Transcript Highlights:

• you can see the federal funding just $10 per student annually, it's about 12% of the overall funding
• The dollars I mentioned include 12% federal funding.
• We don't fund that. We don't fund classroom buildings. Those are local decisions.
• We fund that a little differently than some other states do.
• Something we should be looking at to increase funding on.

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• to calculate a per-student state funding ratio that increases appropriation in years that Western...
• ...a per-student state funding ratio that increases appropriation in years that Western has the lowest
• This fund split ratio is used to divide incremental compensation costs between state funds and tuition
• This fund split ratio is used to divide incremental compensation costs between state funds and tuition
• by state funds must be increased by 10% until fully funded by state funds.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2070, which would create state funding parity for Western Washington University by tying appropriations to a per-student funding ratio. The prime sponsor and Western officials said Western has long been the lowest-funded public four-year institution on a per-student basis, leading to budget cuts, reduced student services, and delayed graduation. Students, faculty, and university leaders testified in support, while some members questioned whether the bill should instead address a broader higher-education funding formula for all institutions. Central Washington University also supported the bill but suggested a broader approach. No vote was taken on HB 2070. The committee then heard House Bill 2671, which would expand eligibility for state financial aid to certain nonprofit out-of-state branch campuses operating in Washington if they meet specified accreditation, duration, and authorization requirements. Rep. Timmons said the bill is intended to help students in an accelerated nursing program at Northeastern University in Seattle access aid and support workforce needs. Northeastern’s dean testified in support, saying the bill would align financial aid law with prior changes to degree-granting statutes and would not increase state spending. The hearing on HB 2671 was then closed. House Bill 2617, dealing with the higher-education “fund split,” drew extensive testimony. The bill would gradually shift more of employee compensation increases and central services costs to state funding, and would require a study of essential student services. The sponsor and many university, faculty, staff, and student witnesses argued that the current funding practice shifts costs to tuition, contributes to layoffs, program cuts, larger classes, and reduced student support, and creates instability across public higher education. Community and technical college representatives also said underfunding COLAs harms operations and students. The committee then moved to executive session on Senate Bill 6258, which would authorize the Washington Medical Commission to create a non-disciplinary pathway for voluntary license relinquishment; the committee approved it 14-0 with a due-pass recommendation, with three members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• to calculate a per-student state funding ratio that increases appropriation in years that Western...
• A per-student state funding ratio that increases appropriation in years that Western has the lowest ratio
• This fund split ratio is used to divide incremental compensation costs between state funds and tuition
• This fund split ratio is used to divide incremental compensation costs between state funds and tuition
• by state funds must be increased by 10% until fully funded by state funds.

Bills: HB2070 , HB2671 , HB2617 , SB6258

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: funding, education, higher education, Western Washington University, state funding parity, financial aid, state funding, student support, educational reform, university procedures, academic policy, student success, Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> offending</c> worsen from the ratio of black offending worsen from the ratio of black offending
• </c><00:15:59.000><c> of</c> consistency between the ratios of consistency between the ratios of arrests
• </c> motans instead the ratio motans instead the ratio improves<00:21:51.000><c> now</c><00:21:51.520
• So MSA, in addition to seeking the funding, would further ask that those training funds be baked into
• > Castile training fund it is my Castile training fund it is my understanding<00:53:04.640><c> that</

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It's obviously a big issue, and how we fund our. Government.
• Do you find that is there a large ratio for error?
• I got the impression that one time we had a commissary fund or an account, and somehow those funds will
• I got the impression that one time we had a commissary fund or an account, and somehow those funds will
• I got the impression that one time we had commissary funds or an account, and somehow those funds will

Bills: SB65 , SB248 , SB330 , SB378 , SB844 , SB1330 , SB1410 , SB1475 , SB1476 , SB1565 , SB1618 , SB1623 , SJR39 , SJR47 , SB2084 , SB1655 , SB1679 , SB2174 , SB1775 , SB1873 , SB1204 , SB1884 , SB1916 , SB1937 , SB1447 , SB1500 , SB2007 , SB2074 , SB1944 , SB2018 , SB1984 , SB2026 , SB2045 , SB2049 , SB2062 , SB2112 , SB2118 , SB2127 , SB2134 , SB2135 , SB2139 , SB2154 , SB1195

