Transcript Highlights:

• We're just going to get in that test share.
• You need to go through neuropsychological testing.
• it's very on a stable dose you need to go through neuropsychological testing it's very expensive out
• Okay, so time for the test. You ready?
• Before I'm going to test, I want you to think while we're doing the test what you thought of the agenda

Summary: The meeting was an Aviation Caucus gathering hosted at Paine Field and Boeing, with introductions from legislators, aviation organizations, airport officials, and industry representatives. Speakers emphasized the importance of aviation and aerospace to Washington’s economy and the need to better educate lawmakers and the public about the sector’s value. Several participants also highlighted the role of airports in business activity, emergency response, wildfire support, and medical services, and urged attendees to build relationships with legislators to protect and expand aviation funding. A major topic was opposition to the aviation-related tax provisions in Senate Bill 5801, described by speakers as a luxury and privilege tax on aircraft. Legislators and industry advocates argued the tax would discourage aircraft ownership and use in Washington, drive aircraft and business operations out of the state, and harm jobs and tax revenue. They said the caucus would continue working toward repeal of the aircraft tax provisions and broader solutions for aviation infrastructure funding, though they acknowledged the state budget situation makes new funding difficult this year. John Dobson presented data estimating aviation’s large share of state GDP, jobs, wages, and tax revenue, and also raised concerns about aviation fuel tax revenues being diverted away from aviation purposes. The meeting also featured updates on mental health efforts in aviation, with Brian Baumoff of the Pilot Mental Health Campaign describing federal legislation to improve access to treatment and transparency around medications, and a prior state bill aimed at helping pilots navigate medical leave and treatment costs. Haley Coffey of the Aerospace Futures Alliance encouraged participation in its upcoming Hill Day to strengthen aerospace advocacy in Olympia. Boeing representatives gave an overview of company safety and culture changes after recent incidents, workforce and supplier numbers in Washington, production plans including a permanent Moses Lake site and a future Everett narrow-body line, and workforce development programs such as Core Plus Aerospace and tuition support. The caucus also adopted a House resolution honoring Harry R. Anderson for becoming the first person to fly and sail solo to all seven continents, and attendees toured the Boeing facility after the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• when teaching threat recognition, use of a decision-making simulator known as 'shoot-don't-shoot' to test
• The Commission maintained training records, including attendance, test scores, and dates of completion
• With that, we’ll move to item three on today’s agenda.
• With that, we’ll move to item three on today’s agenda, which is assessing the Department of Commerce’
• One last item about follow-up is that the audit found that a staff person went to work for a grantee

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard three State Auditor’s Office performance audits: implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, Washington’s digital equity planning, and the Department of Commerce’s Digital Navigator Program. In the law enforcement training audit, the State Auditor found the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training content but had not developed all required topics, lacked a systematic project management approach, and had weak tools to ensure participation and compliance. Auditors said most officers had not completed the required 40 hours, patrol tactics training was a major bottleneck, and the Commission’s reporting did not clearly show statewide compliance. The Commission said it generally agreed with the recommendations and had begun implementing some changes. Committee members raised concerns about staffing, liability, incentives, and whether the law had enough enforcement “teeth.” In the digital equity audit, auditors said Washington lacked a comprehensive, unified statewide plan, a designated leader, and reliable funding for digital equity efforts. They said existing plans were fragmented, with the NTIA-approved plan the most complete but no longer fully funded after federal changes. The State Auditor recommended the legislature establish oversight authority and require a lead organization to coordinate and evaluate statewide digital equity efforts and develop a unified plan. The Department of Commerce and Office of Equity agreed with the need for clearer leadership and coordination, and a public witness described ongoing coalition and local planning work. Committee members asked about best practices from other states and whether the auditor could provide additional research on coordination models. In the Digital Navigator Program audit, the State Auditor concluded Commerce did not consistently follow core grant-management practices, including competitive award processes, vetting of grantees, clear contracts, performance monitoring, and reimbursement controls. Auditors said Commerce expanded grants without a new competition, lacked adequate documentation and reporting, and paid out millions without sufficient support; they also cited management decisions that overrode staff concerns. Commerce said it had already begun major contract-management reforms, created a new contracts and compliance structure, and was working on risk assessments, documentation standards, and staff training. Members pressed Commerce on accountability, possible recoupment of improper payments, ethics issues, and whether the agency had clear performance metrics for the program. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's an item e do not have in your home and the grant will pay for it, then that's where you would
• the male pattern on the plywood, hurricane clips or that water barrier, which are all roof related items
• There was a top what they call that item program back then.
• Is it itemized?
• So the Legislature made the decision to enact the graphic cash build up and I believe testing my memory

