Transcript Highlights:

• With that, staff has the report on House Bill 2579, promoting and funding public media and digital equity
• For the record, Martha Whaling, staff to the committee.
• Martha Whaling, staff to the committee.
• If we could have staff come on up to present the slides, please. Welcome. Good morning.
• For example, the OIC has staff attend over 25 community events the past.

Bills: HB2579

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: public media, digital equity, funding, media access, communication technology

Transcript Highlights:

• Within the five departments of Health and Wellness, that includes about 45 professional staff.
• Just in this last quarter, we had student staff callers from multiple divisions throughout Central who
• These students receive quarter-long training from professional staff, and once they're trained, they're
• Another important outcome: the pilot created a trusted referral pathway for faculty and staff.
• Staff, and those positions are faculty positions. Thank you. And one other question.

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have about 35 or so adjunct employees and then about 35 full-time staff.
• For the most part, our staff and faculty have remained.
• We're very strategic on that, and we're slowly adding staff back. staff back, and I think that's just
• I've got to imagine that was a tough thing to do, working with various staff.
• How many staff did you lose as a result of that? Reduction in salaries?

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to start first by introducing our staff here.
• This policy allows staff to begin remote work beginning in June and then return to work on December 1
• </c><00:10:45.399><c> to</c> policy and this policy allows staff to policy and this policy allows staff
• We will interpret your motion as directing staff to make those corrections in other places.”
• </c><00:18:45.720><c> to</c> your motion as being directing staff to your motion as being directing staff

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• before we begin, I'd really like if we'd all go around and introduce ourselves, and that includes our staff
• Bjorn Arneson, nonpartisan staff to the Senate Education Committees.
• Um, I would like to ask our nonpartisan Senate staff to walk through our Senate File 4282.
• Bjorn Arneson, non-partisan staff to the Bjorn Arneson, non-partisan staff to the Senate<00:01:41.240
• to walk through our Senate file staff to walk through our Senate file 4282. 4282. 4282.

Summary: The conference committee on Senate File 4282 met with a quorum present and heard a walkthrough of the bill, which contains forecast adjustments for several agencies. Senate staff explained that Article 1 makes education forecast adjustments for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, Article 2 adjusts appropriations for the Department of Human Services, Article 3 does the same for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and Article 4 increases special transportation services funding for Metropolitan Council programs including Metro Mobility and Metro Move by $8.9 million in FY 2026 and $10.9 million in FY 2027 to match the February forecast. House staff noted that the House language matched Article 1 but did not include Articles 2 through 4. Representative Youakim presented amendment A26-0180, describing six sections that add provisions on paraprofessional qualifications, aid for tribal contract schools tied to revised permanent school fund distributions, expanded allowable uses of school operating capital revenue to include certain utility costs, an extension of an existing appropriation for gender-neutral single-use restrooms, and two school district fund transfer provisions for West St. Paul/Mendota Heights/Eagan and Maple Lake. Members discussed that several items were no-cost and that some fund transfer language had been previously discussed in committee. The amendment was adopted on an 8-0 roll call vote. After adopting the amendment, the committee voted on the bill as amended. The conference committee agreement for Senate File 4282 passed on an 8-0 vote, and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a testament to the staff that you're working with as well.
• Fabulous staff, partisan and non-partisan.
• It is a testament to the staff that It is a testament to the staff that you're<00:13:01.120><c> working
• </c><00:13:04.240><c> But</c><00:13:04.400><c> I</c> staff partisan and non-partisan.
• But I staff partisan and non-partisan.

Transcript Highlights:

• This contract is submitted for review by the Office of State Procurement, and staff took the opportunity
• Lauren Ballard, Chief of Staff. Thank you. Ms.
• We have since, since we discovered this, retrained all of the contract staff.
• Number 13, DHS, DDS, with Cell Staff Incorporated.
• If you'll give that information to staff so they can get it out, please. Appreciate that.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee first considered an $88,000 used tire program contract for District 4 with LTR Intermediate Holdings. Senators raised concerns that the tire district’s revised business plan had not yet been approved and that the contract could worsen cash flow before funding was confirmed. Questions were also raised about procurement language in the RFP that excluded bidders under corrective action plans. After discussion, a motion was made and approved to hold the contract until next month so the tire board could appear and answer questions. Members then reviewed a large slate of methods of finance, alternative delivery projects, and discretionary grants. These included capital projects at ASU Mid-South, Arkansas Tech, Ozarka, UA Fayetteville, UA Little Rock, UAMS, and UCA; a new UCA multi-purpose arena project estimated at $75.5 million; and DHS and Department of Health grants for aging services, substance abuse prevention, mental health, nutrition, hearing-loss follow-up, HIV services, and rural hospital quality improvement. All of these items were reviewed without objection. The committee also heard a ratification request from UAMS for a Family and Medical Leave Act outsourcing contract with FMLA Source. UAMS said an amendment had been prepared but never submitted for review, and payments continued after expiration; members expressed frustration and asked UAMS to review whether other contracts had similarly lapsed. The committee then reviewed numerous construction-related, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including airport economic impact study work, parking guidance technology at the University of Arkansas, veteran nursing services, and multiple DHS service contracts. Most items were reviewed without objection, and the meeting adjourned after reports of routine contract amendments and minor contracts were presented for information.

