Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a staff up in Coeur d'Alene and others across the West, indicated in the brown letters.
• We gave out a couple opportunities for all staff, both within IDWR and the Soil and Water Conservation
• We did hear at one point from Soil and Water Conservation Commission staff that they maybe missed the
• So with this merger, it takes that younger staff within the Soil and Water Conservation Commission and
• Again, I think there's an ingrained relationship between Soil and Water Conservation Commission staff

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Jeff Mitchell, staff of the committee, on engrossed House Bill 2487.
• Madam Chair, members of the committee, I'm Jeff Mitchell, staff of the committee.
• For the record, Josh Hinman, staff to this committee.
• For the record, Corbyn Nemes, staff to the committee.
• Please join me in giving a hand for these hardworking staff.

Bills: HB2487

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you are interested in us doing a deep dive on any topic, please reach out to me or my staff, and
• Study requesters were alarmed by accounts of harm to children, improperly trained staff, and a seeming
• A 13-year-old who became upset and threatened staff, the staff was not fully trained, restrained the
• We found that licensing staff are rarely on site and rely heavily on the facilities' documentation to
• This means that staff may be eligible to work for another facility.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my name is Ethan Moreno, nonpartisan staff to the House Education Committee.
• But for my staff of 10 and my board, it creates an undue burden on staff time.
• Perhaps your staff could bring that to... Well, I am a sitting school board director.
• I'm not on WASDA staff, so I'm just testifying on behalf of WASDA staff.
• Reach out to our staff right now.

Summary: The House Education Committee held public hearings on two bills. House Bill 1662 would move several education-related boards and commissions—the State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Charter School Commission—toward operational independence from OSPI by July 1, 2027, including separate administrative services, asset and employee transfers, and transition planning by OFM. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency, fiscal accountability, and agency flexibility, while OSPI-related testimony emphasized that small agencies need more nimble administrative support. No one testified in opposition; the hearing record noted 2 pro, 1 con, and 5 other sign-ins, and members were told the bill was substantively the same as the version passed the prior year except for date changes. The committee then heard House Bill 1683, which would require most school districts with 2,000 or more students to elect at least some school board members from director districts rather than entirely at-large, with larger districts needing more district-based seats and districts under 2,000 students exempt. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would improve geographic and demographic representation, especially for lower-income communities and communities of color, and would help ensure school boards reflect the students and families they serve. Opponents, including a school directors association representative, said the bill would be an unfunded mandate, reduce local control, and create added election costs and recruitment challenges; one witness also suggested the bill should consider broader proportional-representation options. Staff noted that 23 districts would currently be out of compliance, and the hearing record showed 12 pro, 163 con, and 2 other sign-ins. No executive action was taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting. At the end of the hearing, the chair reminded members that several bills heard that week would be on next Thursday’s executive session agenda, urged prompt amendment requests, and announced that the committee would adjourn to caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, yeah, ...we are going to need more staff.
• one staff in each.
• Then a floor for the Legislative Council staff.
• But naturally, that is all of our staff traveling, their travel expenses, and then also all of our staff
• They would say yes, their staff are trained for that.

