Transcript Highlights:

• indebtedness limit limits for select inland port districts to ensure continued eligibility for federal funding
• indebtedness limit limits for select inland port districts to ensure continued eligibility for federal funding
• I'm having challenges this morning. Eat your cookie. Thank you. Get some energy in that.
• We know how challenged we are with making sure that we have the electricity, energy generation, storage
• How challenged we are with making sure that we have the electricity, energy generation, storage, and

Bills: SB6132

Keywords: indebtedness limits, inland port districts, federal funding, infrastructure improvements, economic development, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the challenge is, for those that live in the Sound Transit region, the taxes are pretty expensive
• They need a little bit more ability to obtain the funding to complete that project.
• If we have, we do have a tax increment area, but those funds are not... we don't need those funds to
• Here's part of the challenge that utilities face.
• Now, this challenge is going down, I want to be clear about that.

Bills: SB6132

Keywords: indebtedness limits, inland port districts, federal funding, infrastructure improvements, economic development, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• positions within the counties funding positions within the counties specifically<00:04:35.440><c> to
• , they can fund that position and<00:05:37.520><c> then</c><00:05:37.680><c> that</c><00:05:38.080><c
• They would just be funded by the state, and they would be specifically for processing our permits.
• >> They're not going to do it unless we fund it. >> Yeah.
• But I mean, are they open to it if we funded a position?

Bills: SB2066

Keywords: permitting, construction, efficiency, state projects, county collaboration, funding, staffing shortages, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Government Operations heard Senate Bill 2066 on county permitting and inspection. Testimony focused on whether the bill should exempt state projects from county permitting requirements. One testifier opposed the measure, arguing it would bypass established permitting processes, weaken good government, and put the public at risk. A DOE representative said the intent was to speed up state projects, but suggested a different approach: funding county positions dedicated solely to state permits, possibly as a pilot program, rather than removing county review entirely. Committee members discussed the difficulty of moving state projects through county systems, the lack of special treatment, and whether a more systematic or standardized process could be created for repetitive projects. After the discussion, the chairs announced a substantive rewrite of SB 2066. The amended version would delete the county-permitting exemptions for state projects and instead create a cooperative working group to address the intersection of state projects and county permitting needs. The revised measure would also include a blank appropriation for counties to fund personnel to expedite permitting for state projects only. Members clarified that any funded staff would be dedicated solely to state projects. The committee then took votes on the revised measure. The committees adopted the amended bill. The Government Operations Committee recommended the Senate draft one version, and members present voted yes, with Senator Awa excused. The measure was adopted with the revised approach and an effective date set for April 19, 2042.

Transcript Highlights:

• educational emergency by adding persistently low-performing schools, clarifies that STEM curricula may be funded
• through district Title I funds, aligns charter school renewal and dismissal rules through the school

Bills: S7036

Keywords: education, epinephrine, charter schools, voluntary prekindergarten, school funding, teacher incentives, student progress monitoring

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K-12 Appropriations met with a quorum present and announced it would not be presenting its budget at this time, per a Senate memorandum. The sole bill on the agenda was SB 7036 by Senator Corey Simon, which was described as a broad education package strengthening school turnaround tools, early literacy supports, early learning policies, academic offerings, and educator pipeline provisions. Senator Simon explained that the bill addresses persistently low-performing schools, Title I use for STEM curricula, charter school renewal and dismissal rules, epinephrine device policies, VPK summer bridge eligibility, disability-aligned interventions, agriculture and Algebra 1 instruction, GATE access, and certification updates for teachers and computer science. An amendment was adopted that removed provisions on temporary door locks and DOE-developed instructional materials and added a GATE startup grant update. The committee heard numerous appearance forms, with many individuals and organizations waving against the bill, while one student, Ella Latimore, appeared and spoke briefly. Much of the exchange with her was lighthearted and unrelated to the bill, but Senator Simon used his closing to note that concerns from the prior stop had been addressed by removing the DOE materials and door-lock language, and he asked for favorable support. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and CS for SB 7036 was reported favorably. After the vote, members made several informal statements, including remarks about a Valentine’s Day visit from students and appreciation for community member Misty Cash. Senator Osgood also raised a serious concern about declining immigrant student enrollment affecting district budgets, especially in Broward County, and urged the committee to address the issue proactively with school districts. The chair said staff were already working with districts on the matter and that more discussion would follow. The meeting then adjourned after additional light banter among members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, preservation and maintenance is a growing challenge, but cities struggle to meet basic funding levels
• So in conclusion, cities, like states, face big transportation funding challenges, and that's going to
• of it is TIB funding, and traditionally one-third is federal funding.
• Our board is consistently chosen to fund well above the $1 million floor for funding.
• Our board is consistently chosen to fund well above the $1 million floor for funding.