Keywords: SB65, naloxone, Narcan, opioid overdose, overdose reversal, opioid antagonist, emergency opioid antagonist, substance abuse services, harm reduction, public health, overdose prevention, good samaritan, civil immunity, criminal immunity, controlled substances, addiction treatment, fentanyl, opioid crisis, school overdose response, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes a real property proceeds revolving fund.
• A couple of years ago, we created a fund for The parking funds to go into that was specifically about
• So, what is the difference about this revolving fund that's created in the new language from other funds
• What's different about this fund from the other Funds they've had for capital maintenance.
• There should be the ability for donors to earmark funds at times.

Bills: SB65 , SB248 , SB330 , SB378 , SB844 , SB1330 , SB1410 , SB1475 , SB1476 , SB1565 , SB1618 , SB1623 , SJR39 , SJR47 , SB2084 , SB1655 , SB1679 , SB2174 , SB1775 , SB1873 , SB1204 , SB1884 , SB1916 , SB1937 , SB1447 , SB1500 , SB2007 , SB2074 , SB1944 , SB2018 , SB1984 , SB2026 , SB2045 , SB2049 , SB2062 , SB2112 , SB2118 , SB2127 , SB2134 , SB2135 , SB2139 , SB2154 , SB1195

Keywords: SB65, naloxone, Narcan, opioid overdose, overdose reversal, opioid antagonist, emergency opioid antagonist, substance abuse services, harm reduction, public health, overdose prevention, good samaritan, civil immunity, criminal immunity, controlled substances, addiction treatment, fentanyl, opioid crisis, school overdose response, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• But we fund Broward Behavior, help the different coalitions where we have a funding entity, and then
• Funded at $10 million, spent $24 million on safety. We were funded at $5 million for mental health.
• There was a question on the ratio, so the recommended ratio is ...one mental health professional, which
• So we're funding three hours a day.
• So we're funding three hours a day.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> funded from the 2426 maintenance pool. funded from the 2426 maintenance pool.
• Moving on to our infrastructure revolving fund program, we call it Fund B.
• And from our drinking water state revolving fund, we call that Fund F, the City of Harlan has a loan
• </c> is being funded. is being funded.
• </c> board's policy of a 1.1 coverage ratio. board's policy of a 1.1 coverage ratio.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum for much of the meeting, so several agenda items were initially heard only for information. Early updates included six informational reports, such as an Auditor of Public Accounts compliance examination with no findings, university equipment and allocation reports, school district bond issuances, Western Kentucky University’s planned public-private partnership housing redevelopment, and quarterly Kentucky Communications Network Authority reports. Members then questioned WKU officials about the P3 housing project, including the number of RFQ responses, property tax responsibility, ownership of the student life foundation, and the status of repairs to residence halls. WKU said the foundation has owned the property since 2000, one hall would be razed or demolished at the end of the academic year, and repairs to the other two were expected to be completed by fall 2027. The committee also heard a Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources acquisition project for Mount River Farms in Wayne County and a Department of Corrections roof replacement project at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, but no votes were taken until a quorum was later established. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then presented six loans and four grant reallocations, including loan increases for Adair County Water District and the City of Harlan, new loans for Litchfield, Louisa, Southeastern Water Association, and Flatwoods, and grant reallocations under the Cleaner Water Program. Members asked about Harlan’s 30-year term and special condition requiring a revenue increase; KIA explained the longer term is reserved for disadvantaged communities and that the condition was meant to reinforce standard debt coverage requirements, while depreciation is reviewed but not included in cash-flow calculations. After a recess, Senator Thomas arrived and a quorum was reached. The committee approved the prior minutes and then took a consolidated vote on the action items, which passed. The final items included a Kentucky Economic Development Authority revenue bond refunding for CommonSpirit Health, several Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit and single-family bond issuances, a Western Kentucky University bond issuance, and SFCC debt issues. Members discussed the housing transactions, noting they are developer-financed and not subject to a traditional bidding process, and expressed concern about whether the process could produce more units for the same amount of money. The meeting adjourned after all information items were approved and the next meeting date was announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• , STAFFING RATIOS AS WELL AS THE GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS AND ACUITY.
• >> Chair: OTHER THAN PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
• THIS IS RELATED TO DCF AND CBC FUNDING METHODOLOGIES.
• >> IF YOU NOTICE AND THE GEA CORE FUNDING IS ALLOCATED.
• IT IS NOT ALL THE FUNDING FOR THE CBC. IT IS THE CORE FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE TO MANAGE THEMSELVES.