Transcript Highlights:

• This contract is submitted for review by the Office of State Procurement, and staff took the opportunity
• Lauren Ballard, Chief of Staff. Thank you. Ms.
• We have since, since we discovered this, retrained all of the contract staff.
• If you'll give that information to staff so they can get it out, please. Appreciate that.
• If you'll give that information to staff so they can get it out, please. Appreciate that.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:

• Greg Vogel, committee staff.
• Greg Vogel, committee staff.
• Any other questions for staff? Okay, I see our prime sponsor is here.
• For the record, Danielle Creech, staff to the committee.
• Staff did a great job giving a little bit of background on the bill.

Bills: SCR8406 , SB5825 , SB5842 , SB5863 , SB5840 , SB5827 , SB5968

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: civic health, community engagement, committee reestablishment, public participation, governance, Washington State Leadership Board, WSLB, gift acceptance, grants, endowments, private funding, public funding, fundraising, state board, youth leadership, civic engagement, leadership development, Washington World Fellows, sports mentoring, Boundless Washington

Transcript Highlights:

• The second request is for salary increases for our Staff. I'm not sorry.
• And in some cases, if you can see that the staff have 20 and 25 years of service and are still making
• And that has been a really worthwhile addition to the staff.
• Staff and work through all of the deeds.
• So If anyone has any questions, I'm sure that one of my staff or I might be able to help.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:18:27.400><c> don't</c> starting to cut staff because they don't starting to cut staff because
• And able to do with this existing staff.
• </c> we request three additional staff. we request three additional staff.
• ,</c><00:38:21.440><c> in</c> areas: in HR, in our support staff, in areas: in HR, in our support staff
• Thank you. support staff. But the state would only support staff.

Bills: HF2783 , HF2603 , HF2846 , HF2354 , HF1836 , HF2713 , HF1198 , HF1389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, thank you, staff, thank you, staff, thank you, staff.
• I want to thank the committee staff and you, Mr.
• Good morning, Chair, members, and staff.
• I know the committee staff has worked hard as well. My own staff has worked hard.
• I want to thank the committee staff for their hard work.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• The third is to pay MBLC staff.
• Thirteen of our 23 staff have been paid fully or partially with federal funds.
• You oversee an incredible staff that works so hard. For your leadership.
• Staffs were gutted at both the IMLS, the NEA, and the NEH.
• Cuts to staff and programs will have to take place over this fiscal year and beyond.

Committee: House House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability

Summary: The hearing focused on the impact of recent federal policy and budget actions on Massachusetts libraries, humanities organizations, arts institutions, and tourism. Testimony from library leaders described the loss or jeopardy of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, including statewide databases, local grants, staff positions, E-rate/hotspot support, and digital equity programs. Witnesses said the cuts have already forced reductions in services, canceled grants and workshops, and in some cases left schools, students, job seekers, and low-income patrons without access to key resources. Members of the committee asked for lists of affected communities and databases, and several witnesses said they would provide additional written detail. Arts and humanities witnesses said federal terminations from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS have hit organizations across the Commonwealth, including Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mass MoCA, and local museums and historical societies. They described canceled or rescinded grants, layoffs, reduced programming, and a chilling effect on future applications and on artistic and scholarly work, especially where federal awards had already been matched with local or private funds. Several speakers also raised concerns about executive-branch DEI conditions attached to funding and about book challenges and book banning, saying these trends threaten intellectual freedom and public access to culture and history. Committee members emphasized the economic importance of the sector and the need to publicize the impacts. Tourism officials from Meet Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism testified that federal cuts and broader geopolitical and tariff issues are hurting international visitation, especially from Canada and Western Europe, and could affect major upcoming events such as the 2026 World Cup and Sail Boston. They said reduced funding for Brand USA and Discover New England will weaken long-term marketing efforts and international partnerships, with downstream effects on hotel tax revenue, jobs, and workforce recruitment. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members mainly asking questions and requesting follow-up written testimony and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of our comments are summarized on page 10 of your staff agenda.
• They have several staff that have lost their homes and been displaced.
• Do you remember this request coming in from Budget Committee staff?
• Yes, actually, committee staff sent you six requests.
• I'll talk to my staff and let your staff know. Thank you.