Summary: The committee began with roll call, introductions of a new fiscal analyst and a new member, and approval of the March 19 minutes. The first major presentation was from the Office of Management and Budget on the state’s general fund and special fund status through May. OMB reported general fund revenues were running below the legislative forecast by about $76 million, driven largely by weaker individual income tax and sales tax collections, though the projected ending balance remained positive and above the budgeted level. The budget stabilization fund was above its cap and would transfer excess earnings to the general fund, and the legacy fund balance continued to grow. Members also asked about federal funding uncertainty and mineral leasing revenue variability. The committee then reviewed compliance reports and trust fund analyses, followed by discussion of a bill draft for the fixed-route city transportation network study. The draft would create a $15 million general fund grant program with a formula-based distribution to eligible fixed-route transit cities, intended to support operating and capital needs and help match federal transit funds. Transit officials from Minot and Fargo testified in support, explaining local fare and match structures and the difficulty of replacing aging buses and securing federal matching dollars. Several members questioned whether the program should be limited to the current four cities or broadened to future eligible urban areas, and whether local funding sources should be explored further. The committee did not finalize the bill draft at that point and planned to continue discussion at a later meeting. The committee also approved a bill draft repealing obsolete language related to approval of a bi-state authority with South Dakota, after staff explained that no agreements had ever been implemented and the provision appeared outdated. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried. Later, the Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site presented updates on uncrewed aircraft systems initiatives, including the Vantis radar data enclave, the drone replacement program, and efforts to build a revenue model for Vantis. Test site officials said FAA approval had been secured for the radar data program, replacement of noncompliant drones was underway, and future revenue could come from state and external users once pricing and intellectual property arrangements are finalized. Members asked about Chinese-made drones, supply chain issues, automation, and how the system would manage beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation then presented on the design of a new minimum-security prison and a reentry housing study. Officials said the proposed facility would relocate the minimum-security prison to the penitentiary campus, reduce costs from an earlier estimate, and provide more beds and programming space, with construction potentially beginning in 2027 and opening around 2031. They also described staffing needs, the planned move of women to the New England facility, and possible expansion of men’s housing there. The parole and probation chief described a reentry housing task force studying housing needs for people leaving incarceration, with a goal of developing data-driven recommendations for subsidies and support services; a representative from Protection and Advocacy closed by expressing general support for fixed-route and paratransit funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are so many more that provide structure to this institution and hold us all together, our staff
• and human us all together, our staff and human resources,<00:08:01.160><c> supply,</c><00:08:01.920>
• </c><00:08:48.320><c> who</c><00:08:48.440><c> put</c><00:08:48.640><c> in</c> and our front desk staff
• who put in and our front desk staff who put in countless<00:08:49.160><c> hours</c><00:08:49.480><c>
• </c> Members, please join us in thanking our front desk staff and all our staff who serve this institution

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions for staff? Seeing none, Mr. Vice Chair, let's move my amendment. Mr.
• Two, how many staff are trained in CPR, first aid, and the use of an AED?
• So I've got staff. Do we know how much is it? Not fine. Can you give us a chance here?
• I think the staff...
• Thank you, staff. Mr.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on March 18 and considered two Senate bills. SB 1131 would require school districts and charter schools to report their AED inventory, CPR/AED training levels, and cardiac emergency response plans to ADE, which would compile the data; it also provides funding for AED purchases and maintenance. The committee adopted an amendment shifting the appropriation from the general fund to the industry-recognized certification and licensure reimbursement fund. The American Heart Association testified in support, emphasizing the need for better school cardiac preparedness. Several members raised concerns about using that fund because it supports student certification and licensure exams, but staff said the fund had an estimated $2 million balance and continued annual deposits. The bill was returned with a due pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with two members voting present. The committee then heard SB 1249, which would establish a dementia services program and require DHS to develop and maintain an Alzheimer’s disease state plan with stakeholder input. The bill appropriates $600,000 from the Health Services Lottery Moneys Fund. The Arizona government relations director for the Alzheimer’s Association testified in strong support, describing prior state planning efforts and current work on caregiver support, training, data collection, and grant applications, and noting that prior funding is expiring. Members asked whether the bill was meant to fund implementation or simply the plan, and the sponsor indicated it is written as a one-year appropriation but could be adjusted. Some members supported the policy but objected to taking money from a fund that supports maternal and child health programs such as Health Start and WIC, while others supported the measure and urged a sustainable funding source. The committee approved SB 1249 with a due pass recommendation by a 9-3 vote, with several members voting present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, staff please declare the vote.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue for a vote.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue for a vote.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue for a vote.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue for a vote.

Bills: HB4423 , HB3342 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3887 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB2964 , HB3834

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Medicaid, immigration verification, healthcare access, federal reporting, health care providers, auditing, patient rights, claims, protection from fraud, audit process, error correction, hospice care, physician determination, healthcare standards, symptom management, health information exchange, all-payer claims database, health care transparency, health care costs

