee adopted substitutes or amendments and issued due‑pass recommendations for multiple bills, sending measures on equine funding, subscription refunds, insurance statutes, fire‑loss reporting and horse‑racing oversight to the next stages of review.","taxTitle","Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20500,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331364,"Committee hears bill to increase funding and change reporting for associate development organizations",4992,88000,5080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311236-264379d160d9da221b0496baebdcc006&start=88&end=5080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311236-264379d160d9da221b0496baebdcc006/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6331364/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-increase-funding-and-change-reporting-for-associate-development-organizations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331364-e2157c682f4c084e0ba57fc5c18e4ef7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775978638&Signature=f3HtsjUDd8e~9cbGNuKWfCGwW~-qVa~-dwF2Bkb51VrisZbYGc1KTFqFM0Z5i9Swl4zUkn-IvNJZu0Fx7s7oiPuyQ4BtJ6utnzm7jmYV9U75HqsYhO2iIlpx2-07Kxztdwt1L-EDHeGWNn4e99ljJaNQr0Fk~GF7vJG-Jy9eKSoNEgC9EHevxxPGDo1hqaEDpfUPKaue1t0iTGjd54Bo1vQktAGSgGHwlrEEhM2JegiFLIyqOBaSBRvlgaocDfsPpYrtHoXQM6GcBmhtlUjMmVqb6-TzqzEWmzI-XO1CsnUDqcw6n2KfQgNj0oZwCeIEBXmin2WmgPyOVirvtcsJUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5677, concerning associate development organizations (ADOs), received a public hearing Feb. 13 before the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee. The bill’s sponsor, Senator June Cortez, described ADOs as the state’s local economic‑development partners and urged the committee to support increased assistance targeted to both rural and urban counties.

Committee staff summarized the bill’s provisions. Under current statute, ADO awards are tied to per‑capita and county allocations that vary between urban and rural counties. Staff said SB 5677 narrows eligible contract purposes to ‘‘direct assistance’’ such as business planning and changes the award schedule: for urban counties the per‑county allocation cap would be raised (staff briefed the committee that the previous $300,000 cap for urban ADOs would be modified to a $500,000 cap under the proposed changes); for rural counties the bill sets a per‑county allocation range with minimums and maximums (staff described rural allocations of at least $85,000 and up to $150,000). The bill allows the required match to include cash, in‑kind contributions or a combination, but limits in‑kind matching to 25 percent. Reporting requirements specific to ADOs serving counties with populations over 1,500,000 (the staff briefing described this as applying to King County) would be removed.

Proponents from across the state urged passage. Suzanne Dale Estee, executive director of the Washington Economic Development Association, said the bill is intended to make statutory changes that are “cost neutral” while helping rural capacity and urban ADOs that were not aided by recent appropriations. \"ADO funding from the state is leveraged by at least $6 for each $1 from the state,\" she said.

Regional ADO leaders gave concrete examples of local impact. Jennifer Baker, president and CEO of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, said the Clark County ADO achieved what she described as $34 million in business‑to‑business activity last year, secured 9 business retention or expansion wins, supported 445 jobs and attracted roughly $338 million in capital investment. Jenny Dickinson, who serves the Port of Columbia and the Columbia County ADO, described Columbia County as the state's second‑smallest by population (about 4,100 residents) and said the state ADO funds are essential to projects such as a countywide broadband build, an artisan food processing park and a new childcare center—initiatives Dickinson said would not have occurred without ADO resources.

Darren Raines of Greater Grays Harbor Inc. said ADO funding is a cornerstone of regional operational budgets and testified that each state dollar helps leverage public and private matches that are critical to local entrepreneurship, business retention, and job creation in rural counties.

Committee members asked questions about reporting, past legislation that added monitoring requirements for minority‑owned business engagement, and where final reports are filed. Staff said reports typically are delivered to the committee chair and circulated to members and staff; staff and the sponsor offered to follow up with specific legislative history on prior reporting mandates.

The committee did not vote on SB 5677 at the hearing. Public testimony concluded and the committee proceeded to other items on the agenda.","Senate Bill 5677 would raise per‑ADO funding caps, expand rural allocations and streamline some reporting for large counties; state and local ADO leaders urged support, saying state investment leverages significant local matches and supports rural projects.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331369,"Senate committee hears bill to curb social‑media features for minors as supporters cite mental‑health harms, industry raises legal and practical concerns",3775,550000,4325000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311236-264379d160d9da221b0496baebdcc006&start=550&end=4325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311236-264379d160d9da221b0496baebdcc006/thumbnail_550000.jpg","/articles/6331369/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-curb-socialmedia-features-for-minors-as-supporters-cite-mentalhealth-harms-industry-raises-legal-and-practical-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331369-7257530ed9af79ece349f4b4f2bb105f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775978638&Signature=gPvIf80J4c4PNp1awwJblhxoCdExpB1BFQbJ0IDyXPbO1Le8UH6AixO3KsrV63PstXIx~OImqsFbzhSifJvtuUm9vWw0~BMcHpgEqw8uHrkV9VkS3W4YXqoIaZ3ryPHdz6d1i2IpoQLjwUbaAg84L-o2iimDavjulOFPcVcm~PfAhPIi51K7xT6TX8nU6tKTj6fIB-aRavNfPcM48WqShqBrZWhh-K7gCrnGkhtVwhpNovLxVw0xrv4Y8fgswNSa15SMVyoMExNxRBzKVlAwmSTlOD79ovyZ-0UUQvAfZ4UTqdfz2ALvBDuaCy0guAk6WUffNt4iUT4v3R4-V6Sdpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee held a public hearing Feb. 13 on Senate Bill 5708, a measure that would require online services likely to be accessed by minors to estimate user age with reasonable certainty, limit collection and profiling of minors’ data, restrict targeted notifications and prohibit ‘‘addictive feeds’’ to known minors until 2026 and more broadly beginning in 2026.