Summary: The subcommittee opened with remarks on the state budget and K-12 education, noting the large increase in the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee, the use of deferrals and reserves in the prior budget, and the challenge of balancing education funding against other state priorities. Superintendent Tony Thurmond described California education as improving overall, citing gains in test scores, graduation, and college readiness, but said major gaps remain for low-income students, students of color, agricultural communities, English learners, foster youth, and students with disabilities. He praised recent investments in universal meals, transitional kindergarten, community schools, arts, broadband, and special education, while warning that declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and the proposed $5.6 billion Prop. 98 settle-up create uncertainty for districts. He also urged a long-term literacy plan, expanded tutoring, universal kindergarten, and continued protections for students and families affected by immigration enforcement, including ICE-related fear and attendance loss. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Proposition 98 from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Finance explained that the Governor’s budget projects the minimum guarantee will rise by about $21.7 billion over three years, with a $5.6 billion settle-up obligation in 2025-26 intended to avoid overappropriation if revenues weaken. Finance also described revised reserve deposits and withdrawals, ending with about $4.1 billion in the Public School System Stabilization Account by 2026-27. The LAO said recent revenue collections were stronger than expected in the current year but warned that the outlook for 2026-27 is weaker and that stock-market-driven revenues remain volatile. The LAO supported maintaining reserves and one-time spending buffers, but recommended fully funding the guarantee and using other budget solutions rather than shifting the settle-up into future deficits. Members asked about the settle-up process, certification timeline, the effect of attendance declines tied to immigration enforcement, and wildfire-related impacts, including Pasadena Unified’s $4 million special appropriation. On LCFF and necessary small schools, Finance proposed a 2.41% COLA and about $2.2 billion in additional LCFF funding for districts and charters in 2026-27, plus a $30.7 million ongoing increase to raise the necessary small schools allowance by 20%. The LAO supported funding the COLA but said the small-school increase was not tied to a specific cost study and could be redesigned to better target small districts, noting that only a fraction of very small districts would benefit. Questions focused on how small schools access supplemental and concentration grants and how attendance recovery programs are being implemented. The Department of Education said only 130 LEAs had reported attendance recovery so far, likely because it is a new program with compliance requirements, though interest appears to be growing. FICMAT then reviewed the fiscal health of local districts, reporting an uptick in qualified and negative certifications, though still far below Great Recession levels. It said declining enrollment, rising special education costs, and higher labor and insurance costs are the biggest fiscal pressures, and that some districts are using fiscal stabilization plans and staff reductions ahead of second interim reports. FICMAT also discussed wildfire impacts on Pasadena Unified and Los Angeles Unified, explaining that Pasadena’s $4 million state appropriation was based on an early post-fire assessment and that the district is being monitored with the county office of education. Members raised concerns about Pasadena’s leadership, special education staffing shortages, AB 218 sexual abuse litigation costs, insurance premium increases, and the need for stronger prevention and training measures. FICMAT said SB 848 and related policies address some of those concerns by strengthening standards, training, and reporting requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• looks like per staff?
• In terms of the caseload numbers that staff currently have, staff are shared amongst not just SIBTF,
• So there is a cross-sharing of staff there.
• 47 total for everyone, including support staff. 47 total for everyone, including support staff.
• My budget staff was great and was able to get me a list for the L.A. and their budget staff was great