Summary: The committee first announced several bills would be laid over because sponsors were absent, then took up House Bill 4423, which would require Medicaid applicants to be legal U.S. citizens. After adopting a PCS, members asked whether Medicaid already had citizenship limits, and the bill passed 4-1. House Bill 3342 followed, revising the Health Care Authority audit process; the sponsor said it was based on an Arkansas model, had no fiscal impact, and was intended to be fairer after prior problems. It passed 5-0. House Bill 3645, allowing physicians or other independent doctors to authorize hospice referral when a patient lacks next of kin or is not coherent, also passed 5-0. House Bill 3647, creating an all-payer claims database through the state HIE for greater transparency in medical costs, passed 5-0 after a question about which entities would be included or excluded. House Bill 3887, which removes the requirement for a physician referral every 30 days for continued physical therapy, drew the most discussion. The sponsor said therapists would refer patients back to a physician if treatment was not helping or was outside their scope, while a member raised concerns about delayed diagnosis and suggested adding a timeline; the sponsor said he would be open to further discussion. The bill passed 4-1. House Bill 4430 extended tort claims protection to certain state-employed providers who work for entities such as FQHCs, and House Bill 4431 did the same for nurse practitioners working for state agencies; both passed 5-0. Later, House Bill 2964 changed medical-record copying language from “shall be charged” to “may be charged,” giving facilities discretion on whether to charge patients for copies of their records; it passed 5-0. Finally, House Bill 3834 was heard for research funding on ibogaine therapy for PTSD and related conditions among veterans, firefighters, and police officers. The sponsor said the goal was to allow Oklahoma research, not to remove the substance from controlled status, and a witness described the treatment as a monitored oral session used in Mexico and supported by some studies. The bill passed 5-0, and the chair adjourned the meeting, noting the laid-over bills would likely be heard the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff from the State Auditor's Office will give a presentation of their recent performance audit.
• These numbers include only those insurance claims DCS staff happen to learn about through other means
• When the state's child support insurance intercept match law was enacted, DCS staff wanted to inform
• These numbers include only those insurance claims DCS staff happen to learn about through other means
• When the state's child support insurance intercept match law was enacted, DCS staff wanted to inform

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: At the June 4, 2025 JLARC I-900 Subcommittee hearing, the State Auditor’s Office presented a performance audit on Washington’s child support insurance intercept law. The audit reviewed the mandatory reporting system for insurance claims tied to past-due child support, noting that collections increased after the law took effect in 2022, but that some eligible claims still are not being reported. Auditors said DCS learns about roughly 1 in 10 claims through other channels, and that insurers may miss reporting because they are unaware of the law, make administrative errors, or misunderstand the $500 threshold and timing requirements. The audit recommended that the Office of the Insurance Commissioner help educate insurers by adding information to its website and sharing insurer contact contacts with DCS, and also recommended that the Legislature amend the law to create monitoring and enforcement authority. The auditor said neither DCS nor OIC currently has authority to monitor compliance or take action against noncompliant insurers, though other states use insurance regulators or market conduct exams for this purpose. Committee members asked about possible coordinated enforcement between DSHS and OIC, which the auditor said was beyond the scope of the audit but could be considered by the Legislature. An OIC representative said the commissioner is willing to help educate insurers, post information on the OIC website, and share contact information with DSHS, and that the agency is open to further discussion. No public testimony was offered, and no votes or formal committee actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE LOOKED THROUGH THE HR FILES AND WE INTERVIEWED THE STAFF.
• WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR STAFF MAKE ANY OPENING REMARKS YOU MAY HAVE? GOOD AFTERNOON.
• I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE STAFF I HAVE WITH ME HERE TODAY.
• YOU DID TALK ABOUT THAT YOU HAVE A STAFF THAT HAS BEEN WITH YOU THREE MONTHS TO THREE YEARS.
• STAFF SHOULD DELIVER A COPY. THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. >> Sen.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• committee the commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, Matt Verick, and any staff
• Primarily, when an RFP is submitted, we have what we call grant coordinators, who are program staff,
• Primarily, when an RFP is submitted, we have what we call grant coordinators, who are program staff,
• Primarily, when an RFP is submitted, we have what we call grant coordinators, who are program staff,
• And then secondly, how many staff members do you have to monitor all this grant activity?