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a mother and baby item benefits. We have a nursing mother support items.
• plans are providing additional expanded benefits related to lactation support and a mother and baby items
• And what this will do was award the top performing plans with additional items time in Romans.
• Healthy start in the Southern birth test this network.
• available and 67 county health departments at 140 sites services can include access to pregnancy, testing

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You had very specific line items that that funding could only be used for.
• So future iterations of this model could have prevention services bucketed out as its own Tier 2 item
• . ...model could have prevention services bucketed out as its own Tier 2 item.
• We have monthly invoices that are approved and reviewed by the department and tested.
• We have monthly invoices that are approved and reviewed by the department and tested.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure. The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions. Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, yes, we absolutely intend to touch on some of those items because there has been some action and
• We absolutely intend to touch on some of those items because there has been some action and there has
• So during our testing, we were not able to confirm balances for 20 of 59 providers that we tested.
• Commissioner, Senator, you do have one quick question before we move on to the next test fires.
• <01:37:30.719> I specifically a couple of the items I specifically a couple of the items I

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met on January 22, 2025, to focus early in session on waste, fraud, abuse, and program integrity in Minnesota human services programs. The chair said taxpayers expect funds to reach people in need and asked the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to present on resources, progress, and possible solutions. Members also asked the auditors to note where the legislature or agencies had already taken action to address prior findings. OLA staff summarized recent reports on grants management and oversight. They said noncompliance with grants policies has been pervasive across agencies, including problems at DHS in conflict-of-interest documentation and pre-award financial reviews. In one DHS review, 30 of 41 grant reviewers had missing or incomplete conflict forms, and 20 of 57 grants lacked required financial review documents; the issues affected about $11.5 million in grant funding. OLA said DHS spent more than $400 million in grants to nonprofit organizations from 2018 to 2022, and they identified broader factors affecting compliance such as inconsistent funding for grants administration, ad hoc training, inconsistent data systems, and limited enforcement authority. They noted 2023 legislative changes that allowed agencies to retain some grant funding for administration and directed an assessment of a statewide grants management system, and they said OGM training and staffing have increased, though training is still not required for all staff. The Financial Audit Division then discussed the senior nutrition program at DHS, which delivered about 3.1 million meals to more than 40,000 participants in 2022 through the Minnesota Board on Aging, area agencies, service providers, and subcontractors. The audit found nine findings across documentation, monitoring, contract oversight, participant recertification, and data quality. Examples included service providers failing to recertify participants or recording inaccurate data, the Board on Aging not performing monitoring visits since 2017 or financial reconciliations in 2022, and area agencies failing to complete required site visits. Survey results also suggested participant database inaccuracies. OLA recommended stronger monitoring, clearer procedures, and more reliable data to ensure services reach intended recipients. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are court tests that look at reasonable duration and reasonable geography, and they still have
• <00:03:01.720> that<00:03:01.879> look<00:03:02.040> at there are Court tests
• that look at there are Court tests that look at reasonable<00:03:02.680> duration<00:03:03.120
• Minnesota courts have long agreed, and the existing non-compete viability test has been widely regarded
• that the critical items first that the employees<01:02:00.240> need<01:02:00.520> to<01

Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF1469, Minnesota, workforce development, job training, job skills training, reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, ex-offenders, inmates, recently released inmates, felony conviction, felony-level offense, corrections, prison release

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go to item 13.
• Go to item 13. passed. Go to item 13.
• , Item 21.
• , Item 21.
• We'll go to item 42. bill has passed. We'll go to item 42.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 19 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received an invocation from Reverend Kenny McGill, and approved dispensing with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber then spent a substantial amount of time introducing guests in the galleries, including local officials, electric cooperative and farm bureau representatives, a doctor of the day, and student groups, with repeated recognition of workers involved in storm recovery and other public service efforts. Senators also offered brief remarks of support for Senator Warren Barnett’s recovery. The main business was the appropriations calendar. Senator Hopkins gave an overview of the budget process and projected FY 2027 general fund figures, noting that the Senate was still early in the process, had only considered Senate-originated bills, and was awaiting House bills such as education and Medicaid. He highlighted major budget pressures and items including university professor pay raises, agricultural unit increases, education enhancement funds, CAPEX projects, TRICARE funding, and a veterans home appropriation. He also noted that some bills were final passage while others contained reverse repealers and would go to conference. The Senate then considered several appropriations bills. Senate Bill 3051, the Department of Finance and Administration budget and related agencies, was explained by Senator DeBar; it included reductions tied to vacancy projections, contractual and nonrecurring funding changes, and reappropriations for America 250, the Capital City Water Project, coronavirus fiscal recovery expenses, and Bureau of Buildings invoices. It was adopted and passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 3052, the Governor’s Office and Mansion budget, was presented as final action without a reverse repealer, with funding reduced from last year due to the loss of federal GEAR and EANS funds; it also passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 3053, IHL general support, included a $2,000 professor raise and a $20 million CAPEX item, with a total budget of about $1.673 billion; it passed. Senate Bill 3054, IHL subsidiary programs, was explained as having no dollars over LBR and a total of $87.8 million, with a reverse repealer; after a brief question about the university professor raises, it too was adopted and passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• next three items that are in there. next three items that are in there.
• be a great way to run this and test run. be a great way to run this and test run.
• item and how far we go down this path. item and how far we go down this path.
• I think it's important objects or items.
• <03:06:37.160> and and all these different tests and and all these different tests and different