Transcript Highlights:

• The orange line on the chart represents the funded ratio of the system.
• The funded ratio being the ratio of assets to liabilities of the system.
• So, you've got the funded ratio in the orange.
• This is the modern funding ratio history on a chart.
• It's the national average of funding ratio for plans around the country.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, we're one of many certifiers in Idaho, and the program itself is fully funded by participants
• with no general fund money.
• So that two-to-one ratio may vary depending on the type of product that is being applied under a licensed
• So that two-to-one ratio may vary depending on the type of product that is being applied under a licensed
• Whether it's a general use or a restricted use, there's going to be a ratio associated with that.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• we were not appropriately funded for.
• General Fund budget.
• for the purposes of that funding.
• , and whether those ratios are being met or we're falling short on those ratios?
• We have maintenance funding, a pot of funding for ongoing preventative maintenance, demand maintenance

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) budget, with a focus on prison population trends, spending, facility closures, and efforts to find savings. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) presented data showing the prison and parole populations have fallen sharply over the past 20 years while CDCR spending has remained high, driven largely by security, health care, litigation-related requirements, and aging infrastructure. The LAO also said the state is likely to have several thousand empty beds by 2030 and recommended closing another prison, identifying the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as the strongest candidate, while also urging more transparency around facility deactivations and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) efficiency contract. CDCR Secretary Jeff McCumber said the department faces structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, overtime, medical transport, aging facilities, and violence in prisons, but emphasized declining recidivism, expanding reentry beds, and the need for more single-celling and rehabilitation. Department of Finance representative Anthony Franzoa said the administration is not proposing another prison closure at this time, opposed new reporting requirements on deactivations, and said the BCG contract is intended to produce long-term savings even if near-term estimates are being revised downward. Amber Rose Howard of California United for Responsible Budget argued the state should close more prisons, redirect funds to community services, and stop spending on excess prison capacity. Members questioned why CDCR still relies on vacancy savings, why rehabilitation is only a small share of the budget, and whether the department should be more transparent about capacity reductions and legal liabilities. Several members criticized the $20 million BCG contract and the lack of competitive bidding, while others pressed CDCR on staffing levels, single-celling, suicide prevention, and health care costs for older incarcerated people. The hearing did not take a formal vote, but it ended with clear committee concern about CDCR’s budget transparency, the pace of prison closures, and the need to align spending more closely with the declining prison population and the department’s stated rehabilitation mission.

Transcript Highlights:

• A ratio of 1.0 means that for every dollar of cost, there is an equal amount A ratio of 1.0 means that
• The other is just how we use the net-to-gross ratio.
• Yet the ratio TRC was just over one.
• If the decision is made to move these funds to the General Fund, and the fluctuating state budget is
• Moving energy efficiency funding to the General Fund at a time when GGRF auction proceeds are unstable

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• The other is just how we use the net-to-gross ratio.
• Yet the ratio TRC was just over one.
• And so that's also funded through the work that is happening.
• If the decision is made to move these funds to the General Fund and the fluctuating state budget is what
• Moving energy efficiency funding to the General Fund at a time when GGRF auction proceeds are unstable