Bills: SB5989

Keywords: aircraft fuel tax, tax revenue distribution, aviation funding, transportation, state revenue, 904, all

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and advanced Senate Bill 5989, which would redistribute sales tax revenue from aircraft fuel. Staff said the bill’s general fund impacts made it more appropriate for the Ways and Means Committee, and the committee voted to advance it there without recommendation. The rest of the meeting was a work session focused on transportation preservation. Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith reviewed WSDOT’s 2025 work and 2026 priorities, emphasizing safety, preservation, emergency response, and major projects such as Revive I-5, the I-90 Vantage Bridge, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, fish passage, and ferry service. She described significant system needs, including aging bridges, ferries, roads, and facilities, and said the governor’s supplemental budget would make a down payment on the preservation backlog. Members praised WSDOT’s work and asked about additional paving and preservation capacity in 2026. Washington State Ferries officials John Vizina and Jenna Forty focused on vessel and terminal preservation, noting the system’s 75th anniversary, improved service in 2025, and the aging fleet and terminal infrastructure. They said the governor’s budget proposes $1 billion for three additional hybrid-electric ferries and $150 million to extend the life of older vessels, and they discussed the Fauntleroy terminal replacement and the service contingency plan. Senators asked about the feasibility of diesel alternatives, the timeline for new vessels, and whether additional vessels would require rebidding. Representatives from the Association of Washington Cities, the Transportation Improvement Board, county engineers, and the County Road Administration Board then described local preservation needs. Cities and counties said their road, bridge, and sidewalk systems face large maintenance backlogs, rising costs, and storm damage from the December floods, with local agencies reporting significant repair costs and emergency response burdens. They urged sustained state and local revenue for preservation, noted that existing grant and preservation programs are oversubscribed, and emphasized that recent investments have improved pavement conditions where funding has been sustained.

Bills: SB3

Keywords: disaster relief, emergency funding, flood management, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• We're able to fund fill<00:04:15.360><c> out</c><00:04:15.519><c> the</c><00:04:15.680><c> funding</c
• </c> the intended use fund for our funds for the intended use fund for our funds for student<00:04:52.880
• Everything that falls out is funded a different way. Everything that's left is funded with LTFM.
• funds.
• The fund has covered it so far.

Bills: HF1049

Keywords: school library aid, education finance, school districts, charter schools, funding eligibility, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the local school board the funding the local school board the funding flexibility<00:03:35.959><
• fund balance accounts.
• fund fund one budget district's general fund fund one budget is<00:20:47.960><c> more</c><00:20:48.159
• </c> funding is calculated how that funding funding is calculated how that funding has<00:59:01.440><
• fund or that fund transfers out of this fund or that fund I<01:24:35.560><c> get</c><01:24:35.840><c

Bills: HF957, HF877

Keywords: education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What seems to be a question is the funding mechanism on that, and our challenge is going to be, Representative
• to protect the general fund.
• What happened to those funds? What happened to those funds? Uh, Mr. Graves?
• We need to be cautious with our funding if we put all of that into general fund.
• </c><01:02:02.680><c> and</c> fund reinsurance with general fund and fund reinsurance with general fund

Bills: HF837

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• general revenue funds and all state funds.
• There's the general revenue funds, general revenue dedicated funds.
• Or unspent funds?
• I would say that some of it would depend on whether the funding in the federal fund, if the federal funding
• Some of the funds were through GR, some of the funds are through ARPA.

Keywords: budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, there's no funds that are attached to that.
• Chairman, there's no funds that &gt;&gt; M Mr.
• Chairman, there's no funds that are<00:05:32.800><c> attached</c><00:05:33.120><c> to</c><00:05:33.280
• </c> expend other funds. expend other funds.
• Uh, so there are some states that are helping fund this.

Bills: HB0105, HB0107, SF0002

Keywords: K-12 education, school facilities, security improvements, public funding, state appropriations, school construction, local government funding, sales tax distribution, municipal funding, economic equity, state revenue, Wyoming Legislature, legislative appropriations, Legislative Service Office, LSO budget, general fund, biennial budget, legislative branch, legislator travel, per diem

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> section</c><00:03:02.640><c> 1J</c> The funds appropriated under section 1J The funds appropriated
• </c> contingency fund.
• These funds of 1.8 contingency fund.
• on when this was kind of funded last? on when this was kind of funded last?
• Uh actually got a great funding.

