Transcript Highlights:

• In support of the bill, I want to thank the author for his efforts on this.
• I want to thank the author for his efforts on this.
• It will probably be the largest affordable housing project on the West Coast.
• Thank you, members, and thank the author for bringing this forward.
• And I appreciate the author bringing this forward.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on wildfire resilience, land use, and local government transparency. SB 911 by Senator Becker would require notification to fire enforcement agencies when a home in a high fire severity zone is sold with an agreement for the buyer to bring the property into defensible-space compliance; the California Association of Realtors said it would drop opposition if the bill is amended to use the preliminary change of ownership report, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 994 by Senator Cabaldon would bar local officials from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from sharing information with the elected decision-makers of their jurisdiction; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it also passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1041 by Senator Riggins would expand PACE financing for wildfire home-hardening improvements and add consumer protections, but it drew strong opposition from homeowner advocates, county treasurers, bankers, and others over predatory lending and lien concerns; it passed 3-2 and remained on call. The committee also considered SB 1075 by Senator Reyes, which would require local governments in AB 617 communities to consider air-quality reduction measures in land-use approvals for industrial and commercial projects. Environmental justice groups supported the bill as a way to implement community air plans, while counties, cities, business groups, builders, trucking interests, and others opposed it as duplicative of CEQA and a barrier to investment and jobs. After debate over local control and environmental justice, the bill passed 3-2 and remained on call. SB 958 by Senator Cabaldon would advance the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego, replacing a former arena and parking lots with housing, affordable units, parks, and a new entertainment venue; with no opposition voiced, it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. Another wildfire-related measure, SB 1182 by Senator Allen, would require local governments to consider insurance availability in safety planning for development in high fire hazard areas and direct state technical guidance on the issue. Supporters said insurance access is now a key indicator of risk, while some members questioned whether the bill would add useful information or burden local governments; the bill received a 1-1 vote and remained on call. The committee then began hearing SB 1116 by Senator Caballero, a starter-home/infill housing bill creating a streamlined ministerial path for small projects up to 10 units, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or a vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill gives trained and authorized law enforcement officers clear legal authority to detect, track
• , and respond to dangerous drone activity, and aligns Missouri law with existing federal authority while
• Yes, it authorizes our law enforcement on the ground to be able to tackle this growing threat posed by
• level of government to... ...pre-authorization at any level of government to go up with the drone.
• If you're a member of the Missouri National Guard or any state National Guard, there are different statuses