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bit less specific and be more general just to be able to cover some of those deferred maintenance items
• To fund these items now and into the future would almost assuredly put upward pressure on people's tax
• There's a well known concept in free market circles known as the yellow book test.
• And this yellow Book test challenges policymakers to ask the following.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a brief explanation of each item in the far-right column.
• I want to take some time to highlight the many items in the budget proposal.
• And we also want the test to be able to be taken online.
• And we also want the test to be able to be taken online.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee began with a roll call confirming a quorum, then heard a presentation of the proposed health care budget. The chair said the overall health care budget would total $46.7 billion, a 2.1% decrease in total spending and a 3% increase in general revenue, while reducing 3,585 state FTE. He highlighted funding for Medicaid, KidCare, developmental disabilities services, opioid settlement spending, mental health facilities, senior services, school health nurses, veterans’ dental care, and veterans nursing home improvements. The chair also presented PCB HCB 25-01, a conforming bill that eliminates the Health Care Innovation Program, the Health Care Innovation Council, and the revolving loan program; makes changes to cancer research and graduate medical education provisions; and adjusts Medicaid rebate-related language. The conforming bill passed favorably after no questions, public testimony, or debate. The committee then considered CS/HB 47 on child care. The bill, as explained by Rep. McFarland, would reduce regulation for child care providers in good standing, speed background screening for child care workers, allow provisional hiring status in some cases, create license-exempt status for certain employer-provided child care facilities and DOD child care facilities, and remove outdated paperwork requirements such as the flu brochure. An amendment restored language protecting large family child care homes from being dropped by residential insurers and cleaned up statutory language; it was adopted. Members debated the bill at length, with supporters emphasizing common-sense deregulation and helping working parents, while some members raised concerns about safety, early learning quality, and the loss of informational reminders to parents. The bill was reported favorably. The subcommittee also heard HB 1553 on a uterine fibroid research database. Rep. Dunkley explained that the bill would require health care providers to submit identified fibroid data to DOH so it can be de-identified for a research database, after the department had been unable to use prior de-identified submissions reliably. An amendment removed the current appropriation and was adopted. Members spoke in strong support, noting the prevalence of fibroids and the value of better diagnosis and treatment data. The bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1529, which addresses the home health aide program for medically fragile children. Rep. Tremont said the bill would direct AHCA to seek a federal waiver so parents’ earnings from caring for their children would not count against Medicaid eligibility, and would revise training requirements and remove mandated annual program assessments. The bill drew supportive public testimony from home care stakeholders, had no debate, and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dean do you have any closing comments before we move to the next agenda item?
• next agenda item? next agenda item?
• for our second agenda item. for our second agenda item.
• We tested two models.
• > and<01:02:45.960> produced barriers, tested solutions, and produced barriers, tested

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, this amendment was written as part of the existing change item in the bill.
• <00:13:50.000> in<00:13:50.160> the part of the existing change item in the part of
• the existing change item in the bill.<00:13:50.560> So<00:13:50.720> this<00:13:50.880
• There is a change item in the bill, but go back down to the regular funding in the amendment for out
• There is a<00:18:48.480> change<00:18:48.640> item<00:18:48.960> in<00:18:49.039