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• too many today, but if you're here and you haven't signed up yet, just sign up with the committee staff
• Thank you very much, as always, to our committee staff for the great work they do.
• At Brooke, our prioritization is working, and our proportion of staff of color has risen from 18% to
• I want to join you in thanking the staff and also the committee members.
• Okay, I want to join you in thanking the staff and also the committee members.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its 13th hearing, chaired by Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Gordon, and heard testimony on a large slate of bills covering personnel and miscellaneous education issues. The first major topic was House Bill 711 and Senate Bill 327, the “So All Students Thrive” proposal, which would change reduction-in-force rules so districts could consider teacher effectiveness, student impact, staffing needs, and diversity-related factors alongside seniority. Supporters from Educators for Excellence, including teachers and a former school committee chair, argued that current seniority-based layoff rules can push out effective early-career educators and harm efforts to build a more diverse workforce. Committee members raised questions about tenure, union involvement, and how the bill would interact with the Educator Diversity Act and local contract negotiations; members generally said they shared the goal of diversifying the educator workforce and encouraged continued collaboration and feedback. The committee then heard testimony on House Bill 658, which would require educator training on gifted and advanced learners. Parents, teachers, researchers, and advocates said Massachusetts lacks required preservice or professional development on gifted education, leaving many advanced students unchallenged and underserved. Witnesses described students who are bored, under-identified, or even discouraged in school, and argued that training would help teachers recognize and support gifted students, including students of color, multilingual learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities. Testimony also supported related prior bills on advanced learners and emphasized that the state should act on a 2019 DESE report recommending such training. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 736 and Senate Bill 435, which would establish de-escalation training for school transportation. The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council said the measure would improve safety for students and bus operators, fill a gap in current school bus driver certification requirements, and better support students with disabilities. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4720, concerning the Athol-Royalston Regional School District’s state bailout-related reserve requirements; the superintendent said the district has long maintained fiscal stability but is still forced to leave over half a million dollars unspent each year, limiting resources for a high-poverty student population. After testimony concluded, the chairs read the full list of bills on the agenda, thanked the committee and staff, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we could start with Substitute Senate Bill 5901 with the staff briefing, please.
• John Wilson, committee staff. I am briefing this morning on Substitute Senate Bill 5901.
• John Wilson, committee staff.
• If we could start with the staff briefing and invite Senator Conway to the dais.
• My name is Rob Hatfield, staff to this committee.

Bills: HB2295

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: Washington capital budget, supplemental capital budget, capital appropriations, state building construction account, taxable building construction account, climate commitment account, natural climate solutions, housing trust fund, affordable housing, supportive housing, homelessness, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, school construction, school modernization, school seismic safety, healthy schools, school electrification, SCAP, behavioral health facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to thank all of you and your staff for the time and effort you took to prepare for this hearing
• I called staff and I said, who's in charge of this? And they gave me your cell phone number.
• We've doubled our inspection staff, allowing our successful move from what was a biennial inspection
• to the point where we do need additional staff to make sure that we are ensuring that those dollars
• I have to check with our staff on that.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several gubernatorial appointments and routine committee actions. The committee first approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, appointments to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, the appointment of Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, a reference of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. Members then heard testimony from Trista Gonzalez, nominee to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, who described her long career in tax administration, efforts to improve taxpayer compliance and service, readiness for the state’s lithium extraction tax, and the department’s work on online sales tax, cannabis, and tobacco enforcement. Senators asked about responsiveness to legislators, small business support, accountability, and enforcement; public commenters from tax and accounting groups supported her nomination. Her appointment advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee also heard from Aaron McGuire, nominee to lead the Board of State and Community Corrections. He discussed the board’s expanded responsibilities, including annual detention-facility inspections, large grant programs for violence intervention and reentry, and the new in-custody death review division. Members questioned him about grant oversight, audit transparency, statutory authority for in-custody death reviews, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, site visits, audits, and compliance reviews to reduce fraud and ensure grant funds are used appropriately, and that trailer bill language had clarified access to records for death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in some juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with counties and the courts to improve conditions. Public support came from nonprofit reentry providers and Giffords. His appointment also advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to thank all of you and your staff for the time and effort you took to prepare for this hearing
• I called staff and I said, who's in charge of this? And they gave me your cell phone number.
• We've doubled our inspection staff, allowing our successful move from what was a biennial inspection
• to the point where we do need additional staff to make sure that we are ensuring that those dollars
• I have to check with our staff on that.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Deborah Garns, Davis Rabbit, Cindy Silva, Vincent Wells, and Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, all by 5-0 votes. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, each by 5-0 vote, before moving to appointments required to appear. Trista Gonzalez, nominated to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, testified about her 33-year career in tax administration and emphasized taxpayer service, efficiency, and team culture. Members asked about responsiveness to legislators, the lithium extraction tax, online sales tax compliance after Wayfair, and enforcement against illicit cigarette, tobacco, and cannabis activity. Gonzalez said the department is ready for the lithium tax, works to register businesses meeting the $500,000 threshold, and coordinates with law enforcement on inspections and seizures. Public commenters from Ryan LLC and the California Society of Enrolled Agents supported her confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to send her nomination to the full Senate. Aaron McGuire, nominated as executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, described his experience at the agency and its expanded responsibilities, including annual detention facility inspections, major grant administration, and the new in-custody death review division. Senators questioned him about grant oversight, fraud prevention, public access to audits, implementation of SB 519, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, reporting, site visits, audits, and recovery actions to monitor grants, and that trailer bill language has clarified access to records for in-custody death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in Los Angeles juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with the courts and local officials. Supporters from Amity Foundation, Health Right 360, Westcare, and Giffords testified in favor, and the committee approved his nomination 5-0 to advance to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we will begin with a high-level staff briefing on the measures that we heard.
• It also prohibits staff members from using isolation as a planned behavior intervention.
• Do we have any questions of staff for the proposed substitute or the amendments to the substitute?
• Oh, to the student or to another person, such as another student or staff member.
• So with that, I will ask the committee staff...