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened after a quorum call and welcomed several guests and advocacy groups, including disability rights advocates, American Heart Association volunteers, and special guests connected to public safety, transportation, and Miss Missouri. After quorum was established, the chamber moved into House bills on perfection and formal passage. Members first debated House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2587, which would update Missouri law on unmanned aircraft and give trained law enforcement clearer authority to detect, track, and respond to dangerous drone activity around critical infrastructure and major events such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches. Supporters said it was needed for public safety and to align with federal law; some members raised concerns about FAA jurisdiction, commercial drone use, privacy, and possible future expansion. The substitute was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The House then took up House Bill 1977, which removes notarization requirements for detention and evaluation applications and related documents when completed by certain qualified professionals; members said it would help rural hospitals and streamline 96-hour commitment paperwork. That bill was also adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The chamber next considered House Bill 2593, a Missouri National Guard and military affairs bill modernizing Guard authority to respond to cyber threats, updating awards and emergency relief provisions, and adding veterans’ recognition language. Three amendments were adopted: one creating a living organ donor leave/status provision for Guard members, one providing a monthly allowance to cover TRICARE or similar premiums for certain service members on state active duty, and one extending legal protections to Guard personnel activated for state emergency duty, similar to federal servicemember protections. The amended bill was then ordered perfected and printed. Finally, the House debated House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1948, the fatherhood bill creating a state fatherhood program to support community organizations and nonprofits that help fathers overcome barriers to involvement with their children. Supporters cited child welfare, poverty, incarceration, and reintegration benefits; opponents questioned whether it was an appropriate government role. An amendment was adopted to preserve certain driving, hunting/fishing, and occupational license relief for participating fathers who comply with child support or custody obligations. The amended bill was then ordered perfected and printed. The House also adopted House Bill 2473, which clarifies rules for real estate brokers’ trust accounts by allowing limited personal funds for service charges and permitting interest to be withdrawn within 30 days, and then adjourned after announcements and notice of bills to be considered on the next legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> next Slide the uh the National Guard next Slide the uh the National Guard it's<00:47:36.920><c>
• </c><00:48:01.760><c> has</c> occur and uh the National Guard has occur and uh the National Guard has
• Guard let's go next slide so just a this Guard let's go next slide so just a this this<00:52:19.880><
• </c> the headquarters of the National Guard the headquarters of the National Guard it<00:57:38.640><c
• </c> inlist in the Minnesota National Guard inlist in the Minnesota National Guard army<01:09:12.960>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That thing caught me off guard. I want to thank you for that.
• Welfare has no formal authority over to establish some standardized protocols for how their schools or
• Creating a position or a department without the proper funding and the proper authority is not setting
• We have no formal authority; we're a nonprofit.
• We're going to have to invest more authority or more money because we know what works.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the security forces for the New Hampshire Air National Guard at Pease, their authority would be limited
• </c> National Guard at peace, their authority National Guard at peace, their authority would<01:30:51.280
• Guard.
• Guard.
• </c> authority actually had to. authority actually had to.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1651, which would create a civil sexual assault protective order for survivors who do not have a domestic violence or stalking relationship with the offender, and would also update the sexual assault survivors’ bill of rights regarding evidence kit retention and tracking. Representative Jennifer Rhodes, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to fill gaps for survivors assaulted by strangers, acquaintances, or others outside existing protective-order categories, and to ensure evidence is preserved for the longer of the statute of limitations or the retention period. Committee members asked whether the new order could be misused and how the bill would prevent frivolous petitions; the sponsor said the same legal process would apply and a victim would still have to prove they were actually assaulted. Representative Eileen Kelly and Lynn Shallet of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence testified in support, saying current law leaves many sexual assault survivors without a meaningful civil remedy unless they qualify for domestic violence or stalking relief. Shallet said the gap has existed for decades and noted that other states already have standalone sexual assault protective orders. She also said the bill would clarify survivors’ rights to know the status and location of their evidence kits. Shauna Foster of New Beginnings Without Violence and Abuse described local cases where survivors were denied protective orders because they lacked the required relationship with the offender, including a co-worker assault and an assault involving an unhoused survivor. Lisa Curtis, a survivor and founder of Safe Haven Ballet, gave emotional testimony in support, describing her own sexual assault and the difficulty of seeking protection and justice. She said survivors need safety to recover and that the bill would better align the justice system with trauma-informed support. Janet Carroll, a sexual assault nurse examiner and advisory board co-chair, testified that the bill’s evidence-kit provisions reflect federal changes and existing tracking practices. She explained that New Hampshire uses a kit tracking system that lets patients and professionals follow kits through the process, and said the bill would codify the right to be informed of a kit’s status and location. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS REQUESTS A TRANSFER OF 8.2 MILLION IN GENERAL REVENUE AUTHORITY FROM THE
• THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS SUPPORTS THE PHASED DEMOBILIZATION PLAN FOR THE FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD THAT BEGAN
• PEOPLE THAT ARE IN TRAINING THAT ONCE THEY'RE DONE WITH TRAINING THEN WE CAN PEEL OFF THE NATIONAL GUARD
• WHEN WAS THE PLAN INTRODUCED TO PUT NATIONAL GUARD IN FOR RELIEF AND HOW LONG WAS THE INITIAL OPERATION
• ANY THOUGHTS GIVEN TO UTILIZING THE STATE GARDEN LIVE NATIONAL GUARD?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do look forward to reviewing the governor's bill with regards to the bond authorization to better
• Maintaining the Columbia River at its federally authorized depth of 43 feet has true statewide impact
• Is that for the maintenance of the federal 43-foot channel already authorized years ago, or are you under
• And those two other programs are Amtrak Cascades, as you well know, and the Big Sky North Coast Corridor
• That would include the Amtrak Cascades, the Big Sky North Coast long-distance restoration service that