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on how California Public Utilities Commission energy efficiency programs are budgeted, evaluated, and measured for cost-effectiveness. The chair framed the issue as not whether energy efficiency works, but how to ensure ratepayer-funded programs continue to deliver value as the portfolio has shifted from simple measures like lighting to more complex retrofits, electrification, workforce, and equity programs. CPUC staff outlined the statutory framework, the four-year budget cycle, recent spending of about $795 million in 2025, and the use of total system benefit (TSB) and the total resource cost (TRC) test, noting that some programs are exempt from cost-effectiveness requirements at the individual program level but not at the resource acquisition portfolio level. Utility, regional network, implementer, and advocacy witnesses offered differing views on the current metrics. PG&E described its portfolio as cost-effective overall and argued that cost-effectiveness should remain at the portfolio level to allow innovation and multi-year program flexibility. SoCalREN and the Energy Coalition emphasized the value of local government delivery, equity-focused programs, and the need to credit programs for broader benefits such as workforce development, market transformation, and electrification. The Public Advocates Office argued that ratepayer-funded programs should produce benefits greater than costs and raised concerns about the growing share of budgets going to programs that have not met cost-effectiveness thresholds. Several witnesses said the current math is too complicated and that different program types may need different metrics. Committee members repeatedly pressed witnesses on the complexity of the TRC and TSB calculations, the treatment of participant costs, and whether the state should use a simpler or more transparent framework. CPUC staff said the relevant issues are already being addressed in two open proceedings, with one budget application proceeding expected to conclude in roughly the second or third quarter of next year and a broader policy rulemaking ongoing. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported; the hearing functioned as an informational discussion and policy review.

Transcript Highlights:

• not funded in the operating budget.
• So ratios, I've heard that there's not a cut to ratios, but what I've heard in my community is there
• has been a cut to ratios.
• So ratios, I've heard that there's not a cut to ratios, but what I've heard in my community is there
• has been a cut to ratios.

Summary: The committee heard a JLARC presentation on the Department of Health’s oversight of hospital inspections, complaints, and reporting. JLARC said DOH was late on 72% of acute care hospital inspections as of December 2024, had not verified that third-party accrediting standards were substantially equivalent to state standards, did not consistently require proof of those inspections, did not review adverse health event corrective plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. JLARC also raised a possible language-access barrier in the complaint system. Members asked about complaint filing by staff, the meaning of adverse health events, inspection outcomes, and whether the audit compared DOH to other agencies. JLARC said it had not reviewed inspection results or cross-agency comparisons, but noted inspectors were dedicated and working long hours. DOH later said it concurred with the recommendations and outlined a strategic plan with target dates for improving timeliness, verifying accreditation standards, expanding language access, reviewing adverse event laws, and improving public data access, with annual reporting to the Legislature expected. The committee then heard a Department of Health presentation on certificate of need modernization. DOH described the current certificate of need process, which reviews need, financial feasibility, quality, and cost containment for certain facility changes and new services, and said the program has not been modernized since the 1980s. DOH proposed 10 statutory modernization recommendations, including clarifying the program’s purpose, creating a planning entity, adding flexibility, reducing legal costs, updating access-to-care standards, expanding oversight to freestanding emergency departments and urgent care, addressing equity, improving cost control coordination, strengthening long-term funding, and using better data systems. Members asked about oversight of freestanding urgent care and EDs, funding sources, and whether the process could be streamlined or made more responsive to complaints or other triggers. A third panel discussed artificial intelligence in health care. Lucy O’Rourke of the Coalition for Health AI described CHAI’s work on responsible AI principles, technical standards, model cards or “nutrition labels,” testing and governance tools, and educational resources for providers. She said the group is focused on trust, transparency, fairness, safety, security, and privacy, and noted Washington’s AI-related policy work as among the more progressive in the country. No questions were asked. The final portion focused on the financial impact of federal and state health care policy changes. The Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals are facing low or negative operating margins, service reductions, layoffs, and closures, and that state cuts and taxes enacted in 2025, combined with federal HR1 changes, will significantly worsen finances. Providence Swedish leaders described staffing reductions, service cuts, delayed capital investments, and pressure from denials, tariffs, and reimbursement changes, while emphasizing that frontline staffing cuts are tied to service reductions rather than nurse-to-patient ratio changes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange then began a presentation on expiring federal ACA premium tax credits, state Cascade Care Savings assistance, and eligibility changes affecting lawfully present non-citizens, with examples showing large premium increases for customers if federal subsidies expire.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> more perhaps from the funding more perhaps from the funding perspective<00:28:25.000><c> and</c>
• </c> that it upkeeps hasn't raised the funds that it upkeeps hasn't raised the funds from<01:30:56.320
• There's a flyer here on how to calculate a floor area ratio.
• Other than that, it still lets communities adopt those ratios and enforce those ratios.
• </c><01:44:59.719><c> it</c><01:44:59.880><c> just</c> ratios and enforce those ratios it just ratios