Bills: HB1795 , HB1634 , HB1662 , HB1683

Committee: House Education

Keywords: restraint, isolation, public schools, educational programs, student rights, mental health, behavioral support, education, school districts, student assistance, education agencies, administrative independence, superintendent, education reform, agency authority, school boards, district adjustments, administrative boundaries, educational governance, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go into the staff report, and this hopefully won't take too long, and then we got one
• We're going to go into<00:01:19.680><c> the</c><00:01:20.240><c> staff</c><00:01:20.640><c> report</c
• What that means for staff is that 3,00 to 3500 forms are going to be coming in that we have to enter
• I have I don't know, I didn't tell you this yesterday, but I have contacted the LRC computer staff to
• </c> item in their last meeting and the staff item in their last meeting and the staff for<00:13:11.760

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The commission first returned from executive session and reported that no action was taken. It then approved a motion finding there was no reason to believe the respondent in case 25 LAC1 had committed or was about to commit a violation of the code, and dismissed the complaint under KRS 6.86(1)(b)3. Members next reviewed and approved the September financial report, which staff said was based on state accounting data and showed the commission within year-to-date budget parameters. Staff also reported that all required forms for the recent reporting period had been filed and that there were no outstanding forms. The main substantive discussion concerned a proposed one-year, $6,000 contract with Tyler Technology/Kentucky Interactive to add an online payment portal for the commission’s re-registration process. Staff said the system would let employers pay registration fees online using an employer ID, reduce manual handling of 3,000 to 3,500 forms and hundreds of credit card payments, and improve security by keeping credit card information out of commission staff hands. Members asked about user fees and procurement concerns; staff explained that users would still pay the existing credit card processing fee, that an e-check option would also be available, and that the $6,000 cost was viewed as below the de minimis threshold. The commission approved the contract. In other updates, staff said informal opinions were included in the materials and remained confidential, reported on a presentation to the UK Martin School, noted that the regular session calendar would likely require meetings to shift during the legislative session, and said the commission’s statutory recommendations had been received by LRC and referred to a state government committee. The meeting then moved into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.

Transcript Highlights:

• creating a culture that promotes learning, but also in making it a positive learning environment for both staff
• Also, that makes it a positive learning environment for both staff and students. Mr.
• Working in support staff in various roles, as there are teachers, administrators, and otherwise.
• I mean, that's really the amount that our EAs, our custodial staff. I have friends that...
• Or this would adversely affect our people, our EAs, our custodial staff if we just...

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Please keep your remarks within the allotted time communicated to you by my staff.
• I would ask that that be shared through Assembly leadership with our budget staff and teams so that we
• Typically, staff look for permanent positions; they... hours.
• to address concerns that could otherwise lead or have led. of the stressor to allow staff to address
• Thank you, Chair, committee members, and staff.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, go ahead. Mr.
• Thank you, staff. Mr.
• “Staff? Mr.
• Thank you very much, staff. I'm sorry, staff, I don't...
• Staff. Mr.

Bills: HB2211 , HB2229 , HB2389 , HB2403 , HB2445 , HB2502 , HB2620 , HB2813 , HB2872 , HB2889 , HB2960 , HB4028 , HCR2007

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: contractors, subcontractors, resident preference, public contracts, materials supply, Arizona Revised Statutes, local businesses, pregnancy resource center, pregnancy center, crisis pregnancy center, DHS, Arizona Department of Health Services, state appropriation, general fund, nonprofit grant, women's health, maternal health, reproductive health, abortion funding, pro-life