Bills: SB6005

Keywords: transportation budget, transportation appropriations, capital budget, supplemental budget, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferries, Puget Sound ferries, tolling, express toll lanes, highway safety, traffic safety, impaired driving, ignition interlock, speed cameras, transit funding, public transit, multimodal transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We do look forward to reviewing the governor's bill with regards to the bond authorization to better
• Bill with regards to the bond authorization to better understand those details.
• Maintaining the Columbia River at its federally authorized depth of 43 feet has true statewide impact
• Is that for the maintenance of the federal 43-foot channel already authorized years ago in 2010, or are
• That would include the Amtrak Cascades, the Big Sky North Coast Long Distance Restoration Service that

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on January 13, 2026, for a work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental transportation budget and a public hearing on Senate Bill 6005, which makes supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2025–27 biennium. Committee staff reviewed the transportation budget outlook, noting that the 2025 session had balanced the transportation budget over four years with significant new revenues, but that recent fuel-tax and Climate Commitment Act forecasts had softened the long-term outlook. Staff and the governor’s budget team said the proposal still leaves the budget in positive shape while addressing major needs such as preservation, ferry replacement, maintenance, and the state self-insurance account. The governor’s office described a $16.8 billion transportation budget proposal centered on preservation and maintenance, including $3.1 billion in bonding for eligible preservation projects, $1.1 billion for three new ferries, additional ferry preservation funding, pavement and bridge work, maintenance funding, County Road Administration Board startup money, State Patrol communications upgrades, DOL service access improvements, dredging for the Lower Columbia River, and restored regional mobility grant funding. Committee members asked about ferry capacity, DOL mobile offices, self-insurance costs, and whether additional preservation money could be used in 2026. Testifiers from cities, counties, labor, ports, construction, business, and environmental groups generally supported the emphasis on preservation, ferry reliability, local road funding, and freight projects, while some urged broader transit and rail investment and one witness criticized the budget’s spending approach. During public testimony on SB 6005, speakers from Bainbridge Island and ferry communities supported ferry investments and reliability improvements; local government and labor representatives backed preservation funding and better working conditions for transportation workers; business and construction groups endorsed maintenance, paving, bridge repair, and the Lower Columbia dredging item; and port and environmental advocates supported freight, port electrification, and rail funding. One witness raised concerns about the cost and long-term implications of hybrid-electric ferry maintenance, and another urged restraint in spending. The hearing ended after testimony, with the chair noting the sign-in tally and adjourning the committee without a vote on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number two, $4.2 billion for the High-Speed Rail Authority to continue building the 119-mile section
• Association of Port Authorities, so we meet with them regularly, and this is...
• You are the authors of this bond, so make sure that the implementation plan reflects your intentions
• It looks different on the North Coast than it does the North Bay to Ventura County to Orange County.
• Coastal resilience, recognizing many of you represent the coast.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And question for the author.
• </c><01:18:02.880><c> may</c> elected official in their authority may elected official in their authority
• I handle cases from coast to coast and border to border.
• ><c> to</c><01:32:44.000><c> coast</c><01:32:44.320><c> and</c> handle cases from coast to coast and
• handle cases from coast to coast and border<01:32:45.280><c> to</c><01:32:45.440><c> border.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to the bill, a regional transit authority is authorized to apply for a land use and construction
• Districts have no taxing, levy, or bonding authority. They have no regulatory authority.
• members in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
• as a security guard or officer.
• A security guard license is issued to the guard, belongs to the guard, and remains with the guard, even