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the test that they supervised.
• So every time the code changes, every three years, the testing has to be updated.
• And so I think leaving it specific test.
• <02:38:07.760> I test they want to take. Y is fine. I test they want to take. Y is fine.
• They have the responsibility to purchase and restore historical items.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For item SB 81, Arreguín, Aguiar-Curry, Sharp-Collins, aye. Item 2, SB 250, Ochoa Bogh.
• Item 2, SB 250, Ochoa Bogh. Aguiar-Curry, Sharp-Collins, aye. Item 6, SB 717, Richardson.
• Item number one, SB 81. Aguiar-Curry, aye. Item number two, SB 250, Ochoa Bogh. Aguiar-Curry, aye.
• Item number four was dispensed with. Item number six, SB 717, Richardson.
• Item number four was dispensed with. Item number six, SB 717, Richardson. Aguiar-Curry, aye.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several Senate bills focused on health care access, privacy, and public health data. SB 81 (Arreguín) would require health care facilities to create nonpublic areas and bar immigration enforcement from entering without a judicial warrant or court order, while also protecting disclosure of immigration-related information in medical records. The bill drew strong support from labor, immigrant-rights, health care, and patient advocacy groups, with committee members emphasizing patient safety and privacy; one member raised implementation concerns about how the restrictions would work in practice. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, with one no vote recorded. SB 250 (Ochoa Bogh) would add skilled nursing facilities to DHCS’s managed care provider directory so Medi-Cal beneficiaries can more easily identify covered facilities. Supporters said the change would help seniors and people with disabilities avoid confusion and rushed placement decisions, especially during hospital discharge, and would make existing information easier to use. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a unanimous vote. SB 717 (Richardson) would formally recognize California’s three regional cancer registries in state law to help preserve federal funding and support cancer surveillance data collection. The author and supporters said the measure would protect more than $15 million in annual federal support and strengthen cancer research and tracking; the committee approved it unanimously to Appropriations. SB 504 (Laird) would allow health care providers to disclose personally identifying information about previously reported HIV infections to state or local health officials when needed for disease control or care coordination. The author described the bill as a modernization of reporting and coordination practices, and supporters from the California Medical Association and Planned Parenthood backed it. The committee sent the bill out as amended to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on a unanimous vote. The meeting also included routine consent-calendar action and multiple add-on votes, with the committee repeatedly holding the roll open to record additional members’ votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate, we, the undersigned conferees for House Bill Number 2563, report that we've agreed upon the items
• I won't go through the itemized list of the things that we got, but there were some really good provisions
• And, of course, arts and culture seem to be a very popular item within the bill.
• reason that our people voted to make sure that, you know, divided party and equal, is that they're testing

Transcript Highlights:

• So that goes in the totality-of-circumstances test.
• That's the first test.
• So that goes in the totality of circumstance test.
• That's the first test.
• The person of their choice in a primary that they control, that's the first test.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll have members ask questions since you're here right now before we read out the rest of the test
• We are now moving on to the next item.
• On the final item on the agenda, Governor's Message 664, I want to thank Mr.
• Key and look forward to his work on helping us stress test the system.
• Key and look forward to his work on helping us stress test the system.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard and discussed three nominations to the 911 Board: Matthew Kurara (Governor’s Message 505), Re Mahuna (Governor’s Message 614), and Rebecca Liberman/Weberman (Governor’s Message 661). Kurara, a Honolulu Police Department communications captain, said he would bring PSAP and dispatch experience to the board, with a focus on Next Generation 911, better coordination among PSAPs, and recruiting and retaining telecommunicators. Mahuna, a longtime Hawaiʻi Police Department officer and current board member, emphasized his emergency-response experience during disasters on the Big Island and his support for improving communication through Next Generation 911, including the new joint call center on Hawaiʻi Island. Liberman, the board’s VoIP representative and a Charter/Spectrum government affairs director, said she was continuing her second term and would keep working on legislative and government issues, including the statutory change removing “enhanced” from the board’s name to better support Next Gen efforts. Members asked each nominee about rural coverage, redundancy, training, broadband, radio-system limitations, and how Next Generation 911 would affect service in places like Puna and other rural areas. The nominees generally said the system is designed with redundancy so service would revert to backup systems if new technology fails, and that the main challenges in rural areas are often broader communications or radio issues rather than 911 itself. Kurara and Mahuna both said each PSAP currently handles much of its own training, though there is interest in more standardization and national best practices. Liberman explained that VoIP calls generally work over the internet and may benefit from Next Gen, but that location/address issues for some internet-based calling services may still need further review. The committee also discussed public education about text-to-911, the use of technologies such as FirstNet, and whether the E911 special fund ceiling needed to be raised again. Mahuna said he did not see a current need to raise the ceiling further. Written testimony was received in support of all three nominees, including support from public officials, law enforcement, county agencies, and private individuals. No opposition testimony was noted, and the chair said decisions would be made later with the other nominees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Suppressors were an item added to the list of firearm accessories for this year's sales tax holiday.
• Is there a line item for districts to receive funding in order to pay for school resource officers in
• So I just want to ensure that those drugs are not going to be tested.
• So are they line-item projects? Representative Snyder: Thank you, Mr.
• And we know how important all of these infrastructure items are for our communities.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill. On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• First item of business, Item B.
• First item of business, Item B, would ask that they come to the table.
• We’re moving to item D.
• Members, that brings us to item E. These are agency updates...” “Members, that brings us to item E.
• It's going to take us down to item F.

Keywords: 1204, all