The bill’s sponsor, State Senator Noelle Frame, told the committee the measure is intended to protect children’s mental health and expand prevention alongside behavioral‑health services. \"This bill will significantly improve and protect the mental health of Washington's kids,\" Frame said during her remarks to the committee.

Committee staff said the bill mirrors provisions in recently enacted California laws and in federal proposals such as the Children and Teens Online Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act, and that litigation over the California statutes in the federal courts — including in the Ninth Circuit — could affect how the Washington measure is applied. Adam Eitman of the Office of the Attorney General described the bill’s core requirements: reasonable age estimation or applying minors’ privacy safeguards to all users, limits on collection and use of precise location and profile data for minors, restrictions on “dark patterns,” default privacy settings and permitted notification windows, and options for users to limit exposure to addictive content. He noted enforcement would operate under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act.

Supporters who testified in favor said the bill responds to mounting evidence of harm. Taku Manashita from the Office of the Governor urged passage, citing the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on youth mental health and social media and warning that excessive use correlates with higher rates of anxiety and depression. Laura Marquez Garrett of the Social Media Victims Law Center described interviews and case reviews of children harmed by product features she characterizes as designed to create dependency: \"The common factor is harmful dependency, due to product features intended to addict,\" Garrett said. Taj Jensen, a father whose son died after purchasing what he described as a drug through a social platform, testified that location features and algorithmic recommendations played a role in his son’s death and urged lawmakers to prioritize children’s safety over corporate profit: \"It comes down to kids' lives or tech profit,\" he said.

Experts and advocates who support the bill also told the committee they expect platforms already use age‑estimation technologies and data profiles; those witnesses said the law would require companies to use that capability to protect minors. The Children’s Alliance and testimony from a public‑school teacher and parent highlighted student use during school hours and late at night and said limiting algorithmic targeting could have measurable public‑health benefits.

Industry representatives and business groups urged caution. Morgan Derwin of the Association of Washington Business and Rose Feliciano of TechNet said state‑level regulation risks running afoul of constitutional limits and the dormant commerce clause; Derwin pointed to litigation over California’s law and argued that state rules that effectively regulate out‑of‑state companies can raise legal exposure. TechNet’s testimony called parts of the draft “likely unconstitutional,” citing First Amendment and compelled‑speech concerns. Robert Singleton of the Chamber of Progress said the proposal would force operators either to verify ages via government ID or biometric data — raising privacy and security concerns — or to default to heavy-handed measures: \"There are really only two definitive ways to verify a user's age with certainty: government ID or biometric data,\" he said.

Committee members asked multiple witnesses how companies would meet the age‑estimation requirement. Staff and AG office representatives acknowledged the bill leaves the specific methods to operators and noted rapidly evolving tools; several witnesses told the committee they would follow up with technical explanations. The committee also heard alternatives and practical concerns about compliance, enforcement costs and whether a state law would survive federal court challenges.

The bill drew a mixture of personal testimony, research citations and legal warnings. Student testimony from Lake Washington High School student Matthew Hong said the bill’s limits on profiling and dark patterns would better protect minors and urged safeguards that do not require identity documents. Supporters argued the bill balances protections for youth with parental rights and options for minors to be informed of parental tracking tools.

No vote on SB 5708 took place at the hearing. After a prolonged public‑testimony period that included dozens of witnesses for and against the measure, the committee closed the public hearing and later moved into executive session on several, separate bills.

The committee record shows extensive public comment and multiple requests for technical follow‑up from staff and the sponsoring offices; the chair did not take a formal vote on SB 5708 at that time.","Lawmakers heard hours of testimony on SB 5708, a proposal to require age assurance, limit data use and restrict ‘‘addictive feeds’’ for users under 18. Supporters cited mental‑health studies and personal tragedies; industry groups warned of First Amendment, privacy and interstate‑commerce problems and asked for changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts substitutes and issues due‑pass recommendations for multiple bills in executive session

Committee hears bill to increase funding and change reporting for associate development organizations

Senate committee hears bill to curb social‑media features for minors as supporters cite mental‑health harms, industry raises legal and practical concerns