Summary: The committee first heard Substitute House Bill 1128, which would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board within the Department of Labor and Industries to study child care workforce conditions and make recommendations on employment standards. Staff explained that the proposed second substitute narrows the board’s role from setting enforceable standards to making recommendations, with estimated ongoing costs for L&I staffing and smaller costs for board member stipends and possible DCYF support. Supporters, including child care providers, SEIU 925, and labor representatives, said the bill would help address understaffing, low wages, and retention problems; opponents, including child care industry groups and private schools, argued it duplicates existing work, adds bureaucracy, and creates unfunded costs. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would direct OSPI and ESDs to develop a technical assistance and training framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health supports. Staff said the bill aligns with the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and could largely be implemented with existing work and limited additional costs, though DOH would need some support. Testifiers from behavioral health and school counseling fields described severe youth mental health needs and urged passage, and OSPI said the work is doable with current resources. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2636, which would create a public education review advisory council to recommend K-12 policies and funding provisions for JLARC review; staff described JLARC, OSPI, and State Board costs, and no public testimony was offered. The committee next heard House Bill 1316, which would expand the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness program so additional university campuses can access funding. The sponsor said the program has strong retention outcomes, and student advocates testified that campuses such as UW Bothell need access to already appropriated funds for emergency aid, food pantries, and case management. Staff then briefed Substitute House Bill 2474, which would allow the Student Achievement Council Tuition Recovery Trust Fund to be used for refunds tied to broader consumer protection violations, with no expected fiscal impact; there was no testimony. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2365 on digital equity, which would expand the Broadband Office’s role, revise the digital equity forum, and rename the grant program; supporters emphasized rural access, affordability, and the loss of federal digital equity funding, while staff estimated significant Commerce staffing costs and some additional agency impacts. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2401, creating a Washington State Boys and Men Commission contingent on non-state funding, with staff outlining OFM startup and fundraising costs and an estimated operating budget if fully funded. Supporters said boys and men face mental health, education, and mentorship gaps and that the commission would improve coordination; the bill drew testimony from rural school leaders, nonprofit advocates, and community members. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language access, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines and a report on interpreter and translator shortages; staff said the office could absorb the work but other agency and local government impacts were uncertain. Substitute House Bill 2517, on permitting for high-capacity transit, would let regional transit authorities apply for permits earlier and streamline land-use processes; Sound Transit and the sponsor said it would speed delivery of major projects, while staff estimated Commerce technical-assistance costs and possible local government impacts. The last bill heard was Substitute House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug pricing program, which would bar manufacturers from restricting contract-pharmacy access and require reporting to DOH; supporters said it protects safety-net providers and patient services, while opponents warned of higher costs for employers, state health plans, and litigation burdens. No final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to welcome some constituents of mine from the YNI coast.
• 02:16.239><c> YNI</c> some constituents of mine from the YNI some constituents of mine from the YNI coast
• 02:17.440><c> could</c><00:02:17.599><c> stand</c><00:02:17.760><c> to</c><00:02:17.920><c> be</c> coast
• If you could stand to be coast.
• First of all, I thank the author<00:48:21.520><c> of</c><00:48:21.599><c> the</c><00:48:21.839><c> the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:49.440><c> and</c> about investigative authority and about investigative authority and ensuring
• Their input helped shape National Guard.
• authorization.
• . family memorial plaque authorization.
• c> uses</c><00:50:21.119><c> for</c> traditional National Guard uses for traditional National Guard uses

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, last but not least, the Gulf Coast.
• </c><01:52:36.639><c> Several</c> but not least, the G Coast. Several but not least, the G Coast.
• And there are no guard rails, safeguards, anything else different from that.
• </c><03:13:57.600><c> our</c> test which we have um we authorize our test which we have um we authorize
• of Education and we authorize Department of Education and we authorize him,<03:30:31.200><c> like</c