Bills: HB0105, HB0107, SF0002

Keywords: K-12 education, school facilities, security improvements, public funding, state appropriations, school construction, local government funding, sales tax distribution, municipal funding, economic equity, state revenue, Wyoming Legislature, legislative appropriations, Legislative Service Office, LSO budget, general fund, biennial budget, legislative branch, legislator travel, per diem

Transcript Highlights:

• The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board provides funds to high-priority transportation
• Previous legislatures have also authorized general obligation bond sales for the purposes of funding
• Funds were appropriated for this work in 2019 and again in 2021. In 2023, WSDOT and ODOT were...
• Our office noticed that the interest was going to the general fund.
• Well, I appreciate, quite frankly, the difficulty, the challenge of that, right?

Bills: HB1823, HB2092, HB2111, HB2114

Keywords: transportation improvement board, TIB, transportation improvement account, motor vehicle fund, arterial streets, local match, private match, grant funding, transportation grants, county roads, city streets, transportation benefit district, urban county, small city program, active transportation, pedestrian, bicycle, bike routes, transit, public transit

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard four bills. HB 1823 was described as a technical cleanup bill for the Transportation Improvement Board, updating obsolete references and repealing outdated sections; a proposed substitute would restore language that had inadvertently removed remaining bond authority. Rep. Lowe and TIB supported the bill, calling it a good-government measure, and there was no opposition. The committee then heard HB 292, which would create a Washington State Amtrak Cascades Passenger Rail Advisory Committee. The prime sponsor and supporters said the goal was to give riders and stakeholders a regular, statutory forum to provide feedback to WSDOT; several testifiers urged broader statewide representation, inclusion of disability advocates, and possible participation by rail industry stakeholders such as BNSF. Testimony was broadly supportive, with some suggestions for amendments to expand the committee’s scope and membership. The committee next heard HB 2111, which would allow the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project toll facility bond retirement account to retain its share of interest earnings instead of having them credited to the general fund. Staff and the State Treasurer’s office said the change would keep revenue dedicated to the bridge project and avoid accounting and tax concerns; the chair and a business representative from Clark County supported advancing the bill as a necessary step for the project. Finally, HB 2114 would require the Department of Licensing to waive replacement plate fees for defective plates within two years of issuance and allow waivers in some cases between two and five years. The sponsor said the bill responds to widespread plate delamination complaints, especially in eastern Washington, and county auditors and other local officials testified in favor as a customer-service fix, though they asked for clearer definitions and noted the state’s newer flat plates may reduce the problem over time. The Department of Licensing fiscal note estimated limited annual replacements but significant one-time system update costs. The hearing on HB 2114 was left open briefly for a testifier who could not connect, and then the public hearing was temporarily closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no better place in Texas to take on this challenge.
• It directs the transfer from the State General Revenue Fund to DPRIT.
• In Texas, the association currently funds 43 projects, totaling $12.5 million.
• So it's all ... non-governmental funds that the Alzheimer's Association gathers specifically to fund
• This includes studying how best to provide stable funding for long-term care.

Bills: SB5, SJR3, SB 5, SJR 3

Keywords: dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, district apportionment, legislative rules

Transcript Highlights:

• The funds we receive from the U.S.
• That's just state funding, not alone all the other contributed funding.
• </c> natural resource trust fund. But, Mr. natural resource trust fund. But, Mr.
• But I large project funding.
• </c> which count those funds are coming from. which count those funds are coming from.

Bills: HB0078, HB0087, SF0070, SF0068, SF0017, SF0043

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> within the funding we have. within the funding we have.
• </c> funding that goes into that small water. funding that goes into that small water.
• </c> projects, this is our account two funds. projects, this is our account two funds.
• versus the construction funding.
• That's the transfer of funds.

Bills: HB0078, HB0087, SF0070, SF0068, SF0017, SF0043

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> these hundred to get um to get funded. these hundred to get um to get funded.
• . uh we're not able to offer them funding. uh we're not able to offer them the<00:10:56.079><c> funding
• They are neutral on this question, and it is our job as a committee to fund them or not fund them.
• </c><00:27:05.679><c> them</c> is our job as a committee to fund them is our job as a committee to fund
• So it's just paring down those two things. funding as um two of those individuals funding as um two of

Bills: HF3874, HF962

Keywords: judicial funding, Chief Justice security, fiscal year 2028, court system, judicial branch, 1183, house

Bills: SB1379

Keywords: human trafficking, victims, prevention, support services, Attorney General, pilot program, grant funding, 914, all

Bills: SB370

Keywords: tax increment districts, manufacturing zone, economic development, tax revenues, state funding, 923, senate, all

Bills: HF2433

Keywords: education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation, 1183, house