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> pension fund, pension fund, well,<00:02:27.840><c> the</c><00:02:28.200><c> US</c><00:02:28.680
• They contributing to the pension fund.
• </c><00:05:19.960><c> in</c> would still rather have those funds in would still rather have those funds
• </c> employee and the employer from funds employee and the employer from funds that<00:30:58.600><c>
• </c> they can't always get the funding back. they can't always get the funding back.

Transcript Highlights:

• Accident-year combined ratios continue to be favorable at less than 100%.
• Here we have the combined ratios in Idaho.
• So the combined ratio is the losses, expenses, and dividends over premium.
• So for— The combined ratio is the losses, expenses, and dividends over premium.
• We operate as a not-for-profit entity, and our primary funding is a percentage of the premium.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• a hospital that had safe ratios.
• Ratios are important. You cannot take care of 12 patients.
• Patient-to-nurse ratio and even aide-to-patient ratio. That's one big thing.
• patient to nurse ratio and even situation, what would you say?
• Patient to nurse ratio and even aid to patient ratio. That's one big thing.

Committee: Senate Labor

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor met with a quorum, adopted the June 4 minutes, and then took up Senate Bill 948, the Workplace Employees Boundaries Act (WEB Act), after adopting an S-1 substitute by a 4-1 vote. Senator Geis presented the bill as a Michigan “right to disconnect” measure that would generally bar employers from requiring employees to access or respond to work communications outside usual work hours, allow employees to set availability hours, prohibit retaliation, direct LEO to write rules, and provide complaint and enforcement procedures with exceptions for emergencies and existing collective bargaining agreements. In questioning, Senator Albert raised concerns about how the bill would apply in small businesses and practical situations like staffing calls, school notifications, and emergency-like circumstances; Geis said the bill was meant to protect non-work time while preserving emergency carve-outs and informational messages. NFIB’s Amanda Fisher opposed the bill, arguing it was too broad, difficult to define across industries and schedules, potentially duplicative of existing wage-and-hour law, and likely to create confusion and reduce flexibility, especially for small employers. The committee then shifted to testimony on health care workforce and labor disputes. Nurses from Teamsters Local 332 described a 291-day strike at Henry Ford/Genesis over safe staffing, return-to-work terms, and alleged union-busting, saying the hospital’s staffing levels and use of replacement workers threatened patient safety and could displace experienced specialty nurses. Michigan Nurses Association president Aaron McCormick and Marquette RN union president Christina Hanson said Michigan’s problem is not a shortage of licensed nurses but of nurses willing to stay in overworked, hostile workplaces; they cited retaliation, slow grievance/arbitration processes, hospital consolidation, rural OB closures, and unsafe staffing ratios as drivers of burnout and departures. They urged stronger protections and faster dispute resolution, especially given the limited effectiveness of the NLRB and delays in labor processes. Additional testimony came from UAW Local 4911’s Kim Wheeler, who said UMH Sparrow was outsourcing two low-paid support groups—patient transport/housekeeping and food and nutrition—despite their importance to hospital operations and despite a recently ratified contract, and asked for transparency and limits on corporate outsourcing. Don Hill of SEIU Health Care Michigan described chronic understaffing in nursing homes, mandatory overtime, burnout, retaliation fears, and the need for enforceable patient-to-staff ratios and stronger wage support; he also noted that home care workers are negotiating first contracts after restored bargaining rights. The committee took no vote on SB 948 beyond adopting the substitute, heard extensive testimony, and adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• of those endowment funds.
• the general fund to WIA.
• fund are being swapped out with funds from WIA. ...and then the funds from those other accounts are
• from the general fund.
• higher education funding.

Committee: Joint Joint Higher Education Committee

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.