Keywords: MS House Floor - 15 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll now move on to our first item, which is the County Bed Billing Reimbursement Authority.
• I'll now move on to our first item, which is the County Bed Billing Reimbursement Authority.
• This is the May revision proposal for the Emergency Medical Services Authority. “Authority.”
• Gabrielle Santoro with the Emergency Medical Services Authority.
• increase HCAI spending authority by $126.4 million one time, for a total budget authority of the $233.6

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so you can see we have a couple that are over on the East Coast.
• And so you can see we have a couple that are over on the East Coast, but not all of them are on the East
• Coast.
• the conclusion of our last meeting, we asked you all to begin reaching out to your local taxing authorities

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for a listening session focused on a presentation by Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research on local government revenues and expenditures. Baker reviewed statewide financial data for counties, municipalities, and independent special districts, using 2018-19 as a baseline year because it was stable and pre-COVID. She explained that counties rely heavily on taxes, with ad valorem taxes making up about 73% of county tax revenue and about 24% of total county revenues statewide, while municipalities rely more on charges for services and have a lower statewide ad valorem share of about 14.7%. She also noted wide variation across local governments, with some counties and cities highly dependent on property taxes and others using them minimally or not at all. Special districts were shown to be very different from counties and cities, with hospital-related revenues and expenditures dominating many of them, while water management districts were more reliant on ad valorem taxes and focused expenditures on the physical environment. Baker also summarized expenditure patterns: counties spent the largest share on public safety, while municipalities spent the largest share on general government services, followed by physical environment and public safety. She emphasized that local government structures vary widely and that the committee should study what characteristics are associated with greater property tax reliance. She said the next research steps would be to extend the analysis through later years, including the COVID and inflation period, and to examine institutional and legal factors that shape local fiscal structures. Members asked about unfunded mandates, fuel taxes, reserves, school taxes, millage rates, and how property taxes relate to specific services such as police and fire. Baker said the current analysis did not yet account for mandates or school taxes and that further work could examine links between revenues and expenditures, commercial versus residential tax burdens, and other factors. After the presentation, members reported back on local meetings with counties and municipalities. Several described large differences in millage rates, revenue mixes, and the impact of any property tax changes on fiscally constrained counties versus larger, wealthier ones. Concerns were raised about how local governments would replace lost revenue, especially for public safety and emergency response, and members discussed the need to consider both revenue replacement and ways to rein in spending. The co-chairs said the committee would continue gathering information, send members follow-up homework and requests for panel suggestions, and invite additional input from constituents, stakeholders, and local governments. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since much of the spending in a given year is on previously authorized projects, new project authorizations
• Jason does not like it when we tell him we can't authorize projects.
• </c><00:45:40.240><c> I'm</c> a bunch from the entire east coast.
• I'm a bunch from the entire east coast.
• <00:48:27.440><c> so</c><00:48:27.600><c> far</c> authorized so far authorized so far has<00:48:28.840

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:22 Overview/Impact of Executive Order 47:02 General Funds in Road Plan 50:37 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met for its first meeting and received an overview from Transportation Cabinet officials on the governor’s executive order responding to high gas prices. Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock and budget director Shawn McKiernan explained that the order declared a state of emergency, reduced the state motor fuels tax by 10 cents per gallon, froze the tax rate for FY27, and urged Congress to suspend the federal gas tax. They said the emergency regulation would remain in effect until the war in Iran ends or Kentucky gas prices fall below $3 per gallon, and that any transportation budget shortfalls could be covered by the state budget reserve trust fund if requested later by the governor. McKiernan estimated the 10-cent reduction would reduce the road fund by about $26.8 million per month, with roughly 44% flowing to county road aid, rural secondary, and municipal road aid. He said the immediate impact to counties and cities would be about $11.8 million for one month, while the cabinet would see about $15 million per month less available for its own use. He also said the freeze on the FY27 motor fuels tax rate would prevent a scheduled increase and, compared with the budget assumption, would produce about $42 million in net additional revenue, split between local governments and the cabinet. He added that if the reduction lasted through December, the major transportation programs could be down about 16.9% from budgeted levels. Members focused on the effect on local governments, the road fund, and the cabinet’s cash management process. Several senators and representatives criticized the executive order as short-sighted or political, while others emphasized the need for a long-term solution to transportation funding. Questions were raised about how make-whole payments to counties and cities would be handled, how the cabinet manages cash flow, and whether the state should continue relying on general fund transfers to support the road plan. Cabinet officials said they would work with lawmakers, explained that project authorizations are managed based on cash flow and seasonal spending patterns, and noted that construction and maintenance costs have risen sharply, making revenue adequacy a continuing concern.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local governments are authorized to seek governments are authorized to seek governments are authorized
• It says that this bill authorizes local redevelopment authorities to local redevelopment authorities
• The authorities and the authorities. The authorities and the authorities.
• The authorities and the authorities.
• Any other authority that adds to it Any other authority that adds to it Any other authority that adds