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard presentations on the Department of Industrial Relations’ labor-related budget items, with the main focus on proposed trailer bill language to reform the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and a related budget change proposal for staffing. DIR said SIBTF has grown far beyond its original purpose, citing the 2020 Todd decision, expanded eligibility based on chronic or asymptomatic conditions, and a backlog that has grown to more than 30,000 pending cases. The administration argued the reforms would restore guardrails, reduce liabilities and employer assessments, and speed processing for severely injured workers; the LAO said the proposal was largely consistent with its prior recommendations. Members raised concerns about using trailer bill language for major policy changes, the retroactive application to open cases, and the impact on workers already in the queue, while supporters from employer groups and public agencies backed the proposal as necessary to control costs and restore sustainability. Public comment was split, with injured-worker advocates opposing the retroactive changes and business/public employer representatives supporting the reforms. The committee then heard the SIBTF workload request, which would phase in 177 positions over five years at a cost of $36.5 million, including staff for the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Office of the Director Legal Unit, and administrative support. DIR said the additional staffing is intended to address very high caseloads and reduce processing times, but emphasized that the request assumes the reform package is adopted; LAO agreed the staffing increase made sense if paired with reforms. Members asked about vacancy rates, current staffing, and whether the workload request would become the new normal, and DIR said it would monitor caseload trends and adjust future requests as needed. Finally, the committee received an update on the California Workplace Outreach Program (CWOP), which DIR described as a partnership with community-based organizations to educate workers and help employers comply with labor laws. DIR reported that CWOP has reached 1.75 million workers and employers and made 8 million touchpoints since 2020, with the current round awarding $50.7 million to 87 partners for a two-year period through June 2027. Members and public commenters highlighted the program’s role in reaching immigrant, farmworker, janitorial, nail salon, and other vulnerable communities, and several speakers urged continued funding at $30 million per year for five years. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your staff agenda outlines some of them. You can change the amount.
• What they used on instruction, for example, staff, other sorts of things.
• It's really that simple, and the support staff that goes with them.
• About half of that are field staff. A little bit more than half of that are field staff.
• About half of that are field staff. A little bit more than half of that are field staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh we also have a new addition to our staff as our tribal liaison, Cindy Bergloff, who works with
• And uh, you know, I try to just, as a reminder, bring relevant staff to committees.
• So it's not necessarily staff that are looking and deciding who gets these grants.
• So it's not necessarily staff that are looking and deciding who gets these grants.
• So it's not necessarily staff that are looking and deciding who gets these grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go to staff now.
• Did I miss any staff? Yes. Thank you. Did I miss any staff? Yep, I know we have none of the hair.
• Staff? Mr.
• We have an outstanding staff.
• Staff. Mr.

Bills: HB2056 , HB2202 , HB2207 , HB2224 , HB2303 , HB2344 , HB2532 , HB2759 , HB2798

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: brackish water, groundwater, desalination, water resources, feasibility study, environmental impact, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, produce incentive, agriculture, economic support, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to ask our staff to be trying to work with you to develop those things.
• I want to answer the specific questions to the department in the staff agenda on item two.
• Here's the thinking at our department that is responsive to the questions in the staff agenda.
• We—the San Francisco... ...San Francisco Bay program, they've just lost staff.
• And US EPA, the San Francisco Bay program, they've just lost staff.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on water and coastal resilience heard an overview of the governor’s Proposition 4 spending plan, with presentations from the Department of Finance, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Water Resources, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and later coastal agencies. Members discussed the water chapter’s major allocations for drinking water and wastewater, recycled water, tribal water infrastructure, groundwater recharge and SGMA implementation, dam safety, flood protection, integrated regional water management, Salton Sea projects, and water data/stream gauges. The LAO noted that many programs are established and have clear funding processes, but some newer or less-defined programs may warrant more detailed future budget requests and reporting. No votes were taken on the agenda items. Members raised concerns about groundwater subsidence, water deliveries from the Delta, the pace of water storage investments, instream flows, and whether bond dollars were being used to backfill General Fund reductions. Administration witnesses said groundwater recharge spending is being paced because prior years already funded substantial SGMA work, that Delta operations are governed by water quality, salinity, and species requirements, and that Proposition 1 storage projects have moved slowly because they are locally led and require permitting and financing. The Water Board and DWR said they use public needs assessments, annual plans, and existing grant processes to prioritize projects, and Finance said some General Fund programs were shifted to Proposition 4 to help balance the budget. Members also asked for clearer public tracking of bond spending and more concise future reporting. In the coastal resilience portion, the Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Conservancy described Proposition 4 funding for sea level rise adaptation, coastal flood management, habitat restoration, public access, and San Francisco Bay projects, with a multi-year rollout based on project readiness and recent large state investments. The Conservancy said it would use its existing rolling grant process, while OPC said its sea level rise grants would build on existing programs and new technical assistance. The Department of Fish and Wildlife explained its proposed use of bond funds for climate-ready fisheries, hatchery modernization, salmon monitoring, whale- and turtle-safe fishing gear, and a specific hatchery operations request tied to the Friant settlement. The LAO said the coastal chapter’s proposed first-year spending is relatively modest but generally reasonable given staffing and project readiness, while members emphasized oversight, transparency, and coordination across agencies and jurisdictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> legacy grants have limited staff legacy grants have limited staff capacity<00:07:37.840><c> and<
• </c> then finalize MHC uh grants staff then finalize MHC uh grants staff recommendation<00:09:29.200>
• I've got staff working on those already this week.
• I've got staff working on those already this week.
• I've got staff working on applications.

Bills: HF4148

Committee: House Legacy Finance