Bills: HB 10, HB 12, HB 147, HB 1522, HB 422, HB 675, HB 204, HB 748, HB 912

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• The senator said there was a small group set up in the bill that might be authorized to come up with
• to come up with a formula for authorized to come up with a formula for that<00:17:18.919><c> um</c><
• You know, whether that's a, you know, an island off the coast of, uh, of South Carolina or whatever,
• of uh of South island off the coast of uh of South Carolina<01:06:29.119><c> or</c><01:06:29.520><c>
• um and that is made to bring Sea Coast um and that is made to bring our<01:13:11.960><c> machines</c

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have Joint Base Lewis-McChord in my district, as well as Camp Murray, home to our Washington National Guard
• Those authorizations have now gone away.
• The department consists of the Washington Army National Guard, the Washington Air National Guard, our
• This is roughly 5% of the Washington National Guard force structure, and that is consistent with the
• And this is beyond just the National Guard.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met to hear updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Washington Military Department, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Commerce on federal and state impacts affecting veterans, military families, and military installations. JBLM’s garrison commander said the base remains focused on housing, child care, and spouse employment, but is facing workforce reductions tied to federal personnel actions, especially in air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and firefighting. He also said JBLM is preparing for increased mutual-aid needs during fire season, and that the Army Transformation Initiative could change unit composition at JBLM over time without a major overall population shift. He confirmed that the Lewis Army Museum is on a closure list, but said the building will remain in use for training and that the base is exploring partnerships to keep museum functions operating, possibly with volunteers or local partners. The Washington Military Department reported about 400 Guard members deployed on federal missions and described ongoing state missions in cybersecurity and firefighting. The department said the Army National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade will transition to a mobile combat team, with associated changes in equipment, manning, and end strength. It also warned that continuing resolutions are delaying funding, limiting new military construction starts, and increasing costs. The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs outlined a $3.2 million reduction from the governor’s budget and related cuts affecting internships, vacant positions, outreach travel, claims support contracts, counseling and wellness, veterans’ innovation assistance, and the military transition and readiness council staff position. WDVA said it is ending or scaling back several programs, including in-house nursing assistant training, the veteran farm at Ordean, Vet Corps due to AmeriCorps funding changes, and the tobacco cessation program, while noting that the legislature funded about $23.7 million in capital projects for veteran homes, cemeteries, and transitional housing. The Department of Commerce presented on the Defense Community Compatibility Account, which funds projects that reduce conflicts between military installations and nearby communities. The program currently has 10 projects across five legislative districts, including school and child care improvements, water wells, land acquisition, and a joint firefighting training center in Everett. The presenter said the main challenge is that DCCA projects often need non-state funding secured before they can compete, which can make it hard to leverage federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program dollars; he recommended more flexible state timing to help projects qualify for federal funding. In closing discussion, members raised possible future agenda items including child care near bases, veteran homelessness, suicide prevention, Navy Day, military family housing, and a possible Department of Licensing issue involving guard and reserve designations on driver’s licenses. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members were invited to suggest topics for the October and December committee meetings.